More than 40 people spent a recent Saturday morning in a conference room at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Customer Service Center. What was so important that they would hang out for three hours indoors on such a beautiful day? They were attending SMUD’s Cooling Seminar to learn how to better cool their homes, help reduce their impact on the environment and save some money. This is one of many seminars and workshops SMUD puts on at its customer service center. The seminar was free and open to anyone who was interested by reservation. The seminar was led by SMUD employees Jeff Paull and Ken Happs. Both are energy specialists with SMUD’s Customer Programs and Services. P

Mayor Kevin Johnson proposed his green initiative plans to the public during a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the California Museum. The long-term goal of the plan is to make Sacramento known as the national green leader in economic and environmentally friendly usages. His vision: to transform the region into "Emerald Valley." "(California is) a state where dreams are made," Johnson said. "I strongly believe Sacramento can be the national leader in the green movement." Around 300 attendees packed the conference room and were from all walks of life, varying from media to general public. The majority of those in attendance were supportive of the plan. "I am a very economically caut

The final demolition of a former Sacramento police building has been halted again while concerns over an adjacent power station are worked out. Advantage Demolition was preparing to demonstrate Monday how the last two exterior walls could be pulled down safely next to transformers at a historic power station, now known as SMUD Station A, at Sixth and H streets. The station, whose origins date to 1895, supplies power to up to 40 percent of downtown Sacramento, said Sacramento Municipal Utility District spokesperson Dace Udris. Demolition of the building at Seventh and H streets began several months ago to make way for a 160-unit affordable housing project being built by the Sacramento Hou