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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 28, 2013.

Posted: 28 Oct 2013 14:33:48
ARB Newsclips for October 28, 2013. 

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.

ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES

Tenn. officials steer clear of zero-emissions plan. the Nissan
plant in Tennessee that makes the all-electric Leaf stands to
benefit from an announcement this week that eight states will
work together to dramatically increase the number of
zero-emission cars on the nation's roads. But Tennessee isn't
among the states signing the agreement, and Republican leaders
say they have no plans to do so. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Tenn-officials-steer-clear-of-zero-emissions-plan-4931641.php


CAP AND TRADE

State hears objections to business-friendly cap-and-trade
changes. California is readying a controversial suite of changes
to its cap-and-trade program that are drawing heated opposition
from environmentalists who say they could weaken its
environmental integrity. The changes, intended to make the
state's greenhouse gas market friendlier to businesses that have
to participate, include more free allowances for industry,
adjustments to market rules and the ability to buy carbon offsets
from coal mines. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059989487/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

AIR POLLUTION

China to monitor link between smog and health. China's Health
Ministry will set up a national network within five years to
provide a way of monitoring the long-term impact of chronic air
pollution on human health, state media said on Monday. The
network will gather data on PM2.5, or particulate matter with a
diameter of 2.5 micrometers, in different locations around the
country, the report said, citing a ministry statement. "The
document noted that the absence of a long-term, systematic
monitoring system has…Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/28/us-china-environment-idUSBRE99R0L320131028

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-28/china-to-start-monitoring-pollution-effects-in-worst-hit-cities.html

 
Study to look at causes of surging ozone pollution in Texas. When
ozone pollution skyrocketed in the tiny town of Boulder, Wyo., in
2008, it was relatively easy to identify the culprit as oil and
gas drilling, the only major industry in the rural area. Today, a
similar situation in San Antonio, Texas, will be more difficult
to resolve. The city has violated federal ozone standards dozens
of times since 2008, but with so much industrial activity in and
around the city…Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/10/27/5856227/study-to-look-at-causes-of-surging.html#storylink=cpy
  
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/10/27/5856227/study-to-look-at-causes-of-surging.html
  

China's Smog Is So Bad You Can See It From Space. NOAA just
published this satellite picture of China, which shows just how
bad its smog problem really is. This week the smog was so bad it
shut down Harbin, a city of 11 million people. Small particulate
matter (with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers) reached a reading of
1,000 in some parts of Harbin. More than 300 is considered
"hazardous," and the city has been forced to shut down schools,
airports, and buses because of the air. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/China-s-Smog-Is-So-Bad-You-Can-See-It-From-Space-4926903.php
  

Blustery day in S.J. topples trees, cuts power; air quality
worsens.  Gusting winds that reached highs of 44 mph caused a
flurry of downed tree limbs and power lines, and at least one
large power outage in Stockton on Sunday night. Air quality was
also downgraded to a status of "unhealthy for sensitive groups."
Pacific Gas & Electric spokeswoman Jana Morris said downed power
lines caused an outage for 117 customers…Posted.
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20131028/A_NEWS/310280317&cid=sitesearch
 

SALTON SEA: Air district to track foul gas.  Next time, residents
might get some warning before a belch of foul-smelling gas from
the Salton Sea hits the Inland area.
Air quality officials this week installed two monitors in the
Coachella Valley near the sea to track the presence of hydrogen
sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs. Posted.
http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20131025-salton-sea-air-district-to-track-foul-gas.ece


Imperial Valley residents advised to monitor air quality as
temperatures cool off.  With the temperatures cooling off in the
Imperial Valley, residents are advised to monitor the air quality
in their area.  Typically this time of year brings more unhealthy
air quality, especially in Calexico because of idling vehicles at
the border crossing and burning that happens at night in
Mexicali, said Imperial County Air Pollution Control Officer Brad
Poirez.  Posted. 
http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/local/imperial-valley-residents-advised-to-monitor-air-quality-as-temperatures/article_d36b2584-3e12-11e3-9c32-0019bb30f31a.html
 

Imperial Valley students to speak on health impacts of poor air
quality.  Community, local leaders and decision makers are
invited to “STOP AND LISTEN” to local high school students to
discuss the negative health impacts of poor air quality in the
Imperial Valley.  Students from three high schools around
Imperial County will base their presentations on the recently
released white paper “Health Impacts of Border Crossing
Emissions,” written by Dr. Penelope Quintana of San Diego State
University, according to a press release from the Imperial Valley
Child Asthma Program. Posted. 
http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/local/imperial-valley-students-to-speak-on-health-impacts-of-poor/article_3c30bddc-3edf-11e3-891d-0019bb30f31a.html
 
 
Court sets oral argument date for EPA mercury rule case. Federal
judges Friday scheduled oral arguments for Dec. 10 in a major
challenge to U.S. EPA's landmark mercury and air toxics
standards. States and industry groups are asking the U.S. Court
of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to strike down
one of the highest-profile environmental accomplishments of
President Obama's first term. EPA finalized its Mercury and Air
Toxics Standards (MATS) rule in December 2011. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1059989513/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

CLIMATE CHANGE

Coalition of 13 EU Ministers Urges Action on Climate Policies.
Environment and energy ministers from 13 European Union countries
joined forces to call on the bloc to agree on ambitious
emission-reduction rules for the next decade and strengthen the
EU’s carbon market. The ministers, who believe tackling climate
change will help foster economic growth in the 28-nation bloc,
urged the EU at a conference in Brussels today to provide
regulatory certainty to investors. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2013-10-28/coalition-of-13-eu-ministers-urges-action-on-climate-policies.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/28/us-climate-eu-idUSBRE99R0G320131028
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/29/business/energy-environment/consol-energy-to-sell-5-coal-mines.html?_r=0


West Coast states and BC to link climate policies.  The governors
of Western U.S. states and a Canadian province will announce a
partnership to collectively combat climate change and promote
clean energy. Governors of California, Oregon, Washington and the
premier of British Columbia on Monday will announce the
partnership at an event in San Francisco. Few specifics were
available. Gov. Jerry Brown's office said the states and Canada
will formally align climate policies to cut greenhouse gas
emissions from vehicles and industrial sources. Posted.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/oct/28/west-coast-states-and-bc-to-link-climate-policies/

http://www.siliconbeat.com/2013/10/27/west-coast-climate-agreement-coming-monday/
 

Capitol Alert: AM Alert: Jerry Brown, other governors to sign
climate accord.  Fresh off his trip to Washington, D.C., Gov.
Jerry Brown will join his West Coast gubernatorial brethren and
Canadian officials today to ink a climate change accord. 
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and
environmental officials from British Columbia will join Brown in
San Francisco to sign the pact. Stay tuned for more details. 
Posted. 
http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/10/28/3576652/capitol-alert-am-alert-jerry-brown.html
 

Scripps scientist seeks soot solution for India.  In the late
1990’s Scripps professor Veerabhadran Ramanathan led an
international team of researchers that identified the brown cloud
of soot wafting from India, and warned of its contribution to
climate change.  This year he released a report showing that
diesel emissions reductions aimed at cutting pollution deaths in
California have the serendipitous effect of curbing climate
change.  Now Ramanathan, an Indian-born researcher for Scripps
Institution of Oceanography, is bringing his expertise home. 
Posted. 
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/oct/25/environment-scripps-oceanography-soot-ramanathan/
 

Climate change expert says Earth is having its 'Independence Day'
moment (Q&A).  According to the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC), Earth's climate system is a “complex,
interactive system consisting of the atmosphere, land surface,
snow and ice, oceans and other bodies of water and living
things.”  And, yes, the scientific community pores over all kinds
of data related to this system every day.  Posted. 
http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_24402089/climate-change-expert-says-earth-is-having-its
 
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_24402089/climate-change-expert-says-earth-is-having-its?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com
 
  
Greenhouse gas levels rose 11% over 1 year in Calif.  Green
California led the country in greenhouse gas emissions between
2011 and 2012, according to an analysis of U.S. EPA's recently
released data. A wet year in 2011 ramped up hydropower generation
in the state, which led to a relative drop in that renewable
energy in 2012. The decommissioning of the San Onofre Nuclear
Generating Station also raised emissions...Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059989488/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Scientists discover clue to longer-range heat wave prediction –
study Heat waves are the deadliest weather threat in the United
States, killing more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes,
floods and earthquakes combined. They're also expected to become
more frequent and more severe with climate change. One way to
minimize the negative effects of heat waves is to predict them
earlier. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059989465/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

DIESEL EMISSIONS

Calif.’s reefer unit compliance extension deadline is Thursday. 
Just a few days are left for owners of 2006 transport
refrigeration units to apply for a compliance extension of
California TRU regulation.  Owners of reefers and TRU generator
sets must comply with the rule’s in-use performance standards by
Dec. 31. Orders for verified diesel emissions control strategies,
such as Level 3 diesel particulate filters, must be placed by
Oct. 31.  The state Air Resources Board stipulates if emissions
control equipment is ordered before the deadline, but delivery or
installation is delayed, the buyer can apply for an extension.
Posted. 
http://www.ccjdigital.com/calif-s-reefer-unit-compliance-extension-deadline-is-thursday/


FUELS

CONSOL to sell 5 mines for at least $850M in cash. CONSOL Energy
Inc. said Monday it is selling all five of its longwall coal
mines in West Virginia to a subsidiary of Ohio-based Murray
Energy for a deal that includes $850 million in cash. Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer J. Brett Harvey said the sale of the
Consolidation Coal Co. subsidiary was a difficult decision but is
good for the company's long-term growth and allows CONSOL to
focus more on natural gas exploration and development. Posted.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CONSOL_MINE_SALE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

OTHER RELATED STORIES
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/28/consolenergy-minesale-idUSL1N0II0HO20131028

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303471004579163321890573890?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection
BY SUBSCRIPTION
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/consol-energy-reaches-deal-to-sell-group-of-5-mines-for-at-least-850m-in-cash/2013/10/28/e3b68ebe-3fd0-11e3-b028-de922d7a3f47_story.html


In Response to Storm, New York Will Create a Gas Reserve. New
York is creating a gasoline reserve to prevent shortages during
disasters, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s office announced in a news
release on Saturday.The reserve is expected to hold three million
gallons of fuel, Mr. Cuomo’s office said, and it would be the
first state gasoline reserve in the nation. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/27/nyregion/in-response-to-storm-new-york-will-create-a-gas-reserve.html?ref=earth
 

Asheville, NC, asks Duke to cut its coal reliance.  When the city
launched an ambitious plan to slash its carbon footprint, a major
obstacle stood in its way: A massive coal-fired plant on the edge
of town. After some progress, Ashville decided to take another
step — passing a resolution calling on Duke Energy to reduce its
reliance on coal, a move designed to cut carbon dioxide emissions
at the company's Asheville Plant. Posted. 
http://www.modbee.com/2013/10/26/2994726/asheville-nc-asks-duke-to-cut.html#storylink=cpy


Midwestern Ethanol Producers Challenge California Global-Warming
Regulations. A federal appeals court in California is mulling
whether to reconsider a September ruling that upheld state
global-warming regulations on ethanol producers.  Critics say the
decision gives the Golden State carte blanche to regulate
virtually anything it doesn’t like, regardless of the impact on
interstate commerce. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in Rocky
Mountain Farmers Union v. Corey, upheld California’s Low Carbon
Fuel Standard Program, which grades ethanol based on the
“lifecycle” greenhouse gas emissions associated with its
production. Posted.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2013/10/25/midwestern-ethanol-producers-challenge-california-law-that-penalizes-them/


VEHICLES

Charging electric vehicles disrupts power grids less than
expected. As electric vehicle sales rev up, there are concerns
that more battery-powered and plug-in hybrid cars might disrupt
the nation's power grids. If a large number of electric vehicles
(EVs) in close proximity plug in at peak times -- like after work
on a hot summer's day -- it could prompt a power surge and
overwhelm the local transformer. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059989466/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Scientists use 'actuators' to manipulate air flow and raise fuel
efficiency of vehicles using plasma. To squeeze out a few more
miles per gallon, it may make sense not to go with the flow but
to channel it. As vehicles get larger and faster, the air moving
around them becomes a bigger energy drain. Semi-trailers and
airliners have to contend with turbulent eddies pulling on their
expansive surface areas, forcing engines to work harder. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059989490/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

GREEN ENERGY

IU building is gold standard for energy efficiency. There are no
dividers between employees at the Cyberinfrastructure Building.
Work stations face the building's glass exterior, large windows
offering a view into the real world, an alternative from computer
backgrounds with beaches and palm trees. It's a view, but it's
also a necessary feature for the greenest building at Indiana
University. In becoming only IU's second LEED Gold building —
accumulating a university best 74 points from the Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design scale…Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/IU-building-is-gold-standard-for-energy-efficiency-4932286.php


Solar switch forces utilities to shift priorities. Sitting on a
rooftop, soaking up sun, the humble solar panel may not look like
a threat to a multibillion-dollar industry. But some electric
utility executives say it is. They even have a name for the
nightmare scenario solar could create - the "death spiral." They
fear solar's rapid spread across homes and businesses, combined
with the increasing efficiency of modern buildings and
appliances, could slowly erode the utilities' ability to grow.
Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Solar-switch-forces-utilities-to-shift-priorities-4929363.php


Polls show energy doesn’t spark Americans’ interest. The U.S. is
a rising energy power with soaring oil and gas production and
lots of big decisions to make about pipelines, fracking, the
future of wind and solar power, and how to tackle climate change.
But the public may not be paying much attention. Recent polls
show that Americans are largely disengaged from the fierce energy
debates that embroil the capital and that many people know few
details…Posted.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/polls-show-energy-doesnt-spark-americans-interest-98904.html#ixzz2j2yWXh6F


MISCELLANEOUS

Village Commons Collection invites homebuyers to tour solar
powered town homes in Camarillo.  Visit the Village Commons
Collection today to learn about the many environmental benefits
of living in this beautiful community as well as how a new home
puts money back in your wallet. And while you’re there, be a part
of the FOOD Share drive happening at the sales office. Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/oct/26/village-commons-collection-invites-homebuyers-tour/#ixzz2j2HHWtXu


OPINIONS

Column - Sandy +1: Preparing for the storms ahead One year ago
Tuesday, Hurricane Sandy, perhaps the largest Atlantic storm
ever, began its path of destruction in New York City. It
ultimately killed almost 300 people across seven countries. In
the United States alone, the fierce storm left an estimated $70
billion in damage in its wake, the second-costliest storm in U.S.
history. Substantial money and effort has now gone into
rebuilding the areas most devastated by the storm. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/28/us-column-great-debate-idUSBRE99R05420131028


Editorial: Long Story Short It took less than a week to be
reminded of the flaw in the Department of Environmental
Conservation's new "police yourselves" policy, courtesy of a tour
of the Norlite hazardous waste incinerator. In the mid-2000s, the
Cohoes company was so squirrely with its monitoring and reporting
that the DEC in a 2010 settlement fined Norlite and its former
owners $90,000, ordered repairs of its kilns and other
equipment…Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Editorial-Long-Story-Short-4929503.php


Is Biofuel the Oil Killer? Oil and gasoline heat our homes and
power our vehicles, with industry giants like ExxonMobil quickly
coming to mind. However, there are alternatives to oil that are
increasingly becoming viable options. More of the same. There's
good reason to like ExxonMobil beyond the fact that over 19,000
of its gas stations dot the globe. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Is-Biofuel-the-Oil-Killer-4932014.php


Letter: 'Green brand' would help area The Owens Corning factory
in Bethlehem has the largest solar power project under the
state's renewable energy subsidy program ("State plugs solar
farms," Oct. 18). Funded by Constellation New Energy and NYSERDA,
this 2.7-mega-watt facility will provide 6 percent of the
electricity consumed at the factory. This is just one of many
projects going on, or proposed, that promise to make the
Bethlehem a model of sustainable development and resource
efficiency. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Letter-Green-brand-would-help-area-4930809.php


Time to discard state's recycling law? "Seinfeld" fans might
remember that 1996 episode when Kramer and Newman came up with a
scheme to exploit Michigan's 10-cent deposit on beverage
containers. They decided to load a mail truck with bottles and
cans from New York - where the deposit was merely 5 cents - to
redeem for double the value. Their plan was disrupted when
Jerry's car was stolen by a psychotic auto mechanic, but not
before a succession of guffaws. In California, interstate
shipment of recyclables is no laughing matter. It's a thriving
business, albeit an illegal one. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/diaz/article/Time-to-discard-state-s-recycling-law-4926892.php


Fixing California: Regulation gone wild.  On March 12, 2009,
officials from the California Air Resources Board met with
representatives of U.S. automakers and auto-supply firms to
discuss vehicle-paint standards that state regulators were moving
to implement. Soon afterward, the auto-industry insiders’
WardsAuto website detailed how the meeting had left some
attendees stunned — and major paint suppliers “tearing their hair
out.”  The air board wanted to require heat-reflecting paint on
vehicles as part of its effort to improve fuel efficiency.
Posted. 
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/oct/26/regulators-gone-wild/ 


Our air may get help from afar.  Our view: Butte County has
learned that sometimes you win, sometimes you lose with the
government's uneven air laws.  The business of regulating air
quality is more than a little bit strange, as evidenced recently
by the fact that a pollution violation by a trio of businesses in
Mississippi is very likely to help clean the air in Butte County,
roughly 2,220 miles away.  The three companies imported and sold
more than 80,000 engines that didn't meet the United States'
pollution standards.  Posted. 
http://www.chicoer.com/editorials/ci_24396208/editorial-our-air-may-get-help-from-afar
  

Shopping for cleaner environment. In theory, it seems like a
solid concept - ban plastic shopping bags, putting an end to a
lot of visual and environmental pollution. In a practical sense,
it's far more complicated, even as the Santa Barbara County Board
of Supervisors considers just such a ban. Dozen of public
agencies across California have banned the use of plastic bags,
including the city of Santa Barbara. Hawaii last year became the
first to impose a statewide ban. Posted.
http://www.lompocrecord.com/news/opinion/editorial/shopping-for-cleaner-environment/article_d0759412-3e9f-11e3-a7a9-0019bb2963f4.html?print=true&cid=print


California's Crude Attack On Oil Imports Makes Other States Green
With Enmity. A federal court must clear the air regarding whether
California’s new low-carbon fuel standard mandate is in violation
of the Constitution’s Commerce Clause.  The fact that the policy
violates common sense in terms of any purported environmental or
climate benefit is another matter entirely. After all, we’re
dealing with California’s very unique brand of green logic here.
Posted.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2013/10/27/californias-crude-attack-on-oil-imports-makes-other-states-green-with-enmity/

BLOGS

Why world can't agree over climate change.  China has brought us
a new English word: "Airpocalypse."  The northeastern city of
Harbin was paralyzed last week by terrible smog and air
pollution. Visibility was down to just a few meters. Highways and
schools were closed, the airport was shut down. Pedestrians could
barely get around.  The images are a vivid reminder of the
impacts of industrial growth, especially when powered by dirty
fuels like coal, which accelerates not only pollution but also
climate change.  Posted. 
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/26/why-world-cant-agree-over-climate-change/
 

Update: CARB Defers Action on Coal Mine Methane Offsets.  Late
today, the California Air Resources Board directed staff to
conduct additional analysis and respond to concerns raised about
a proposal to allow the state’s major polluters to use reductions
from methane emissions from coal mines as a way to comply with
California’s AB 32 clean energy law, which could become a
significant source of new revenue for the coal industry.  Posted.
 http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/pmiller/update_carb_defers_action_on_c.html
 

Yes, CO2 emissions are down, but they have much further to go. 
Last week, environmentalists got a rare bit of good news: U.S.
CO2 emissions dropped 3.8 percent in 2012, according to the U.S.
Energy Information Administration. That brings emissions to their
lowest level since 1994, and represents the fifth drop in seven
years. And unlike some previous years, the drop was not the
silver lining to a shrinking economy: The economy grew by 2.8
percent in 2012. Posted. 
http://grist.org/climate-energy/yes-co2-emissions-are-down-but-they-have-much-further-to-go/


Health Effects Of Air Pollution To Be Monitored In China As Smog
Raises Safety Concerns. China's Health Ministry will set up a
national network within five years to provide a way of monitoring
the long-term impact of chronic air pollution on human health,
state media said on Monday. The network will gather data on
PM2.5, or particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers,
in different locations around the country, the report said,
citing a ministry statement. Posted.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/28/health-effects-of-air-pollution-china_n_4169696.html


The Climate Change Disconnect. Recently, "good" news about energy
has been gushing out of North America, where a cheering crowd of
pundits, energy experts, and government officials has been
plugging the U.S. as the "Saudi Arabia" of the twenty-first
century. You know, all that fracking and those luscious deposits
of oil shale and gas shale just waiting to be pounded into shape
to fill global gas tanks for an energy-rich future. Posted.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-engelhardt/north-america-fossil-fuels_b_4169841.html


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