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newsclips -- Newsclips for August 4, 2011.
Posted: 04 Aug 2011 12:17:38
California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 4, 2011. 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 How Burning Biomass With Carbon Capture Can Remove CO2 From The Air. Capture systems attached to biomass-burning power plants could reduce annual emissions by an amount equal to a third of the global industrial output of carbon dioxide, a new study says. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) typically is associated with coal plants, but researchers increasingly are looking at other options for the yet-to-be-commercialized technology. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/04/4 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Change Affecting Each U.S. State, Web Tool Shows. How badly is climate change affecting your state? A new web tool allows users to see how vulnerable their area has been to drought, flooding and heat extremes as well as the health problems that go along with them. This tool, based in part on weather data gathered by the National Climatic Data Center and developed by the Natural Resources Defense Council, compares each state's temperatures from 2000 through 2009 to those from 1961 to 1990. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/08/climate-change-impact-your-area-nrdc-tool/1 http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/04/8 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY INLAND: Website Details Climate Change Health Effects. Communities in Inland Southern California and elsewhere should prepare for health problems caused by climate change, including an increase in infectious diseases such as West Nile virus, heat-related illnesses and asthma attacks brought on by smog and smoke from wildfires, scientists said Wednesday. Climate change is one of the most serious public health threats facing the nation, …Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/environment/stories/PE_News_Local_D_heat04.2e5948f.html Our Biggest Security Threat Is Global Warming-Induced Extreme Weather. Scientists have been predicting for years that global warming would produce record-breaking extremes on either side of the thermometer. This past winter, America survived its so-called snowpocalypse, and now that summer has arrived, we've got a heat dome. If you're wondering what the hell that is -- it's just another obvious climate change assassin that we could see coming miles away, if some of us were paying better attention. Posted. http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/151885 A High, Icy Lab For Learning The Past And Future Impacts Of Climate Change. Second in a three-part series. Summit Station, Greenland -- At first glance, this research station on the highest point of Greenland's vast ice sheet doesn't look like much. A scattering of trailers perch on stilts high above the snow, with a neat grid of small yellow tents off to one side. There's a tall metal tower, a few outhouses. A pile of fuel bladders stands in stark contrast next to the carefully groomed ice runway. Climate change has accelerated the melting of Greenland's vast ice sheet. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/04/1 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY A Focus On Non-CO2 Warming Agents Could Slow Climate Change. Cutting emissions of greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide could "substantially lessen" climate change over the short term, federal researchers said yesterday. Reducing the world's output of methane, nitrous oxide, and some ozone-depleting substances could bring other benefits as well, such as improved air and water quality, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wrote in a study published in the new issue of the journal Nature. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/04/7 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Biodegradable Plastics Release Greenhouse Gases. Biodegradable plastics may have an undesired side-effect: They could contribute to global warming. Researchers at North Carolina State University found that these polymers release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as they break down over the course of a few years. "Everybody assumes that biodegradable is desirable," said Morton Barlaz, one of the study's authors. "This study calls that into question." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/04/9 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Port Truckers To Make Case For Delay In CARB Emissions Requirements. A panel hearing is scheduled for today in Oakland, CA, to give truckers hauling in and out of the area port the opportunity to voice their concerns about the impact of the scheduled Phase II, emissions-related upgrades for drayage trucks that are currently mandated by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) under the statewide drayage truck regulations which went into effect in 2007. Posted. http://fleetowner.com/green/archive/port-truckers-carb-emissions-0804/ VEHICLES GM Profit Doubles As Global Sales And Prices Rise. After years of big discounts, GM is finally getting a good price for its cars and trucks, and it's helping the company's bottom line. General Motors Co. surprised Wall Street Thursday by doubling its second-quarter profit. A big reason was higher prices for its vehicles worldwide. When demand for small cars rose in the spring because of high gas prices, GM was able to meet that demand with its new Chevrolet Cruze while Toyota and Honda sat on the sidelines. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_e646e30b-6cd5-5eb1-b462-f24448546b7f.html http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110804/OEM/110809901/1231 Green Tires Make Fewer Compromises. Low-rolling-resistance tires improved vehicle fuel economy when they were introduced in the 1970s. But mileage gains came at a cost: long wet braking distances and poor handling grip. But now, as the price of gasoline and federal corporate average fuel economy standards rise, Continental AG, Michelin and Bridgestone Corp. are responding with new tires that offer improved fuel economy and shorter braking distances. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110803/OEM05/308049996/1186 GREEN ENERGY John Doerr Says U.S. Must Do More On Clean Energy. John Doerr, head of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers' alternative-energy practice, said he would give the United States a C grade for development of green technology, which trails innovation in Internet and biotechnology. His grade would have been a D or F without $20 billion in loan guarantees for clean-energy projects under President Obama's stimulus plan and collaborative work between the government and private sector, Doerr said Tuesday at an event in Palo Alto. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/04/BUBC1KIP4F.DTL&type=printable Clean Tech Sees 44% Drop-Off In VC, Report Says. Ernst & Young reported Wednesday that venture capital investments in U.S. clean-tech companies plunged 44 percent to hit $1.1 billion in this year's second quarter; although the consulting firm cautioned that the numbers look worse than they actually are. The drop-off was even more pronounced in Northern California, where clean-tech investments fell 63 percent compared with the same period last year, settling at $363.8 million. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/04/BU5C1KJ09B.DTL&type=printable High-Tech Bulb Captures Old Glow, Wins $10M Prize. The Department of Energy unveiled a light bulb today that doesn't just use less energy than the traditional incandescent: It also gives off the same glow that Americans cherish. The bulb, designed by Philips Electronics North America Corp., yesterday won DOE's "L-Prize," a contest set up in a 2007 energy law. The competition dangled a $10 million pot in front of the company that could reproduce the feel of a traditional, 60-watt incandescent while using no more than 10 watts. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/04/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Assessing California's Chances For Meeting Its 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard. On April 12, Gov. Jerry Brown, D-Calif., signed into law Senate Bill 2, which increases the statutory renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in California to 33% by the year 2020 - up from a goal of 20% by the year 2010. Senate Bill 2 continues the trend of setting aggressive targets so as to signal that there will be continued demand for renewable production in the decade to come. Posted. http://solarindustrymag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.8437 MISCELLANEOUS Riverside County: New Natural Gas Buses Planned. The cost of natural gas buses is no longer a hotly debated issue for Riverside Transit Agency officials -- unlike a decade ago -- but it remains a big investment for the western-county bus system amid shrinking state and federal funding. Because natural gas tanks must be replaced every 15 years at a price tag of $80,000 each, transit agencies such as Riverside are left with the choice of replacing the tanks or their aging fleets. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_cngbuses04.38efcb6.html Revision to the California State Implementation Plan; South Coast Air Quality Management District. SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action to approve a revision to the South Coast Air Quality Management District portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from polymeric foam manufacturing operations. We are approving a local rule that regulates these emission sources under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA). Posted. http://www.techzone360.com/news/2011/08/04/5682879.htm OPINION Leader In Energy Efficiency. When President Barack Obama announced an agreement to double fuel-economy requirements last week, standing with him were industry executives and environmental, public health and labor leaders, all of whom, remarkably, had signed off on the deal. But the real credit for this historic achievement, which is expected to cut oil consumption by 1.5 million barrels per day and eliminate half of all carbon pollution nationwide, doesn't go to the White House. Instead, thank California. Posted. http://www.dailybreeze.com/opinions/ci_18611296 BLOGS Philips Wins Energy Department’s Lighting Prize. Philips, the Netherlands-based consumer electronics giant, is now $10 million richer, having just won the L Prize, awarded by the federal Department of Energy in a contest to invent the next generation of solid-state lighting. Formally titled the Bright Lighting Tomorrow Prize, the award was introduced to encourage companies to create highly efficient alternatives to standard incandescent lamps. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/philips-wins-energy-departments-lighting-prize/ Will Oil Consumers Tighten Their Belts? There’s always a lot of concern about energy, especially when very hot weather reminds us of climate change and headlines warn that unrest in the Middle East could drive up oil and gasoline prices again at any moment. But Petrobras’s chief executive, José Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo, who is in the United States this week talking up his company’s new business plan, sees reason for optimism. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/will-oil-consumers-tighten-their-belts/ Climate Change an Extra Burden for Native Americans, Study Says. Because tribal lands are particularly prone to drought, flooding, wildfires and other weather extremes, American Indian tribes suffer disproportionately from the impacts of climate change, a new study from the National Wildlife Federation and other groups reported Wednesday. American Indians and Alaska natives are more dependent than most other Americans on natural resources and on the bounty of oceans …Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/climate-change-an-extra-burden-for-native-americans-study-says/ DWP's Solar Program To Relaunch In September With Lower Rebates. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power gave the go-ahead Tuesday to relaunch the Solar Incentive Program next month. Applications will be accepted starting Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. The revised program is doubling its budget from $30 million to $60 million for the next three years and lowers rebates to be more in line with market pricing for residential, government, nonprofit and commercial buildings. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/08/solar-power-initiative-ladwp-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Climate Change And Health: How Vulnerable Is Your City? As temperatures rise, so could the threats to your health. Climate experts predict average temperatures in California could rise between 4.7 to 10.5 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this century, potentially worsening illnesses related to extreme heat and air pollution, according to Natural Resources Defense Council, which released web-based climate change impact maps Wednesday. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/08/climate-change-warmer-temperatures-air-pollution-national-resources-defence-council.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Warmer Temperatures To Expand California Exotic Grass Populations. Warmer temperatures in California could lead to a substantial statewide expansion of exotic grass populations, according to a new study that catalogued over 400 native and exotic grasses in the state. Researchers from UC Berkeley say exotic grasses dry out faster than native varieties, making the state more vulnerable to wildfires. Exotic grasses also hold pathogens that attack crops, such as wheat, or affect people who eat beef from cows that graze on exotic species. They also compete with native grasses for water. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/08/global-warming-california-grass.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 BONSALL: District Prepares To Install Solar Panels, Energy Upgrades At Bonsall Schools. The Bonsall Union School District will receive $700,000 in energy-saving upgrades and cut about $50,000 a year from its utility bills through cost-free agreements with two Sacramento-based companies. "When we first heard about this, it sounded too good to be true," said Tom Krzmarzick, assistant superintendent of business services for the district. Bonsall will not be the first North County district to get energy from solar panels at its schools. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/fallbrook/article_f11f4afa-c036-5ceb-9c5e-5596d71c0fe2.html Trade War Looms Over Airlines’ Refusal to Comply with EU Cap-And-Trade Law. In June, I wrote about whether the US was right to seek an exemption from the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) for US airlines. The cap-and-trade scheme, designed to curb CO2 emissions, is being vigorously opposed by the American Air Transport Association, and a month on, it seems things are no less fractious, with the rhetoric from Capital Hill going up a notch. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/08/refusal-comply-eu-cap-trade-law-worth-risking-trade-war/ Enterprise Both Gung-Ho And Hesitant About Electric Vehicles. Enterprise-Rent-a-Car claims that it's the first rental agency in the U.S. to offer the Chevrolet Volt and that is has already introduced electric vehicles in Southern California, Texas, Tennessee, Hawaii, New York, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle. Just last month, Enterprise launched a 12-month electric vehicle pilot project, involving eight Peugeot iOns, in London. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/04/enterprise-both-gung-ho-and-hesitant-about-electric-vehicles/ Helios Eco Trailer: The Entertainment Industry’s First Solar Hybrid Vehicle. With so many green transportation designs out there, you’d think that an eco-friendly entertainment production trailer would already exist, but the recently released Helios Eco trailer is taking the title as the very first. Helios’s creator, King Kong Production Vehicles, claims that it the world’s first solar hybrid production trailer. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/helios-eco-trailer-the-entertainment-industry%e2%80%99s-first-solar-hybrid-vehicle/