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ARB Newsclips for September 17, 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

Bill aims to change red lights to green.  Ever feel like every
traffic light is a red light?  There’s a bill at the Capitol that
could ease that frustrating feeling by freeing up money for
traffic light synchronization in San Diego County and across
California.  Posted. 
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/16/ab-1447-marie-waldron-traffic-synchronization/


AIR POLLUTION

Ditching cars for buses, bikes best way to cut city pollution:
study. Encouraging people to abandon their cars and use public
transport or walk or cycle around cities offers the "least pain,
most gain" way to cut air pollution from traffic by 2050, a new
international study said on Wednesday. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/16/us-foundation-climatechange-transportati-idUSKBN0HB2PA20140916?feedType=RSS


EPA grants extension on power plant pollution plan. The
Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday gave the public 45
more days to weigh in on a plan that would for the first time
curb the pollution blamed for global warming from the nation's
coal-fired power plants. The agency said it was still aiming to
finalize the rules by next summer. The agency has already
received 750,000 comments on the plan it unveiled in early
June…Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/EPA-grants-extension-on-power-plant-pollution-plan-5759316.php


CMS spending $1 billion to settle pollution case. The U.S.
Justice Department announced Tuesday that CMS Energy Corp. will
undertake an estimated $1 billion program to cut emissions from
five coal-fired power plants in Michigan to settle air pollution
complaints. The government said that the utility's Consumers
Energy subsidiary agreed to a plan to cut 46,500 tons of sulfur
dioxide and other emissions annually from plants…Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/CMS-spending-1-billion-to-settle-pollution-case-5759322.php
http://www.vcstar.com/news/cms-spending-1-billion-to-settle-pollution-case_11593713


King Fire Brings Health Advisories in Nevada, California.  The
National Weather Service in Reno says "slight changes in wind
directions and fire activity" will determine which areas get the
smoke.  Since the fire started Saturday, Sept. 13, smoke has
affected California counties north of the fire and Lake Tahoe,
Truckee and Reno.  Posted. 
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2014/09/16/king-fire-brings-health-advisories-in-nevada,-california/
 

Pollution Prevention Week in Sonoma County.  An annual phenomenon
of promoting sustainability and the environment has made its way
back around this year to Sonoma County. Starting on the third
Monday of September each year is National Pollution Prevention
Week. Originating in California in 1992, Prevention Week has
gained popularity throughout the entire nation and in the local
community.  Posted. 
http://www.sonomastatestar.com/news/2014/9/16/pollution-prevention-week-in-sonoma-county
 

Air district looks to tighten wood burning regulations.  The
nights spent sitting by a warm fire could be even fewer this
winter as the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
considers issuing more wood burning curtailments.  Posted. 
http://www.turlockjournal.com/section/12/article/27457/   

Salton Sea odors prompt advisory by air agency.  Odors from the
Salton Sea have returned to parts of the Coachella Valley. The
South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an odor
advisory on Tuesday after an air monitor near the Salton Sea
detected higher-than-normal levels of a gas that smells like
rotten eggs.  Posted. 
http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2014/09/16/salton-sea-odor-advisory/15733391/


GOP bill to address feasibility of meeting a tighter ozone
standard. A pair of Republican lawmakers plans to introduce
legislation today to compel U.S. EPA to take into account
economic impacts when it considers whether to tighten the federal
ozone standard. The legislation sponsored by Rep. Pete Olson
(R-Texas) and co-sponsored by Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) would
require the agency to base a new National Ambient Air Quality
Standard on both public health effects…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060005988/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

CLIMATE CHANGE

U.S. Moves to Reduce Global Warming Emissions. The Obama
administration on Tuesday announced a series of moves aimed at
cutting emissions of hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, powerful
greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The White
House has secured voluntary agreements from some of the nation’s
largest companies to scale down or phase out their use of HFCs,
which are factory-made gases used in air conditioning and
refrigeration. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/us/hfc-emissions-cut-under-agreement.html?ref=earth
 

Climate Report Details Flood Risk to Sites in Washington.  The
nation’s capital is likely to see record flooding by 2050,
putting about $7 billion worth of property, three military bases
and parts of the National Mall at risk as a result of climate
change that is raising sea levels all over the world, according
to a report released Tuesday by the research group Climate
Central. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/us/climate-report-details-flood-risk-to-sites-in-washington.html


Climate change may add billions to wildfire costs, study says. As
wildfires burned in California, a study by several major
environmental groups estimated that climate change could mean
that future blazes will be much larger and add billions of
dollars to already costly losses. The 46-page study released
Tuesday, titled "Flammable Planet: Wildfires and the Social Cost
of Carbon,”…Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-wildfire-climate-change-20140917-story.html


Big firms agree to cut use of coolants that add to global
warming. A week before world leaders will discuss how to slow the
increase of dangerous gases in the atmosphere, the Obama
administration announced that it has reached agreements with a
range of major companies to voluntarily phase out a class of
chemicals, used in refrigerators and air conditioners, and seen
as contributors to global warming. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-obama-global-warming-coolants-20140916-story.html


DROUGHT

Governor Signs First California Groundwater Rules. California
will no longer be the last Western state with a
pump-as-you-please approach to groundwater. Gov. Jerry Brown
signed legislation on Tuesday overhauling the state's management
of its groundwater supply, bringing it in line with other states
that have long regulated their wells. Groundwater makes up nearly
60 percent of California's water use during dry years. Posted.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_XGR_CALIFORNIA_DROUGHT_GROUNDWATER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

OTHER RELATED STORIES
http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-pol-water-brown-20140917-story.html

http://www.vcstar.com/news/price-of-paradise/brown-signs-historic-laws-to-regulate-groundwater-pumping_35543148

http://www.dailybulletin.com/article/20140916/NEWS/140919528 
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/governor-signs-california-groundwater-rules-25542641


Things to know about California groundwater law. Gov. Jerry Brown
signed legislation Tuesday that will require the first-ever rules
for pumping groundwater in California. Why lawmakers and the
governor acted, and what the new laws mean: WHAT IS GROUNDWATER?
It's the water that accumulates below the earth's surface,
filling empty spaces and cracks in the rock. Farmers and agencies
can tap it by drilling wells. It's an especially valuable source
of water during times of drought…Posted.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/16/things-to-know-about-california-groundwater-law/


DIESEL EMISSIONS

CARB Approves All-Electric Shuttle Bus Platform.  Phoenix Cars
LLC, a developer of light- and medium-duty electric vehicles for
fleet applications, says the California Air Resources Board
(CARB) has approved its all-electric shuttle bus, the ZEUS 300
(Zero Emissions Utility Shuttle 300 series).  Posted. 
http://www.ngtnews.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.10062#.VBmw42PxCSp


FUELS

RFA Submits Comments to CARB on LCFS Lifecycle Analysis Tool. 
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments to the
California Air Resources Board (CARB) on Monday voicing support
for CARB’s proposal to transition to a new version of the GREET
model…Posted. 
http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfa-submits-comments-to-carb-on-lcfs-lifecycle-analysis-tool/


FRACKING

Landmark fracking study finds no water pollution. The final
report from a landmark federal study on hydraulic fracturing, or
fracking, found no evidence that chemicals or brine water from
the gas drilling process moved upward to contaminate drinking
water at a site in western Pennsylvania. The Department of Energy
report, released Monday, was the first time an energy company
allowed independent monitoring of a drilling site during the
fracking process and for 18 months afterward. Posted.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAS_DRILLING_WATER_CONTAMINATION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


OTHER RELATED STORIES
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/16/landmark-fracking-study-finds-no-water-pollution/


VEHICLES

Major shift away from cars needed to achieve 40% cut in urban
transport emissions – study. If the world's cities focused their
investments on expanding public transportation, walking and
cycling, they could save more than $100 trillion in public and
private capital and urban transportation operating costs between
now and 2050, according to a report released today by the
University of California, Davis, and the Institute for
Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP). Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060005960/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

GREEN ENERGY

Jindal: Obama hasn't done enough to harness energy. Louisiana
Gov. Bobby Jindal said Tuesday that President Barack Obama's
administration has become "science deniers," failing to do enough
to harness the nation's energy potential. Jindal, a potential
Republican presidential candidate, said Obama's policies have
limited oil and natural gas production on federal lands, stalled
approval of the Keystone XL pipeline and pushed regulations on
power plants. Posted.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GOP_2016_JINDAL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


OTHER RELATED STORIES
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Jindal-Obama-hasn-t-done-enough-to-harness-energy-5758807.php


Electric Vehicles Are Cleaner, but Still Not a Magic Bullet.  The
Union of Concerned Scientists said on Tuesday that in 60 percent
of the United States, electric vehicles are now responsible for
fewer heat-trapping global warming emissions per mile than even
the most efficient hybrids. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/automobiles/electric-vehicles-are-cleaner-but-still-not-a-magic-bullet.html
 

Jordan Finds Energy Sources in Unlikely Places.  This month,
Jordan, a crucial yet energy-poor Western ally, announced a
landmark 15-year deal to import vast amounts of natural gas from
Israel. The plan, worth $15 billion, would make Israel Jordan’s
largest gas supplier, according to the Israeli business daily
GlobesPosted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/18/business/energy-environment/jordan-finds-energy-sources-in-unlikely-places.html


Big solar plant in Mojave Desert gets state's OK. Despite
environmental concerns, the California Energy Commission has
given a preliminary green light to an Oakland company's second
big solar project in the California desert. The proposed
BrightSource Energy facility would be the latest in a series of
solar plants that the Obama administration is subsidizing in the
Mojave Desert. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Big-solar-plant-in-Mojave-Desert-gets-state-s-OK-5757299.php


Production to resume at renewable diesel plant.  The Diamond
Green Diesel facility in Norco is expected to return to
production next week. That's according to joint-venture partner
Darling Ingredients. The facility has been shut down since an
explosion and fire on Aug. 3. The Advocate reports
(http://bit.ly/1s6F6A0) the startup process began on Sept. 15. No
one was injured in the blast. Posted.
http://www.modbee.com/2014/09/17/3543211_production-to-resume-at-renewable.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy
 

2 buoys will help the U.S. explore vast offshore wind power
potential. Developers hoping to make offshore wind power a
commercial reality in the United States have been slowed in part
by one problem: None of the instruments measuring offshore wind
speeds is recording winds at 600 feet above sea level, the height
of the wind turbine blades. This particular obstacle may soon be
solved with the launch of two bright-yellow highly equipped
research buoys designed to do just that. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060005929/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

SolarCity says it can make commercial rooftops into better power
plants. The country's largest residential rooftop solar
installer, SolarCity Corp., announced yesterday that it has a new
approach for installing on flat rooftops that could help some
commercial buildings boost their solar power by 20 to 50 percent.
The news reflects how dropping prices for solar modules are
stimulating a race to alter and improve other parts of the solar
system…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/energywire/stories/1060005937/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

MISCELLANEOUS

Leonardo DiCaprio gets a climate-change gig with the U.N.
Leonardo DiCaprio will be the face of the United Nations' effort
to raise awareness of its climate change efforts. The "Wolf of
Wall Street" star was bestowed the rather weighty-sounding title
of "Messenger of Peace" on Tuesday, courtesy of Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-leonardo-dicaprio-united-nations-climate-change-ambassador-20140916-story.html


Claremont aims to beat Riverside in CoolCalifornia City
Challenge. The battle for the “Coolest California City” is
between this city and Riverside. Only 93,000 points separate the
two top spots in the statewide challenge that invites residents
of each city to adopt more environmentally sustainable practices.
 As of Tuesday, Claremont trails Riverside in the CoolCalifornia
City Challenge. Claremont has earned 1.66 million points while
Riverside leads with 1.75 million points. Posted.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/environment-and-nature/20140916/claremont-aims-to-beat-riverside-in-coolcalifornia-city-challenge

OPINIONS

France Bets on Geothermal Energy. France is making a new push to
develop geothermal energy. The goal is to reduce the carbon
emissions that contribute to global warming while ensuring the
nation’s energy independence. Hydraulic fracturing for oil and
natural gas was banned in France in 2011, and the government of
President François Hollande has pledged to reduce the country’s
dependence on nuclear power from 75 percent of
electricity…Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/18/opinion/france-bets-on-geothermal-energy.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C{%221%22%3A%22RI%3A5%22}


Editorial: Up in the sky, a lesson. THE PAST: Alarmed by a
thinning ozone later, humanity took action, and it's starting to
pay off.  THE FUTURE: Will we bring the same survival instinct to
the politics of climate change? More than three decades after the
human beings began taking steps to undo the damage they were
causing to Earth's ozone layer, this protective shield is showing
signs of recovery. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Editorial-Up-in-the-sky-a-lesson-5760196.php


Don't let them pave Paradise. Wake up, citizens of Bridgeport and
Stratford. We might lose a piece of Paradise and not realize what
a treasure we have until it's gone. I'm talking about Remington
Woods, a beautiful 42-acre urban forest in Bridgeport and
Stratford which surrounds the 23-acre Lake Success and wetlands.
The Woods is home to the endangered box turtle, fox, deer, many
birds and thousands of trees. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Don-t-let-them-pave-Paradise-5759833.php


Viewpoints: Even without Tesla, electric car batteries can boost
state. California leaders are wringing their hands now that Tesla
Motors has chosen Nevada as the site for its planned $5 billion
“gigafactory.” Lost to California is a battery superfactory with
6,500 on-site jobs, plus thousands more in supportive industries.
But California still has an opportunity to boost an entirely
different battery supply market…Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/17/6712372/viewpoints-even-without-tesla.html#storylink=cpy


Climate change revisited. In January 2010 I wrote an essay for
CalCoastNews entitled “The Climate Change Challenge.” It is
interesting but sobering to see in what ways the picture has and
has not changed since then. A good portion of my 2010 article was
in response to misinformation from a local office seeker who
repeated some of the most common myths about climate change.
Posted. http://calcoastnews.com/2014/09/climate-change-revisited/


Editorial: Bag banners' real bugaboo. Think that California’s
plastic bag ban will finally stop the controversy over shopping
bags? Think again. Sure, legislators succeeded in doling out
enough favors to resurrect the disappointing law. But
environmentalists are already raising the alarm all over again.
Believe it or not, the critics aren’t satisfied with scrapping
single-use plastic bags. Posted.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bags-635290-bag-use.html 
 
Combating global warming: good for economic growth, after all?
(+video). New study concludes that much of the investment needed
to reduce global emissions makes good economic sense irrespective
of climate benefits. When it comes to investing in efforts to
combat global warming, international financial markets have the
money. What's missing? Posted.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2014/0916/Combating-global-warming-good-for-economic-growth-after-all-video


BLOGS

Drought Becomes Powerful Political Tool for Brown, Lawmakers.
Gov. Jerry Brown didn’t miss a beat on Tuesday when asked what
made a deal come together on a first-ever law regulating the use
of groundwater in California. “First of all, we’ve got a
drought,” said Brown. “And that’s got everybody’s attention.” And
that attention has allowed Brown, partially in public and a lot
behind the scenes…. Posted.
http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2014/09/16/drought-becomes-powerful-political-tool-for-jerry-brown-and-lawmakers


As Global Temperatures Rise, Beloved Bird Species Are Leaving for
More Suitable Locales. Last week, a new study by the National
Audubon Society found that if global warming continues on its
current trajectory, 314 U.S. and Canadian bird species -- more
than half of the 588 species studied -- could lose 50 percent or
more of their current territories by 2080. Many could lose so
much ground that they will face extinction. Posted.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-yarnold/as-global-temperatures-ri_b_5836656.html


EPA Rules Could Breathe New Life into Cap and Trade. Cap and
trade may be dead on Capitol Hill, but states could use it to
meet new EPA targets for reducing power plants’ carbon emissions.
Earlier this year, mayors from across the country renewed a
pledge to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, building on the 10th
anniversary of a national movement that brought new bike lanes,
solar panels and entire fleets of hybrid government vehicles to
cities. Posted.
http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/gov-epa-cap-trade-power-plant.html


First test drive shows promise of Saab 9-3 EV.  We can't read
Swedish, so when it comes to a first-drive review of a Saab 9-3
electric-vehicle prototype, we'll trust Inside EVs' translation
of a write-up from Swedish automotive publication Elbilen i
Sverige. And it's a decent one. The write-up, that is. The
translation, too, we hope. Posted.
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/09/16/first-test-drive-shows-promise-of-saab-9-3-ev/


Global shift away from cars saves US$100 trillion, eliminates
1,700 MT of CO2 pollution.  More than $100 trillion in cumulative
public and private spending, and 1,700 megatons of annual carbon
dioxide (CO2)—a 40 percent reduction of urban passenger transport
emissions—could be eliminated by 2050 if the world expands public
transportation…Posted. 
http://phys.org/news/2014-09-global-shift-cars-us100-trillion.html
  



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