California has set carbon-neutrality goals for 2045 in a move away from fossil fuels to combat global warming. Kern County, where oil and gas production is a key industry, is at the epicenter of this transition’s push and pull. KVPR News’ Joshua Yeager and Inside Climate News’ Emma Foehringer Merchant are tracking the developments in the changing energy landscape.
This project is a collaboration of KVPR, Inside Climate News, Investigative Editing Corps and Report for America.
“Trying to tell the story of climate change in California is a herculean task. But breaking it down into small pieces and then connecting the dots was something Mia Zuckerkandel helped immensely on. The investigative series “Beyond Oil: California’s Big Bet” by KVPR in partnership with Inside Climate News, Investigative Editing Corps and Report For America tells the story of how climate change is affecting a key industry in Kern County and what people are doing about it. Zuckerkandel and the Investigative Editing Corps provided the guidance and mentoring that simply wasn’t available in our newsroom. We were able to accomplish reporting a story that is relevant and critical to our audience.”
-Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado
News Director of KVPR | Valley Public Radio
Editor: Mia Zuckerkandel
Mia Zuckerkandel has overseen investigations about migrant teens working in seafood processing plants, illegal bail schemes in county jails, and dangerous conditions in public housing. She has edited stories for The Pandora Papers, PBS NewsHour, Reveal, RIPR and the FRONTLINE Local Journalism Initiative, and KQED, among other outlets. And she has led projects that have spurred government action and won awards.
Mia has also produced television newscasts, news specials and documentaries, as well as radio shows and animations. And she has worked for and with news startups.
Top image: Kern County officials are considering a proposal by California Resources Corporation, an oil producer, to build Carbon Terravault 1, a carbon capture and storage facility, near Bakersfield, CA. (Harika Maddala/Catchlight)