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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for January 28, 2016.
Posted: 28 Jan 2016 13:28:41
ARB Newsclips for January 28, 2016. 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 Agency will help affordable-housing developers get cap-and-trade dollars. Sacramento Area Council of Governments staff will help affordable housing developers work to get their share of cap-and-trade dollars. That help, approved by SACOG’s board last week, will come over the next couple months. The first applications for affordable projects under cap-and-trade are due to the state by mid-March. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2016/01/26/agency-will-help-affordable-housing-developers.html ALISO CANYON Commission probing permanent closure of Aliso Canyon gas field amid massive leak. The California Public Utilities Commission wants to know if Southern California Gas Co. can find alternative storage sites and delivery systems should the Aliso Canyon natural gas field near Porter Ranch be taken offline in the future.The California Public Utilities Commission is studying the effects of… http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-puc-probing-permanent-closure-of-aliso-canyon-gas-field-amid-massive-leak-20160127-story.html CLIMATE CHANGE Global Carbon Market Faces Diplomatic Minefield in Oil Slump. After 195 nations agreed to develop the first truly global greenhouse-gas market last month, climate diplomats from China to Brazil must now haggle over how the program will work against a backdrop of the cheapest oil in more than a decade. Negotiators have given themselves less than a year to agree on rules for a universal market-based emissions-reduction system… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-28/global-carbon-market-faces-diplomatic-minefield-as-crude-slumps France plans renewed climate diplomacy blitz to protect Paris deal. “Everything is done but nothing is done,” warns France’s chief climate diplomat. It is little over a month since Laurence Tubiana helped engineer agreement on a greenhouse gas slashing pact between 195 countries in Paris, and she is keen to build on that success. The top priority is maintaining what she terms “political momentum”. http://www.climatechangenews.com/2016/01/27/france-plans-renewed-climate-diplomacy-blitz-protect-paris-deal/ Florida Mayors Tell Marco Rubio to Take Climate Change Seriously. Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio speaks to guests and supporters during a campaign rally on Jan. 27, 2016 in West Des Moines, Iowa. 'Ignoring climate science and doubling down on fossil fuels will only make the climate crisis more rapid and expensive' http://time.com/4197875/marco-rubio-climate-change-florida/ New database reveals which companies disclose carbon risks. Last month's international agreement at COP21 in Paris has lifted the hopes of sustainable investors that a meaningful transition to a low-carbon economy may, after many years of disappointment, get underway. The sheer numbers may be no less staggering — according to Ceres, more than $1 trillion per year for the next 36 years. http://www.greenbiz.com/article/new-database-reveals-which-companies-disclose-carbon-risks Canada delays major pipeline projects to review climate impacts. Canadian officials yesterday announced a new process for reviewing the greenhouse gas impacts of major energy projects to "restore trust in environmental assessment," pushing back the timeline for decisions on TransCanada Corp.'s Energy East pipeline and Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain Expansion Project. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/2016/01/28/stories/1060031301 DROUGHT California's snowpack is deepest in five years after recent storms. California’s current snowpack is the deepest it has been in five years -- a modest, yet encouraging milestone in a period of prolonged drought. Readings of the Sierra Nevada snowpack on Tuesday showed water content statewide was 18.7 inches, or 115% of the historical average for that date, according to the California Department of Water Resources. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-california-snowpack-increases-20160127-story.html ‘Modest Dents’ In Long-Term California Drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor released January 28 partly credits El Niño moisture for "some modest dents in the armor of the multi-year drought in California." "Slow and steady recovery continues for parts of the West this week after another beneficial round of precipitation brought with it liquid equivalent totals running from 5 to 8 inches or more in some spots in the northern Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges," according to the weekly update. http://www.capradio.org/articles/2016/01/28/modest-dents-in-long-term-california-drought/ Waterwise: United Way starts campaign for drought relief. The United Way of Tulare County and the California Resources Corporation are teaming up to provide mobile laundry services for East Porterville residents, whose domestic wells have dried up. The two agencies want to bring some relief to Tulare County residents affected by the on-going drought. http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/news/local/tulare/2016/01/27/waterwise-united-way-starts-campaign-drought-relief/79409392/ All the leaves are brown. Even torrential rain brought by El Niño may not end California’s drought. STILLNESS pervades the South Los Angeles Wetland Park. A turtle floats by, undisturbed by lunch hour at the high school opposite. Tall bulrushes bend around the pool at the centre of the nine-acre (3.6 hectare) site. The water comes from the city’s storm drains, cleaned of oil and rubbish. http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21689612-even-torrential-rain-brought-el-ni-o-may-not-end-californias-drought-all-leaves-are FUELS Don't Count on Coal Bankruptcies to Reduce America's Supply Glut. Not even bankruptcy is stemming the U.S. coal glut. Production at coal miners that declared bankruptcy in the past four years rose 3 percent on average, through the third quarter, an analysis of four companies by Bloomberg Intelligence shows. Mines formerly owned by James River Coal Co. posted a gain of 31 percent. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-28/don-t-count-on-coal-bankruptcies-to-reduce-america-s-supply-glut SSE Joins EON to Cut U.K. Natural Gas Bills as Fuel Costs Slump. SSE Plc became the second of the U.K.’s six biggest utilities to cut household natural gas prices this year after wholesale costs plunged to their lowest since 2010. The Perth, Scotland-based company’s 5.3 percent price reduction, effective from March 29, will reduce annual energy bills by an average of 32 pounds ($46), SSE said Wednesday in a statement. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-28/sse-joins-eon-to-cut-u-k-natural-gas-bills-as-fuel-costs-slump VEHICLES In coal-powered China, electric car surge fuels fear of worsening smog. Automakers' latest projections for rapid growth of China's green car market have added to concerns of worsening smog as the uptake of electric vehicles powered by coal-fired grids races ahead of a switch to cleaner energy. Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) plans 15 new-energy models over 3-5 years, its China chief told a green car conference in Beijing on Saturday, predicting - like the government… http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-pollution-autos-idUSKCN0V51BH How To Best Promote Electric Cars. Following up on the best things about electric cars, in our 6th article pulled from Electric Cars: What Early Adopters & First Followers Want — a new report from CleanTechnica, EV Obsession, and GAS2 — I’m jumping into what EV drivers and enthusiasts consider to be the best ways to promote EVs and spread the EV revolution. https://cleantechnica.com/2016/01/28/how-to-best-promote-electric-cars/ Electric-Car Battery Energy: Why Waste It On Cabin Heating? (Video). Among the drawbacks of cars that run on battery power is the energy required to heat their cabins. As electric-car drivers in less temperate climes know, heating the cabin to room temperature has an enormous impact on battery range--conceivably as high as 40 percent. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1102028_electric-car-battery-energy-why-waste-it-on-cabin-heating-video More Charging Stations Give Electric Cars More Range. Neil Belmore and his son Matt are on a road trip from Toronto to Palo Alto, California - 4300 kilometers - driving without stopping for gas. They're powering up their all-electric Tesla Model S at charging stations along the way. Not too long ago, electric car owners couldn't plan a road trip like that. The lack of charging stations outside of major cities kept them fairly close to home. http://www.voanews.com/content/electric-cars-range/3165549.html All Those Plug-In Hybrid Models? They're For China, More Than The U.S. Between now and 2020, the three German luxury brands--Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz-- will collectively add more than a dozen plug-in hybrid models to their lineups. The goal is to offer a plug-in hybrid version for almost all of their most popular vehicles, most with U.S. range ratings of 15 to 25 miles. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1102088_all-those-plug-in-hybrid-models-theyre-for-china-more-than-the-u-s Electric cars made cleaner by climate rules. Electric vehicles dominated a new ranking of green cars for the first time yesterday in part because the Clean Power Plan means the cars will be plugging into a cleaner grid over the course of their lifetimes. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) ranks new models every year based on their life-cycle emissions. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/01/28/stories/1060031306 VW RECALL Volkswagen Begins Recall of Diesel Cars in Europe. Regulators are forcing VW to fix the vehicles to make them compliant with existing regulations. Volkswagen AG began recalling millions of tainted diesel-powered vehicles in Europe this week, but seems no closer to a deal with U.S. environmental officials over how to fix affected cars owned by American consumers. http://www.wsj.com/articles/volkswagen-begins-recall-of-diesel-cars-in-europe-1453996552 VW Scandal Prompts EU Drive for Greater Enforcement Powers. European Union regulators sought greater authority over the approval of car models in response to Volkswagen AG’s emissions-test deception, risking a clash with EU governments. The European Commission, the EU’s regulatory arm, asked for the power to fine automakers up to 30,000 euros ($32,676) per faulty car… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-27/vw-scandal-prompts-eu-drive-for-greater-enforcement-powers HIGH SPEED RAIL Bullet train may take longer to build but cost less than originally estimated, official says. California's bullet train could take longer to build than previously estimated and its ultimate cost is difficult to predict, the head of the high-speed rail authority told state legislators Wednesday. "It may take us a little longer than we said to do this," rail authority Chairman Dan Richard said in testimony to an Assembly transportation committee. He did not elaborate. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0128-bullet-hearing-20160128-story.html GREEN ENERGY Green Energy Boom Helps Chile Contain Surging Power Prices. Chile’s solar industry is proving a win win. Not only has it cut emissions of the global warming gas carbon dioxide, but it has also helped slash some of the highest electricity costs in Latin America. Those benefits have come at no expense to the government, which refused to offer any of the subsidies that drained resources in countries such as Spain and Japan. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-28/green-energy-boom-helps-chile-contain-surging-power-prices Who Owns the Sun? Warren Buffett controls Nevada’s legacy utility. Elon Musk is behind the solar company that’s upending the market. Let the fun begin. Outside the Public Utilities Commission office, which is on the second floor of a modern, three-story building about 7 miles from the Strip in Las Vegas, a chorus of women are shouting to the tune of a Beastie Boys classic: “We’re gonna fight ... for our right ... to go soooolar!” http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-solar-power-buffett-vs-musk/ Senate Begins Debate on Comprehensive Bipartisan Energy Bill. The Senate on Wednesday started debating its first comprehensive energy legislation since the George W. Bush administration, a bipartisan measure meant to update the nation’s power grid and oil and gas transportation systems to address major changes in the ways that power is now produced in the United States. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/us/politics/senate-bipartisan-energy-legislation.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0 Vote on new costs for solar owners is 'politically a historic moment' California regulators are scheduled to vote Thursday on new rules for compensating owners of rooftop solar systems, a decision that will play a key role in shaping the state's future energy policy. The California Public Utilities Commission is proposing increased fees on rooftop solar owners but stopping short of the onerous charges … http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rooftop-solar-power-20160128-story.html California Rooftop Solar: State To Make Major Choice On Support For Green Energy Rules. California, which boasts more than half of the households with solar panels in the United States, will decide on Thursday whether to stick with a policy that has allowed rooftop systems producing electricity to flourish or to implement reforms that would make it more expensive to go solar. http://www.ibtimes.com/california-rooftop-solar-state-make-major-choice-support-green-energy-rules-2283971 Rooftop advocates take to the ballot in Nev. Sparring over net-metering payments for rooftop solar systems is continuing in the West, with solar companies forming a political action committee this week aimed at overturning a recent Nevada decision. The No Solar Tax PAC filed papers Monday with the Nevada Secretary of State, along with a ballot initiative that would overturn a December decision by the state Public Utilities… http://www.eenews.net/energywire/2016/01/28/stories/1060031299 Clean energy investors minding the ($5T) gap. The Paris climate agreement has pushed more investors toward clean energy, but they're still on track to come up $5 trillion short, new research says. To hold global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius, as nearly 200 nations vowed to do in the U.N. agreement struck last year in the French capital, the world needs to invest $12.1 trillion in the power sector… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/01/28/stories/1060031309 U.S. wind industry touts major 2015 gains, says more to come. The U.S. wind energy sector notched its second-largest quarterly growth in history during the last three months of 2015, according to figures released yesterday by the American Wind Energy Association. The industry saw 5,001 megawatts of new capacity come online during the fourth quarter. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/01/28/stories/1060031305 Renewable tax credits a 'game changer' for climate rule compliance. Congress' decision to extend tax credits for renewable energy could fundamentally shift America's energy mix away from natural gas and toward wind and solar at the advent of the Clean Power Plan, a new report predicts. Congress in December agreed to extend the production tax credit (PTC) for wind and the investment tax credit (ITC)… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/01/28/stories/1060031308 MISCELLANEOUS UN panel proposes ban on air shipments of batteries. A U.N. panel recommended Wednesday that cargo shipments of rechargeable lithium batteries be banned from passenger airliners because the batteries can create fires capable of destroying planes, said aviation officials familiar with the decision. The International Civilian Aviation Organization’s air navigation commission, the agency’s highest technical body, also proposed… http://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/world/article56981503.html#storylink=cpy OPINIONS Going down wrong road on gas taxes. State and local officials are putting the pedal to the metal in their quest for more road funding. As every driver feels in his or her jolted bones, potholes certainly are getting bigger and more numerous and the shock-absorber replacement bills are getting higher. In his Jan. 21 State of the State address, Gov. Jerry Brown said the state needed $77 billion in infrastructure maintenance paid for with “new fees and taxes.” http://www.ocregister.com/articles/state-361836-ocprint-road-gas.html Letter: PG&E wants to charge us to charge electric vehicles. PG&E wants to charge us to charge electric vehicles. On Feb. 9, 2015, PG&E submitted “an application for approval” to the California Public Utilities Commission for a rate increase that will end up costing PG&E users $654 million “to provide convenient access to electric vehicle charging stations.” http://www.chicoer.com/opinion/20160127/letter-pge-wants-to-charge-us-to-charge-electric-vehicles One View: Clean Air Act will also address inequality, health justice. As Nevadans debate how best to meet the new goals for reducing pollution from power plants under the Clean Air Act, they will also, unbeknownst to them, be discussing economic inequality, health justice and an opportunity to make great strides in both areas. http://www.rgj.com/story/opinion/voices/2016/01/27/one-view-clean-air-act-also-address-inequality-health-justice/79422300/ City official: Don’t worsen Detroit air quality. Tonight (Thursday), the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public hearing on two ‘Permit to Install’ requests by the Marathon Petroleum Refinery operating in southwest Detroit. Marathon is asking to increase its emissions of harmful pollutants that cause asthma, lung cancer and heart disease in a city wracked by some of the highest rates of all three in the country. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2016/01/27/marathon-oil-permits-ed/79432160/ BLOGS With Global Warming the World Will Be a Much Poorer Place. A recent article in the Londonist caught my attention: "In pictures, is this what the future of London looks like?" It's London but not as we know it. These artist's impressions of future Londons are the winners of a competition launched by estate agent Cluttons and Estate Gazette. Will the metropolis of tomorrow be a land of aquacities, sky gardens and huge alien-looking domes? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alan-farago/with-global-warming-the-w_b_9098120.html Funding Wind and Solar Energy Is Inefficient. We constantly hear how solar and wind energy is already cheaper than fossil fuels. A few months ago, Bloomberg Business declared that "wind power is now the cheapest electricity to produce in both Germany and the U.K., even without government subsidies." If renewable energy is cheaper than dirty fossil fuels… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bjorn-lomborg/are-wind-and-solar-energy_b_9087586.html?utm_hp_ref=green&ir=Green A Vermont Writer On Black Soot, Wood Stoves And Climate Change. When we hear about climate change in the media, the message tends to be of the gloom and doom variety. But there’s a message of hope to be found in a recent book about, of all things, soot. In Fire & Ice: Soot, Solidarity and Survival on the Roof of the World, part-time Lincoln resident Jonathan Mingle writes that there are things we can all do to help ameliorate the effects of climate change. http://digital.vpr.net/post/vermont-writer-black-soot-wood-stoves-and-climate-change California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.