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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 24, 2012.
Posted: 24 Oct 2012 14:50:50
ARB Newsclips for October 24, 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 EU: Spain, Italy putting EU emissions cuts at risk. Debt-ridden Spain and Italy could hinder the European Union from achieving its goal of cutting greenhouse emissions under an international climate pact, the EU's environmental agency said Wednesday. The EU considers itself at the forefront of the fight against climate change and as a bloc it's on track to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, which limits the emissions of gases that warm the planet. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/eu-spain-italy-putting-eu-emissions-cuts-at-risk/article_2b90eac5-57d0-5e27-81bd-a08a2f4933cc.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21842358/eu-spain-italy-putting-eu-climate-target-at?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21842358/eu-spain-italy-putting-eu-climate-target-at?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/24/3040486/eu-spain-italy-putting-eu-climate.html#storylink=misearch EU May Weigh Carbon Price Support, Offset Limit, Draft Shows. The European Union may consider introducing mechanisms to support carbon prices and limit the use of offsets in its emissions trading system after 2020 to strengthen the market, according to a draft EU document. Other options for the 27-nation bloc to strengthen the world’s biggest cap-and-trade program are tightening the EU emissions-reduction target, canceling a number of carbon permits to alleviate an oversupply and expansion of the system into new industries, according to the draft report on the state of the European carbon market obtained by Bloomberg News. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-23/eu-may-weigh-carbon-price-mechanisms-offset-limits-draft-shows.html Blown away by the attacks on wind-power subsidy. Mitt Romney and oil, gas and nuclear interests want to end a tax credit for wind-energy producers. Never mind that old-energy firms are heavily subsidized too. To hear business leaders and political candidates talk, proper industrial policy comprises only three elements: a fair tax system, a level playing field and "certainty." So why is it that all three are about to be thrown out the window as a sop to oil, gas and nuclear interests determined to fillet the wind-power industry? Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20121024,0,1784468,print.column Presidential debates offered nothing on climate change. For the first time since the topic surfaced in a presidential race in 1988, nominees made no mention of climate change during the prime-time television debates this year between the presidential contenders themselves or their running mates. Debate moderators also chose not to ask President Barack Obama or former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney about the issue, despite a clamor by climate activists and some not-so-gentle prodding on the part of pundits and scientists. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/23/3040117/presidential-debates-offered-nothing.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Related articles: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/24/the-five-biggest-issues-left-out-of-the-debates/ Judge's death brings new twist in high-stakes climate case. The outcome of a prominent climate case has become even more shrouded in mystery after one of the three judges considering the matter died this week. Judge Betty Binns Fletcher, who died Monday at the age of 89, was on the three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that is weighing the lawfulness of California's new low carbon fuel standard, which is aimed at lowering the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by about 10 percent by 2020. It's part of the state's landmark climate change law, commonly known as A.B. 32. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/24/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY U.S. likely to come just shy of emissions reduction target in 2020 – report. The United States is likely to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 16.3 percent from 2005 levels by 2020, falling just shy of the 17 percent target pledged by President Obama at the 2009 climate talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, according to a new study. "With the failure to pass comprehensive climate legislation in the 2010-2011 Congress…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/24/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY EU Plans To Ban Kyoto-Era Carbon Credits. The European Commission has proposed an Emissions Trading System (ETS) ban on €440 million of Kyoto-era carbon credits from non-EU countries such as Russia, which have not signed up to a second Kyoto commitment period. The document, which EurActiv has seen, says Emission Reduction Unit credits, or ERUs, “issued from 1st January 2013 in respect of projects in host Parties without new quantified emissions targets in place shall not be held in accounts in the Union registry.” Posted. http://www.thegwpf.org/eu-plans-to-ban-kyoto-era-carbon-credits/ FUELS In Oil-Rich Iran, Natural Gas Turns Wheels. HOW’S this for a paradox? Iran, an oil power seeking to become a nuclear power, has instead become a natural gas power. According to the latest figures from the Natural Gas Vehicle Knowledge Base, Iran, with the world’s second-largest natural gas reserves after Russia, in 2011 became the world leader in natural gas vehicles with some 2.9 million on the road, narrowly edging Pakistan, which is trailed by Argentina, Brazil and India, respectively. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/business/energy-environment/to-lower-pollution-iran-becomes-a-natural-gas-leader.html California gas prices plunging. California gas prices are plunging from record highs set two weeks ago as refineries come back on line, motorists drive less and the cheaper winter blend of fuel reaches neighborhood filling stations. That was expected. But here's a surprise -- a pleasant one: Prices may fall an additional 10 to 15 cents a gallon a week through Thanksgiving to about $4 a gallon, and they could drop to $3.75 a gallon or lower before the end of the year. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/traffic/ci_21838669/california-gas-prices-plunging?source=rss# Valero tightlipped about rumored sale of Benicia oil refinery. Rumors are swirling that Valero is putting its two California oil refineries on the market, including one in Benicia that is the city's largest employer. The speculation follows a Wall Street Journal report last week that said the San Antonio-based company has enlisted Citigroup Inc. to help find a buyer for the facilities. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_21843877/valero-tightlipped-about-rumored-sale-benicia-oil-refinery?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_21843877/valero-tightlipped-about-rumored-sale-benicia-oil-refinery?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com US may soon become world's top oil producer. U.S. oil output is surging so fast that the United States could soon overtake Saudi Arabia as the world's biggest producer. Driven by high prices and new drilling methods, U.S. production of crude and other liquid hydrocarbons is on track to rise 7 percent this year to an average of 10.9 million barrels per day. This will be the fourth straight year of crude increases and the biggest single-year gain since 1951. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121023/A_NEWS/121029973&cid=sitesearch Pump prices should continue to dip as wholesale gas prices tumble. California motorists are getting a reprieve at the pump as wholesale gasoline prices continue to tumble. Although California's average price for regular unleaded gasoline is still 75 cents above the national average, prices have gone down a few cents every day for the past two weeks. Wholesale prices became so high that they finally plateaued and began to decline sharply as demand slowed, said Denton Cinquegrana, senior West Coast market editor for Oil Price Information Service. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/23/pump-prices-should-continue-to-dip-as-wholesale/ Delta 3Q profit surges on fuel contract gains. Delta Air Lines said Wednesday that its third-quarter profit nearly doubled mostly due to the increasing value of its fuel contracts. The world's second-largest airline earned $1.05 billion, or $1.23 per share, compared with $549 million, or 65 cents, a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, it earned $768 million or 90 cents _ just shy of Wall Street expectations of 91 cents. Revenue rose 1 percent to $9.92 billion, also just under analysts' estimate of $9.93 billion, according to FactSet. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/delta-q-profit-surges-on-fuel-contract-gains/article_2206ab93-679f-5f42-b504-8fc2052767e4.html VEHICLES PSA Peugeot Citroën and GM confirm key steps in global strategic alliance; four vehicle projects, joint purchasing. PSA Peugeot Citroën and General Motors confirmed important steps toward the execution of their Global Strategic Alliance. (earlier post) This alliance is structured around two main pillars: the sharing of vehicle platforms, components and modules; and the creation of a global purchasing joint venture for the sourcing of commodities, components and other goods and services from suppliers with combined annual purchasing volumes of approximately $125 billion. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/gmpsa-20121024.html Univ. of Maryland team develops promising sodium-ion cathode material: FePO4/nanotube composite. Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a nanocomposite material of amorphous, porous FePO4 nanoparticles electrically wired by single-wall carbon nanotubes as a potential cathode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/liu-20121024.html Damen launches its first hybrid tug. Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards has launched its first hybrid tug—the ASD Tug 2810 Hybrid; Iskes Towage & Salvage will be the launching customer. The signing ceremony took place at the Offshore Energy conference in Amsterdam. The Dutch shipyard group is building hybrid tugs for stock; the second hybrid vessel will be available from stock end-2013. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/damen-20121024.html Sell Electric Cars Like Smartphones. Three big barriers are slowing electric vehicles. One can be fixed by the auto industry tomorrow -- and if it is, the other two will melt away as the electric vehicle sector expands. Start with a simple but surprising... Posted. http://www.cars21.com/news/view/5010 2014 Fiat 500E Electric Car To Be Launched At LA Auto Show. Organizers of the Los Angeles Auto Show have confirmed that Fiat will launch its electric 500 at the show. The 2014 Fiat 500E ditches the regular car's 1.4-liter gasoline engine, in favor of a battery-electric drivetrain. Beyond that, we don't know many details about the 500E. Fiat and Chrysler have never really been happy about launching an electric 500 due to the expense involved. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/news/view/5009 EV charging plugs in Europe: towards one unique solution for Type 2. So far, the EV charging standardisation process has been tough as policy and standards came after first commercially available products. In Europe, several solutions emerged because of the requirement to comply with different national regulations. However, it seems that one company just revealed what could be “THE” solution for Type 2 charging in Europe. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/news/view/5006 GREEN ENERGY U.S. to study cancer risks near 6 nuclear plants. San Onofre is among the facilities to be studied in the $2-million pilot program conducted by the National Academy of Sciences. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced plans Tuesday to launch a pilot epidemiological study of cancer risks near six nuclear power plants, including San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in north San Diego County. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1024-san-onofre-cancer-20121024,0,4821976.story Sacramento ranks No. 4 in clean tech index. Lots of energy-efficient buildings and hybrid vehicles. A sizable crop of workers engaged in green and clean-tech industries. Add it all up, and Sacramento ranks No. 4 in a nationwide index of clean tech metro areas released Tuesday. The first-ever U.S. Metro Clean Tech Index, assembled by Oregon consulting firm Clean Edge Inc., gives the Sacramento area high marks for its workforce, hybrid and electric vehicles and buildings that qualify for the federal government's Energy Star certification. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/24/4933782/sacramento-ranks-no-4-in-clean.html#storylink=cpy Industry group says energy storage still going strong despite troubles with key players Officials from the energy storage industry yesterday gave a sunny outlook for their sector despite financial trouble among some players, citing new projects, growing markets and advances in storage technology. "My goal here is to tell you that this works," said the Electricity Storage Association's (ESA) policy director, Katherine Hamilton, speaking at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill. "These are technologies that are really important that we need to make sure are included in our energy policy." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/24/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Celebrating 100 years of the garbage truck. Last week, Waste and Recycling News (WRN) announced the 100th Anniversary of the Garbage Truck. “The story of the garbage truck is one that truly goes unnoticed,” said Frank Guercio, Director of Fleet for Waste Management of Southern California. “Garbage trucks today are modern miracles on wheels.” According to WRN, the first garbage truck appeared in 1912. From the mechanical arms to the massive compactors inside, the modern garbage truck has come a long way. However, two of the most significant achievements are advanced safety features and the reduction of its environmental impact. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/23/celebrating-100-years-of-the-garbage-truck-6159/ Judge bans GMOs in national wildlife refuges. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg made what couldn't have been a very tough call yesterday. Until an environmental analysis is done, no one can plant genetically modified crops in National Wildlife Refuges. Posted. http://grist.org/news/judge-bans-gmos-in-national-wildlife-refuges/ California’s biggest climate hawk comes under fire. There may be no state legislative race this year more freighted with significance for clean energy than the contest in California's 27th state Senate district. That's where Democrat Fran Pavley, a long-time champion of clean energy, is facing off against Todd Zink, a Republican first-timer backed by a torrent of dirty-energy, and just dirty, money. Posted. http://grist.org/politics/californias-biggest-climate-hawk-comes-under-fire/ BLOGS From ‘Frontline,’ a Look at the Skeptics’ Advance. Less than 24 hours after the final presidential debate ended with the words “climate change” left unsaid, PBS aired a report that essentially explains the omission. “Climate of Doubt,” a “Frontline” documentary presented on Tuesday night, probably allots the biggest single block of national airtime to climate skeptics like Myron Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Tim Phillips of Americans for Prosperity and S. Fred Singer than we’ve seen in a long time. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/from-frontline-a-look-at-the-skeptics-advance/?ref=earth The Issue That Dare Not Speak Its Name. A mountain of scientific evidence points to climate change as a serious risk for the human future. The Pentagon sees it as a threat to national security. Arctic sea ice hit a record low this summer. In some low-lying countries threatened by sea level rise, evacuation planning has already begun. Yet the presidential debates are now over, and not once did climate change surface explicitly as an issue. This campaign is the first time that has happened since 1988, and environmental groups – and environmentally minded voters – are aghast. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/23/the-issue-that-dare-not-speak-its-name/?ref=earth