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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for April 20, 2015.
Posted: 20 Apr 2015 16:27:53
ARB Newsclips for April 20, 2015. 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. CAP AND TRADE British Columbia Carbon Plan Eyes Buildings While Caps Ruled Out. British Columbia, pledging to step up the fight against climate change while ruling out carbon caps, is considering tougher building standards, its premier said. In contrast to her peers in Ontario and Quebec, British Columbia Premier Christy Clark defends her province’s carbon levy as a better approach because it avoids the complexity of a cap-and-trade system… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-20/british-columbia-carbon-plan-eyes-buildings-while-caps-ruled-out Carbon Pricing: Accounting Isn't Enough. As the World Bank and others ramp up the discussion on carbon pricing, heads are turning towards Paris with thoughts on how the issue will be incorporated into the expected COP21 global climate deal. I have said many times in the past that unless a carbon price makes its way into the whole global energy system, then its success in bringing down emissions is far from assured. http://theenergycollective.com/davidhone/2218206/accounting-isn-t-enough Lindsey Graham: ‘I Believe Climate Change Is Real,’ But Reject Cap and Trade. In an interview with "Fox News Sunday," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he believes “climate change is real,” but he rejects the cap and trade solution proposed by former Vice President Al Gore. “I believe climate change is real, but I reject the cap and trade solution of … of Al Gore. He's made a religion. It's a problem,” he said. http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/melanie-hunter/lindsey-graham-i-believe-climate-change-real-reject-cap-and-trade Tight Federal Deadlines May Keep U.S. States Out Of Existing Cap-And-Trade Programs. Several U.S. states are considering joining existing cap-and-trade programs such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to comply with pending carbon rules from the federal government. However, a major obstacle in doing so is the tight deadlines that federal officials have set for states to submit compliance plans. http://www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/pages/dynamic/article.page.php?page_id=10909§ion=home&eod=1 AIR POLLUTION U.S. emissions rose in 2014 but lagged pace of economic growth. Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in the United States rose again last year as the nation's economy grew and are expected to do so again this year and next, the Department of Energy's statistical arm said today. But the analysis from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows economic growth is being decoupled from emissions… http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2015/04/20/stories/1060017077 Despite efforts, ozone hole will take years to heal – scientists. The scientists who discovered the hole in the ozone layer 30 years ago say it will still take years to heal. When the hole in the atmosphere above Antarctica was discovered in 1985, the international community moved quickly to set up the Montreal Protocol, which banned the chemicals that were depleting the ozone layer and allowing harmful sun rays to reach the ground. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2015/04/20/stories/1060017051 Landmark Deal Curbs Flaring Pollution. Top oil-producing nations and companies pledge to eliminate the waste of natural gas that also exacerbates global warming. Top oil-producing nations, including the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan and Angola, as well as Royal Dutch Shell PLC and other companies say they will stop flaring natural gas by 2030 as part of a landmark agreement with the World Bank. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/landmark-deal-curbs-flaring-pollution/ CLIMATE CHANGE Obama's Earth Day trek to Fla. to highlight climate change. President Barack Obama plans to celebrate Earth Day by visiting the Florida Everglades. In his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday, Obama says "there's no greater threat to our planet than climate change." He says he'll visit the Everglades on Wednesday to talk about how global warming threatens the U.S. economy. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_EVERGLADES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-04-19/obama-no-greater-threat-to-planet-than-climate-change http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/04/18/us/politics/ap-us-obama-everglades.html http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/obama-discuss-global-warming-everglades-earth-day-article-1.2190630 http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2015/04/20/obama-brian-deese-earth-day-climate-change-florida-everglades/26067285/ The globe's record heat keeps on broiling into this year. There's been no break from the globe's record heat - the first three months of 2015 have set new high temperature marks. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said last month's average temperature of 56.4 degrees (13.6 degrees Celsius) was the hottest March on record, averaging 1.5 degrees above the average for the 20th century. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_HOT_2015?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.climatecentral.org/news/2015-hottest-year-to-date-18895 Green Group Praises Bush on Climate Remarks. Billionaire activist Tom Steyer's climate change advocacy group offered unexpected praise on Friday to Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush for saying the United States should work with the world to reduce carbon emissions. NextGen Climate, which launched a "war room" earlier this month to target presidential candidates that deny the existence of climate change… http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/04/17/us/politics/17reuters-usa-climatechange-bush.html Australia's Direct Action climate policy challenged by US, China and Brazil at the UN. Large emitters join other countries in challenging Australia on its emissions reduction target and commitment to renewables. Australia has been asked to defend the credibility of its Direct Action climate change policy at the UN after several countries submitted questions to the Abbott government querying how the policy would reduce carbon emissions. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/20/australia-direct-action-climate-policy-challenged-us-china-brazil Americans Don’t Talk About Global Warming Very Often. Poll: Many Americans say climate change doesn’t come up in conversation. Global warming can be a touchy subject—and many Americans would rather not talk about it. A whopping 74 percent of Americans "never" or "rarely" discuss global warming, while just 26 percent of Americans talk about it "often" or "occasionally,"… http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/americans-don-t-talk-about-global-warming-very-often-20150420 (MOVE TO CAP AND TRADE) Cap and trade an opportunity for Alberta. Ontario’s announcement this week that it would join with Quebec in a linked carbon trading market is, on whole, a good thing. We know that climate change is a serious problem, that Canada has made international commitments that it’s unlikely to meet, and that, all else equal, carbon pricing policies like taxes or cap-and-trade regimes are the cheapest way to deliver reduced emissions. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/albertas-moment-has-arrived-but-will-it-bother-to-seize-it/article24016540/ Carbon dioxide emissions keep rising despite Obama's reign of regs. A report published today by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have increased over the past two years, despite Obama's bevy of new regulations since taking office in 2009. Collectively, CO2 emissions make up the largest part of overall U.S. greenhouse gas emissions… http://www.examiner.com/article/carbon-dioxide-emissions-keep-rising-despite-obama-s-reign-of-regs Major Changes Loom in Arctic as U.S. Leads Council. Just 30 years ago, the Arctic was viewed as a frozen expanse of limited opportunity. But climate change is rapidly reshaping the region — it’s warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet — creating new opportunities and risks that are coming into global focus. “Without climate change, we wouldn’t really be talking about the Arctic in the first place” … http://www.climatecentral.org/news/shipping-oil-gas-us-arctic-council-18901 Secretary of State Kerry heads to Canada to take on challenges of a melting Arctic. The United States will begin its leadership of the Arctic Council at an international meeting in Iqaluit, Canada, on Friday, beginning a two-year term in which the State Department has signaled it will focus heavily on climate change. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry -- who was often the lone member of Congress to attend U.N. climate talks… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/04/20/stories/1060017015 Is Brazil backsliding on climate and deforestation policy? Climate change is "not a priority" for Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, according to several top environmental activists and researchers who said this week that they are concerned the administration will propose a weak emissions target for a new global accord. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/04/20/stories/1060017043 DROUGHT California revises drought plan after pressure from cities. California water regulators on Saturday revised a still-tentative drought plan by easing cuts for Los Angeles and San Diego and bumping up reduction targets in the areas that consume the most water. The changes are an apparent response to criticism from cities… http://mobile.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSKBN0N90SC20150420 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/us/california-releases-revised-water-consumption-rules-for-drought.html?ref=us&_r=0 http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-83331758/ http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article18854379.html http://www.timesheraldonline.com/general-news/20150418/california-rolls-out-new-water-reduction-plan http://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/apr/20/california-drought-new-proposed-water-reduction-pl/ (MOVE TO OPINION) Drought provides opportunity for L.A. to get gray water right. Not just during drought but even in times of normal precipitation, there is something absurd about taking precious drinking water — imported at great cost from environmentally fragile areas hundreds of miles away, pumped over the mountains using enormous amounts of energy, filtered, treated and tested so as to be safe for human consumption — and spraying it on lawns and flowers. http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-83328554/ (MOVE TO OPINION) Media must make a difference in coverage of California’s drought. In times of crisis, journalism can – and should – make a difference. California’s drought and the response by media all over the world should be the latest example. While farmers fallow fields and all 39 million of the rest of us shorten our showers and let the lawn turn brown, the world is watching to see how we weather this challenge. http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/joyce-terhaar/article18722001.html#storylink=cpy Despite drought worries, Bay Area researchers fear flooding. Though many researchers in California are focused on the lack of rain, a group in the Bay Area found that if the skies do open up flooding will be a problem. The San Mateo County Times reports (http://bayareane.ws/1EjVvHq) that the nonprofit Bay Area Council says the region is unprepared for the superstorm which they call inevitable. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Despite-drought-worries-Bay-Area-researchers-6211138.php California almonds get roasted during drought. California almonds are becoming one of the world's favorite snacks and creating a multibillion-dollar bonanza for agricultural investors. But the crop extracts a staggering price from the land, consuming more water than all the showering, dishwashing and other indoor household water use of California's 39 million people. http://www.mercurynews.com/business-headlines/ci_27948322/california-almonds-get-roasted-during-drought California drought: LADWP's Owens Valley pumping might suffer without snowpack runoff. A possible consequence of another dry winter in California: the water supplies Los Angeles can take from Inyo County may be limited. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has oversight of the water it derives from the area. Today, it releases its plan for pumping groundwater out of the Owens Valley over the next six months. http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/04/20/51125/california-drought-ladwp-s-owens-valley-pumping-mi/ The Drought Not Likely To Cause Higher Grocery Bills. Even though the price of water is skyrocketing in California and experts predict farmers will fallow about a million acres this year, your grocery bill is not likely to go up. California farmers are making choices to insulate consumers from the drought. Daniel Sumner, an economist at UC Davis, offers an example illustrating what's happening. http://www.capradio.org/articles/2015/04/20/the-drought-not-likely-to-cause-higher-grocery-bills/ Drought Affecting Local Smelt Population. The drought in California has been affecting the population of local Delta smelt. The Record of Stockton reports that state officials found just one single Delta smelt during a survey this month looking at 40 different sites along the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. http://www.kgoradio.com/common/page.php?id=121492 California drought spurs protest over 'unconscionable' bottled water business. Californians facing the prospect of endless drought, mandated cuts in water use and the browning of their summer lawns are mounting a revolt against the bottled water industry, following revelations that Nestlé and other big companies are taking advantage of poor government oversight to deplete mountain streams and watersheds at vast profit. http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/19/california-drought-protest-bottled-water Unchecked growth, questions about water. Some question water supplies for development in the California desert. Surrounded by golf courses in La Quinta, a patch of plowed desert is being preparing for construction. The property's developers conceptualize the first phase of a neighborhood there — 78 houses with designs named "Italian Farmhouse" and "Tuscan Villa." http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2015/04/17/unchecked-growth-questions-water/25952941/ FEATURE-California drought causes cattle and elk to lock horns over pasture. A herd of tule elk move warily along a California coastal hill as a herd of Black Angus cattle graze nearby. Despite the apparent peaceful coexistence, the animals are at the center of a battle for precious grasslands reduced by the state's drought. Ranchers and farmers who live and work within the 71,000-acre (287-square km) Point Reyes National Seashore… http://www.trust.org/item/20150420110032-ry72r Regulators propose 36% cut for urban water guzzlers. California regulators released proposed water-saving regulations last weekend aimed at cracking down on outdoor urban water use ahead of the summer dry season. The regulations would require the biggest water wasters to cut their use 36 percent, well above the statewide target of 25 percent set by Gov. Jerry Brown (D) earlier this month in response to the state's water supply emergency. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2015/04/20/stories/1060017069 DIESEL ACTIVITIES FUELS TransCanada’s Pipeline Benefit Vows Fail to Sway Quebec’s Arcand. Quebec wants more evidence from TransCanada Corp. that its Energy East pipeline will benefit the province after a marine terminal was scrapped from the plan, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Pierre Arcand said. While the company argues the proposed C$12 billion ($9.8 billion) line crossing the French-speaking Canadian province to reach the Atlantic… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-17/transcanada-s-pipeline-benefit-vows-fail-to-sway-quebec-s-arcand Safety Regulations Issued for Trains Carrying Oil. Responding to public pressure to act more quickly after a series of fiery train derailments involving oil shipments, the Transportation Department on Friday issued a series of emergency orders, including a 40-mile-an-hour speed limit for hazardous materials moving through urban areas. The emergency rules also require railroads to provide detailed information about a shipment within 90 minutes of any derailment. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/18/business/energy-environment/safety-regulations-issued-for-trains-carrying-oil.html?ref=energy-environment&_r=0 Senator: Decade-Old Gulf Oil Leak Is 'Unacceptable' A U.S. senator from Florida is pressing federal officials to disclose technical data and other information about a decade-old oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, after an investigation by The Associated Press revealed evidence that the spill is far worse than a company or government regulators have publicly reported. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/04/17/us/ap-us-gulf-oil-spill-hidden-spill.html (MOVE TO OPINION) Big Oil has lots of explaining to do on gasoline price spikes. To death and taxes, add one more certainty: Big Oil will always triumph at the expense of our families unless California starts standing up to oil companies by refusing to tolerate a system rigged in their favor. In February, when two refineries were mismanaged and went offline, gas prices spiked – forcing California drivers to pay nearly $1 more a gallon than motorists elsewhere. http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/soapbox/article18816618.html#storylink=cpy VEHICLES (TEXT HERE DOESN”T GO WITH HEADLINE) Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars Return for Another Run. Responding to public pressure to act more quickly after a series of fiery train derailments involving oil shipments, the Transportation Department on Friday issued a series of emergency orders, including a 40-mile-an-hour speed limit for hazardous materials moving through urban areas. The emergency rules also require railroads to provide detailed information about a shipment within 90 minutes of any derailment. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/18/business/energy-environment/safety-regulations-issued-for-trains-carrying-oil.html?ref=energy-environment&_r=0 Volkswagen introduces high-end plug-in hybrid C Coupé GTE concept in Shanghai. At Auto Shanghai, Volkswagen is presenting the world premiere of the C Coupé GTE, which illustrates a new design approach for future top-end sedans at Volkswagen. This four-door concept car for the Chinese market—which is more than five meters in length—is powered by a plug-in hybrid drive system, the drive sources of which combine to produce 500 N·m of system torque. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2015/04/20150420-ccoupegte.html Global debut for Nissan Murano Hybrid at Shanghai show. Nissan unveiled two all-new production models, the Murano Hybrid and Lannia, a new mid-size sedan for the Chinese market, along with two Nismo products, GT-R Nismo and 370Z Nismo, at Auto Shanghai 2015. Murano Hybrid features the Nissan Intelligent Dual Clutch System (one motor/two clutch parallel system). http://www.greencarcongress.com/2015/04/20150420-nissan.html GREEN ENERGY Renewable energy surge revives Europe's power trade. The rise of renewable energy is delivering a boost to Europe's declining power market as traders get busy in short term deals to juggle unpredictable supplies of wind and solar. Exchanges show more trade as suppliers buy and sell power closer to when demand will appear, to meet their delivery obligations, because electricity cannot be stored effectively. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/17/europe-power-trading-idUSL5N0XD4AM20150417 Batteries and Renewable Energy Set to Grow Together. The future of American energy, according to one widely held view, will include solar panels and wind turbines continuing to proliferate, churning out ever more electricity and eventually eclipsing fossil fuels to help offset the forces of climate change. With the cost of renewable technologies falling sharply, that vision is starting to take shape, especially in areas with abundant sunshine or steady wind. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/21/science/batteries-and-renewable-energy-set-to-grow-together.html Solar Power Battle Puts Hawaii at Forefront of Worldwide Changes. Allan Akamine has looked all around the winding, palm tree-lined cul-de-sacs of his suburban neighborhood in Mililani here on Oahu and, with an equal mix of frustration and bemusement, seen roof after roof bearing solar panels. Mr. Akamine, 61, a manager for a cable company, has wanted nothing more than to lower his $600 to $700 monthly electric bill with a solar system of his own. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/business/energy-environment/solar-power-battle-puts-hawaii-at-forefront-of-worldwide-changes.html?ref=energy-environment&_r=1 MISCELLANEOUS U.S., China top dumping of electronic waste; little recycled. The United States and China contributed most to record mountains of electronic waste such as cellphones, hair dryers and fridges in 2014 and less than a sixth ended up recycled worldwide, a U.N. study said on Sunday. Overall, 41.8 million tonnes of "e-waste" -- defined as any device with an electric cord or battery…http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/20/us-environment-waste-idUSKBN0NA00V20150420 OPINIONS Would You Want to Smell BBQ All the Time? CITY COUNCIL meetings in Austin, Tex., tend to be droning, low-drama affairs, but that wasn’t the case earlier this month when barbecue was on the agenda: specifically, the smell of barbecue and a proposal to control it, in response to some citizen complaints. The suggestion that a smell some would dab behind their ears if possible should be mitigated by special exhaust systems… http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/sunday-review/would-you-want-to-smell-bbq-all-the-time.html?_r=0 Op-ed: Earth Day is a reminder of what we can do collectively. The American public awakening to environmental health and sustainability is often traced to 1962. It was then that author Rachel Carson penned "Silent Spring." Carson's book sparked a movement that continues today. She stated, "I truly believe that we in this generation must come to terms with nature. http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2409602-155/op-ed-earth-day-is-a-reminder Carbon Emissions, Climate Change, & The Various Effects — Great New Infographic. An interesting new infographic from “InformationisBeautiful” concerning carbon dioxide emissions and climate change recently came to my attention, and seemed worth sharing. The infographic goes over many, many things, including: the current rate of carbon emissions, the carbon ‘budget’ if we’re going to avoid a dangerous rise in temperature… http://cleantechnica.com/2015/04/19/carbon-emissions-climate-change-various-effects-great-new-infographic/ My view: Climate change denial: Scientific skepticism or disparagement of science? In the latest development in the public understanding (or misunderstanding) of climate science, Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz has compared himself to Galileo. His suggestion is that he and others like him who reject the evidence that humans are changing Earth’s climate are heroes standing up to the prevailing power structure. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865626775/Climate-change-denial-Scientific-skepticism-or-disparagement-of-science.html Thomas Sowell: Some push global warming ‘inquisition’. How long will this country remain free? Probably only as long as the American people value their freedom enough to defend it. But how many people today can stop looking at their electronic devices long enough to even think about such things? Meanwhile, attempts to shut down people whose free speech interferes with other people’s political agendas go on, with remarkably little notice, much less outrage. http://www.desertsun.com/story/opinion/columnists/2015/04/20/thomas-sowell-new-inquisition/26071697/ Letters: Cap-and-trade system may help our R&D; and other views. Re: Cap and trade is a revenue generator, April 16. Columnist Randall Denley’s views on Ontario’s recent agreement with Quebec on a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions misses one important potential outcome. By encouraging companies to find innovative ways to reduce their emissions, new technologies will most likely result. http://www.canada.com/Opinion/Letters/Letters+trade+system+help+other+views/10987812/story.html Cap and trade system can work for farmers. The Ontario government believes climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing future generations. This past week Premier Wynne announced Ontario will pursue the establishment of a cap and trade system to address climate change by limiting sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario. http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2015/04/20/cap-and-trade-system-can-work-for-farmers Air Pollution: The silent killer we need to talk about more often. The issue of environmental conservation has gained in public importance because of the significant administrative measures (Air Quality Index) and judicial decisions (NGT rulings on diesel cars and construction projects) taken towards addressing environmental concerns. http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/standpoint-air-pollution-the-silent-killer-we-need-to-talk-about-more-often-2079091 'It's Our Turn To Lead': How To Engage Your Team On Earth Day. One billion people. 22, 000 partners in 192 countries. The world’s largest, non-secular celebration. Get ready for Earth Day 2015, the 45th anniversary of this urgent occasion. As the drumbeat of climate change gets louder and more dire, the Earth Day Network is mobilizing global leaders, businesses and citizens around the world to make meaningful commitments towards change. http://www.forbes.com/sites/causeintegration/2015/04/20/earth-to-man-sos-this-earth-day/ BLOGS It’s Not Magic. It’s Voltage Optimization. Imagine homeowners and businesses saving millions of dollars – and cutting pollution – without needing to do anything. Magic? No, but it does require electric utilities to take advantage of new technologies that better provide customers with just the right amount of voltage to their electrical outlets. http://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/2015/04/20/its-not-magic-its-voltage-optimization/ Drought Rules Revised Based On Feedback, SF In Most Lenient Water Usage Tier. On Saturday, state water regulators issued a revised plan based on Governor Jerry Brown's April 1 mandate that everyone statewide cut back on water usage by 25 percent. The new plan takes into account various factors among the hundreds of effected local water agencies, including those that are relatively water rich, those that are considered urban but still divert a large percentage of water to agriculture… http://sfist.com/2015/04/20/drought_rules_revised_based_on_feed.php Everything I thought I knew about water in California is wrong. This piece started out as a confident prescription for California’s drought ills. But when I began writing, I kept coming across things that seemed confusing or contradictory. And each time I went to the experts to clarify, they’d explode all my basic assumptions. So instead of writing that piece, here’s a list of all the (misguided) conventional wisdom I had absorbed — set right, or at least clarified. http://grist.org/food/everything-i-thought-i-knew-about-water-in-california-is-wrong/ Labour's Green Plan. Nine years ago today David Cameron went to the arctic for his 'hug a husky' publicity stunt. Today, after five years of the so called 'greenest Government ever' all we have are broken promises of change. In government David Cameron tried to sell off the nation's forests, refused to commit to decarbonising our power sector and undermined the green economy. The Lib Dems were too weak in Government to stand up to the Tories. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/maria-eagle-mp/climate-change-labour_b_7098320.html Artificial Photosynthesis Advance Hailed As Major Breakthrough. In what's being called a win-win for the environment and the production of renewable energy, researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley, have achieved a major breakthrough in artificial photosynthesis. The scientists have created a system that can capture carbon dioxide emissions before they're released into the atmosphere… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/20/artificial-photosynthesis-environment-energy_n_7088830.html?utm_hp_ref=whats-working Bonding the Future: Green Bonds for a Greener Planet. Over two centuries ago, in 1812, the City of New York issued the nation's first municipal bonds for the construction of City Hall and the digging of a canal. Other cities and states soon joined Gotham's efforts -- constructing the schools, water systems, roads and subways that would power America's growth. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-m-stringer/bonding-the-future-green-_b_7095212.html California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.