Weekly Digest for July 19, 2021    

This week's features

• How you can conserve energy during a flex alert
• Stay one step ahead and know your zone
• Help your trees avoid long-term drought damage
• $1,250 for Solar + Backup battery rebate for San Mateo county residents

Upcoming public meetings and events

• Tuesday, July 20, 5 p.m.
  City Council special meeting agenda
• Wednesday, July 21, 6 p.m.
  Environmental Quality Commission agenda
• Thursday, July 22, Noon
  Virtual Menlo Park Community Coffee with Assemblymember Berman and Mayor Combs
• Thursday, July 22, 7 p.m.
  Adult Paint Night: Paint like Mondrian
• Monday, July 26, 7 p.m.
  Planning Commission meeting
• Tuesday, July 27, 7 p.m.
  From Theory to Practice: A Dialogue about Critical Race Theory
• Wednesday, July 28, 6:30 p.m.
  Parks and Recreation Commission meeting
• Thursday, July 29, 5 p.m.
  City Council special meeting: Community conversation on reimagining police services
• View all events
  City calendar

How you can conserve energy during a flex alert

A Flex Alert is typically issued in the summer when extremely hot weather pushes up energy demand and the state electric grid reaches its capacity. It is a call to consumers to voluntarily cut back on electricity and shift electricity use to off-peak hours. This usually happens in the late in the day when solar energy supplies starts to decrease and people arrive home and switch on air conditioners, lights and appliances. When a Flex Alert is called, residents are advised reduce their electricity use on the dates and times noted in the alert. Conservation is…Click to continue

Stay one step ahead and know your zone

In the midst of wildfire season, it is always good to be prepared of an evacuation or emergency and know your zone. In the event of an emergency, first responders will use Zonehaven to plan and execute evacuations both large and small. In order to understand whether your area is under an evacuation warning or order, you need to know your Zone Name. First responders will use the code to direct evacuations or issue shelter-in-place orders for specific zones across the Peninsula. Emergency managers have carved the Peninsula into more than…Click to continue

Help your trees avoid long-term drought damage

You can help preserve Menlo Park’s Tree City USA heritage this summer by making sure your trees avoid long-term drought damage by following some simple tree care guidelines. Water mature trees once a month by irrigating near the edge of the tree canopy (drip line) at a low flow rate for a long duration to allow water to infiltrate down at least 18”-24” deep into the soil (Rule of thumb - use 10 gallons per 1 inch of trunk diameter). For young trees not yet established, water every 3-5 days within the drip line and check the…Click to continue

$1,250 for Solar + Backup battery rebate for San Mateo county residents

Peninsula Clean Energy is offering a payment of $1,250 to residents of San Mateo County who install solar panels with battery backup power. The Power On Peninsula program helps residents maintain power during grid outages while moving the county toward 100 percent renewable energy. Participants will also benefit from solar power and have the opportunity to sell any excess generation back to the grid. Peninsula Clean Energy is working with Sunrun, a leading provider of residential solar and backup battery systems…Click to continue