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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 17, 2015.
Posted: 17 Jul 2015 12:43:45
ARB Newsclips for July 17, 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 Jerry Hill seeks more cap and trade funds for transit: Caltrain’s plans for electrification could benefit from senator’s proposal. Caltrain’s efforts to accommodate growing ridership could receive a much needed boost in funding as state Sen. Jerry Hill proposed legislation Thursday calling for a redistribution of cap and trade funds. http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2015-07-17/jerry-hill-seeks-more-cap-and-trade-funds-for-transit-caltrains-plans-for-electrification-could-benefit-from-senators-proposal/1776425146894.html World Bank project holds first-ever auction to finance methane emission cuts. The World Bank today announced that a first-ever auction to fund the capture of methane emissions has bought price guarantees for 8.7 million carbon credits. Bank officials hailed the Pilot Auction Facility for Methane and Climate Change Mitigation (PAF) as a major win in the hunt for new ways to finance… http://www.biomassmagazine.com/articles/12194/epa-opens-comment-period-on-cottonseed-oil-analysis Final Phase Of Controversial EU Carbon Market Reforms Kicks Off. On 15 July, the European Commission unveiled its long-awaited proposals for a deep and meaningful reform of Europe’s carbon market from 2021-30. It neatly turns into law political decisions by EU heads of state and government last October. http://cleantechnica.com/2015/07/17/final-phase-of-controversial-eu-carbon-market-reforms-kicks-off/ E.U. weighs cap-and-trade price hikes to accelerate emissions cuts. The European Union released draft legislation that would increase permit prices in the world's biggest greenhouse gas market and help the bloc meet its emission-cutting goal. The Emissions Trading System imposes increasingly lower carbon dioxide quotas on about 12,000 power plants and factories. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/07/17/stories/1060021945 AIR POLLUTION Firm agrees to fines over pollution at fertilizer sites. Federal regulators say the Willis-Ellis Company has reached a settlement agreement over alleged air pollution at three of its Kansas fertilizer facilities. The Environmental Protection Agency said in a news release Thursday that the company has agreed to pay a $67,404 penalty to settle violations of the Clean Air Act at its facilities in White Cloud, Troy and Silver Lake. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/17/firm-agrees-to-fines-over-pollution-at-fertilizer-/#ixzz3gATKI0Os How Air Pollution May Have Caused Catastrophic Flooding In China. Air pollution isn't just bad for your health. It can have dramatic effects on weather and climate. In fact, a team of scientists believes that air pollution from industries and traffic could have caused the extreme floods that devastated southwest China in 2013. http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/07/16/421815633/how-air-pollution-may-have-caused-catastrophic-flooding-in-china CLIMATE CHANGE Japan sets 26 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions as target. Japan said on Friday it would slash its greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent by 2030 from 2013 levels and would submit the plan to the United Nations later in the day as its contribution to a global summit on climate change in Paris in November. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/17/us-japan-carbon-idUSKCN0PR0A220150717 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-17/japan-vows-to-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-26-in-un-pledge Climate Talks Nearing Consensus in Behind-the-Scenes Meetings. Publicly, the United Nations climate-change talks look mired in disputes over everything from money to the length of the proposed agreement. Behind the scenes, a deal may be closer than it seems, according to a report today from two veteran negotiators who’ve organized a series of unofficial meetings among key countries. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-15/climate-talks-nearing-consensus-in-behind-the-scenes-meetings Sea Warming Leads to Ban on Fishing in the Arctic. The United States and four other nations that border the Arctic Ocean pledged on Thursday to prohibit commercial fishing in the international waters of the Arctic until more scientific research could be done on how warming seas and melting ice are affecting fish stocks. The agreement came as an annual report on the world’s climate… http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/17/world/europe/sea-warming-leads-to-ban-on-fishing-in-the-arctic.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=1 State Senate resolution praises papal encyclical on climate change. The state Senate approved a resolution on Thursday praising Pope Francis' encyclical on climate change and calling on politicians to heed its call for better stewardship of the environment. Gov. Jerry Brown is taking a copy of the resolution with him to the Vatican next week for an international conference on climate change and modern slavery. http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-california-pope-climate-change-resolution-20150716-story.html Study: No warming-proof polar bear trait. A study of an Alaska polar bear population in summer concludes the bear's biology will not help stave off starvation in the face of global warming. The study of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears by university, federal and private researchers over three years concludes they have no special ability to minimize energy loss… http://www.insidebayarea.com/nation-world/ci_28497883/study-no-warming-proof-polar-bear-trait All key climate change indicators were at or near record levels in 2014, NOAA announces. The world has seen successive heat records set and broken in recent years, and 2014 was no different, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reiterated yesterday in its annual State of the Climate review. 2014 was the hottest year since records began in 1880… http://www.biomassmagazine.com/articles/12194/epa-opens-comment-period-on-cottonseed-oil-analysis DROUGHT Water managers dodge bullet with 'May miracle' rains. For drought watchers, it has become known as the May miracle. At a time when water levels in Lake Mead were getting so low that officials prepared for drastic cutbacks, it started raining. A series of powerful storms pummeled the mountains that feed the Colorado River, a key source of water for California, Arizona and Nevada. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-may-miracle-drought-20150717-story.html#page=1 House passes California drought bill, but Senate action is unlikely. It was touted as the bill “where everybody wins” — a common-sense approach to providing badly needed drought relief to California growers, and a measure that would place the needs of people above those of fish. http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-house-drought-bill-20150716-story.html Irrigation district told to stop pumping water. FRESNO California issued its first cease-and-desist order on Thursday telling an irrigation district to stop pumping water under this year's tightened drought regulations. The state water board said inspectors in May observed the West Side Irrigation District in Tracy pumping water. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/water-329293-ocprint-district-state.html Though conditions are ripe for a blast of winter rain, it probably won't bust the drought. Forecasters are growing increasingly confident that warm ocean El Niño conditions will continue through the fall and winter – possibly leading to a drought-relieving rainy season. Rain isn't guaranteed, forecasters warn, but given the warmth brewing in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, downpours in California are increasingly likely this winter. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/california-329271-ocprint-ni241o-rain.html FUELS State Laws On Ethanol In Gasoline: Only Seven States Require E10 Blend. Under the Renewable Fuels Standard passed in 2007, the Federal government requires certain volumes of ethanol to be blended into the U.S. transportation fuel supply. However, states have discretion as to how much (or how little) ethanol goes into fuels sold within their borders. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1099149_state-laws-on-ethanol-in-gasoline-only-seven-states-require-e10-blend China to License DuPont Biofuel Technology. DuPont says it will license its biofuel technology to China’s largest cellulosic ethanol manufacturing plant. The agreement allows Jilin Province New Tianlong Industry’s (NTL) plant, located in Siping City, Jilin Province, to license DuPont’s cellulosic ethanol technology and use DuPont Accellerase enzymes to produce renewable biofuel from the leftover biomass… http://www.environmentalleader.com/2015/07/17/china-to-license-dupont-biofuel-technology/#ixzz3gAgoWumu EPA opens comment period on cottonseed oil analysis. The U.S. EPA has published a notice inviting public comment on its preliminary analysis of the lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributable to the production and transport of Gossypium spp. seed oil (cottonseed oil) feedstock for use a biofuel feedstock. http://www.biomassmagazine.com/articles/12194/epa-opens-comment-period-on-cottonseed-oil-analysis Reports of fracking with diesel were incorrect – EPA. FracFocus reports showing that oil and gas wells were fracked with diesel fuel were erroneous, according to U.S. EPA officials. Drilling companies either made mistakes in entering their information into the database or changed their initial plans, agency officials told EPA's inspector general. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/2015/07/17/stories/1060021979 VEHICLES Startups breathe new life into the basic car battery. While the costs of lithium ion batteries drop, is there still room to make the lead acid battery better? In the energy sector, lithium-ion batteries are having a moment. Not only are they powering the hottest electric cars like those from Tesla, but they’re also increasingly the tech of choice for companies building battery banks for the power grid. http://fortune.com/2015/07/17/lead-acid-battery-lithium-ion/ GREEN ENERGY How long until renewable energy powers the US? The future of US energy is looking like it will rely heavily on renewable sources. The more difficult question is when, and at what rate, that future will arrive. There’s little debate surrounding the ultimate future of the energy industry. Hint: it’s renewable. Simply put, the way of finite resources is just that – helplessly bound to end. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2015/0716/How-long-until-renewable-energy-powers-the-US Enel Green Power Investing $220 Million Into Mexican Wind Farm. International clean energy developer Enel Green Power is set to invest $220 million into a new wind farm to be developed in Mexico. The Vientos del Altiplano wind farm will be developed in the Mexican state of Zacatecas, and upon completion will amount to 100 MW and will be able to generate 280 GWh annually. http://cleantechnica.com/2015/07/17/enel-green-power-investing-220-million-mexican-wind-farm/ MISCELLANEOUS Wondering where cap-and-trade dollars go? Website maps out projects. A nonprofit that promotes alternative transportation and urban density has created a website that maps out projects funded through California’s cap-and-trade program. The tool marks the state’s first easy-to-read geographic mapping of cap-and-trade grants, which are now being disbursed through a handful of state agencies. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2015/07/17/wondering-where-cap-and-trade-dollars-go-website.html Why are California's roads so bad? California motorists pay some of the highest gasoline taxes in the nation. On average, states impose a combination of taxes and fees that amount to about 30 cents a gallon, whereas California's gas tax is an astonishing 42 cents a gallon. On top of that, according to a report released last fall by the Legislative Analyst's Office, cap-and-trade regulations will probably lead to an additional 13- to 20-cent-a-gallon increase by 2020. http://www.chicagotribune.com/la-oe-0717-obernolte-gas-tax-20150717-story.html OPINIONS When Climate Change Becomes a Climate Catastrophe. "Go Set a Watchman" isn't the only book this year that brings new perspective to an old story line. "Climate Shock: The Economic Consequences of a Hotter Planet" should shift our narrative on climate change. The old story line: People need to worry about climate change because doubling the atmosphere's concentration of carbon dioxide relative… http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-07-17/when-climate-change-becomes-a-climate-catastrophe BLOGS Regional Cap-and-Trade Shown to Save Money While Boosting Economy and Cutting Emissions. Power plant nightTwo myths consistently being put forward by conservative think-tanks are that government regulation hurts the economy and that efforts to take action on climate change will raise energy prices. These assertions are primarily put forth through imagined scenarios, rather than actual data. http://www.triplepundit.com/2015/07/regional-cap-trade-shown-save-money-boosting-economy-cutting-emissions/ California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.