Opinion: Going green and seeing red in the Golden State

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Green fever seems to have hit the state, the media, or both. Here are some of the verdant shades of California controversies:

Tree-huggers versus sun-lovers: A Sunnyvale couple refuses to cut down their redwoods, even though a neighbor says they’re blocking his solar panels. Now that’s environmentally awkward.

EPA battle heats up: EPA head Stephen Johnson gets the third degree at a hearing chaired by California’s Sen. Barbara Boxer for preventing the Golden State from enacting tougher fuel efficiency standards. Embarrasingly enough, Johnson’s mostly on his own, as EPA staff last month issued findings that contradicted his decision.

Off the mean streets, into green sheets: Alameda County is opening an environmentally friendly homeless shelter, equipped with solar panels and water-based heaters.

Green eating hits Sacto: And we’re not talking vegetarian.

Thin as plastic: Los Angeles city councilmembers’ willpower, that is. The city has given up on following San Francisco’s lead and instituting a plastic shopping bag ban. The editorial board said China had a better idea, anyway.

It’s not easy smoking green: Even with a doctor’s note (and strictly off-hours), a state court rules that using medical marijuana can get you fired. Assemblymember Mark Leno says he’ll see about that.

Okay, so maybe that last one wasn’t exactly on topic.