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California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 10-13,
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.

AB 32

Proposition 23: Would It Worsen Gas-Price Shocks? California’s
2006 global-warming law would save the state’s consumers as much
as $670 per household in 2020, in the event of a global surge in
the price of crude oil, according to a report released Monday by
economists for alternative-energy advocacy groups. The U.S.
economy has experienced five price shocks over the last three
decades in which crude oil prices rose an average of 179% in one
year. Posted.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/09/prop-23-oil-gas-prices-ab-32.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29

Study: Clean Energy Legislation Could Save Billions In Energy
Costs. California's clean energy and clean air standards could
save the average household up to $670 in 2020 if oil and
natural-gas prices spike, according to a new study by three
economists. The study, "Shockproofing Society: How California's
Global Warming Solutions Act (A.B.32) Reduces the Economic Pain
of Energy Price Shocks," calculates the savings from added
protections against energy price spikes achieved from
implementing A.B.32 through effective standards adopted by the
California Air Resources Board (CARB). Posted.
http://www.nawindpower.com/naw/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.6522

Fight Over Bid To Suspend California's Global Warming Law Gets
Ugly. George Shultz warns of the dangers of dependence on foreign
oil, and backers of Proposition 23 respond with attacks on him
and his co-chairman in the opposition campaign, Thomas F. Steyer.
The fight over Proposition 23, a November ballot initiative to
suspend California's global warming law, turned ugly this week,
with personal attacks and emotionally charged rhetoric on both
sides. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-prop-23-20100910,0,7652716,print.story
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/09/prop-23-george-shultz-national-security.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29

Like Having A Job? You'll Love Proposition 23. My labor union
supports Proposition 23 for one simple reason: It will protect
the jobs of millions of hard-working California men and women.
Prop. 23 will temporarily suspend some very expensive,
job-killing regulations under the state's global warming law,
AB32 - regulations that even folks advocating immediate
implementation of those rules admit will cost jobs. Ironically,
those same folks go out of their way to avoid talking about
global warming, which the law is about in the first place. 
Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/12/INEI1FAIAP.DTL&type=printable

Cap And Trade Driving Businesses Out Of State. North Dakota's
unemployment rate is 3.6 percent. California's is 12.3 percent.
Why are so many people out of work in California? Because
California's high taxes and costly regulations make it the worst
state in America to operate a business. Proposition 23 is needed
to save jobs. Proposition 23 is a proposal to suspend Assembly
Bill 32 (California's job-killing "greenhouse gas" law) until the
state's unemployment rate recovers to 5.5 percent. Posted.
http://www.thereporter.com/opinion/ci_16056110

CLIMATE CHANGE/GHG’S. 

Dan Walters: Chaos Kills Renewable-Power Measure. The most
conspicuous casualty on the chaotic final day of the 2009-10
legislative session last month was an extremely complex measure
to increase California's use of so-called "renewable" electric
power and reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions. Many months in the
making, a final version of Senate Bill 722 emerged from the
cloisters of the Assembly, where it had been secretly massaged by
a few insiders, just hours before the midnight deadline for
action. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/09/13/3024173/dan-walters-chaos-kills-renewable.html#mi_rss=Dan%20Walters
http://www.modbee.com/2010/09/13/1335884/dan-walters-chaos-kills-renewable.html

How SB722 Fell Through Legislative Cracks. The demise of the most
important environmental bill of the year provides a case study in
what is wrong with the legislative process in Sacramento. Problem
No. 1: The final version of SB722, which would have required
sellers of electricity to draw 33 percent of their power from
renewable resources by 2020, was not available until 7 p.m., Aug.
31 - five hours before the session was to end. It did not reach
the Senate floor until 11:30 p.m., amid a traffic jam of
last-minute legislation. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/12/IN9K1F9SFS.DTL&type=printable

New Study Slashes Estimate Of Icecap Loss. Paris (Afp) - –
Estimates of the rate of ice loss from Greenland and West
Antarctica, one of the most worrying questions in the global
warming debate, should be halved, according to Dutch and US
scientists. In the last two years, several teams have estimated
Greenland is shedding roughly 230 gigatonnes of ice, or 230
billion tonnes, per year and West Antarctica around 132
gigatonnes annually. Posted.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20100908/tts-climate-warming-science-ice-c1b2fc3.html?printer=1

Midterm Candidates Embrace Climate Denialism. Despite
overwhelming scientific evidence that human activities are
warming Earth's climate and causing a range of harmful effects,
climate science denialism is enjoying a dramatic resurgence in
American political life. More candidates who simply do not
believe Earth's climate is warming, or who hold the view that
humans are not the primary cause of recent warming, may be
elected this year than in any other election in recent memory.
Posted.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2010/09/mainstreaming_climate_science.html

USDA Finds Basis For Cutting Emissions In Existing Farm Programs.
The agricultural sector could play a significant part in reducing
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions through environmental programs not
that different from some already in existence, according to a new
report from the Agriculture Department. The report collected a
brief list of best practices to reduce the greenhouse gas
footprint of the nation's farms. Most of the practices, such as
using less nitrogen fertilizer, changing crop rotations or
planting trees and grass, are already well known. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2010/09/13/6

AIR QUALITY

Clean Air Act: Defend Or Dismantle? Absent climate legislation,
what role should the Clean Air Act play in regulating carbon
dioxide and other dangerous greenhouse gases? The landmark
environmental law passed 40 years ago this week and was
significantly amended 20 years ago. Now EPA is rolling out a
number of new Clean Air Act regulations, including ones cutting
carbon emissions from automobiles and power plants, reducing air
pollution across state lines, and setting technology-based
standards for certain industrial polluters. Posted.
http://energy.nationaljournal.com/2010/09/clean-air-act-defend-or-disman.php

County To Revisit New Impact Fees. A controversial plan to charge
new construction projects to pay for air quality improvements is
scheduled to reappear before the Tehama County Board of
Supervisors Tuesday. Air Quality Mitigation Fees, as proposed by
Air Pollution Control Officer Alan Abbs, were shot down by the
Board of Supervisors until the board could consider them at the
same time as Development Impact Fees a separate proposal with
separate goals, but also would charge developers. Posted.
http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_16063127

Valley Schools To Get Hourly Air Updates. Air board will give
targeted, real-time data to help keep kids safe, active. When
lung-scorching soot hangs in the Valley fog this fall, school
officials will get hourly updates on bad air as part of the
nation's first real-time pollution alert network. Using automated
e-mail, text messages and updates online, the regional air
district will help schools decide hour-by-hour if students will
be allowed outside for athletic events, recess and other outdoor
activities. Posted.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/09/12/v-print/2076129/valley-schools-to-get-hourly-air.html
ENERGY/GREEN ENERGY

Calif. Regulators See Offset Opportunities In Mexican Forests.
The growing U.S. regional carbon markets could make conserving
Mexican forests profitable where other programs so far have not.
The Climate Action Reserve (CAR), a California-based developer of
offset standards, held a workshop in Mexico City last month with
California EPA officials to educate potential project developers
about opportunities in the United States. Also participating were
Mexico's National Institute of Ecology and the Border Environment
Cooperation Commission. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2010/09/13/4

Governor Introduces Green Jobs Website. Sacramento - Republican
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday announced the start of a
new website intended to help Californians find jobs in green
industries. The website, called Clean Energy Jobs, provides
resources to promote jobs in areas such as recycling, clean
transportation and renewable energy. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/10/BA7M1FBC5B.DTL&type=printable

Energy-Saving LED Light Bulbs: False Claims? The Federal Trade
Commission filed a lawsuit against Lights of America Inc. this
week alleging false performance claims for some of the company's
LED light bulbs. The environmentally friendly bulbs, which were
sold at major retailers such as Walmart and Costco, don't burn as
brightly or as long as advertised, the FTC said in the suit.
Posted.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/09/led-light-bulbs-federal-trade-commission-lights-of-america-lawsuit.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29

Texas Clean Energy Hampered by Location. Austin, Texas — As the
United States contemplates a clean-energy future, leadership is
coming from a surprising place — Texas. This state is well-known
for producing oil and natural gas. But Texas also has erected far
more turbines than any other state and now has nearly three times
as much wind capacity as Iowa, which is ranked second. Forests of
turbines have sprouted atop remote, scrubby mesas. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/business/energy-environment/13green.html?src=busln

FUELS

Next Generation Scientists Join To Support Biodiesel. Move over,
Thomas Friedman. The next generation of thought leaders is
gearing up to lead America’s energy efforts—and biodiesel is
front and center. Student scientists from Dartmouth College to
Oregon State University are leading the new Next Generation
Scientists for Biodiesel initiative. The group has formed to
demonstrate and grow support for biodiesel among tomorrow’s
scientific leaders. Posted.
http://refrigeratedtrans.com/2010-emissions/scientists-joing-biodiesel-support-0913/

Turning Away From Coal. Utilities are increasingly looking to
natural gas to generate electricity. Power companies are
increasingly switching to natural gas to fuel their electricity
plants, driven by low prices and forecasts of vast supplies for
years to come. While the trend started in the late 1990s, the
momentum is accelerating and comes at the expense of coal. Some
utilities are closing coal-fired plants; others are converting
them to run on gas. Posted.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703579804575441683910246338.html

DIESELS

Diesel Emissions Found To Be A Fraction Of Rules Target. Industry
calls for delay in transition as economy hits projects and
budgets. A number of local contractors using backhoes or other
large off-road equipment are hoping state air-quality regulators
late this year push back the cleaner-burning diesel deadline by
several years, based on new figures for soot and ozone-forming
emissions that are roughly 20 percent of those used in adoption
of the rule three years ago. Posted.
http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/24804/diesel-emissions-found-to-be-a-fraction-of-rules-target/print/

Diesel Picks Up Speed. U.S. car buyers are warming to the fuel.
But it still has some drawbacks. For nearly two years, Audi USA
has tried to soften up American resistance to diesel engines by
touting its fuel-efficient, "clean diesel" vehicles. Among its
efforts: During the most recent Super Bowl, it spent nearly $3
million on a humorous commercial that depicted its diesel-powered
Q7 SUV as the savvy motorist's answer to the "green police." The
strategy is paying off. Posted.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703632304575451720343127244.html

BUSES

Quick-Charge Electric Bus Rolls Into L.A. County. Public transit
riders in the Los Angeles foothills can be forgiven for missing
the bus, as it’s been a lot quieter the last few days. With a
Proterra EcoRide BE35 in the fleet, Foothill Transit is the first
transit agency in the United States to use the world’s first
rapid-charge electric bus. We first told you about Proterra in
November when the company showed off its EcoRide BE35 bus on
Capitol Hill. Posted.
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/09/proterra-ecoride-foothill-transit/#ixzz0zR0iDFjJ

Chaffey Joint Buses Driving More Efficiently To Cut Down On
Emissions. Ontario - Chaffey Joint Union High School District
buses may look the same from the outside, but the way they are
able to travel around the district has changed. During the summer
break, Chaffey Joint Union installed a compressed natural gas
fueling station for their buses at the district's maintenance
yard at Vine Avenue and Fourth Street. The station and other
upgrades at the yard cost $1.9 million. The money came from a
$128 million school bond to improve a number of facilities.
Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_16044555

NOISE POLLUTION

Bikers Make Noise On Attempt To Quiet Motorcycles. Calabasas,
Calif. — The laid-back vibe of this affluent Los Angeles suburb
gets a jarring wakeup on weekends when hundreds of motorcycles
thunder through the Santa Monica Mountains, triggering car
alarms, rattling windows and jolting alive barking dogs. "They
rev their engines with complete disregard for the people who live
here," complained neighborhood resident Tonia Aery. "It's
obnoxious." Posted.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/sep/13/bikers-make-noise-on-attempt-to-quiet-motorcycles/

VEHICLES

Who Killed the Electric Car?' Director Sees New Life In GM. The
filmmaker who blasted General Motors Co. for bungling its
electric car launch in the 1990s is turning the auto company into
a hero in the sequel. Chris Paine says his new documentary will
show GM as a leader in electric vehicle technology that is
working to help the environment and reduce the United States'
dependence on oil. The director of the documentary "Who Killed
the Electric Car?" said he cannot say enough good things about GM
in his second movie. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2010/09/13/23

BLOGS

EPA Wants Companies To Reveal Chemicals Used In Controversial Gas
Extraction Method [Updated] This is a corrected version of the
original post; see the note below. The federal Environmental
Protection Agency has asked nine companies to voluntarily reveal
the chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing, a method used to
extract natural gas by injecting fluids into rock formations deep
underground. Posted.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/09/epa-wants-more-information-on-controversial-gas-extraction-method.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29

OPINION: Don Polson The Way I See It: People, Households,
Businesses You Will Pay. This week's installment on the negative
impacts of California's version of "cap and trade" legislation,
purportedly designed to reduce CO2 emissions and global warming,
looks at some more highly reputable analysis. You'll have a
chance to vote "Yes" on Prop 23, delaying implementation of AB 32
until our employment rate is low enough to give our economy a
decent chance to absorb the higher unemployment, lower personal
and state income, and greater burdens to California's businesses
and industries. Posted.
http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/ci_16063114?source=most_viewed

OPINION: California Must Continue To Lead On Clean Energy. Four
years ago in Long Beach, I, along with 15 business leaders, met
with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and British Prime Minister Tony
Blair to discuss how to deploy clean energy around the world. Our
message was clear: Adopt policies that put a price on carbon
emissions, and investment in clean energy will follow. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/12/INPG1F7BGP.DTL

Union Accuses China Of Illegal Trade Tactics In Clean-Tech
Sector. A major U.S. union came out swinging against China on
Thursday, saying in fiery terms that the Asian giant was using
illegal trade tactics to strong-arm Americans out of clean-tech
jobs. The United Steelworkers filed a 5,800-page petition with
the U.S. trade representative alleging that China was giving
Chinese firms unfair advantages over American companies. Posted.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/09/union-accuses-china-of-illegal-trade-tactics-in-clean-tech-sector.html

Koch Brothers Behind Healthy Formaldehyde Campaign. It isn’t easy
being a Koch brother these days. Preferring to stay behind the
scenes and fund causes that have little benefit for society yet
plenty for their business portfolio, they have found that more of
their schemes have been revealed. They have been funding
California’s Proposition 23, which will overturn A.B. 32; their
funding of purported groups denying climate change… Posted.
http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/09/koch-brothers-behind-healthy-formaldehyde-campaign/