Community Blog

Residents Raise Concerns Over Water, Energy and Accountability Amid Data Center Proposals

September 21, 2026 / By

As artificial intelligence continues to expand, so does the infrastructure needed to power it. In Kern County, proposed AI data centers are raising questions among residents and community organizers about how much water and electricity the facilities will use, what benefits they will bring, and how much say residents will have in the projects.

Kern Energy Hydrogen Permit Challenge Continues After Hearing Board Narrows Claims

August 21, 2026 / By

Residents of Fuller Acres and Lamont plan to continue challenging an air permit for Kern Energy’s proposed hydrogen project after a regional hearing board narrowed the scope of their petition last week, leaving a more technical dispute over how the project’s emissions were calculated, which will be heard in October.

Sol on the Street: What do Bakersfield residents want to see improved, and why does local representation matter?

August 13, 2026 / By
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Local elected officials make decisions that can have a direct impact on the communities they represent, from housing and transportation to parks, roads, and neighborhood development.

How Frankie Sutton Turned a Personal Journey Into 3G Activities

July 8, 2026 / By

What started as a father’s effort to keep up with his children has grown into a community movement centered around three simple principles: get up, get out, and get active.

‘We Don’t Matter Anymore’: CSUB Dining Workers Speak Out Over Job Loss

June 24, 2026 / By

On June 9, workers and union representatives urged the Kern County Board of Education to protect longtime cafeteria employees, arguing that more than a dozen dining workers at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) could lose their jobs as food service operations transition to a new provider.

Black History is American History: Community Members Discuss Juneteenth

June 22, 2026 / By
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There are three flags used for Juneteenth, but one was created specifically for the holiday. It is a red, white, and blue flag that was created in 1997 by Ben Haith.