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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 16, 2012.

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 14:34:26
ARB Newsclips for October 16, 2012. 
 
This is a service of the California Air Resources Board’s Office
of Communications.  You may need to sign in or register with
individual websites to view some of the following news articles.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Credible offset projects crucial to success of state's
cap-and-trade program. On Jan. 1, California will become the
first state to charge industries for the greenhouse gases they
emit. Central to the success of the state's cap-and-trade program
is ensuring that projects allowing polluters to invest in
emissions-reduction efforts actually lead to verifiable cuts in
pollution. The projects, which award credits for carbon offsets
that can then be sold, allow polluters to invest in initiatives
that reduce emissions elsewhere instead of reducing emissions at
their own factory, refinery or power plant. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/16/9  BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Linking Calif., E.U. emissions trading systems feasible, study
finds. While California's landmark greenhouse gas system is still
a month away from launching its first auction of carbon credits,
a new study finds that linking markets is feasible for California
and the European Union. The report by the Swedish Environmental
Research Institute and the liberal think tank Forum for Reforms,
Entrepreneurship and Sustainability explores the potential of the
two systems. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/16/7  BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Poorer countries move more quickly to adapt to climate change.
Some of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries have made
steady progress in protecting themselves from the impacts of
disaster, according to a sweeping new index. The once war-torn
country of Rwanda and the small island nation of Cape Verde top
the Global Adaptation Institute's (GAIN) list of countries that
have substantially improved their ability to adapt to climate
change over the past five years. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/16/6  BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

DIESEL EMISSIONS

Diamond Bar air quality agency gets $1 million grant to replace
older diesel trucks. A local smog-fighting agency received a $1
million grant Monday from the federal government to remove older,
diesel trucks from Southern California highways and freeways. As
part of the federal Diesel Emission Reduction Act of 2005, the
Diamond-Bar based South Coast Air Quality Management District
will spend grant money to replace 50 diesel-powered, medium-duty
urban delivery trucks with fully electric trucks, said Michael
Ardito, spokesman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in
San Francisco. Posted.
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_21779377/diamond-bar-air-quality-agency-gets-1-million


CARB says it’s sending ‘clear message’ to truckers with
4,000-truck inspection. The California Air Resources Board
announced today that its month-long multi-agency campaign to
ensure that trucks traveling on California’s roadways are obeying
state air pollution laws was a huge success. With assistance from
the California Highway Patrol, Caltrans and the California
Department of Food and Agriculture, CARB staff inspected 4,053
trucks at roughly 40 locations throughout the state during
August, noting an overall compliance rate of more than 80
percent.  Posted.
http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2012/10/16/CARBsaysitssendingclearmessagetotruckerswith4000-truckinspection.aspx


EPA Awards $30 Million for Clean Diesel Projects.  The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $30 million for clean
diesel projects as part of its ongoing campaign to reduce harmful
diesel exhaust.  The Diesel Emission Reduction Program, also
known as DERA, is designed to replace, retrofit or repower older
diesel-powered engines like marine vessels, locomotives, trucks
and buses.  While today's diesel engines are durable,
fuel-efficient workhorses, older diesel engines pre-dating newer,
cleaner standards emit large amounts of air pollutants, such as
nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.  Posted. 
http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=78307&news_category_id=3
 

FUELS

California Asks Court to Reinstate Carbon Fuel Standard.
California’s low-carbon fuel standard, which is tougher on
ethanol produced in the Midwest, was questioned today by a panel
of federal appeals court judges who said it appeared to
discriminate against out-of-state fuel producers. Attorneys for
the California Air Resources Board, which monitors and regulates
air quality, are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals in San
Francisco to reverse a judge’s ruling that struck down portions
of carbon fuel standards on grounds that they’re unfair to
out-of-state ethanol producers and illegally regulate businesses
outside of California. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-16/california-asks-court-to-reinstate-carbon-fuel-standard.html

http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/court-to-hear-arguments-in-calif-clean-fuels-case/article_dde453c9-2359-550a-b073-8e6df99e7cfb.html
 
http://www.wbtv.com/story/19828659/court-to-hear-arguments-in-calif-clean-fuels-case

 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21781658/biden-due-at-funeral-tuesday-ex-sen-specter?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com
 
http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21781658/biden-due-at-funeral-tuesday-ex-sen-specter?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com
  
http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/16/3030783/court-to-hear-arguments-in-calif.html#storylink=misearch


Amid protests, report finds no harm from fracking. Baldwin Hills
residents challenge study that found no significant environmental
impact from method used to extract oil trapped in rock
formations. A new report on hydraulic fracking at the Inglewood
Oil Field found that the controversial oil extraction method used
at two wells did not have significant effects on the environment
or on the health of those living near the 1,200-acre site. More
than 200 residents of the Baldwin Hills area turned out Monday
evening to hear the findings and question the author of the
environmental impact study. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fracking-baldwin-hills-20121016,0,4915390,print.story


Saving transportation fuel is a key to boosting U.S. energy
security. American energy independence is a hot topic among
policymakers, particularly leading up to the election. But a new
report by the consulting firm Deloitte says independence may not
be necessary to meet the United States' key energy needs. The
report, "Energy Independence and Security: A Reality Check,"
released yesterday, argues that U.S. energy policy should focus
instead on supply security with a focus on fuel savings in the
transportation sector. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/16/4  BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

CALIFORNIA GAS PRICES 

Gas prices declining, but not as fast as they rose. Gasoline
prices in Sacramento and statewide continue to fall, but not very
quickly.  AAA put the statewide average price of unleaded regular
this morning at $4.60 a gallon, down from $4.64 on Friday.
National gas price tracker GasBuddy.com had the average price of
a gallon of gas in California at $4.58, compared with $4.62 on
Friday. In Sacramento, AAA said the average for unleaded regular
today is $4.48 a gallon, down from $4.52 on Friday. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/15/4914057/gas-prices-declining-but-not-as.html#


Ever so slowly, gas prices fall. San Diego gasoline prices are
creeping downward, but remain 50 cents higher than a month ago.
The average price for a gallon of regular was $4.64 on Monday,
down from an all-time record of $4.73 a week prior, according to
AAA's daily fuel price gauge. An unprecedented spike in
California gasoline prices prompted state regulators to
accelerate the switch over to cheaper and more available winter
gasoline blends. Posted.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/15/ever-so-slowly-gas-prices-fall/
 

More expensive gas pushes US consumer prices up. Higher gas costs
drove up U.S. consumer prices in September for the second
straight month. Outside energy, there was little sign of
inflation. The Labor Department said Tuesday that the consumer
price index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent last month,
matching the August increase. In the past 12 months, prices have
increased 2 percent. That's in line with the Federal Reserve's
inflation target. Excluding volatile food and energy costs,
prices rose just 0.1 percent. In the past year, so-called core
prices have increased 2 percent. Posted. 
http://www.nctimes.com/business/more-expensive-gas-pushes-us-consumer-prices-up/article_14586506-1048-5e2a-a6fb-eb1e610815ff.html


VEHICLES

SAE approves new EV fast-charging standard.  SAE International
approved on 15 October 2012 a new technical standard that will,
according to the global engineering group, dramatically reduce
charging times for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric
vehicles.  SAE said the new charging standard, developed with the
cooperation of more than 190 global experts representing the
automotive, utilities and charging equipment business, ensures
charging times can be reduced from as long as eight hours to as
short as 20 minutes.  Posted.  http://cars21.com/news/view/4992 


Nissan-Renault Goal of 500,000 EVs Sold By 2015 Gone. Now 1.5
Million By 2016.  For most of us who follow the LEAF in the
United States, we just assumed Nissan-Renault’s original stated
goal of “selling 500,000 plug-in electric vehicles by 2015″
from back when they first introduced the 73 mile EV would have to
fall at some point.  41,000 LEAFs Sold Worldwide Through
September.  Who knew the number would go up?  Posted. 
http://insideevs.com/nissan-renault-goal-of-500000-evs-sold-by-2015-gone-now-1-5-million-by-2016/


HIGH SPEED RAIL

Bakersfield may sue High Speed Rail.  The city of Bakersfield
will ask city council members to vote on suing High Speed Rail at
their next meeting.  The city says the High Speed Rail Authority
is not following California Environmental Quality Act
requirements and is keeping the city in the dark.  Opponents say
if California's bullet train is built it could put city owned
land, infrastructure, and taxpayer money at risk, along with
private property lining the proposed routes.  But the city claims
they have no clue to what extent because the Rail Authority is
not being crystal clear, which is required by law.  Posted. 
http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/Bakersfield-may-sue-High-Speed-Rail/VEeIUVLAN0e4czP0JtR07w.cspx


GREEN ENERGY

FuelCell Gets U.S. Funds to Advance Carbon-Capture Project.
FuelCell Energy Inc. (FCEL), the Danbury, Connecticut-based maker
of fuel-cell power plants, qualified for $800,000 in U.S.
government funding to develop systems that capture carbon-dioxide
emissions at coal-fired generators. The funding is the second
phase of a $3 million award from the U.S. Energy Department
announced in October 2011, FuelCell said in a statement today.
FuelCell is one of 16 companies that will share as much as $41.3
million in Energy Department funding over three years to develop
carbon-capture technology. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-10-16/fuelcell-gets-u-s-funds-to-advance-carbon-capture-project-1-.html


MISCELLANEOUS

Incentive program could help replace tractors. Starting today,
the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District will offer
money for the replacement of tractors and loaders. The incentive
program provides up to 80 percent of the cost for replacement of
in-use, off-road tractors that are engaged in agricultural
operations as defined by the California Air Resources Board. It
is first come, first served. As more money becomes available,
more tractors will be funded. Posted.
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20121015/NEWS01/310150016/Incentive-program-could-help-replace-tractors


Grants available to reduce air pollution in Eastern Kern.  The
Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District (EKAPCD) is
requesting proposals for on-road vehicle emission reduction
projects for the eastern portion of Kern County. EKAPCD's 2013
Motor Vehicle Emission Reduction Program (MVERP) awards grants to
projects that reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx), reactive organic
gas (ROG) and particulate matter emissions from on-road motor
vehicles. Posted. 
http://www.tehachapinews.com/news/local/x1250042468/Grants-available-to-reduce-air-pollution-in-Eastern-Kern


OPINIONS

California Policy and Gas Shortage. Your editorial "California's
Green Gas Shortages" (Oct. 8) succinctly answers the questions
raised in "Should There Be A Price On Carbon?" (Journal Reports,
Oct. 8) by the remark that California's cap-and-trade program set
to take effect in November will result in oil companies passing
on the costs to consumers. We consumers have to understand it
won't just be the increased cost of gas at the pump that we will
be noticing (making it an economic decision between fuel, hybrid
or electric cars), but our entire cost of living. Posted.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443749204578052590372409984.html
BY SUBSCRIPTION

Solar power, and tortoises too. A plan for big plants in the
Mojave Desert balances renewable energy and conservation needs.
Should we save the desert tortoise, or plow over its habitat to
build solar power plants that can help us save ourselves? It's a
question that has arisen frequently in recent years as solar
developers have flocked to California's Mojave Desert in search
of generous federal incentives to turn the sun's heat into
electricity, raising conflicts with conservationists and Native
American tribes who think all this "progress" will ravage natural
and cultural resources. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-solar-20121016,0,4231220.story


DOWNEY: No conspiracy in surging gas prices. It seems like
everyone wants to weigh in when gasoline prices spike. This last
week's record-shattering surge was no different. A Riverside
County lawmaker ---- Republican Assemblyman Jeff Miller of Corona
---- proposed suspending the 35-cent-a-gallon state gas tax for
the rest of the year. Miller, who is locked in a tight race for a
state Senate seat, didn't exactly gain traction with Democratic
Gov. Jerry Brown. Posted. 
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/columnists/downey/downey-no-conspiracy-in-surging-gas-prices/article_7659c742-5c5a-5379-9d2b-42195961d7ac.html


California residents feel pain at the pump.  A recent peak in gas
prices in California over the past week has drivers throughout
the state fuming.  The state claims that prices will go back down
soon. It seems, though, that promises of lowering gas prices are
never kept because they fluctuate so often. These empty promises
are becoming exhausting to the average consumer.  The cost of gas
is sometimes raised in order to promote environmentally friendly
practices and to encourage people to buy fuel-efficient cars. 
Posted. 
http://www.thepolypost.com/opinion/california-residents-feel-pain-at-the-pump/article_1e28bb5c-172e-11e2-9897-0019bb30f31a.html
 

What would it mean to treat climate change like a security
threat?  Climate change is a serious security risk to the United
States — the Department of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
and the White House have affirmed as much in various reports and
proclamations. It’s become a popular talking point among climate
hawks. Nonetheless, there hasn’t been enough thinking, at least
outside nerd circles, about what it would it mean to approach
climate change as a security problem. What exactly would that
look like?  Posted. 
http://grist.org/climate-energy/what-would-it-mean-to-treat-climate-change-like-a-security-threat/
  

BLOGS

No Indian Point + No Fracking = More Coal Burning? Even if energy
conservation were pursued more aggressively in the state (a
perennial opportunity), scratching off New York natural gas and
nuclear power would clearly lead to more reliance on
coal-generated electricity (or gas extracted in other states
unlikely to have the safeguards that are inevitable in
environment-minded New York). Posted.
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/no-indian-point-no-fracking-more-coal-burning/?ref=earth


Could Visualizing Greenhouse-Gas Emissions Help Combat Climate
Change? One of the first steps in tackling climate change is to
curb greenhouse-gas emissions. The trouble is, both the public
and policymakers have been slow to act on a problem they cannot
physically see. It's easy to blame harmful emissions on China,
coal companies or the next-door neighbor. But people would likely
do more to reduce their carbon footprint if they could visualize
the damage they are doing. Historically, scientists have measured
greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), on a broad scale.
Posted.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dimugno/could-visualizing-greenho_b_1964007.html?utm_hp_ref=green

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