What's New List Serve Post Display

CARB Newsclips for March 17, 2017. 

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.

CARB BUSINESS

Staff of the California Air Resource Board has completed the 2016
annual credit calculations for non-metered residential electrical
vehicle charging and placed a total of 394,818 credits in the
Electric Distribution Utilities’ accounts.

For more information on these credit calculations, please refer
to the Notice of Upcoming Low Carbon Fuel Standard Credits
Release for Non-Metered Residential Electric Vehicle Charging. 
The notice can be accessed at:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/lcfs/workgroups/elect/022217notice.pdf
 

Please consider the following news release from the California
Air Resources Board:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/newsrelease.php?id=900     

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) invites you to
participate in a public workshop on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-18
Funding Plan for Low Carbon Transportation Investments, Air
Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), and the potential $25 million
Volkswagen settlement funds for zero-emission vehicle (ZEV)
aspects of vehicle replacement programs. The meeting will be held
at the following time and place:

Date:                     Thursday, April 6, 2017
Time:                     9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place:                    Cal/EPA Headquarters Building
                              Coastal Hearing Room, Second Floor
                              1001 I Street
                              Sacramento, California 95814

A meeting notice for the workshop is posted at: 
https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aqip/meetings/meetings.htm       

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) staff has posted the
staff presentation for the Low Carbon Fuel Standard Working
Meeting on March 17, 2017, that will focus on potentially
including alternative jet fuel in the LCFS. The presentation can
be found at:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/lcfs/lcfs_meetings/lcfs_meetings.htm
                                                                 
                                           
The California Air Resource Board has posted an updated Notice of
Upcoming Low Carbon Fuel Standard Credits Release for Non-Metered
Residential Electric Vehicle Charging. 
http://www.arb.ca.gov/fuels/lcfs/workgroups/elect/022217notice.pdf
           

Request for Proposal (RFP):  Data Monitoring, Collection, and
Analysis for Projects Granted under Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-15 Air
Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) and Low Carbon Transportation
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) Investments. 

The California Air Resources Board is seeking a contractor to
monitor, collect, and analyze data for heavy-duty vehicle,
off-road equipment, and bulk ship projects granted under AQIP and
Low Carbon Transportation GGRF Investments, as identified in the
fiscal year (FY) 14-15 Funding Plan approved by the Board in June
2014.  The contractor shall collect and monitor vehicle and
facility data, as applicable, such as vehicle specifications and
performance data, as well as capital costs and operation and
maintenance data for vehicles and facilities . 

RFP Information: The Data Monitoring, Collection, and Analysis
for Projects Granted under FY 14-15 AQIP and Low Carbon
Transportation GGRF Investments RFP advertisement is available
at: 
https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/Events-BS3/event-search.aspx    
    
(Event ID 0000004538).  In order to submit a response, please
register on the Cal eProcure website at:
https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/         

The final date for the proposal submission is Friday, March 24,
2017, 3:00 p.m., Pacific Standard Time.

CLIMATE CHANGE

No El Nino? No problem. Earth sizzles to near record heat. Even
without an El Nino warming the world's waters, Earth in February
sizzled to its second hottest temperature on record, behind only
last year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
calculated that February 2017 averaged 55.66 degrees (13.08
degrees Celsius).
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_HOT_FEBRUARY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


Study: Stopping global warming only way to save coral reefs.
Reducing pollution and curbing overfishing won't prevent the
severe bleaching that is killing coral at catastrophic rates,
according to a study of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. In the
end, researchers say, the only way to save the world's coral from
heat-induced bleaching is with a war on global warming.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AUSTRALIA_BLEACHED_REEF?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


Climate change financing dropped from G20 draft statement.
Opposition from the United States, Saudi Arabia and others has
forced Germany to drop a reference to financing programs to
combat climate change from the draft communique at a G20 finance
and central bankers meeting. A G20 official taking part in the
meeting said on Friday that efforts by the German G20 presidency
to keep the wording on climate change financing had run into
resistance.
http://www.reuters.com/article/g20-germany-climatechange-idUSL5N1GU3WN


G20 drop reference to climate change.  World financial leaders
have dropped a reference to financing climate change from their
draft communique, says an official taking part in a meeting of
finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of 20 leading
economies.  At their last meeting in July 2016 in the Chinese
city of Chengdu, the G20 financial leaders said they encouraged
all signatories…
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/g20-drop-reference-to-climate-change/news-story/a5325d34d272030935c7b31033588f5d


Statoil Says Business Resilient to Tougher Climate-Change Rules.
Norwegian oil giant sees value rising in stress test for
stringent emissions rules. Norway’s state-owned oil giant Statoil
ASA said it was rebalancing its business model so far toward
renewables and cleaner fossil fuels that the company’s value
would rise even if the world’s governments took drastic actions
to limit carbon emissions.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/statoil-sees-value-rising-under-climate-change-rules-1489758391


Should your doctor talk with you about climate change? Even
though the topic can be controversial, some doctors plan to start
talking with their patients and communities about climate change.
A coalition of mainstream medical associations that together
represent more than half of all American physicians announced
this week that it will urge white-coat professionals to link
health problems such as asthma…
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/health/sd-me-climate-health-20170316-story.html


Watch out: Mammals shrink when Earth heats up, study says. Global
warming shrank certain animals in the ancient past, and
scientists worry it could happen again. Warm-blooded animals got
smaller at least twice in Earth's history when carbon dioxide
levels soared and temperatures spiked as part of a natural
warming, a new study says. University of New Hampshire researcher
Abigail D'Ambrosia warned that mammals — but not people…
http://www.sltrib.com/home/5061953-155/watch-out-mammals-shrink-when-earth


Trump targets 'Earth-centric' climate satellites for elimination.
President Trump's proposed spending cuts to satellite programs
that focus on climate change could restrain humanity's
understanding of the influence we have over the planet, experts
said. The cuts unveiled yesterday would wipe out part of the
Earth science research at NASA. The reductions specifically
target satellites and research that produce data…
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2017/03/17/stories/1060051635 

Doctors group warns climate change threatens public health.
Growing up in southwestern Pennsylvania, Patrice Tomcik had never
heard of Lyme disease — an infectious, flu-like illness
transmitted by ticks. But in the last few years, five of her
friends have caught it, she's had to have her dog vaccinated and
she regularly finds herself pulling ticks off her children.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2017/03/17/stories/1060051596 

DROUGHT

Drought and rain bring explosion of blooms. California’s historic
drought was followed this year by heavy rains, prompting one of
the best displays of wildflowers in years. These images are from
Southern California, but you can expect beautiful blooms
throughout the state.
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/16/california-wildflowers-drought-and-rain-bring-explosion-of-blooms/


FUELS

Fuel-Conscious U.S. Drivers Crimp OPEC’s Bid to Raise Oil Prices.
Rising U.S. oil production isn’t the only thing getting in the
way of OPEC’s efforts to drain a global glut. American drivers
aren’t helping either. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries is counting on growing demand to bolster the production
cuts it’s making in a bid to balance the market. But motorists in
the U.S. -- the world’s largest consumer of gasoline -- are using
less, not more. And that’s not likely to change any time soon.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-16/opec-can-t-count-on-american-drivers-to-help-boost-oil-prices


Weak Physical Oil Market Hits $50 Billion Hedge Funds' Bet. The
real world of oil trading -- where actual cargoes are bought and
sold -- is doing little to help the hedge funds and other
speculators who placed record bets that OPEC and its allies would
drive up prices. Saudi Arabia, Russia and other big producers are
trying to clear a global crude glut, but three months into the
effort the physical oil market...
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-17/physical-oil-market-weakness-hits-50-billion-hedge-funds-bet


Trump announces challenge to Obama-era fuel standards. President
Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his administration will
re-examine federal requirements governing the fuel efficiency of
cars and trucks, moving forcefully against Obama-era
environmental regulations that Trump says are stifling economic
growth. Trump revealed his plans during a speech at…
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/15/trump-to-take-on-fuel-standards-hold-nashville-ral/
 
EPA to reconsider vehicle fuel standards, may move against
California targets. The Environmental Protection Agency plans to
announce its intent to withdraw final determination on strict
fuel-efficiency standards for future cars and light trucks, the
latest signal by the Trump administration that it is charting a
new course on climate change.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-epa-fuel-mileage-autos-20170303-story.html

Trump's push to ease vehicle emissions rules takes aim at the
foundation of California's air pollution fight. The Trump
administration’s move to shelve aggressive vehicle fuel economy
standards raises the possibility of a confrontation over what for
decades has been at the core of California’s fight against air
pollution: the state’s power to set its own stricter emissions
rules. California officials have moved swiftly to defend that
unique authority under the Clean Air Act…
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-vehicles-smog-20170316-story.html


California ARB staff considering including alternative jet fuel
in Low Carbon Fuel. 
The staff of the California Air Resources Board (ARB) staff is
considering including alternative jet fuel (AJF) in the Low
Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). ARB staff is hosting a public
working meeting today to consider the matter. In 2009, the ARB
approved the LCFS regulation to reduce the carbon intensity (CI)…
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2017/03/20170317-arbstaff.html 

Q&A: Change to fuel economy standards could impact car buyers.
President Donald Trump plans to re-examine federal fuel economy
requirements for new cars and trucks. The requirements were a
centerpiece of President Barack Obama’s strategy to combat global
warming. But Trump appears to be making good on a pledge to car
company CEOs to reduce “unnecessary regulations.”
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/article/OP/20170316/NEWS/170319576


After intense public anger, Republicans waver over slashing
Obama-era action on methane gas. As Republican lawmakers consider
how closely to align with the climate skepticism and fossil fuel
fervor radiating from the White House, a nascent clean air
initiative that energy firms want scrapped is fast testing their
comfort zone. Weighing on them is 41 billion cubic feet of
methane, a greenhouse gas leaking from many
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/environment/article138823768.html#storylink=cpy


County Supervisor, AQMD Board Member on President’s Fuel
Efficiency Rules Review. LA County Supervisor and South Coast Air
Quality Management District Governing Board Member Sheila Kuehl
issued a statement regarding President Trump’s call for a review
of vehicle fuel efficiency rules. The statement is as follows:
“This administration’s blatant attempts to roll back fuel
efficiency standards…
http://scvnews.com/2017/03/16/county-supervisor-aqmd-board-member-on-presidents-fuel-efficiency-rules-review/


Things to know about Trump's rollback of CAFE fuel-economy
standards. The so-called Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE,
standards may be a mouthful, but it’s fair to say that all
motorists in the U.S. today have experienced their impact. The
federal fuel-efficiency requirements have their roots in the
1970s, when Americans tended to drive gas guzzlers, only to face
sticker shock at the pump following the 1973 OPEC oil embargo.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-cafe-fuel-economy-standards-rollback/


Consumer advocates and environmentalists aren't buying the
automakers' and Trump's arguments about rolling back
fuel-efficiency standards. President Donald Trump went to Detroit
on Wednesday to announce that a review of fuel-economy and
greenhouse-gas emission standards would be re-opened. The review
was concluded in January, before Scott Pruitt took over Trump's
EPA.
http://www.businessinsider.com/consumer-advocates-environmentalist-trump-cafe-standards-2017-3


Behind Trump's Delay of Fuel-Economy Targets for Autos. Car
makers and regulators will now review the standards, but the
impact on consumers is far from clear
President Trump announced that he is postponing stringent new
fuel-economy standards for automobiles for the model years 2022
to 2025, arguing that the Obama Administration jumped the gun in
approving the new targets earlier this year.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cars-behind-trump-delay-fuel-economy-standards-autos/


Canadian auto union to battle Trump effort to roll back fuel
efficiency rules. Unifor head Jerry Dias called Trump a "climate
change denier" as the union and Ontario government allied with
California, which plans to challenge the president's
re-examination of fuel economy rules. Ontario will align itself
with California to fight for climate change…
http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/regulation/canadian-auto-union-battle-trump-effort-roll-back-fuel-efficiency-rules-188450/


Numbers game at heart of high-stakes ethanol fight. The future of
the federal ethanol mandate may boil down to a fight over
numbers: No one seems to know how many businesses would be
affected if officials tinker with the rules. That's the main
challenge for companies asking U.S. EPA to switch responsibility
for the mandate from refiners to fuel blenders, said an executive
for Valero Energy Corp.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2017/03/17/stories/1060051663 

VEHICLES

China Puts Electric-Vehicle Eggs in Battery Basket. China pushes
ahead with a campaign to be the leader in electric vehicles’ main
component. China may not build the electric car of the future.
But it sure wants to corner the market for its batteries. There
are signs Beijing is stepping back from its hard sales target for
electric vehicles—two million in 2020—which is a good thing, as
the number looks increasingly fanciful. 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-puts-electric-vehicle-eggs-in-battery-basket-1489646298

VW RECALL

Volkswagen’s Rough Patch Spells Opportunity for Investors. A
disappointing six weeks for Volkswagen investors may have opened
up a buying opportunity. Investors don’t expect much of
Volkswagen, but that is precisely why the problem-laden German
car maker should make a decent investment. VW this week fleshed
out its financial targets.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/volkswagens-rough-patch-spells-opportunity-for-investors-1489742377


GREEN ENERGY

Tesla’s $169 Million Battery Play Is Just the Beginning. An
audacious deal hatched on Twitter may start a new wave of
electricity storage for cities, regions, and nations. Tesla is
ready to power some grids. And not just in California or
Australia. Last week, Elon Musk wagered he could address South
Australia’s energy crisis with 100 megawatts (MW) of batteries
installed in 100 days or less—“or it’s free.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-17/tesla-s-169-million-battery-play-is-just-the-beginning


Utility nears hitting 33% green power mandate The biggest utility
in California is a fraction away from hitting the state's 2020
mandate for 33 percent renewable electricity.
Pacific Gas & Electric Co., located in the San Francisco area,
said yesterday that it delivered an average of 32.8 percent of
electricity last year from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and
small-scale hydroelectric sources.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2017/03/17/stories/1060051603 

MISCELLANEOUS

Is Trump cutting the agency into 'little tidbits'? The Trump
administration's plan to cut U.S. EPA's budget by 31 percent is a
first step toward deconstructing the agency, say proponents and
critics of the agency's budget. "It's a good start if the goal
is, as the president said, to reduce EPA to little tidbits," said
Steve Milloy, a former member of EPA's transition team and a
longtime opponent of the agency.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060051639 

OPINIONS

Do car companies want Trump to trash emission standards? Maybe
not. President Trump talked tough in Detroit on Wednesday,
confirming that his administration will open up Obama-era auto
emissions standards for review, and change them if they threaten
auto jobs. Environmentalists went ballistic, pumping out news
releases that said any rollback would harm the environment…
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-epa-mileage-emissions-new-review-20170315-story.html


Climate change: Trump’s dramatic move deserves dramatic response.
President Donald Trump’s skepticism about climate change was made
plain this week with his decision to block rules promulgated late
in the Obama administration to force automakers to increase their
average miles per gallon for cars and small trucks to 54.5 mpg by
2025, up sharply from the present 36 mpg. This decision was
almost certainly sealed during Trump’s first week in office, when
he was…
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/editorials/sd-climate-change-geoengineering-trump-20170316-story.html


Rolling Back Fuel Efficiency Is a Bad Deal for Everyone —
Including U.S. Carmakers. The CEO of a large industrial company
recently described the Trump administration as “the most
pro-business since the Founding Fathers.” It’s a popular
perception in the business community, with or without the
hyperbole, and the stock market is reacting accordingly.
https://hbr.org/2017/03/rolling-back-fuel-efficiency-is-a-bad-deal-for-everyone-including-u-s-carmakers


Comment: Seeing clearly through the smog. It's hard to tell from
the criminally small photo of me below. but I’m actually a
rippling mass of muscle, obsessive about healthy living. I could
watch other people do it all day. During my recent stint of
Italian life, I took to the streets of Bologna for quasi-regular
runs, until I was accosted by a local who asked me how in Dante’s
Hell I wasn’t choking on the pollution.
http://www.msn.com/en-au/motoring/ownership/comment-seeing-clearly-through-the-smog/ar-AAo90ik


BLOGS

Trump's Fuel Economy Standard Cuts Could Cripple Innovation. As
part of sweeping efforts to reduce regulation and boost business,
President Trump this week announced plans to relax fuel economy
standards. The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards,
which were implemented decades ago but accelerated under
President Obama…
http://www.pcmag.com/commentary/352443/trumps-fuel-economy-standard-cuts-could-cripple-innovation


Americans Tilt Toward Protecting Environment, Alternative Fuels.
Given a choice, the majority of Americans think protecting the
environment should take precedence over developing more energy
supplies, even at the risk of limiting the amount of traditional
supplies the U.S. produces. An even larger majority would
prioritize developing alternative energy sources such as wind and
solar power over the production of oil…
http://www.gallup.com/poll/206159/americans-tilt-toward-protecting-environment-alternative-fuels.aspx




California is in a drought emergency.
Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.