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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 15 and September 16, 2014.

Posted: 16 Sep 2014 13:50:05
ARB Newsclips for September 15 and September 16,  2014. **Please
notice** ARB Newclips are for September 15 and 16, 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.

CAP AND TRADE

California Oil Marketers Want Cap-and-Trade Investigated. 
California Attorney General Kamala Harris was asked by an oil
marketers group to investigate the legality of transportation
fuel suppliers being regulated as part of the state’s
cap-and-trade program, the biggest market-based effort to cut
emissions in the U.S.  Posted. 
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-12/california-oil-marketers-want-cap-and-trade-investigated.html
 

Big firms brace for global carbon price rollout –report.  An
increasing number of big corporations expect governments
worldwide to put a price on carbon dioxide emissions to help
tackle climate change and some are already factoring in the cost
to guide future investment decisions, a report found on Monday. 
Posted. 
http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/09/15/carbontrading-global-idINL3N0RG0YV20140915


Governor Signs Cap-and-Trade Spending Plan with Transportation
Funding. Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a fiscal year 2015 budget
and a budget trailer bill that together create a short-term and
long-term spending plan for cap-and-trade auction sales. This
includes $872 million in cap-and-trade revenue for the next
fiscal year, to be divided among a few spending categories that
will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Posted.
http://www.noodls.com/view/1E355E5C5485D9B0CD3FDC70B840726AC275F222?4945xxx1410825136#sthash.cXPTaO5u.dpuf


AIR POLLUTION

Singapore air pollution slips into unhealthy level. Singapore's
air pollution rose to unhealthy levels on Monday, the National
Environment Agency said, as winds changed direction and brought
in light smoke from forest fires in neighboring Indonesia.
Singapore is in the middle of its "haze" season, when smoke from
forest clearing in Indonesia traditionally chokes the air, but
this year has been practically haze free, despite warnings in May
it was going to be worse than 2013's record pollution. Posted.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/09/15/us-sinagpore-pollution-idINKBN0H910I20140915


State fines two engine-parts retailers $1.6M for violating
clean-air law.  The California Air Resources Board has fined two
aftermarket auto-parts manufacturers a total of $1.6 million for
violating California clean air regulations. On Wednesday, the
board said it negotiated a $1 million settlement with H&S
Performance LLC of St. George, Utah. On Thursday, the board
announced a settlement of $599,000 with Autosales Inc. The agency
did not say where the company is based. Posted.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2014/09/12/statefines-two-engine-parts-retailers-1-6m-for.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bizj_sacramento+%28Sacramento+Business+Journal%29
 

More “no burn” days coming to air district vote.  Thursday could
be a red-letter day for people who either suffer from breathing
problems or enjoy burning logs in a fireplace.  They can comment
at a public hearing before air district leaders, who are expected
to take a landmark vote that could double the number of “no burn”
days for many. In Stanislaus County, burning in fireplaces and
older stoves would be outlawed on most winter days.  Posted. 
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2014/09/15/3850318_more-no-burn-days-coming-to-air.html?sp=/99/215/167/&rh=1


China's battle plans in war on pollution under scrutiny.  Last
fall, 29-year-old Fang Da, an entrepreneur and cycling
enthusiast, had a coughing fit after biking near his home in
Hangzhou, in eastern China. So he went to the Internet and
started learning just how serious the air pollution problem was.
Fang's curiosity quickly turned into an obsession. Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/world/chinas-battle-plans-in-war-on-pollution-under-scrutiny_26364501
 

San Joaquin Valley officials aim to score aid in D.C.  San
Joaquin Valley officials are blitzing Capitol Hill this week in
hope of scoring some federal help.  The metaphor is mixed, but so
are the prospects for the 11 mayors, city council members, county
supervisors – and 16 staffers – participating in this year’s
“Valley Voice” lobbying effort. The Valley team is seeking
support for transportation and air-quality initiatives from a
Congress where seemingly little gets accomplished.  Posted. 
http://www.losbanosenterprise.com/2014/09/12/221715_san-joaquin-valley-officials-aim.html?sp=/99/114/&rh=1


NASA produces a website for countries, states, cities to track
their CO2 emissions. Countries and states wanting to verify their
carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels can now get some help
double-checking their numbers with the launch of a new
NASA-funded project. The research -- outlined via a website and
accompanying published study -- quantifies how carbon dioxide
levels have changed over time across the entire globe, via
complex maps and videos showing CO2 level trends…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060005793/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

SHIP SPEED REDUCTION INITIATIVE 

Ventura County joins efforts to cut air pollution and protect
whales. The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District board
Tuesday approved $30,000 to support a pilot program to reduce air
emissions from ships. Shipping companies can receive a small
financial incentive for reducing speeds to 12 knots or less as
they move through the Santa Barbara Channel. Doing so can
significantly cut emissions of several air pollutants that blow
onshore into Ventura and Santa Barbara counties…Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/outdoors/ventura-county-joins-efforts-to-cut-air-pollution-and-protect-whales_84303290

http://lompocrecord.com/santamaria/news/local/community-forum-dives-into-benefits-of-slowing-cargo-ships/article_b51abfc0-2121-5a47-b9cf-81d1534f9dab.html
 
http://www.noozhawk.com/article/karen_telleen_lawton_slowing_down_ships_for_whales_and_cleaner_air
   
http://www.ksby.com/news/organizations-hosting-forum-on-whale-protection-and-pollution-prevention/
 

CLIMATE CHANGE

Big firms brace for global carbon price rollout: report. An
increasing number of big corporations expect governments
worldwide to put a price on carbon dioxide emissions to help
tackle climate change and some are already factoring in the cost
to guide future investment decisions, a report found on Monday.
Some 150 large listed companies - including 29 in the United
States such as Dow Chemical Company, banking group Goldman Sachs
and oil firm ExxonMobil…Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/15/us-carbontrading-global-idUSKBN0HA09W20140915?feedType=RSS&virtualBrandChannel=11563


Germany Faces Extreme Weather as Climate Change Brings Rains. 
Germany, which faced heavy rains and intermittent periods of hot
and cold this summer, should brace for extreme weather in future
probably because of climate change. Low-pressure areas over
central Europe brought monsoon-like rainfall and storms to parts
of Germany, Paul Becker, vice president of state-run Deutscher
Wetterdienst said today. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-15/germany-faces-extreme-weather-as-climate-change-brings-rains.html
 

Wary of U.N. Action, Australia Unveils Plan to Aid Great Barrier
Reef.  In a bid to keep the Great Barrier Reef from being
reclassified by the United Nations as “in danger,” the Australian
government on Monday unveiled a 35-year plan to manage risks to
the reef, one of the natural wonders of the world. But
conservationists warned that the plan does not go far enough.
Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/16/world/asia/wary-of-un-action-australia-unveils-plan-to-aid-great-barrier-reef.html?ref=earth
 

A smart look at the climate-change debate.  Science writer
Charles C. Mann writes books that take on big topics — examining
the history of aspirin and the nature of modern physics, for
example. In the bestsellers “1491” and “1493,” he takes what a
Washington Post reviewer called “a god’s-eye view of the world”
before and after Columbus’s voyage to America.  Posted. 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/a-smart-look-at-the-climate-change-debate/2014/09/15/1aacd5c0-3906-11e4-8601-97ba88884ffd_story.html


Fixing Climate Change May Add No Costs, Report Says. In decades
of public debate about global warming, one assumption has been
accepted by virtually all factions: that tackling it would
necessarily be costly. But a new report casts doubt on that idea,
declaring that the necessary fixes could wind up being
effectively free. A global commission will announce its finding
on Tuesday that an ambitious series of measures to limit
emissions would cost $4 trillion or so over the next 15
years…Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/16/science/earth/fixing-climate-change-may-add-no-costs-report-says.html?_r=1


Climate change threatens New Mexico birds. The few flocks of rosy
finches that birders come to see at the top of the Sandia Crest
overlooking Albuquerque could cease to appear, according to a
study by the National Audubon Society. About 50 bird species in
New Mexico are being threatened by climate change, according to
the study released last week. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Climate-change-threatens-New-Mexico-birds-5754956.php


Study focuses on W.Va. snowshoe hares, climate. How quickly can
West Virginia's snowshoe hares adapt to a changing world?
Scientists want to know. To find out, a North Carolina-based team
of researchers is capturing adult hares, outfitting them with
radio collars to track their movements throughout the coming
months. "The objective of our research is to understand how the
species might adapt to big and rapid human-caused stressors such
as climate change," said Scott Mills…Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Study-focuses-on-W-Va-snowshoe-hares-climate-5754660.php


At least 150 major companies prep for carbon prices. At least 150
major companies worldwide - including ExxonMobil, Google,
Microsoft and 26 others in the United States - are already making
business plans that assume they will be taxed on their carbon
pollution, a report today says. The U.S. has yet to impose a
price on heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions, but other
nations are starting to do so as a way to address global warming
so U.S.-based companies…Posted.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/09/15/us-companies-plan-for-climate-change-with-carbon-price/15526831/


Only $1 Trillion: Annual Investment Goal Puts Climate Solutions
Within Reach. IEA pegs cost of addressing climate change at 1.3
percent of global output of goods and services. The investment
would also stoke a clean economy. A two-year-old number is
changing the way governments, companies and investors approach
the fight against climate change: $1 trillion. That is roughly
the amount of additional investment needed worldwide each year
for the next 36 years to stave off the worst effects of global
warming…Posted.
http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20140915/only-1-trillion-annual-investment-goal-puts-climate-solutions-within-reach


Unusual species in Alaska waters indicate parts of Pacific
warming dramatically. A giant hotspot in the North Pacific Ocean
may help explain why a massive ocean sunfish was spotted in
Prince William Sound this month and a skipjack tuna was caught in
a gillnet weeks earlier near the mouth of the Copper River,
scientists say. Both species are unusual visitors to Alaska.
Posted.
http://www.adn.com/article/20140914/unusual-species-alaska-waters-indicate-parts-pacific-warming-dramatically


Obama unveils major new effort to tackle climate change. The
Obama administration is taking new steps to phase out the
production of a well-known chemical coolant used in refrigerators
and air conditioners that has been tied to global warming. The
White House confirmed to The Hill that it plans to meet with some
of the largest chemical firms and food retailers in the country
on Tuesday. They will announce voluntary commitments to target
the coolant R-134a, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC). Posted.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/217811-obama-targets-popular-coolant-in-effort-to-fight-climate-change


Cities seek new ways to cope with sea level rise – and look to
the Dutch for advice. Scientists predict a “tenfold increase” in
the frequency of hurricanes and other storms, as well as
sea-level rise of eleven to twenty-four inches within a little
more than three decades – and planners and managers in U.S.
coastal cities are looking at new ways to prepare their cities’
infrastructure for these challenges. Posted.
http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20140916-cities-seek-new-ways-to-cope-with-sea-level-rise-and-look-to-the-dutch-for-advice


Report argues that climate change-induced wildfires should factor
into carbon's social cost. The rising price of wildfires due to
climate change should be included in the U.S. government's future
estimates of the social cost of carbon emissions. This is the
argument in a report released today by New York University's
Institute for Policy Integrity, the Natural Resources Defense
Council and the Environmental Defense Fund. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060005871/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Mounting support for a carbon price expected at N.Y. summit. The
number of countries and business leaders planning to embrace a
price on carbon at a landmark U.N. climate change summit is
"moving by the minute," World Bank Special Envoy for Climate
Change Rachel Kyte told ClimateWire. According to the bank, more
than 40 governments and 300 companies have so far put their names
to the support of economic instruments to price carbon, a figure
that is expected to rise by the Sept. 23 event. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060005794/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Commission releases an economic road map world leaders can use to
decarbonize over the next 15 years. The global economy will pump
$90 trillion into infrastructure development over the next 15
years, sparking a series of investment decisions that will make
or break the Earth's climate, a sweeping new study out today
finds. A choice to spend that money on low-carbon measures --
things like building more compact cities, restoring degraded land
and increasing renewable energy sources…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060005872/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

DROUGHT

Water agencies are learning pools aren't a big factor during
drought. The Sieferts are the kind of environmentally conscious
family who attend local sustainability workshops and have solar
panels atop their Mar Vista home. They use timers on their kids'
showers and have planted drought-tolerant landscaping. But they
feel a twinge of guilt over their beloved 52-foot-long swimming
pool. "I haven't thought about the pool as much as I probably
should," said Annette Siefert, 50. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-pool-haters-20140913-story.html
 

AM Alert: Jerry Brown signs historic groundwater management
legislation. As this year’s legislative session drew to a close,
groundwater regulation – and whether California would become the
last state in the West to implement oversight for drilling and
pumping wells – emerged as one of the major policy issues. Driven
by concerns over an increasing reliance on groundwater sources
during the state’s severe drought…Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/16/6709605/am-alert-jerry-brown-signs-historic.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/09/16/4125678_am-alert-jerry-brown-signs-historic.html?sp=/99/406/552/&rh=1


Even during drought, beautiful gardens are possible. Drought is a
word that’s all too familiar with Californians. Residents of the
Golden State have dealt with dry conditions before and have
pulled together to conserve water; however, this time is
different. California has found itself in the grip of what is
being called the worst drought in its history since the federal
government began issuing regular drought reports. Posted.
http://www.utsandiego.com/sponsored/2014/sep/15/beautiful-drought-garden-design/


Cutting water use 20 percent proves difficult.  Some Inland
communities are having a tough time making headway toward the
state’s order to use 20 percent less water. In Redlands, for
example, the city delivered 13 percent more water to its
customers in July 2014 than it did the previous July. The city
was at a loss to explain why consumption went up despite calls
for conservation. Posted.
http://www.pe.com/articles/water-750030-percent-use.html 

EPA administrator pushes for water rules. Environmental
Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy said Monday she's
not backing down on her agency's efforts to implement a new rule
that would assert regulatory authority over many of the nation's
streams and wetlands despite criticisms that it amounts to a
federal water grab. The U.S. House approved a bill last week that
would block the agency from moving forward with the rule, which
aims to clarify the streams and waterways that could be protected
from development under the Clean Water Act. Posted.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/15/epa-administrator-pushes-for-water-rules/

Marijuana Farmer Says He Has Solved California Drought. Marin
County pot farmer has hit upon water-saving secret. Marijuana has
often been blamed for making the California drought worse. At
least one marijuana farmer says he has figured out a way to
garden without wasting water, and he wants to share his
drought-busting tips with the world. Posted.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/california/Marijuana-Farmer-Says-He-Has-Solved-California-Drought-275235551.html


California drought threatens sushi, too. Sushi eaters could face
sticker shock the next time they order a California roll or check
the box for another round of yellowtail nigiri. Thanks to the
historic drought in California, prices may spike for the
specialty rice used in the popular Japanese dish. Production of
the rice, which is grown primarily in the Golden State, is
expected to drop by 25 percent this year. Posted.
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/california-drought-sushi-110983.html#ixzz3DVNAvzbE


FUELS

Study assesses the environmental costs and benefits of fracking.
Stanford, California - A strange thing happened on the way to
dealing with climate change: Advances in hydraulic fracturing put
trillions of dollars' worth of previously unreachable oil and
natural gas within humanity's grasp. The environmental costs -
and benefits - from "fracking," which requires blasting huge
amounts of water, sand and chemicals deep into underground rock
formations…Posted.
http://www.imperialvalleynews.com/index.php/news/california-news/11038-study-assesses-the-environmental-costs-and-benefits-of-fracking.html


Obama admin committed to growing industry to full RFS level –
Vilsack. The Obama administration wants to see the corn ethanol
industry grow to the full extent that Congress envisioned when it
passed the renewable fuel standard in 2007, Agriculture Secretary
Tom Vilsack said today. Addressing concerns about a recent
proposal by U.S. EPA to scale back this year's mandate for
ethanol, Vilsack said the administration is "committed" to
working with ethanol producers to meet that 15-billion-gallon
target. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060005902/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

VEHICLES

Honda, Chevrolet give natural gas a push. Natural gas is the
neglected stepchild of the alternative fuel vehicles industry.
Used in some commercial truck fleets, municipal bus services and
the occasional taxicab, the plentiful low-emissions fuel has
never caught on in passenger cars - even though it sells for
about half the equivalent of a gallon of gasoline in California.
Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/12/6701274/honda-chevrolet-give-natural-gas.html#storylink=cpy


China and UC Davis partner to put Zero Emission Vehicles on a
faster track. Tianjin, China - In a landmark international
collaboration on clean vehicle adoption, the University of
California, Davis, and the China Automotive Technology and
Research Center will work together to help speed the
commercialization of plug-in and fuel cell electric cars in China
and the U.S. under an agreement signed in Tianjin, China. The
five-year memorandum of understanding establishes the China–U.S.
ZEV Policy Lab…Posted.
http://www.imperialvalleynews.com/index.php/news/california-news/11039-china-and-uc-davis-partner-to-put-zero-emission-vehicles-on-a-faster-track.html


Study finds rapid charging and draining doesn’t damage
lithium-ion electrode as much as thought.  A new study has found
that rapid-charging a lithium-ion battery and using it to do
high-power, rapidly draining work may not be as damaging as
researchers had thought, and that the benefits of slow draining
and charging may have been overestimated.  Posted. 
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/09/study-finds-rapid-charging-and-draining-doesnt-damage-lithium-ion-electrode-as-much-as-thought-.html


Autonomous and connected car technologies may progressively curb
emissions. Excitement around connected and autonomous vehicles
has been building for years with consumers interested in the
convenience of never having to touch the steering wheel and
governments anticipating significant improvements in road safety.
It's presumed that these technologies will also have energy
efficiency and emissions reductions benefits, but only recently
have experts been able to quantify them. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060005795/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Nissan denies allegations that it plans to close U.S. battery
plant. Nissan Motor Co. denied claims made in a report yesterday
that the Japanese automaker plans to phase out battery
manufacturing at its facilities in the United States and the
United Kingdom. "The Renault-Nissan Alliance remains 100 percent
committed to its industry-leading [electric vehicle] program,"
Nissan spokeswoman Rachel Konrad wrote in an email. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060005874/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

GREEN ENERGY

New Hydroelectric Plant to Be Built for New York. It seems as
natural as, well, water: Harness the energy potential of a
95-billion-gallon reservoir to run four turbines and generate
electrical power cleanly and at a profit. Having overcome
potential hurdles ranging from drought-stricken rafters on the
Delaware River to the endangered dwarf wedgemussel and northern
wild monkshood, New York City is tapping the vast resources of
its upstate reservoir system to commission a new hydroelectric
plant. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/16/nyregion/new-hydroelectric-plant-to-be-built-for-new-york.html
 


Why the Safest Form of Power Is Also the Most Feared. What do you
think is the safest form of power generation? What do you think
is the deadliest? According to a a 2010 study by the World Health
Organization, Centers for Disease Control, and National Academy
of Science, coal is the deadliest by far, killing 170,000 people
per trillion kilowatt hours, or a tragic 1.964 million people per
year, 500,000 of which are in China. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Why-the-Safest-Form-of-Power-Is-Also-the-Most-5754734.php


In Vermont, a milestone in green-energy efforts.  Vermont's
largest city has a new success to add to its list of socially
conscious achievements: 100 percent of its electricity now comes
from renewable sources such as wind, water and biomass. With
little fanfare, the Burlington Electric Department crossed the
threshold this month with the purchase of the 7.4-megawatt
Winooski 1 hydroelectric project on the Winooski River at the
city's edge. Posted. 
http://www.modbee.com/2014/09/14/3537940_in-vermont-a-milestone-in-green.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy
 

Dominion to buy 2 solar projects in Calif.  Dominion Resources is
planning to buy two solar projects in California. The Richmond
-based energy company announced the agreement with EDF Renewable
Energy on Monday. The deal is expected to close next year. The
projects in Kings, Kern and Marin counties in California would
add 42 megawatts of solar power to its portfolio. Both projects
are expected to enter service in the first half of 2015. Posted.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/15/dominion-to-buy-2-solar-projects-in-calif/


Runways, solar panel and fireworks scheduled for Supervisors
meeting. Supervisors will get a report about reconstruction of
the main runway at Meadows Field Airport and hear a man cited for
using illegal fireworks argue he shouldn't face the $1,500 fine.
Then, in the afternoon, supervisors will discuss approval of a
194 acre solar power farm 5.5 miles southeast of Bakersfield at
Tower Line Road and Tejon Highway. Posted.
http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/quirks-county/x635031453/Runways-solar-panel-and-fireworks-scheduled-for-Supervisors-meeting
 

FTC asked to consider utility's renewable claims.  A group of
four environmentalists on Monday asked the Federal Trade
Commission to determine if Vermont's largest electric utility is
making deceptive claims about some of the renewable energy it
produces. In their petition, the environmentalists say Green
Mountain Power claims its customers are getting some of their
electricity from renewable sources such as ridgeline wind
turbines…Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/ftc-asked-to-consider-utilitys-renewable-claims_72612114
 

Clean energy forum Tuesday at Rohnert Park Library.  A group of
advocates for Sonoma Clean Power, the county’s new public
electricity supplier, will host an informational forum on clean
energy Tuesday night at the Rohnert Park Library. The Rohnert
Park City Council is expected to vote later this year on joining
the upstart power agency, which began serving customers in Santa
Rosa, Sebastopol, Cotati, Windsor, Sonoma and the unincorporated
areas of the county in May. Posted.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/home/2796655-181/clean-energy-forum-tuesday-at


Preliminary OK for large Calif. project sparks debate over
impacts to birds. The state has granted initial approval of the
first phase of a large solar power plant in Southern California's
Chuckwalla Valley, prompting renewed debate over whether the
project's contribution to clean energy development trumps
potentially significant impacts to migrating birds. At the center
of the debate is the planned 500-megawatt Palen Solar Electric
Generating System. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060005907/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Duke stands by small solar as it rolls out $500M in large-scale
projects. Duke Energy Corp.'s announcement that it will add more
than 270 megawatts' worth of large-scale solar projects to its
output is not a signal that it will abandon smaller, distributed
solar projects in the future, a company executive said. The
Charlotte, N.C.-based utility giant also could add more solar to
its energy mix outside of state mandates, but only if the cost
continues to fall and panel efficiency improves. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/energywire/stories/1060005875/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Storing renewable energy in a thousand basements. One new idea
for storing energy, and helping the grid use more wind and solar
power, is about as unflashy as it gets. It involves turning a lot
of electric heaters on and off really fast. Demonstrations from
Hawaii to Pennsylvania to the eastern banks of Canada are showing
that a "fleet" of water or space heaters can act as a sort of
fast-acting sponge that absorbs extra electricity on the grid,
especially wind power. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/energywire/stories/1060005747/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

MISCELLANEOUS

Recalls this week: smoke alarms, generators. More than 1 million
smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are being recalled because a
power outage could render them useless. Inflatable rubber tubes
that can irritate skin and boys jackets posing an entanglement
hazard are also among this week's recalled consumer products.
Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/12/6702195/recalls-this-week-smoke-alarms.html#storylink=cpy


Hookah smoking a hot trend for young adults but clouded by health
concerns. Clouds of sickly sweet blackberry smoke are billowing
out of Isaac Doss' mouth. He takes a long draw from the bubbling
hookah and passes the pipe to Kara Brick. They are sprawled on
cushioned wicker chairs on the patio at Kush, a hookah bar on
Greenville Avenue in Dallas. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/12/6701268/hookah-smoking-a-hot-trend-for.html#storylink=cpy


OPINIONS

China's Environmental Awakening. In June of 1969, the Cuyahoga
River, a feeder to Lake Erie and Cleveland, Ohio’s main waterway,
burst into flames. The August 1969 issue of Time magazine
featured an article on the fire, and it wasn’t kind: “Some river!
Chocolate-brown, oily, bubbling with subsurface gases, it oozes
rather than flows.” Cleveland, my hometown, a great American city
with world class museums, music and major league sports, would
soon be known as “the mistake on the lake.” Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/15/opinion/chinas-environmental-awakening.html?_r=0


Viewpoints: Campaign against gas tax is foolhardy. A lobbying and
PR effort is underway to prevent the state of California from
implementing a gas tax as part of its effort to reduce dependence
on fossil fuels. With funding by fossil fuel companies, the
campaign taps into the anxieties of families who are already
feeling the pinch at the pump. While I agree that any increase in
gas prices hurts, the reality is that our gas consumption is
hurting even more, and a tax on carbon is the smartest way to
address the problem. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/15/6702773/viewpoints-campaign-against-gas.html#storylink=cpy


Emission benefits for high-speed rail. Re "An environmentalist
makes the case for high-speed rail" (Forum, Aug. 31): I agree
with the ideas in the article, except the estimate for annual
carbon dioxide or CO2 emission benefits when the train is up and
running between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Our governor has
said that this train is more about connecting people, and I
agree. I want us to be clear about the possible CO2 emission
benefits from the train. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/14/6696181/emission-benefits-for-high-speed.html#storylink=cpy


Viewpoints: Governor should veto groundwater policy. Californians
– especially those in Northern California – are doing their part
during this drought, from shortening their showers to reducing
lawn watering and eliminating car washes. The majority of the
water that Californians use traditionally comes from surface
water sources like rivers and reservoirs. Farmers, however, have
been cut off. Earlier this year, the State Water Resources
Control Board restricted rights to surface water. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/13/6702579/viewpoints-governor-should-veto.html#storylink=cpy


Patrick Mulvaney: Climate change affects restaurant menus today.
When I read about climate change, I learn about rising sea levels
and shrinking polar ice caps – problems for 100 years in the
future. But when I talk to my friends and customers about climate
change, the focus is on what is happening today. It seems little
things are already adding up. As a chef, I have always believed
that the completed dish will only be as good as the ingredients
used. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/14/6700156/patrick-mulvaney-climate-change.html#storylink=cpy


Climate change. Re "Carbon tax could curb warming" (Sept. 11):
Contrary to Al Gore and his believers in the world, there has
been no increase in the world's temperature for the past 18
years. If we believe those so-called scientists that rely on
computer models that have been shown to be fraudulent, we should
all be 15 feet underwater. Instead of water, I see California
returning to its historic desert climate. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/11/6699008/climate-change.html#storylink=cpy


A Whale of a Good Idea. Incentives Lower Ship Strikes and Air
Pollution. When the Santa Barbara Foundation made its first round
of innovative grants earlier this year, one of them fostered a
“two-fer” that will not only help protect whales, but also
improve the air we breathe. The “Safe Passage” project called for
a pilot study to see if large container ships would accept
incentives to reduce their speed going through the Santa Barbara
Channel. Posted.
http://www.independent.com/news/2014/sep/09/whale-good-idea/ 

Brian Nestande: Why We Really Lost Tesla.  When I read
Congressman Ruiz's article primarily blaming me for Tesla Motors
choosing Nevada over California for the location of their battery
plant, I wasn't sure if he was joking or if he is completely
naive.  First, California was never seriously being considered
for the plant. Why?  Posted. 
http://www.desertsun.com/story/opinion/contributors/2014/09/13/brian-nestande-valley-voice/15604415/


Protect your lungs; treat wood smoke like cigarette smoke.
OPINION: Once the health hazards of secondhand cigarette smoke
were firmly established, sweeping ordinances throughout the
country were passed to protect people. Protection from wood smoke
is even more medically justified. Civilization requires balancing
the curtailment of one person’s freedoms with the protection of
others and the greater good. Posted.
http://www.adn.com/article/20140912/protect-your-lungs-treat-wood-smoke-cigarette-smoke


BLOGS

In a Season of Deadly Rains in India, Does the New Prime Minister
Believe in Climate Change?  More than 450 deaths were reported as
monsoon floods ravaged parts of northern Pakistan and the Indian
state of Jammu and Kashmir last week. The area is weathering the
heaviest rainy season in more than half a century. A photo essay
compiled for The Atlantic illustrates the awful scale of the
devastation. Posted.
http://op-talk.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/15/its-a-season-of-deadly-rains-in-india-does-the-new-prime-minister-believe-in-climate-change/
 

Climate change report: prevent damage by overhauling global
economy. Reducing emissions can generate better growth than old
high-carbon model, says co-author of report, Lord Stern. The
world can still act in time to stave off the worst effects of
climate change, and enjoy the fruits of continued economic growth
as long as the global economy can be transformed within the next
15 years, a group of the world's leading economists and political
leaders will argue on Tuesday. Posted.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/16/climate-change-report-damage-overhaul-global-economy
 

Forging a Climate Agreement May Have Just Gotten Easier.
President Obama and other global leaders want a meaningful
climate agreement to cut their fossil fuel emissions in time to
prevent irreversible planetary warming. Ban Ki Moon has invited
leaders to come to the United Nations Climate Summit in New York
on September 23rd to begin discussions about an international
agreement that could be struck late next year in Paris. Posted.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-northrop/forging-a-global-climate-_b_5815226.html


Cities can lead on climate change to build a resilient future.
Vancouver mayor, Gregor Robertson, explains how a price on carbon
is helping his city become the greenest in the world. Around the
world, cities are taking the lead on addressing the challenge of
climate change. While senior governments stall, urban leaders are
responding to the urgent need to make our cities more resilient
as climate change impacts intensify. In Vancouver…Posted.
http://www.theguardian.com/connect4climate-partner-zone/2014/sep/15/cities-can-lead-on-climate-change-to-build-a-resilient-future/print
  

The Top 5 Most Polluted Countries in the World.  The WHO has
released a new study ranking countries with the worst air
pollution. When we consider air pollution most of us will
automatically think of China. However, it was nowhere to be found
in the top 10 offenders. This, by the way, is not because they’ve
suddenly cleaned up their act, but rather because this study
ranked countries as a whole, rather than cities.  Posted. 
http://www.care2.com/causes/the-top-5-most-polluted-countries-in-the-world.html
  

Why we’re getting ready to march for climate change.  On Sunday,
September 21st, a huge crowd will march through the middle of
Manhattan. It will almost certainly be the largest rally about
climate change in human history, and one of the largest political
protests in many years in New York.  Posted. 
http://grist.org/climate-energy/why-were-getting-ready-to-march-for-climate-change/


Preventing climate change and adapting to it are not morally
equivalent.  Climate hawks are familiar with the framing of
climate policy credited to White House science advisor John
Holdren, to wit: We will respond to climate change with some mix
of mitigation, adaptation, and suffering; all that remains to be
determined is the mix.  Posted. 
http://grist.org/climate-energy/preventing-climate-change-and-adapting-to-it-are-not-morally-equivalent/
  

Earth Log: September cooking like it's August.  September heat
feels worse than August heat. How many times have I heard that
this month? Couldn't be true, right?  August and September seem
actually pretty close this year. And the return of dirty air
hasn't made it any less miserable.  Posted. 
http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/09/15/4125151_earth-log-september-cooking-like.html?rh=1
 

Texas proposes rewriting school text books to deny manmade
climate change. Analysis of proposed 6th grade texts show they
falsely claim scientific disagreement about global warming. Texas
has proposed re-writing school text books to incorporate passages
denying the existence of climate change and promoting the
discredited views of an ultra-conservative think tank. The
proposed text books – which come up for public hearing at the
Texas state board of education on Tuesday…Posted.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/16/texas-proposes-rewriting-school-text-books-to-deny-manmade-climate-change
 

Children's Health Should Be Legally Protected From Environmental
Harm.  Should our children's health should be protected from
environmental harm? Although most people would answer yes, in
Canada this concept is not guaranteed as a basic human right. A
small group of thoughtful, committed citizens is working to
change this in New Brunswick, and perhaps in all of Canada. 
Posted. 
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/raffi/environmental-hazards-children_b_5825542.html
  

California just banned free plastic bags. Hold the rejoicing. 
Last month, California became the first state to pass a bill
banning the ubiquitous disposable plastic bag. If signed into
law, the measure will prohibit grocery and retail stores from
providing single-use plastic bags and require them to charge at
least 10 cents for paper bags, compostable bags, and reusable
plastic bags. Posted. 
http://grist.org/climate-energy/california-just-banned-free-plastic-bags-hold-the-rejoicing/
  

There’s a place in the world that is fighting poverty with solar
power.  Lusela Murandika just wants to be able to watch the
evening news.  The 76-year-old farmer lives in Kanyala village in
northern Tanzania, 60 miles from the nearest town that’s
connected to the electric grid. For years, he’s powered a tiny TV
set in the dim sitting room of his concrete house here with a
diesel generator, spending roughly $10 each month on fuel…Posted.
 http://grist.org/climate-energy/theres-a-place-in-the-world-that-is-fighting-poverty-with-solar-power/


Say hello to Hy-Cycle, Australia's first hydrogen fuel cell
bicycle.  Fuel-cell bicycles. It's an idea that comes around
every couple of years. Or about seven. It's a complicated
process, but then again, so is procuring a little hydrogen. The
newest version of the two-wheeled hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is
from Australia's University of New South Wales. Posted.
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/09/14/hy-cycle-australias-first-hydrogen-fuel-cell-bicycle/
 

PowerHydrant makes robots charge your EV. A Massachusetts company
is taking a futuristic approach to hands-free plug-in vehicle
charging: robot appendages. A product called PowerHydrant uses a
robotic arm to connect a charging station to the vehicle,
allowing for an easy kind of customer charging experience that is
also offered by wireless charging systems. PowerHydrant, which is
in its testing phase, will be shown off at the EV Tech Expo in
Michigan this week. Posted.
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/09/15/powerhydrant-makes-robots-charge-your-ev/
 

Nevada's $1.2 billion deal for Tesla Gigafactory lets EV company
sell direct.  New reports say that one way that state legislators
freed up some money ($125 million) was by ending a long-standing
tax break for insurance companies. Legislators also eliminated
some tax credits for movie companies to give the money ($70
million) to Tesla. One surprising side benefit for Tesla is the
ability to sell its EVs directly to customers in Nevada. Posted.
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/09/12/nevadas-1-2-billion-deal-for-tesla-gigafactory-lets-ev-company/


UC Davis is most EV-ready campus.  When it comes to deploying
electric-vehicle charging stations, University of California
Davis is giving it the old college try. The school, located just
outside of Sacramento, has 38 plug-in vehicle charging stations
on campus, making it the most charging-friendly institution of
higher learning in the country. That's according to ChargePoint,
which says more than 1,100 on-campus stations have been deployed
since the first one was installed at Pasadena City College four
short years ago. Posted.
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/09/16/uc-davis-is-most-ev-ready-campus/


France’s Bizarre Three-Wheeled Buggies May Be the Perfect EVs.
The streets of one French city will soon be filled with funky
vehicles that resemble hulked-up mopeds. But before you make fun,
consider that while they look silly, the way these things are
being used may make them the perfect electric vehicles.  Next
month, Toyota and Grenoble will launch a program giving residents
access to two of the weirder vehicles built in recent memory.
Posted. http://www.wired.com/2014/09/toyota-france-ev-program/ 

California king of lopsided US plug-in car sales.  As the state
in which the world’s first Nissan LEAF was delivered, perhaps it
should come as no surprise that California is dominating sales of
plug-in vehicles in the US.  Plug-in vehicles, which include both
battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models, have sold to the tune
of 100,000 in the state since they become available in 2010,
representing 40 percent of total US sales.  Posted. 
http://ecomento.com/2014/09/15/california-king-of-lopsided-us-plug-in-car-sales/
  

Where the wildfires are: if there's smoke, there are costly
health problems.  There are plenty of immediate concerns in a
fire: protecting homes and businesses, saving lives, limiting the
number of acres consumed and so on. But increasingly, researchers
and policymakers are finding that the lingering health and safety
impacts of wildfires may be far more worrisome – and more
widespread.  Posted. 
http://www.theguardian.com/vital-signs/2014/sep/15/wildfires-health-fires-asthma-smoke-smog-climate-change-air-quality




California is in a drought emergency.
Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.

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