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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for April 21, 2016.
Posted: 21 Apr 2016 16:08:33
ARB Newsclips for April 21, 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. AIR POLLUTION Bay Area refineries must buy ‘fence line’ air pollution monitors. Regulators on Wednesday ordered the Bay Area’s five oil refineries to track and report air pollution on the edge of their properties and regularly update officials on the different types of petroleum they use. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District approved rules designed to protect people living near the refineries… http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Bay-Area-refineries-must-buy-fence-line-air-7276661.php http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/article/zz/20160420/NEWS/160429414 State senate president fires back at air board's GOP majority. New legislation would allow state to veto AQMD smokestack emissions plan and add board members. Board recently fired longtime director to be more "business friendly". A California legislative committee will consider a bill today by state Senate leader Kevin DeLeon, D-Los Angeles… http://www.pe.com/articles/bill-800524-veto-emissions.html CLIMATE CHANGE Paris climate agreement on track for early start. As many as 170 countries are expected to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change Friday in a symbolic triumph for a landmark deal that once seemed unlikely but now appears on track to enter into force years ahead of schedule. U.N. officials say the signing ceremony Friday will set a record for international diplomacy… http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UN_CLIMATE_AGREEMENT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT The Paris climate deal at a glance. Four months after negotiating a global climate agreement in Paris, government officials are coming to New York on Friday to sign the pact in a ceremony at the United Nations. Here are some of the key elements of the Paris deal, which is the first agreement requiring all countries to join the fight against global warming. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UN_CLIMATE_AGREEMENT_GLANCE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Study: Warming giving US type of weather we prefer _ for now. Global warming has mostly made the weather more pleasant for Americans over the last 40 years, which may explain why much of the public doesn't rank climate change as big a threat as do scientists and the rest of the world, a new study suggests. But that perceived benefit of global warming - mostly milder winters… http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_BETTER_WEATHER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=bf95fd3f57-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-bf95fd3f57-327747457 U.N. members fear U.S. 'sabotage' of Obama's climate commitments. There are concerns at the United Nations about apparent attempts inside the United States to "sabotage" President Barack Obama's commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the head of the U.N. General Assembly said on Wednesday. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-un-climatechange-idUSKCN0XH2SF?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=bf95fd3f57-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-bf95fd3f57-327747457 Leaders Roll Up Sleeves on Climate, but Experts Say Plans Don’t Pack a Wallop. An airport hangar outside Paris shook with cheers, toasts and foot-stomping in December as diplomats ushered a landmark climate agreement into existence. On Friday morning, world leaders will gather again at the United Nations for a grand ceremony to sign the document. But can they deliver on their promises to fight global warming? http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/22/science/united-nations-paris-climate-change-document.html Think tank calls on V.I. prosecutor to pull ‘unlawful’ climate-change subpoena. The Competitive Enterprise Institute on Wednesday called on the Virgin Islands attorney general to withdraw his subpoena into its climate-change work, calling the probe a “political ploy” designed to “punish” the free-market group for its climate-change dissent. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/apr/20/free-market-group-calls-vi-prosecutor-pull-unlawfu/?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=bf95fd3f57-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-bf95fd3f57-327747457 Global warming has made the weather better for most in U.S. -- but don't get used to it, study says. Since Americans first heard the term global warming in the 1970s, the weather has actually improved for most people living in the U.S. But it won't always be that way, according to a new study. Research shows Americans typically — and perhaps unsurprisingly — like warmer winters and dislike hot… http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-change-weather-america-20160420-story.html http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/20/climate-change-weather-changes-us-study Can The U.S. And China Keep Their Climate Pledges? On Friday, most of the world's governments are set to sign the most sweeping climate agreement in history. Their signatures will codify promises they made in Paris last December to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The two largest sources of those gases are the U.S. and China. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/21/474690936/can-the-u-s-and-china-keep-their-climate-pledges Corporations Move to Curb Global Warming. CEOs and investors hail the Paris Agreement as the start of a new era to combat climate change. The deal 195 nations finalized in December in Paris may be the most important climate agreement ever reached, but pockets of corporate leaders, financial regulators and money managers remember it for another reason: a shift in how the business community views global warming. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/corporations-move-to-curb-global-warming/ Study reveals greater climate impacts of 2C temperature rise. Analysis of difference between 1.5C and 2C of warming finds extra 0.5C would mean longer heatwaves, greater droughts and threats to crops and coral reefs. A difference of half a degree centigrade may be barely noticeable day to day, but the difference between 1.5C and 2C of global warming is a shift into a new… http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/21/study-reveals-greater-climate-impacts-of-2c-temperature-rise-heatwaves Kerry, world leaders head to New York to sign climate deal. Most of the countries that agreed to last year's landmark Paris climate deal will converge on New York tomorrow to officially endorse it. Officials from more than 150 nations are expected to be on hand when the agreement opens for signatures at U.N. headquarters in Manhattan. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/04/21/stories/1060035984 DROUGHT Extreme And Exceptional Drought Decline In California. The U.S. Drought Monitor says extreme and exceptional drought was reduced slightly in California last week and, for the first time since the week of July 2013, there is no exceptional drought in Nevada. "Little or no precipitation fell on the areas of dryness and drought in the Far West from the southeastern fringes of Washington… http://www.capradio.org/articles/2016/04/21/extreme-and-exceptional-drought-decline-in-california/ VEHICLES Japan's Mitsubishi Motors finds falsified fuel mileage tests. Mitsubishi Motors Corp., the Japanese automaker tarnished by a massive recall cover-up 15 years ago, owned up to another scandal Wednesday, saying employees had intentionally falsified fuel mileage data for several vehicle models. The inaccurate tests by the Tokyo-based automaker involved 157,000 of its own-brand eK wagon and eK Space light passenger cars… http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_JAPAN_MITSUBISHI_MOTORS_FALSE_DATA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT VW RECALL Judge: VW owners can pick buybacks, fixes in emissions deal. An agreement will give consumers who bought nearly 600,000 Volkswagen vehicles rigged to cheat on emissions tests the option of having the automaker buy back the cars or fix them, a judge said Thursday. Senior U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer did not give details on how much car owners would be paid but said the deal between Volkswagen, the U.S. government and private lawyers would include "substantial compensation." http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_VOLKSWAGEN_EMISSIONS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-emissions-idUSKCN0XI24G http://www.wsj.com/articles/volkswagen-reaches-deal-with-u-s-authorities-over-diesel-emissions-scandal-1461252731 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-21/vw-reaches-u-s-deal-to-get-diesel-cheat-cars-off-the-road http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/22/business/international/volkswagen-emissions-settlement.html?_r=0 http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2016/04/21/volkswagen-emissions-hearing/83332794/ http://www.voanews.com/content/volkswagen-to-buy-back-cars-pay-1-billion-in-emissions-cheating-case/3295139.html http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/04/21/475110775/what-will-volkswagen-do-for-its-diesel-customers?sc=nd http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2016/04/21/Volkswagen-reaches-deal-to-get-480k-emissions-cheating-cars-off-roads/5671461253083/ Time's up: Volkswagen must explain how it'll make 600,000 rigged cars comply with clean air laws. Time is up for Volkswagen to meet a federal judge's deadline to detail how it will make nearly 600,000 diesel cars rigged to cheat on emissions tests comply with clean air laws. Senior U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said he wanted to know the timing of the fix and any planned payments to vehicle owners by a court hearing set for Thursday. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0422-volkswagen-diesel-fix-20160421-story.html Volkswagen: Why a Deal Over Emissions Won’t End the Drama. An agreement with the U.S. authorities should bring Volkswagen investors a measure of relief. It is a shame that progress on cost-cutting looks as distant as ever. Enter Mitsubishi stage-left, exit Volkswagen stage-right? As shares in the Japanese car maker tanked in response to an admission it had falsified fuel-economy data… http://www.wsj.com/articles/volkswagen-why-a-deal-over-emissions-wont-end-the-drama-1461164953 Reports say Volkswagen has agreed to buy back 500,000 cars — see if your car may be eligible. Reports say that Volkswagen has agreed to buy back 500,000 cars affected by the emissions scandal. Eligible for the buyback are 2.0-liter diesel vehicles, including the Jetta sedan, the Golf compact and the Audi A3 sold since 2009. http://www.businessinsider.com/vw-agreed-buy-back-500000-cars-volkswagen-2016-4 Volkswagen may buy back 500,000 illegally polluting cars, report says. Volkswagen may buy back more than 500,000 illegally polluting cars in the U.S., Reuters reported Wednesday. The news agency’s report follows one from German newspaper Die Welt that the automaker may offer $5,000 to settle with owners of affected cars. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1103521_volkswagen-may-buy-back-500000-illegally-polluting-cars-report-says http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/apr/20/volkswagen-emissions-scandal-us-government-deal Volkswagen to spend $1 billion to compensate U.S. car owners in diesel cheating scandal. Volkswagen, the U.S. government and private lawyers have reached a deal for the automaker to spend just over $1 billion to compensate owners of about 600,000 diesel-powered cars that cheat on emissions tests, according to a person briefed on the matter. The “deal in principle” includes a maximum amount of spending… http://www.dailybreeze.com/business/20160420/volkswagen-to-spend-1-billion-to-compensate-us-car-owners-in-diesel-cheating-scandal VW fooled state DMVs too, prompting calls for tougher air tests. Each year, millions of American motorists trudge to state inspection stations to make sure their vehicles aren’t violating pollution limits. At least, that’s what they think they’re doing. As the emissions-cheating scandal involving Volkswagen AG demonstrates, the tests may not be all they are cracked up to be. http://www.autonews.com/article/20160420/OEM11/160429993/vw-fooled-state-dmvs-too-prompting-calls-for-tougher-air-tests http://www.autonews.com/article/20160420/OEM11/160429993/vw-fooled-state-dmvs-too-prompting-calls-for-tougher-air-tests Volkswagen Might Pay Every U.S. Diesel Owner $5,000 to Avoid a Trial. On the eve of a key U.S. deadline for a diesel emissions fix, Volkswagen has reportedly agreed to pay all American owners of afflicted TDI models $5,000 each. The deal, reported by Germany’s Die Welt newspaper, would allow the automaker to avoid going to trial this summer, according to Automotive News. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2016/04/volkswagen-might-pay-every-diesel-owner-5000-to-avoid-a-trial/ http://jalopnik.com/volkswagen-will-pay-5000-to-customers-affected-by-dies-1772110979 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Bullet train agency is expected to go forward with business plan despite widespread criticism. The state high-speed rail authority is poised to adopt a new business plan at a board meeting Thursday, despite concerns voiced by lawmakers, regional officials and independent experts. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-bullet-comments-20160421-story.html GREEN ENERGY Once fast-growing solar company SunEdison files for bankruptcy. SunEdison Inc (SUNE.N), once the fastest-growing U.S. renewable energy company, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday as years of debt-fueled acquisitions proved unsustainable. In its bankruptcy filing, the company said it had assets of $20.7 billion and liabilities of $16.1 billion as of Sept. 30. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-sunedison-inc-bankruptcy-idUSKCN0XI1TC An Unlikely Alliance Is Born in the Battle Over Solar Power. An unlikely partnership between utilities and solar companies was born this week in New York, where both industries are seeking to shape policies that dictate how owners of rooftop panels are compensated for electricity they supply to the grid. In a proposal to regulators this week, the two groups collaborated on an alternative to the existing policy… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-20/in-battle-over-solar-power-unlikely-alliance-born-in-new-york Cost of solar energy falls every time the sun rises. Installing solar panels on your roof is not just for tree-hugging environmentalists. The increasing ease of the process and the financial returns have made going solar practically mainstream. Washingtonians are embracing solar power in a big way. In the District, residential solar installations have tripled since 2011, said Chelsea Barnes with EQ Research. https://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/cost-of-solar-energy-falls-every-time-the-sun-rises/2016/04/20/5126e4ac-d4e0-11e5-9823-02b905009f99_story.html Senate Passes Legislation Tailored to a Modern Energy Landscape. The Senate on Wednesday passed the first broad energy bill since the George W. Bush administration, a bipartisan measure to better align the nation’s oil, gas and electricity systems with the changing ways that power is produced in the United States. The bill, approved 85 to 12, united Republicans and Democrats around a traditionally divisive issue — energy policy… http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/21/us/politics/senate-passes-broad-bill-to-modernize-energy-infrastructure.html?_r=1&utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=bf95fd3f57-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-bf95fd3f57-327747457 This Solar Power Plant Can Run All Night. Crescent Dunes looks and sounds a bit like an invention lifted from a science fiction novel. Deep in the Nevada desert more than 10,000 mirrors—each the size of a highway billboard—neatly encircle a giant 640-foot tower. It looks like it might be used to communicate with aliens in deep space. But the engineers and financiers behind the facility… http://time.com/4291347/crescent-dunes-solar-power-plant/ Congress tells EPA biomass is carbon neutral. Now what? Two amendments tucked inside the bipartisan energy bill that passed the Senate yesterday are elevating the question of whether biomass is a renewable energy source on par with wind and solar in the eyes of federal policy. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/04/21/stories/1060036007 MISCELLANEOUS Governor approves money to clean shuttered Exide battery recycler. California’s governor has made nearly $180 million available to find and clean up lead contamination in southeast Los Angeles County. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the plan Wednesday to remove toxic soil and other contamination from thousands of homes, schools and parks near the former Exide Technologies plant. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/state-712942-plant-exide.html OPINIONS Cap-and-trade revenue should go to fix our Valley air. This week, the Legislature is assessing how to spend $3.1 billion that came into state coffers from farmers, truckers, factories, and other businesses that employ workers throughout the Central Valley. But the proposals so far just look like more pork-barrel spending at the expense of hardworking Californians. http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/readers-opinion/article72656652.html#storylink=cpy Climate change is real, but Paris treaty won't fix it: Column. World leaders will disembark from carbon-spewing jets in New York on Earth Day this Friday to sign the Paris climate treaty, the world’s costliest-ever accord. No doubt, American presidential candidates will use the spectacle to make hay. In line with President Obama, Hillary Clinton believes the treaty is a “historic step forward” against “one of the greatest challenges” of our age, while Bernie Sanders argues it “goes nowhere near far enough.” http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/04/21/climate-change-real-paris-treaty-costly-few-benefits-research-green-energy-column/83292440/ BLOGS Mitsubishi Scandal Isn’t Like Volkswagen’s, Stocks Show. Shares from major car manufacturers weren't dragged down by Mitsubishi, unlike what happened with Volkswagen last September. Shares of Mitsubishi Motors were battered Wednesday when the Japanese car manufacturer admitted to manipulating fuel-economy data, mirroring the plunge… http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2016/04/20/mitsubishi-scandal-isnt-like-volkswagens-stocks-show/ California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.