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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 26, 2014.
Posted: 26 Mar 2014 14:03:02
ARB Newsclips for March 26, 2014. 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 Pollution advisory issued for Phoenix on Wednesday. Strong winds that are expected to stir up dust have prompted environmental regulators to issue a high pollution advisory for fine particulate matter Wednesday in metro Phoenix. The poor air quality also has led regulators to bar people in Maricopa County from starting wood-burning fires on Wednesday. Regulators say people with respiratory problems should avoid outdoor activities. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AZ_AIR_QUALITY_METRO_PHOENIX_AZOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Beijing Warns Against Outdoor Activity on Hazardous Smog Levels. Beijing warned its 20 million residents to avoid outdoor activities as a U.S. Embassy pollution monitor showed air quality at “hazardous” levels in the Chinese capital.The concentration of PM2.5 -- the small particles that pose the greatest risk to human health -- hit 309 in Beijing as of 6 p.m., according to the monitor. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-26/beijing-warns-against-outdoor-activity-on-hazardous-smog-levels.html CLIMATE CHANGE UN chief in Greenland climate change visit. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has traveled to Greenland to get an up-close look at the consequences of global warming. Ban landed Wednesday in Uummannaq, north of the Arctic Circle, the first of two towns he will visit as part of preparations for a climate summit in New York in September. Local lawmaker Sakio Fleischer said Ban was "up here to see the effects of climate change." Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_GREENLAND_UNITED_NATIONS_BAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Extracting carbon from nature can aid climate but will be costly-UN. A little-known technology that may be able to take the equivalent of China's greenhouse gas emissions out of the carbon cycle could be the radical policy shift needed to slow climate change this century, a draft U.N. report shows. Using the technology, power plants would burn biomass - wood, wood pellets, or plant waste like from sugar cane - to generate electricity while the carbon dioxide in the biomass is extracted…Posted. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/climatechange-ccs-idUKL5N0MN30420140326 Raise a Glass of Scottish Wine to Global Climate Changes. Thanks to climate change, Christopher Trotter will make history later this year by pairing a Scottish white wine with the local spoots. The razor clams harvested from the nearby shores of the North Sea will go down nicely with the first bottles from Trotter’s vineyard north of Edinburgh. The 2014 vintage will be special for Scotland, where Highlanders have distilled whisky and brewed ale for centuries. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2014-03-26/raise-a-glass-of-scottish-wine-to-global-climate-changes.html Christie Greenhouse Changes Violate N.J. Law, Court Says. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s administration violated state law in the way it withdrew from a regional program to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, a state appellate court ruled. New Jersey must begin amending or repealing the state’s climate-change regulations within 60 days, according to a three-judge panel in Trenton. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-25/new-jersey-ordered-by-court-to-repeal-or-amend-pollution-rules.html Scientists report explanation for recent pause in sea-level rise. In a finding that challenges climate skeptics, a team of scientists reported this week that a seeming slowdown in global sea-level rise in the last decade was not a slowdown at all. Their work -- released in Nature Climate Change -- found that a natural weather cycle known as La Niña provides most of the explanation for the pause in sea-level rise observed after 2003. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996725/print BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DROUGHT Sacramento drought busters write 350 violations. Sacramento: You’ve been warned. Turn off the sprinklers – at least on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Yet, judging by complaints, thousands of residents apparently have not gotten that water-saving message. When city utilities officials noticed a substantial spike in water use Thursday, they sent out enforcement officers on the lookout for sprinklers spraying on a non-watering day. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2014/03/25/6266813/sacramento-drought-busters-write.html#storylink=cpy First load of Sacramento River salmon begin migration – by truck. Wildlife officials on Tuesday formally launched a massive trucking operation to move 30 million Sacramento River salmon toward the sea to help the fish avoid harmful river conditions caused by drought. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2014/03/25/6267695/first-load-of-sacramento-river.html#storylink=cpy Drought Means Pumps Possible In Sacramento River. The Department of Utilities had hoped to avoid installing extra pumps at the Sacramento River Pump Station, but the drought has made it unavoidable. The department's Dave Brent says the river is four-feet-high now. If it drops below a foot-and-a-half, the pump station probably won't be able to operate, which is when the City would likely turn on the submersible pumps. Posted. http://www.capradio.org/20744 Rain system expected to bring relief to Bay Area. Northern California on Wednesday was in the midst of what forecasters were predicting would be the longest stretch of wet weather yet this year. Rain, heavy at times, was falling in the San Francisco Bay Area in the morning. The National Weather Service was forecasting light to moderate rain for morning commuters in the Sacramento Valley and northern San Joaquin Valley as well. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/mar/26/rain-system-expected-to-bring-relief-to-bay-area/#ixzz2x5Lwp2ft New Stanford center aims to 'revolutionize' wastewater reuse. When a Stanford University student flushes a toilet on campus in the not-too-distant future, the wastewater that's produced may not only irrigate the university's lawns, but could also be used to create energy needed for the treatment process. Stanford yesterday broke ground on a $3 million facility to explore better ways to reclaim water using innovations developed by in-house researchers. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996720/print BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Panel fears agency's budget plan fails to properly address water shortfalls. GOP lawmakers yesterday criticized the Obama administration's plan to lead parched Western states through ongoing drought conditions, with some arguing during a hearing that the administration cares more about addressing climate change and conserving water than about meeting growing demand. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/eedaily/stories/1059996740/print BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Texans try to cope with lingering hangover from record drought. After Texas got hit by a historic drought in 2011 that caused major damage to its agricultural sector, many farmers and ranchers in the state had hoped their dry spell would be over by now. But although conditions have somewhat improved since then, moderate to exceptional drought is still affecting 64 percent of the state…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996722/print BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS No technical barrier to advancing regulations on shipping emissions – study. Ahead of a ruling next week on whether or not to move forward with international regulations on emissions from large ships, a new study finds that the standards are technically feasible and should not be delayed. The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) found that emission reduction technologies that are needed to achieve limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx)…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996749/print BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Gasoline Gains as Shut Pipeline Seen Crimping East Coast Supply. Gasoline futures rose on speculation that the closing of a key pipeline transporting Gulf Coast oil products to the U.S. Northeast will reduce East Coast inventories. Prices gained as much as 0.6 percent one day after Colonial Pipeline Co., shut the segment for unplanned repairs. The line is capable of moving 850,000 barrels a day of gasoline and distillates from North Carolina to New Jersey. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2014-03-26/gasoline-gains-as-shut-pipeline-seen-crimping-east-coast-supply.html Richmond calls on Congress to halt crude oil transport through Bay Area. A unanimous Richmond City Council voted Tuesday to call on Congress to halt rail transport of Bakken crude oil from North Dakota pending new regulations and explore what local measures could be enforced to thwart truck transport of the volatile fuel mix on local streets. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_25421666/richmond-calls-congress-halt-crude-oil-transport-through?source=rss Switching fuels poses increased health risk for world's energy poor. As the developing world claws out of the darkness, many are finding that the path to a better life and economic growth is fraught with danger. This is especially true when it comes to energy. Lighting to gain more usable working hours or stoves for cooking and heating require fuels, and in impoverished regions, this usually means biomass collected locally. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996748/print BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Industry group says EPA proposal will increase GHG emissions. The Biotechnology Industry Organization today warned that a proposal by the Obama administration to lower federal biofuel targets this year will result in higher greenhouse gas emissions. If U.S. EPA lowers the renewable fuel standard this year, the agency will be responsible for a net increase equivalent to putting 5.9 million cars on the road, the industry group said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1059996767/print BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Cadillac takes on Tesla with plug-in ELR. Finally, there's an electric car that rivals Tesla's eye-catching Model S. The sleek, new-for-2014 Cadillac ELR coupe is arguably as sexy looking as the sporty Model S, and like the Tesla, it's a plug-in vehicle that's capable of traveling for hours without stopping. For drivers who don't want to worry about finding a place to recharge batteries and waiting around until the charging is complete, the Cadillac ELR is eminently more accommodating. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BEHIND_THE_WHEEL_CADILLAC_ELR?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Nissan recalling over 1 million vehicles for airbag issue. Nissan Motor Co is recalling 1,053,479 vehicles globally, mostly in the United States, to fix software that could deactivate the front passenger airbag. The vehicle occupant classification system software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, deactivating the airbag and increasing the risk of an injury in a crash, according to documents filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/nissan-recall-idUSL1N0MN0G720140326 U.S. Senate panel sets April 2 hearing on GM auto recalls. A U.S. Senate panel will hold its first hearing on April 2 to probe how General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration handled recalls over the past decade of malfunctioning GM ignition switches, which are linked to 12 deaths. The Senate's Commerce subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance will hold the hearing one day after the House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee holds a hearing on the same topic. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/us-gm-recall-congress-idUSBREA2P1GO20140326 GREEN ENERGY Will Your Next House Produce More Energy Than It Consumes? UC Davis and a division of Honda say they've built a new house that saves energy and water, and reduces carbon emissions by 11 tons each year. The house uses L-E-D lighting and has a geothermal heating and cooling system. It is solar-powered. The solar system provides the energy needed for the house and an electric vehicle. Posted. http://www.capradio.org/20731 New England seeking to tap Canadian hydropower. A 300-mile power cable line would be buried on land and run underwater from Maine to Boston in a proposal to tap Canada's hydropower for power-hungry southern New England. New England governors say they need up to 3,600 megawatts of renewable energy to meet green energy goals, while also lowering costs and offsetting losses as aging power plants go offline. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/mar/25/new-england-seeking-to-tap-canadian-02/ China's big plans for biomass. China, the largest producer and consumer of electricity in the world, is also a significant contributor to global pollution. The Asian giant has been frequently making headlines due to its toxic air. Fossil fuels, particularly coal, comprise almost 90 per cent of the country's current energy consumption. On the other hand, China only obtains about eight per cent of its total primary energy from non-fossil fuel sources. Posted. http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2014/3/26/china_s_big_plans_for_biomass.htm MISCELLANEOUS Obama highlights need for US-EU energy cooperation. U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday that energy cooperation would be a crucial part of a free trade deal with the EU that, if reached, would allow the 28-nation bloc to become less dependent on Russia. Several EU nations rely heavily on Russia for gas supplies, something they regret now that they are in a diplomatic standoff over Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EUROPE_US_FREE_TRADE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT On the Road to Zero Waste The California Strawberry Festival Recycling Program Scores Tons Of Success. Ten years ago the California Strawberry Festival kicked off a new recycling program in partnership with the City of Oxnard and Oxnard City Corps. For this year’s 31st annual celebration May 17, 18 in Oxnard, organizers are taking steps leading toward zero waste -- a plus for the environment and fundraising. Since 2004, a total of nearly 70 tons of materials have been recycled from the annual celebration including…Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/mar/25/on-the-road-to-zero-waste-the-california-strawberr/#ixzz2x5MTsk5x Dust Suppression Unit Introduced. Company Wrench patented and introduced high-pressure air water cannon (HAWC) used in dust control at a variety of sites. The company sells and rents HAWC machines to demolition, scrap & recycling, land fill, mining and coal sites for use in dust suppression, material retention, evaporation, odor control, alternative daily coverage, and irrigation. The machine provides large volumes of properly-sized mist droplets, to cover large areas where operations disperse volumes of particulate matter. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2014/03/26/dust-suppression-unit-introduced/ BLOGS Japanese Giant Mitsui Leads $60M Investment In A Startup That Turns Pollution Into Pure Money. As places like China and India continue to grow, an ever-increasing number of billowing smoke stacks mark these countries’ landscapes. 7 million people died in 2012 from air pollution. LanzaTech wants to clean up those industries by turning all that pollution into extremely valuable fuels and chemicals. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/aarontilley/2014/03/26/japanese-giant-mitsui-leads-60m-investment-in-a-startup-that-turns-pollution-into-pure-money/ Climate Change: Case Closed. Today, we are at an environmental crossroads. Just as those that pioneered environmental protection in the 20th Century faced the threat of industrial pollution, this generation faces a looming environmental disaster of our own creation. Human-caused climate change threatens almost every aspect of human existence. Left unchecked, the world of tomorrow will be a vastly different world than the one we know today. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-alan-lowenthal/climate-change-science_b_5030346.html Toyota's 'green bond' an industry first, quickly rises to $1.75 billion. Toyota is greasing the skids for more green car purchases with the announcement of a $1.75-billion bond designed to finance the purchase of high-efficiency Toyota and Lexus models. The Asset-Backed Green Bond is a first for the automotive industry and is making a lot of money available to buy or lease the following vehicles: any of the four Prius variants, Camry Hybrid, Avalon Hybrid, RAV4 EV, Lexus CT 200h and Lexus ES 300h. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2014/03/25/toyotas-green-bond-industry-first-quickly-rises-1-75-billion/ In Ranchers Vs. Weeds, Climate Change Gives Weeds An Edge. Most climate models a bleak picture of the Great Plains a century from now as a hot region besieged by heavy rainstorms and flooding. And new studies suggest that climate change may bring farmers another headache: more invasive plants. Ask most Midwestern and Rocky Mountain ranchers about the weeds they pull their hair out over and be prepared for. There's cheat grass in Nebraska, red brome in Utah and yellow star thistle in California. Posted. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/03/25/294351697/ranchers-brace-for-weed-invasion-as-climate-change-takes-hold Exide Technologies FAQ: Everything you need to know about recycling lead batteries in LA. What do battery recyclers like Exide Technologies in Vernon do? Old lead-acid batteries, like those you see under the hood of your car, are gathered up and shipped to secondary recycling facilities. (Motorcycle batteries and other commercial batteries go to Vernon too.) They’re disassembled or otherwise broken down; first, plastic casings and hardware are pulled off and separated. Then the lead is melted down in furnaces, to separate it from the acid parts. Posted. http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/2014/03/25/13867/exide-technologies-faq-everything-you-need-to-know/ The Scientific Debate On Global Warming In One Chart. The next time someone tries to tell you that there's a legitimate scientific debate about man-made global warming, point them to this chart. It was created by James Powell, an MIT-trained geochemist, longtime Oberlin professor, and former member of the National Science Board (under Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush). He searched for all studies published in 2013 that mentioned "global warming," "global climate change," or "climate change," and found 10,885 of them. Posted. http://www.businessinsider.com/the-scientific-debate-on-global-warming-in-one-chart-2014-3#ixzz2x5pwUI1A Carbon briefing: changing views on biofuels reflected in forthcoming climate report. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s new report, due to be launched next week, is likely to give a new and updated perspective on biofuels - reflecting a flood of research on their impact on natural systems in past years. The UN-created body launched its last major report back in 2007. At that time, the idea of using plant based crops as a replacement for fossil fuels was largely viewed as an effective Posted. http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2014/03/carbon-briefing-changing-views-of-biofuels-reflected-in-climate-report/ California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.