Good news when it comes to the power grid and tackling homelessness; bad news if you see the data about $1 million starter homes that fill California cities. If you feel like it’s a grab bag of news, that’s because it is — in this week’s Bear Essentials.

SOMETHING IS COOKING IN EL SEGUNDO

El Segundo, a longtime hub of the aerospace industry — (and the birthplace of Barbie!) — is experiencing a vibe shift. The SoCal beach town is home to a burgeoning tech scene that stands in stark contrast to the much-parodied “hoodies and MacBooks” tech bro archetype that characterizes Silicon Valley. This new ecosystem of American innovators gets the Vanity Fair treatment in a new story by Zoë Bernard, who examines the growing constellation of firms mixing up engineering, technology, manufacturing and a healthy dose of patriotism in “The Gundo.” These young founders are creating “real shit” like drones, nuclear reactors, and military tech. Decked out in blue jeans, work boots, and T-shirts, often praying while enjoying raw milk or cigarettes, the Gundo is innovation fused with nostalgia, wrapped in a defiant, blue-collar ethos. They aren’t just building startups; they’re crafting a cultural movement, all while jabbing at the soft, “goofy” products of Silicon Valley. Their aim is clear: reclaim American industry and outmaneuver geopolitical rivals like China. In this offbeat hub, tech development feels more like a revival meeting than a business venture.

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🤫 Everything you should know

- Hold onto your solar panels, folks! A few weeks ago we were ecstatic when California’s grid was powered 100% by renewable energy for a portion of the day for several days over a single week. Get ready for this new milestone: California just celebrated its 100th day of meeting 100% of its electricity demand with renewable energy. From March to July, the state harnessed the power of sun, wind, and hydro to make this carbon-free dream a reality. This milestone marks a significant step toward a fully sustainable future, showing that clean energy can indeed power the world's fifth-largest economy. Mark Z. Jacobson, the director of Stanford’s Atmosphere/Energy program, has been tracking California’s renewables performance and said that this is an unprecedented achievement partly due to newly installed rooftop solar panels which decrease demand from the grid and can provide battery storage. With ongoing investments in solar and wind power, enhanced battery storage, and demand response technologies, California is lighting the way to a greener tomorrow. Get ready for more sunny days and breezy nights! Electrek

- Governor Gavin Newsom is pouring a cool $133 million into California's coffers for behavioral health bridge housing. This significant investment aims to provide temporary homes for individuals with behavioral health issues currently living on the streets, helping them stabilize and commence recovery. It's also a rallying cry for counties to leverage existing resources like CARE Courts and revamped conservatorship laws to actively combat homelessness. Newsom's initiative underscores a commitment to not just offer aid but also to empower local solutions. It's time for local governments to get busy and use these tools to build a more supportive California. California Governor

- In an alarming trend across California, the price of a "starter home" has soared past the $1 million mark in 117 cities. This stomach-churning statistic underscores the urgent need for more housing construction to address the affordability crisis gripping the state. As home prices continue to climb, many Californians find themselves priced out of homeownership, pushing the dream further out of reach for average earners. The state must prioritize building more homes at all price levels to stabilize the market and offer relief to potential homebuyers. Without significant intervention, the gap between housing costs and income will likely widen, exacerbating social and economic disparities. KTLA

🌳 Beauty and engineering marvel

Start planning your visit to California’s newest state park! Dos Rios State Park is situated in California's Central Valley, and marks a return to natural floodplain management, reviving ecosystems and mitigating flood risks. By repurposing agricultural land, previously devoted to monocrops, into a biodiverse refuge, Dos Rios not only enriches local flora and fauna but also provides a model for sustainable development. It underscores the need for such transformations statewide to enhance environmental resilience and potentially free up areas more suitable for residential development, addressing the critical housing shortage. LAist

🥇 California Medal Tracker

For your awareness, here’s the medal count for U.S. and, specifically, California athletes at the Paris Summer Olympics, courtesy of the office of Governor Newsom.

🆘 Park Fire

The Park Fire in California has been burning since July 24th after starting in Upper Bidwell Park, east of Chico, and has burned 393,013 acres. We’re hoping CAL Fire and the City of Chico Fire Department can get it under control soon.

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