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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 2, 2012.
Posted: 02 Oct 2012 11:38:55
ARB Newsclips for October 2, 2012. 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 Metro Phoenix enters winter air-pollution season. The winter air-pollution season began Monday for metropolitan Phoenix. Environmental regulators say they will issue no-burn-day advisories when particulate pollution levels are expected to reach unhealthy levels. Such advisories mean people and businesses must refrain from burning wood in fireplaces, woodstoves or outdoor fire pits. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Metro-Phoenix-enters-winter-air-pollution-season-3911154.php#ixzz289jkU2TF Valley walkers brave heat, foul air to promote asthma awareness. Walkers facing unexpected October heat and warnings about air quality made their way from Turlock to Modesto to raise awareness about asthma in the valley. The Central Valley Asthma Walk, which started in Fresno on Thursday, is sponsored by the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West union. The group is winding its way up the valley and will finish Thursday in Sacramento. Walkers had to deal with high temperatures as the mercury rose across the valley, peaking at 95 in Modesto. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/01/2396395/heat-could-threaten-record-high.html BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Air board to launch discount program. In another step to alleviate air pollution, a regional air quality agency is launching an incentive program to get hundreds of homeowners spread across three counties to convert their wood-burning stoves and fireplaces to their cleaner counterparts. Income-qualified residents in Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties get the first chance at the program, which is being funded by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21675070/air-board-launch-discount-program BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CORONA: Battery company to pay EPA settlement. A lead acid battery manufacturer in Corona has reached a settlement to pay a federal agency for air violations. U.S. Battery Manufacturing Company has agreed to pay the Environmental Protection Agency more than $167,000 and install additional air filters to capture lead particles to satisfy federal Clean Air Act violations, a press release from the federal agency said. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/corona/corona-headlines-index/20121001-corona-battery-company-to-pay-epa-settlement.ece CLIMATE CHANGE California on track to link CO2 scheme with Quebec in 2013. California is on track to link its forthcoming emissions trading scheme to Quebec's in 2013, pushing the state one step closer to its goal of connecting to a wider carbon market, the state's chief air regulator said on Monday. Mary Nichols, chairperson of the California Air Resources Board (ARB), said that California Governor Jerry Brown will sign off on rules that would enable linkages for the state's CO2 market after review by the attorney general.The governor must within 45 days find that the other jurisdiction has adopted a greenhouse gas reduction program that is equivalent or stricter than California's program and that any linking failure will not impose significant liability on the state. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/us-california-quebec-idUSBRE89108E20121002 Changing Calif. climate a threat to crops. Farmers have always been gamblers, long accustomed to betting on the probabilities of the weather. But for the Napa Valley, where temperatures have been ideal for the wine industry, shifts in the Earth's climate could be a game-changer. "They're used to rolling the dice every year," said Stuart Weiss, a conservation biologist and chief scientist at the Creekside Center for Earth Observation in Menlo Park, which assists growers and municipalities dealing with the disruptions caused by the changing climate. "Now, though, climate change is stacking the dice." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Changing-Calif-climate-a-threat-to-crops-3901021.php#ixzz289vt2l8l California governor signs cap-and-trade revenue bills. California Governor Jerry Brown has signed two bills related to the use of revenue raised through the sale of carbon allowances, although details of how the money will be spent won't be determined until next year. The bills are the first to address the estimated $660 million and $3 billion in revenue that will be generated during the first year of California's carbon cap-and-trade scheme, which begins in January. The first bill creates a new account for the revenue to be deposited into, and directs the Department of Finance and the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to develop an investment plan for the funds. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/us-california-carbon-idUSBRE89108C20121002 http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/02/4872539/new-california-laws-set-up-framework.html#storylink=cpy http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/02/2397243/new-california-laws-set-up-framework.html#storylink=misearch U.N. climate chief urges greater ambition in Doha. The U.N. climate chief said Monday that countries have not backed off what they had agreed in climate talks in Durban last year but said current actions and pledges are not enough to avert a dangerous rise in global temperatures. Speaking at the Carbon Forum North America in Washington, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres said although both developing and developed countries are making "good progress in the right direction" toward a legal agreement, current global efforts are insufficient. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/us-un-climate-idUSBRE89108M20121002 Energy rift on the campaign trail. No matter who wins the 2012 election, the next president will take office as the United States faces vast new opportunities in energy production and profound challenges to environmental protection. After decades of growing dependence on imported oil, the U.S. is moving to energy self-sufficiency, thanks to greater domestic supplies of oil and natural gas and reduced demand. Coal, which once fired most American power plants, is being edged out by natural gas, renewable energy and stricter efforts to cut pollution - a trend that has touched off bitter political fights. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/02/4873559/energy-rift-on-the-campaign-trail.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Drought? Maybe, maybe not; but heat's been undeniable. When Californians suffer under oppressive heat, as they have for weeks, another concern is sure to follow: drought. Long-term weather outlooks for the Golden State do not provide much reassurance. While the stubborn heat gripping the state is expected to ease starting Wednesday, there is zero rain in the forecast. Indeed, drought conditions have worsened across California compared with one year ago, and are expected to get more severe through December. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/02/4872831/drought-maybe-maybe-not-but-heats.html#storylink=cpy VEHICLES GM sales rise 1.5 pct. on strong car performance. General Motors says its U.S. sales rose 1.5 percent last month as a big jump in car sales was offset by falling truck sales. The company says new models boosted car sales by 29 percent. But sales of the Chevrolet Silverado, GM's top-selling vehicle, fell almost 17 percent from a year ago. Still, GM says last month was its best September since 2008. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_AUTO_SALES_GENERAL_MOTORS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/us-chrysler-sales-idUSBRE8910IY20121002 http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-autos-september-auto-sales-20121001,0,1390056.story Fisker looking to form alliances to share costs. Electric car maker Fisker Automotive is talking with other car companies about sharing parts and technology. The company, based in Anaheim, Calif., is also preparing for a public offering of stock that would help it raise money for new vehicles, Fisker's new CEO Tony Posawatz said Monday during a speech to the Automotive Press Association. Posawatz didn't say when an offering might happen, but he said the company is watching the stock performance of electric carmaker Tesla Motors, which had an IPO in 2010. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/01/fisker-looking-to-form-alliances-to-share-costs/ Concept: modular EV-hybrid features battery and engine swapping. A Romanian team—Dan Scarlat (automotive journalist), Marian Cilibeanu (designer) and Cristian Ionescu (engineer)—are proposing the SCI hyMod modular concept car. For clean daily operation, hyMod is exclusively a battery-electric car. For longer-range interurban travels, it can transform into a hybrid car with the assistance of a special change center (“hyMod STATION”). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/scihymod-20121001.html IBM and ESB to pioneer IT system for smarter electric vehicle charging across Ireland. IBM and ESB are set to work together to deploy a smarter, more integrated charging IT system for electric vehicles in Ireland. With 1,000 such public charging points now installed around the country, drivers will also be able to access all charging stations using an ID card. ESB Networks, which is currently rolling out the public charge points around Ireland, will be using IBM's 'Intelligent Electric Vehicle Enablement Platform' to operate and manage these charge points. Apparently, Ireland will be the first country globally to implement such an integrated platform. Posted. http://www.siliconrepublic.com/clean-tech/item/29457-ibm-and-esb-to-pioneer-it/ Toyota begins testing optimized urban transport system. Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), in cooperation with the Toyota City municipal government, transportation companies and others, began testing of an optimized urban transportation system called “Ha:mo” (“harmonious mobility”). The system will select optimal means of transport for users based on the operational status of public transport systems and traffic conditions. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/hamo-20121001.html Smaller EV manufacturers and charging solutions at Paris Motor Show. The 2012 Paris Motor show, taking place until 14 October 2012, is not only the scene of many EV Premieres, including PHEVs, BEVs and FCEVs, but also an opportunity for smaller manufacturers and infrastructure suppliers to make their way in a very competitive automotive market. In this article, we look at some of these companies and how they approach the EV market. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4966 GREEN ENERGY Energy engineers to meet this week. Smart ways to manage energy and the technological advances that enable them will be discussed Thursday in Westlake Village. The Buenaventura chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers will host its 2012 Energy Efficiency Symposium at the Westlake Village Inn from 3-8 p.m. with local exhibitors and guest speakers. The association, which has about 800 members in Ventura County, is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and held its first Energy Efficiency Symposium last year. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/01/energy-engineers-to-meet-this-week/ Survey says: Keep San Onofre shut. Public opposition to restarting the troubled San Onofre nuclear plant well outweighs support, according to an independent poll commissioned by an international environmental organization. The telephone survey of registered voters in areas served by San Onofre operator Southern California Edison found 50 percent of respondents supported keeping the plant shut for good, while replacing its power with renewable energy and conservation. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/02/survey-says-keep-san-onofre-shut/ MISCELLANEOUS FTC issues revised green marketing guidelines. Expect to see fewer products pitched as "environmentally friendly" if the government has its way. Hoping to limit the number of deceptive claims, the Federal Trade Commission on Monday released an updated version of its green marketing guidelines that hold companies to truthful standards in marketing their products. The revision to the Green Guides is the first since 1998, when phrases like "carbon offset" and "renewable energy" were not widely used. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/01/ftc-issues-revised-green-marketing-guidelines/ Energy rift on the campaign trail. No matter who wins the 2012 election, the next president will take office as the United States faces vast new opportunities in energy production and profound challenges to environmental protection. After decades of growing dependence on imported oil, the U.S. is moving to energy self-sufficiency, thanks to greater domestic supplies of oil and natural gas and reduced demand. Coal, which once fired most American power plants, is being edged out by natural gas, renewable energy and stricter efforts to cut pollution - a trend that has touched off bitter political fights. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/02/2397575/energy-rift-on-the-campaign-trail.html#storylink=misearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Three climate and energy debate questions for Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. In the 2008 presidential debates, moderators Tom Brokaw (second debate) and Bob Schieffer (third debate) asked presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain about climate change and reducing American dependence on oil. Both candidates vigorously supported reductions in carbon pollution, though the means to that end differed. Since that election, the scientific evidence that climate change is real and human-caused has only grown. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/three-climate-and-energy-debate-questions-for-mitt-romney-and-barack-obama/ CA Air Resources Board hearing in Redding. It’s time for CARB to meet rural America THIS THURSDAY! October 4, 2012 1:00 – 3:00 PM Shasta County Administration Center, 1450 Court Street. Redding, California 96001(this is where the Shasta County Board of Supervisors meets) Ladies and Gentlemen, These are the unelected bureaucrats inventing CA Cap & Trade regulations that you’ll be paying for next month. Posted. http://pienpolitics.com/?p=12187 OPINIONS Don't let industry weaken regulations. After years of wrangling, state legislators have stitched together an agreement to protect consumers from dangerous chemicals in the products they buy. Under a state law passed in 2008, regulations were supposed to be beefed up by January 2011. Now, despite bipartisan support from lawmakers, the pact is in danger of unraveling at the hands of the powerful chemical industry, which is lobbying every state official it can corner. To dilute this legal protection would be a disservice to California consumers. That law required the state to make a list of "chemicals of concern," identify possible alternatives and regulate the substances to reduce or eliminate public exposure to them. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Don-t-let-industry-weaken-regulations-3907474.php#ixzz28AEE3XI5 California’s cap-and-trade auction: Are we ready? That could be a $3 billion dollar question for the first year of the cap-and-trade auction. The answer is a resounding “NO”. If the California Air Resources Board (CARB) starts the cap-and-trade auction scheme without fixing a critical flaw in the regulation, there will be serious damage to California’s economy and we will lose our leadership role on climate change. The AB 32 Implementation Group (AB 32 IG) represents the interests of companies who will be subject to cap-and-trade regulation. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=10weg8bpqemhajx Safer Consumer Products Regulation Reflects Consumer Concern. Editor’s Note: This article is in response to Assembly Member Jeff Miller’s piece published on August 30th, “State’s Green Chemistry Rules Could Have Californians Seeing Red” When California’s “Green Chemistry” law passed with bipartisan support in 2008, industry, health advocacy groups and consumer organizations applauded its broad vision of a systematic approach to reducing toxic chemicals in consumer products. In the ensuing four years, those parties engaged in a vigorous discussion over the specifics of implementing the law. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/10/safer-consumer-products-regulation-reflects-consumer-concern/ BLOGS How organized crime groups are destroying the rain forests. The phrase “organized crime” typically conjures up images of drug trafficking or stolen-car rings. But it turns out that the illegal logging trade is just as lucrative — and far more destructive. Between 50 to 90 percent of forestry in tropical areas is now controlled by criminal groups, according to a new report (pdf) from the United Nations and Interpol. Across the globe, deforestation is a major contributor to climate change, responsible for one-fifth of humanity’s emissions. Farming and logging both play big roles. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/02/report-most-tropical-deforestation-now-caused-by-the-mafia/ Out With the New, In With the Newer. Light-emitting diodes are tiny electronic devices that emit far more light per unit of electricity than incandescent lamps or even compact fluorescents. But in the move to replace energy-gobbling incandescents, LEDs face a steeper climb in the marketplace than compact fluorescents do because they are more expensive. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/out-with-the-new-in-with-the-newer/?ref=earth The Supposed Decline of Green Energy. Here's a surprising new fact about energy in the United States: the percentage of our electricity coming from the greenest sources -- that is, the non-hydroelectric renewables such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass -- has doubled in just four years to nearly 6 percent. (Thanks to climate uberblogger Joe Romm for uncovering this data from the Energy Information Agency). This significant win for clean energy has gone mostly unnoticed in the press. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-winston/the-supposed-decline-of-g_b_1928982.html?utm_hp_ref=business&ir=Business A Decade of Progress at Southern California Ports. This month marks the 10th anniversary of a landmark legal victory against the Port of Los Angeles. In 2002, two environmental groups teamed up with San Pedro and Wilmington residents and forever changed how the Port of Los Angeles conducts business by successfully halting one of the Port’s largest expansion projects. NRDC’s lawsuit, which included the Coalition for Clean Air and two San Pedro homeowners groups, challenged the City and Port of Los Angeles’ decision to expand the China Shipping container terminal under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/mlinperrella/a_decade_of_progress_at_southe.html