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California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 9-12, 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.

Protect State's Clean Air Law; It's a Matter of U.S. Security.
The people of California have always been an inspiration to the
rest of the country when it comes to supporting a clean, secure,
energy future. We realize that cleaning our air and reducing our
dependence on foreign oil is good for the environment, good for
our economy, and good for our nation’s security. But some
out-of-state oil companies are trying to use fear to put the
brakes on California’s clean air law, AB32. I believe the people
of this great state will see through this greed-fueled attempt to
kill progress. Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/apr/10/protect-states-clean-air-law-its-a-matter-of-us/


Reducing Gas Emissions Makes Economic Sense. Why are Republicans
siding with big oil in an effort to repeal AB 32?  Four years
ago, California earned international accolades for adopting a law
that would slash its greenhouse gas emissions and serve as a
model for national climate change legislation. Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger enthusiastically signed AB 32, the state's
pioneering roadmap to a clean energy economy. Posted.
http://www.mydesert.com/article/20100409/COLUMNS26/4080377/1026/news12/Reducing-gas-emissions-makes-economic-sense


Court Fight Adds Confusion to Senate Climate Effort. The
departure of Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens adds a
crucial task to the Senate schedule, at a minimum, and could peel
momentum from looming climate legislation if his successor
triggers a searing political fight. Stevens' announcement arrived
more than a week before the anticipated release of a Senate bill
restricting greenhouse gases. That timing clouds the chamber's
legislative horizon by handing senators a top White House
priority in the months leading to contentious midterm
campaigning. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/04/12/12climatewire-court-fight-adds-confusion-to-senate-climate-84270.html


ANTHONY L. WESTERLING: Climate Change Science More Certain Than
Ever.  Numerous polls have shown a decline in U.S. public concern
about climate change over the past two years. For example, a
Gallup poll made public last month found that a large and
increasing number of Americans believe that the seriousness of
climate change has been exaggerated, that it will not pose a
serious threat within their lifetimes, and that it is not caused
by humans. Posted.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/04/09/1891091/anthony-l-westerling-climate-change.html

Climate talks. Differences have emerged at the outset of the
first U.N. climate conference since the disappointing Copenhagen
climate summit, as delegates from 175 countries begin afresh on a
new global warming agreement. Posted.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_14851484
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_14863435

Cap and Trade Comes Home. Many of you have probably heard about
the latest “green” initiative designed to hold down “carbon
emissions” into the atmosphere. You know, the type of carbon
emissions that supposedly constitute the “anthropogenic” part of
the alleged warming phenomenon. The economic process that’s
supposed to help fix this “problem,” if not solve it outright, is
called “cap and trade.” Posted.
http://www.examiner.com/x-34431-Harrisburg-Conservative-Examiner~y2010m4d12-Cap-and-trade-comes-home


Air District Oks $1.2 Million for Vehicle Buy Back Plan. To
reduce harmful air pollution from vehicle tailpipes, the Bay Area
Air Quality Management District’s board of directors has
authorized $1.2 million to pay for the extension of the Vehicle
Buyback Program for Bay Area residents. This voluntary program
offers $1,000 to owners of older, more polluting cars and light
trucks to voluntarily retire their vehicles. Posted.
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_738e1cec-43a3-11df-893f-001cc4c002e0.html


New Data Increases Concern Regarding Air Quality Impact from
Mining Project. An Azusa mining project's impact on air quality
could be heightened, but remains within standards, according to
new data presented by South Coast Air Quality Management District
officials Thursday in a new round of comments on the project. The
AQMD previously submitted comments on an environmental report on
Vulcan Materials Co.'s proposal to shift mining along its border.
Posted. http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_14849798 

Valley Officials Weigh Emission Law. A state-mandated effort to
cut greenhouse gas emissions is turning into a struggle by local
governments to maintain control over development. This month,
Fresno County political leaders expect to vote on proposed
targets for cutting emissions of those climate-changing gases --
mainly carbon dioxide from burning gasoline and other fossil
fuels. In the long term, making those cuts will change how cities
grow and how their people move around. Posted.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/04/10/1892257/valley-officials-weigh-emission.html#ixzz0ku1wVqAz

Waste disposal company to expand LNG-powered truck fleet. By the
end of 2010, the largest provider of solid waste collection
services in the Los Angeles area will spend $9.7 million to add
39 new liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks to its Long Beach
fleet, bringing the total to 79, company officials said. Posted.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_14854834

Actor Looks at San Joaquin Valley's Manure and Sees Energy. John
O'Hurley played J. Peterman, the guy on "Seinfeld" who put out a
clothing catalog filled with elaborate prose. So, what's the
actor up to lately? Scouting the nation for manure. O'Hurley is a
partner in Energy-Inc., a Las-Vegas-based company that turns
waste from livestock and other sources into energy. Posted.
http://www.modbee.com/2010/04/12/1124242/actor-looks-at-san-joaquin-valleys.html#ixzz0kuE5QLE5

Waste hauler tests composting program in Marin. Today's food
scraps could become tomorrow's fertilizer under a new program by
Marin Sanitary Service, which has begun collecting and composting
food waste from four Marin neighborhoods. Posted.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_14847905

Do Your Part: Is Your Home Making You Sick? It's what most of us
look forward to at the end of a busy day: coming home, putting
our feet up, and taking a deep breath of polluted air. Shocking,
yes. But many times, we are doing just that. You may be surprised
to find out that the air we breathe inside our homes every day
can be several times more polluted than the air outside. It makes
sense when we take stock of the many chemicals we bring into our
homes. Do Your Part and reduce indoor air pollution when you make
smarter choices about the furniture, paints and cleaning supplies
you buy for your home. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/04/12/2672054/do-your-part-is-your-home-making.html#ixzz0ktx7cuCt

M&ET Goes Loco for Green Engines. The Modesto & Empire Traction
Co. is being called the "greenest" short-line railroad in North
America because it has replaced all its old locomotives with
energy-efficient engines that spew far less toxins into the air.
The century-old, locally owned railroad is completing the
purchase of five new "ultra clean" locomotives, funded largely by
a $6.7 million state grant. Until those new U.S.-made locomotives
arrive next year, the M&ET is leasing five low-polluting engines,
which went into service this winter. Posted.
http://www.modbee.com/2010/04/12/1124252/met-goes-loco-for-green-engines.html#ixzz0ktu5ToQt

The Energy to Make Changes. The push to create a more
energy-efficient and less polluted and congested California is
coming from many places. The city of Napa has adopted green
building standards. The California Legislature has passed laws
requiring a rollback of carbon emissions and encouraging growth
in urban centers, close to jobs and transportation. From Napa
Valley wineries with vast solar arrays to automakers rolling out
electric cars in 2011, companies rapidly are changing the way
they do business. Posted.
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_47c3af1a-45eb-11df-a703-001cc4c03286.html


Opinion: New Law Will Attract Clean Energy Businesses to
California. Last month Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger came to San
Jose to sign into law SB 71, a green technology sales tax
exemption that will provide a great incentive for clean energy
manufacturers who come to or remain in California. This bill is a
win-win for our state because it will encourage investment and
protect the environment. Schwarzenegger and the bill's authors,
state senators Alex Padilla, Tony Strickland and Elaine K.
Alquist, deserve credit for this accomplishment. Posted.
http://www.mercurynews.com/green-energy/ci_14846896 

Blogs

Can Struggling State Really Afford A New Costly Energy Scheme?
This week, Mechanics Bank investment fund manager Brian Pretti
asked the more than 200 people at the monthly Sonoma County
Alliance meeting for a show of hands if they thought the economy
was better today than this time last year. Most half-heartedly
raised their hands part way. Asking again if things were a lot
better than a year ago elicited zero hands. Posted.
http://insider.blogs.northbaybusinessjournal.com/2010/04/09/can-struggling-state-really-afford-a-new-costly-energy-scheme/


Greenwash of the Week: Chevron's Solar 'Project Bull$@#!'.
Greenwash of the Week, the beloved Rainforest Action Network web
video series, is BACK! Watch Greenwash of the Week! You'll laugh
and you just might cry.. Every week, hosts Brianna and Nick
investigate cases of corporate and political greenwash, designed
to deceive the public into believing that something is "green"
when it's not. This week's episode explores Chevron's recent
solar announcement. Chevron, the 3rd largest oil corporation on
the planet, announced "Project Brightfield", a solar panel beauty
pageant in California's central valley. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/rtarbotton/detail??blogid=187&entry_id=60628#ixzz0ktvdmf3Q