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California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 2-5, 2010. 
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.

L.A. Spars Over Green Energy. City Balks as Utility Demands Big
Rate Increase to Fund Move Away From Coal. LOS ANGELES—City
officials and Los Angeles's power company are sparring over big
increases in electricity rates that the utility says it needs to
pay for a push into renewable energy. So far, the city council is
balking at the requests. But both sides agree the utility will
need more revenue, making some substantial increases likely later
this year. Posted.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303450704575160092725253492.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsThird

California's Climate Bill Debate. Now that Congress has passed a
health care bill, there's speculation about what might be done
for the health of the climate. Last year the House of
Representatives voted to cap greenhouse gases, but attempts to
pull together the 60 votes needed in the Senate appear to be
faltering. Conservative Democrats are wary, and the few
Republican senators who want action on climate change do not like
the bill that passed the House. Posted.
http://www.pri.org/politics-society/california-climate-bill-debate1934.html

Calif. Climate Law Under Assault In Poor Economy. Sacramento,
Calif. — Four years ago, California earned accolades for adopting
a law that would slash its greenhouse gas emissions and serve as
a model for national climate change legislation. With the state
mired in a crippling recession, the law that once looked like a
landmark achievement is coming under assault. The regulatory
effort Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger set in motion is facing a
political backlash and could come to an abrupt halt in the months
ahead. Posted.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iHFeUXOX2waXoRR_l0bqwfpPJBmwD9ESE4D80
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_14818891
http://www.modbee.com/2010/04/04/1114350/calif-climate-law-under-assault.html#ixzz0kEyLiUBx

California Leads Nation In Controlling MPG. Embracing
California's laws as a national standard, the Obama
administration overhauled fuel efficiency and emissions rules for
America's passenger vehicles, requiring new cars, SUVs, minivans
and pickups to improve gas mileage 40 percent by 2016. Current
federal law requires a combined average of 25.4 miles per gallon.
The new rules require 35.5 miles per gallon, starting with 2016
model vehicles. Posted.
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_14818291

California a Barometer for US Cap & Trade. California, the US’s
largest state in economic terms and a long-time pioneer in
environmental regulation, is now a barometer for the future of
carbon cap and trade in North America as various emissions
trading moves hang in the balance. Doubts over whether a
far-reaching emissions cap and trade programme proposed by
Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will now come to pass
have implications for the chances of a wider regional scheme
taking off and federal moves to get a nation-wide energy and
climate bill through Congress. Posted.
http://www.carbonpositive.net/viewarticle.aspx?articleID=1955

A Fill-Up That Goes Farther. Think California's lost the knack
to inspire and create? New fuel economy standards -born and bred
here - launched a revolution that Washington and even Detroit are
ready to accept. Using federal clean-air rules, the Obama
administration is decreeing that cars and light trucks must boost
mileage to 35 miles per gallon from the current 25 over the next
six years. Emissions - the climate change kind - also will drop
as vehicles burn less gas and spew less from tail pipes. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/05/ED241CP191.DTL&type=printable

Court: Calif. Reefer Regs OK. California may continue enforcing
its restrictions on transportation refrigerated units as a result
of a ruling April 2 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia Circuit. The court rejected a challenge by the
American Trucking Associations and the Truckload Carriers
Association to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency action
allowing the California regulation to move forward. Posted.
http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=84941

Opinion: Future Cars, Now. California's Air Resources Board
should set standards that push the industry beyond old
under-the-hood technology to achieve cleaner, more efficient
cars. Two federal agencies, working with California, have taken
the biggest step in the nation's history to reduce the United
States' global warming footprint. Posted.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/02/opinion/la-oe-becker2-2010apr02

El Dorado Hills Asbestos Levels Don't Warrant Full-Scale Study,
U.S. Report Says. El Dorado Hills residents face increased risks
of disease from exposure to naturally occurring asbestos, but
asbestos levels don't appear to be high enough to warrant an
extensive health study, according to federal health officials. A
"health consultation" report released last week by the Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a branch of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, evaluated risks of
asbestos exposure throughout the community. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/04/05/v-print/2655232/el-dorado-hills-asbestos-levels.html

Outdoor Smoking Bans. The research shows that secondhand smoke
is unhealthful. But those conclusions are based on smoke-filled
indoor environments. The consequences for outdoor settings are
less clear. California legislators want to ban smoking at state
beaches and parks, and they've sent a bill to the governor that
would do just that. It remains to be seen whether he'll sign the
measure, designed to reduce the public's exposure to secondhand
smoke, not to mention cut back on cigarette butt litter. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-he-closer-20100405,0,6201993,print.story

'Clean Car' Players Look to Road Ahead. While the two agencies
responsible for the first-ever joint "clean car" rule celebrated
the product of months of exhausting work, others already had
their eye on what's next. Congress's chief auditor, the U.S.
Government Accountability Office, issued a report yesterday
urging a formal marriage between U.S. EPA and the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to work jointly on
future vehicle greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy
standards. The new rules set yesterday will expire after model
year 2016. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/04/02/02climatewire-clean-car-players-look-to-road-ahead-74684.html?pagewanted=print

New State Rules To Mandate, Certify Green Construction. Green
building practices reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve
energy efficiency and conserve our natural resources. California
has been the national leader in sound environmental building
practices and recently became the first state to adopt mandatory
statewide green building regulations. In August, the California
Building Standards Commission published a set of voluntary
construction guidelines for buildings to be more sustainable,
green and energy efficient. In January, the commission
unanimously adopted these guidelines, which will become mandatory
for all new construction on Jan. 1, 2011. Posted.
http://www.forconstructionpros.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=25&id=15646

ConAgra To Reduce Emissions 20% by 2015. ConAgra Foods has set
five goals for 2015 related to corporate sustainability,
including reducing its emissions 20 percent, when compared to
2008. The consumer food company also aims to reduce its water use
15 percent compared to 2008, and divert 75 percent more waste to
landfills. In terms of its packaging, ConAgra intends to reduce
packaging per pound of product by 10 percent. Another related
goal is boosting packaging from renewable sources by 45-50
percent. ConAgra also plans increase use of recycled content in
all of its packaging by 25 percent. Posted.
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/04/05/conagra-to-reduce-emissions-20-by-2015/print/

Some Worry PG&E's Proposed New Rates Could Hurt California's
Solar Market. Bill Schrader uses a lot of electricity at his
5,200-square-feet house in Alamo, particularly when the air
conditioning runs during the sweltering summer months. But after
installing solar panels in January, his electric bill plunged
from $450 per month on average to $45. The drop was especially
steep because the Schraders were among the 17 percent of PG&E
customers statewide who paid the highest prices for electricity
in the utility's current five-tiered rate system designed to
reward conservation and punish big energy users with high bills.
Posted.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_14803540?source=rss

U.S. Follows State's Lead on Clean-Car Standards. California’s
clean-car standards, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
from cars and light-duty trucks by nearly a third over the next
10 years, have now spread across North America. Officials from
the Obama administration and the Canadian government on Thursday
separately announced regulations that will effectively expand the
standards developed in California to apply across the continent.
Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/apr/01/country-follows-californias-lead-on-clean-car/
 
The Price of Pollution. When Halaco declared bankruptcy, the
Oxnard metals recycling company that created so much hazardous
material it was designated a Superfund site didn’t have many
assets anyone would want. The oceanfront property will cost tens
of millions of dollars to clean up and the buildings are being
torn down. Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/apr/03/nxxfcpolllution04/

Grants Offered for Emission Reducing Projects. The Bay Area Air
Quality Management District is looking for some new ideas. And
they have $2 million in grant money that they’re looking to hand
out.  ”We’re offering these grants because we really want to see
new technology come to the Bay Area to reduce the amount of air
pollution from cars and trucks that travel on Bay Area roads,”
said district spokeswoman Jennifer Jones. Posted.
http://www.kcbs.com/bayareanews/Grants-Offered-for-Emission-Reducing-Projects/6723010


Grant Pays For Engines Used By Bay Patrol Boat. A $75,660 grant
will allow the Marin County Sheriff's Office to buy two Yanmar
315 horsepower marine engines to power its 33-foot bay patrol
boat, Rescue One. Under the Carl Moyer Grant program administered
by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the grants
provide equipment that reduces emissions of nitrogen oxide,
particulates and reactive organic compounds. Posted.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_14813426?nclick_check=1

California Drove Obama's New U.S. Fuel-Economy Rules. Embracing
California's laws as a national standard, the Obama
administration on Thursday overhauled fuel efficiency and
emissions rules for America's passenger vehicles, requiring new
cars, SUVs, minivans and pickups to improve gas mileage 40
percent by 2016. Posted.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_14803785

New Mileage Rules: Pay More For Cars, Less At Pump. Washington —
Drivers will have to pay more for cars and trucks, but they'll
save at the pump under tough new federal rules aimed at boosting
mileage, cutting emissions and hastening the next generation of
fuel-stingy hybrids and electric cars. The new standards,
announced today, call for a 35.5 miles-per-gallon average within
six years, up nearly 10 mpg from now. Posted.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_14802190

Editorial: Obama Is Right About Offshore Oil Drilling. OFFSHORE
OIL drilling has a new and enthusiastic supporter, President
Barack Obama. A former opponent of expanding petroleum
exploration off the U.S. coast, the president has come to realize
that the nation cannot afford to take any potential energy source
off the table at least for the near future. Posted.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/opinion/ci_14800887

Researchers Warn Of Possible Links Between Brain Cancer, Air
Pollution. Colton - For about the last five years, brain tumors
have been the leading cancer for people 19 and younger. Dr. Keith
L. Black, director of the department of neurosurgery at
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, has a theory as to
why - air pollution. Posted.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_14795756

Meteorologist Wades Into Climate Debate. State College, Pa. —
Joe Bastardi believes he is the only meteorologist in the land
with a varsity wrestling letter, a trophy from his undergraduate
years at Penn State. And now he may be in the wrestling match of
his career, taking on a behemoth: the scientific consensus that
the Earth is warming, perhaps catastrophically, and that
human-produced carbon dioxide is to blame. Posted.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/science/ci_14815995

Thomas Sowell: 'Change' in the Earth's temperatures is not at
all new. WHEN ANCIENT fossils of creatures that live on the ocean
floor have been found in rock formations at the summit of Mount
Everest, that ought to give us a clue that big changes in the
Earth are nothing new, and that huge changes have been going on
long before human beings appeared on the scene. Posted.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_14800882

NYC Study: 50 Native Plants Disappearing. New York—Oriental
Bittersweet was an exotic foreigner still found mostly in East
Asia when the New York Botanical Garden planted its first
specimen in 1897. Posted.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/science/ci_14809636

Energy Rush. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's pursuit of green
energy does not justify sidestepping the legislative process.
Letting the governor essentially create law by himself is bad
policy that invites abuses of power. And legislators should
reject the governor's plan to spend money on an energy standard
of dubious legality. The state has better uses for public funds.
Posted.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/editorials/stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_W_op_01_energyrush.2263cd4.html
 
Drilling Plan May Buoy Efforts on Energy Policy. Ever since he
ran Bill Clinton’s “It’s the Economy, Stupid” presidential
campaign in 1992, James Carville has held a reputation for
common-sense Democratic strategy. In recent years, Mr. Carville
has seized on the transformation of America’s energy system,
which simultaneously touches voter concerns about the economy,
national security and the environment. Posted.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/drilling-plan-may-buoy-efforts-on-energy-policy/
 
Blogs

EPA About to Regulate CO2 to Your Economic Detriment? As early
as this week, some expect the Obama Administration to shove down
America’s throat Draconian regulations to restrict harmless CO2
emissions as an excuse for picking Americans’ pockets. Of course,
they will say they are doing it to save you from global warming,
but no amount of emission regulations will change the global
temperature enough for anyone to notice, let alone substantially
affect climate. Posted.
http://orangepunch.freedomblogging.com/2010/04/04/epa-about-to-regulate-co2-to-your-economic-detriment/20295/