What's New List Serve Post Display

What's New List Serve Post Display

Below is the List Serve Post you selected to display.
newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 8, 2014.

Posted: 08 Oct 2014 14:48:35
ARB Newsclips for October 8, 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

EU Seeks Faster Energy Market Integration Amid Crisis.	The
European Union is seeking to speed up the creation of a common
energy market to help its shift to a low-carbon economy and boost
security of energy supplies amid a natural-gas dispute between
Russia and Ukraine.    Energy and environment ministers from the
EU's 28 member states are meeting in Milan today to help
build...
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-06/eu-seeks-faster-energy-market-integration-amid-crisis

	
Low Carbon Fuels Coalition: Connector of industries and
interests.  The first budget decision on cap-and-trade revenue
was one, because a significant amount of the funds were allocated
to programs other than low carbon fuels. Success was not had in
obtaining any long-term funding for low carbon fuels either, even
though they are providing a majority of greenhouse gas (GHG)
reductions in the transportation sector here in California, Noyes
said.  “We saw that as a policy shortfall, and also an
opportunity.”
http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/11515/low-carbon-fuels-coalition-connector-of-industries-and-interests


AIR POLLUTION

Air turns corrosive in October heat wave. Record heat and
stagnant conditions have turned the San Joaquin Valley into a
bowl of dirty air. Valley air authorities are urging residents to
drive less, avoid letting vehicles idle at drive-up windows and
put off yard work that involves gasoline-powered equipment. In
other words, pretend it’s late August instead of early October.	
http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/10/07/4165671_air-turns-corrosive-in-october.html?rh=1

	
Under Pressure, Texas to Install Air Monitor in Heavily Fracked
County.Investigation by ICN and the Center for Public Integrity
helped spur Karnes County commissioners to think seriously about
fracking's toxic air emissions.    Backed by results of a recent
air-quality study, mounting pressure from local officials, news
reports and the simmering discontent of residents, Texas
regulators have decided to install an air monitor in the heart
of... 
http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20141007/under-pressure-texas-install-air-monitor-heavily-fracked-county
 	
MIT competition uses crowdsourcing to find climate change
solutions. Last week, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Center for Collective Intelligence announced the winners of the
2014 Climate CoLab, a project that uses crowdsourcing to develop
effective proposals to mitigate the effects of climate change. 
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060006987/climate_digest


Study: Renewables As Green As You'd Expect. A lot of metals go
into making solar cells and wind turbines, raw materials such as
copper, iron, rare earth metals such as indium and others and
that involve a lot of greenhouse gases and other pollution when
they're mined and processed to make parts for renewable power
generators.    So just how green are these sources of low-carbon
renewable electricity? Pretty green, it turns out. 
http://insideclimatenews.org/content/study-renewables-green-you%E2%80%99d-expect	

CLIMATE CHANGE

These 10 countries have pledged $2.3 billion to fight climate
change. The U.S. isn't one of them.	Poorer countries typically
get the rough end of global warming: Not only are they more
likely to feel the brunt of its impacts — like rising sea levels
or increased extreme weather — they also don't have enough money
to face the problem. This split between the rich and poor...	
http://grist.org/climate-energy/these-10-countries-have-pledged-2-3-billion-to-fight-climate-change-the-u-s-isnt-one-of-them/?utm_source=syndication&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed

	
Youths seek federal liability for GHG emissions. A group of
teenagers has asked the US Supreme Court to require the federal
government to curb rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.    The
five teenagers represented by lawyers from nonprofit
organizations Our Children's Trust, Kids vs Global Warming and
WildEarth Guardians, are appealing a June DC Circuit Court of
Appeals rejection...
http://www.argusmedia.com/pages/NewsBody.aspx?id=933484&menu=yes
 	
Air tanker crashes battling Yosemite wildfire. ...National Park
on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014. Photo: Williams, Kale, Cal Fire    An
air tanker battling a fire burning on the west side of Yosemite
National Park crashed Tuesday afternoon, authorities said,
underscoring the danger of wildfires fueled by the historic
drought that have broken out across the state in recent months.  
 The plane, a Grumman S2 Tracker that is operated by the
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and is
designed to drop flame retardant from its belly, crashed
about...	
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Air-tanker-crashes-battling-Yosemite-wildfire-5807882.php
 
Student interns push legislators to pass Clean Power Plan.
Anderson, an international relations and global studies junior,
is part of a new batch of Sierra Club student interns who are
trying to increase support from local politicians to pass the
Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan in Texas. The
Clean Power Plan, which orders each state in the nation to cut
down its carbon emissions, is currently not backed by Texas. The
Sierra Club is trying to change that.  
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2014/10/07/student-interns-push-legislators-to-pass-clean-power-plan


DROUGHT
	
California drought: Why less water equals less power. California
has just entered its fourth year of drought -- a slow-rolling
crisis that is showing no signs of abating. All of California is
now affected, with more than half of the state considered to be
in “exceptional” drought, the worst designation handed out by the
U.S. Drought Monitor. Reduced rainfall means that California
reservoirs are continuing to shrink, with water levels at just 52
percent of their historic average. 
http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2014/1007/California-drought-Why-less-water-equals-less-power
 
California water use drops 11.5 percent in August.	State
officials on Tuesday reported the largest monthly decline in
water use this year as the severity of California's drought hits
home, with community wells running dry, farm fields turning to
dust and key reservoirs at a fraction of their capacity.    In
this photo taken Oct. 6, 2014, a coyote crosses part of dry lake
bed normally covered in water...
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/10/07/6767946/california-water-use-drops-115.html#mi_rss=Latest%20News
 	
Can California Make It Rain With Drones? Billowy and filled with
life-sustaining water vapor, the cloud passes overhead without
emitting a drop of rain. In times of severe drought, that cloud
is a frustrating, lumbering tease. That cloud is tantalizing.
Delicious even.    What that cloud needs is a kick start, a
catalyst to squeeze the water out of it. It's not science
fiction; it's called cloud-seeding. And in beyond-parched...
http://insideclimatenews.org/todaysnews/20141008/can-california-make-it-rain-drones
 	
DROUGHT: Calif. would survive a 7-decade drought, computer
simulation projects. Though the nation's most populous state is
crackling under the worst drought conditions recorded since the
federal government began publishing reports on the topic,
California wouldn't crumble economically or agriculturally under
a seven-decade "mega drought," according to one scientific
projection. 
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060006981/feed
 	
DROUGHT: Water use declines thanks to rebates, mandatory
restrictions....across most of the Inland area in August compared
to the same period last year; “the trend here is good, so it's
very encouraging,” water official says    Some homeowners in the
Redhawk neighborhood of Temecula have stopped watering their
grass because of the drought. Such efforts helped drive down
water use statewide in August, compared to the same period last
year, according to newly released figures.    Check out the water
reports at waterboards.ca.gov    Water use was down across most
of the Inland area...
http://www.pe.com/articles/percent-751500-water-august.html
 
California drought: Big water cuts by many Northern
Californians.	Visitors adapt to the lower water levels at the
lake which is at at sixty percent of capacity at Bass Lake on
Friday July 18, 2014, near Oakhurst, Calif. Photo: Michael Macor,
The Chronicle    As California braces for a rainy season that may
again be a bust, residents are becoming increasingly mindful
about water conservation, particularly in the northern half of
the state.    State water data released Tuesday show that
Californians cut their...
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Drought-Some-Bay-Area-water-users-save-big-5807594.php?cmpid=hp-hc-bayarea
 	
Dunne on Wine: Water used to make wine becomes issue during
drought.	If you have one of those “Save Water Drink Wine” bumper
stickers on your car, you might want to rip it off.    And not
only because the wit is so lame.    The advice is erroneous. In
this time of drought, a bumper sticker urging fellow motorists to
“Save Water Drink Water” makes more sense.    After all, 29
gallons of water were used to produce that glass of cabernet
sauvignon you look forward to drinking with tonight's dinner.   
That, at least,... 
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/10/07/6767869/dunne-on-wine-water-used-to-make.html
	

VEHICLES

Roadshow: The rules on charging electric vehicles in city lots. Q
Is it legal for an EV or plug-in hybrid to stay parked in an
electric vehicle parking space after they are done charging?
There is much written about EV etiquette that indicates one
should move their vehicle when done charging to free up space for
others,...
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/drive/ci_26657762/roadshow-rules-charging-electric-vehicles-city-lots
 	
GREEN ENERGY

Feds Award $91M in Loan Guarantees to Cool Planet Biorefinery in
Louisiana.Cool Planet Energy Systems, a Colorado energy startup
with plans to turn woodchips and other organic waste into
gasoline and a crop-boosting soil additive, has secured $91
million in federal loan guarantees to help build its first
Louisiana plant. 
http://insideclimatenews.org/content/feds-award-91m-loan-guarantees-cool-planet-biorefinery-louisiana
 	
Warren Buffett’s Big Bet on Renewables in Nevada. At the edge of
Interstate 15, a crackling river of electrons provides power not
just to Nevada’s homes, mines and casinos, but to parts of
California as well. For years, many of those electrons were
generated by coal, a fuel now largely abandoned here thanks to
both economics and legislative decree. Now an increasing
percentage of them are coming from renewable sources —
geothermal, solar and wind. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/08/business/energy-environment/warren-buffetts-big-bet-on-renewables-in-nevada.html?_r=0
 
How Grid Efficiency Went South. Almost every rooftop solar panel
in the United States faces south, the direction that will catch
the maximum energy when the sun rises in the southeast and sets
in the southwest. This was probably a mistake. The panels are
pointed that way because under the rules that govern the electric
grid, panel owners are paid by the amount of energy they make.
But they are not making the most energy at the hours when it is
most needed. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/08/business/energy-environment/how-grid-efficiency-went-south-.html
 
RENEWABLE ENERGY:  Ocean energy set to become commercial by 2030
in Europe, experts say.  While offshore wind farms have long
staked their claim on the competitive market of renewables,
technology for harnessing the wave and tidal power of the ocean
is still in its infancy. But industry experts attending the
annual Ocean Energy Europe meeting here last week are optimistic
that by 2030, marine energy will have proved to be a commercial
success. 
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2014/10/07/stories/1060006985
 
Australia Commissions 'Oceania's Largest' Solar Farm. The largest
solar power plant in Oceania, the 20MW Royalla Solar Farm has
been commissioned, according to Spanish inverter manufacturer,
Ingeteam.    An opening ceremony was attended by the Australian
Capital Territory energy minister, Simon Corbell, and Spanish...
http://insideclimatenews.org/content/australia-commissions-oceanias-largest-solar-farm
 	
Startup creates gasoline substitute from wood chips plus salable
byproduct. Cool Planet Energy Systems, a company offering a
unique carbon-neutral biofuel, had a big week last week. Not only
did the company receive a loan guarantee of $91 million from the
Department of Agriculture to finish construction on its first
commercial-scale refinery in the Port of Alexandria, La., but it
also opened the first major production facility for the byproduct
of its biofuel, CoolTerra, a soil enhancer, in Camarillo, Calif.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2014/10/07/stories/1060006986
 
New solar energy technologies to be discussed at seminar. The
solar energy industry is emerging as a key player in the
multipronged approach California will take in leading the nation
in renewable energy, experts say.    And the University of
California's research is leading the way.    UC Merced,.. 
http://www.modbee.com/2014/10/07/3579742/new-solar-energy-technologies.html?sp=%2f99%2f1623%2f2307%2f
 	
Push for Solar Power Comes to Chicago's Southeast Side. Not long
ago in a small storefront on Baltimore Avenue near the Indiana
border a handful of folks got schooled on solar energy.  It was
part education, part sales pitch put on by Seth Johnson, policy
advocate with the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Chicago.

http://insideclimatenews.org/content/push-solar-power-comes-chicagos-southeast-side
 	
SolarCity Offers Its First Home Solar Loan.	...quickly, some
solar companies, such SunPower and Mosaic Mosaic, see
opportunities in offering loans that allow homeowners to own the
solar panels and take advantage of the federal tax credit, which
lets taxpayers deduct from their income tax 30% of the cost of a
solar energy system. Over long term, owning the should cost
homeowners less than paying for leases or power purchase
agreements.    Loans could enable solar companies to enter states
that don't allow third-party solar financing or see solar
companies...
http://www.forbes.com/sites/uciliawang/2014/10/08/solarcity-offers-its-first-home-solar-loan/?ss=business
 	
Why Solar Power Is Taking Off at Airports Across the Country.	The
biggest solar power project in the entire state of Minnesota is
going to be at an airport.    On Thursday, Gov. Mark Dayton
joined officials from the Minneapolis St. Paul International
Airport to announce the construction of a $25 million solar
project...
http://insideclimatenews.org/content/why-solar-power-taking-airports-across-country
 	
Solar water heater a lesson in energy savings.    Mann showed
students a monitor mounted outside the maintenance facility that
allows anyone to see just how much energy is being produced by
the solar panels. With heavy cloud cover on Monday, the count of
British thermal units produced was zero, but that, too, was a
lesson to pass on to students, the Daily Journal reported
(http://bit.ly/1yJOZ9O ).    "When the sun is shining it doesn't
matter what the temperature is, it will create energy. But if the
sun is not shining, no energy," Mann...	
http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/Solar-water-heater-a-lesson-in-energy-savings-5806281.php
	

OPINION

Another View: Here’s the real high-speed rail plan. In his recent
commentary (“Here’s a better high-speed rail plan that California
can afford,” Viewpoints, Sept. 29), Michael D. Setty asserts the
need for a more robust rail network in the state. We agree, and
under the leadership of Gov. Jerry Brown, we have worked with the
Legislature over the last five years to advance a statewide rail
network with high-speed rail as the backbone.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/10/08/6768482/another-view-heres-the-real-high.html#storylink=cpy


BLOG 

Report: Tesla autopilot could offer 90 percent autonomous driving
next year. ...vehicle, though that one's of the hands-free,
no-steering wheel, no-pedals variety. Related Gallery2012 Tesla
Model S: First Drive News Source: The Verge, CNN Money, Bloomberg
News Image Credit: Copyright 2014 Drew Phillips / AOL Category:
Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors Tags: autonomous
driving, autopilot, electric vehicle, elon musk, ev, self
driving, tesla, tesla model s 
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/10/07/tesla-autopilot-could-offer-90-percent-autonomous-driving-next-y
 	
Toyota has now sold over 7 million hybrids.	...versions of the
Camry, Avalon and Highlander in the US.    Of course, such big
sales aren't always easy to match, and Toyota's been lagging
behind 2013's numbers all year. Including its Lexus division,
Toyota's green-car sales including the low-volume RAV4 electric
vehicle fell 10 percent from a year earlier in September to just
over 21,000 vehicles. Through the first three quarters of the
year, Toyota's green-car sales were down 9.1 percent to almost
247,000 vehicles. That still dwarfs any other...	
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/10/07/toyota-has-now-sold-over-7-million-hybrids/

Neste Oil de-emphasizing microbial oil R&D for renewable diesel;
seeking other uses for cellulosic biomass.	...using a proprietary
process to hydrogenate vegetable oil or animal fat feedstocks.
The result is a tailored drop-in fuel; with several major NExBTL
refineries worldwide, Neste is currently the leading producer of
renewable diesel. However, unlike a biomass-to-liquids technology
pathway (e.g., gasification of the biomass and conversion of the
resulting syngas to fuel), the NExBTL process out-of-the-box had
no option to utilize cellulosic biomass as a feedstock. Since the
sustainability...	
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/10/20141007-neste.html 

Electric Vehicles Reach Highest Percentage of US Auto Sales to
Date. ...month, plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) made up the
highest percentage ever tallied of total vehicles sold in the
United States. This is news for optimism. For an environmental
group like the Sierra Club, it is this percentage that we care
about more than total EV sales (which were strong, but not
outstanding last month). As a way to slash oil use and emissions,
we need people to switch from driving to transit, biking and
walking -- meaning fewer auto sales and less driving overall. But
for the millions who...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gina-coplonnewfield/electric-vehicles-reach-h_b_5949530.html

	
21 Numbers That Explain Why The Time To Address Climate Change Is
Right Now, Or Maybe Yesterday.	...Arctic ice evidently forced the
poor creatures to huddle together on a narrow piece of land out
of desperation -- normally, they're observed lying more spread
out. (The same thing happened last year as well.)    The plight
of the walruses is striking, but climate change is also having
all kinds of other, less readily visible effects. It's been shown
to produce heat waves around the world, contribute to global
wildlife extinction and maybe even reduce gravity.    Below, we
give you 21 numbers to help...	
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/07/climate-change-statistics_n_5923908.html

	
5 Reasons Why Climate Change Is a Social Issue, Not Just an
Environmental One. As illustrated by the 400,000 attendees at the
People's Climate March in New York City and the solidarity events
that took place around the word, the realities of climate change
are no longer only being stressed by environmentalists. The
effects of climate change will be economic, social, and
environmental and will alter people's lives in a myriad of ways
that we are just beginning to understand....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rosaly-byrd/climate-change-is-a-socia_b_5939186.html

The repeated claim that Obama ‘vowed’ to bankrupt coal plants. 
Two new ads by GOP-leaning Crossroads GPS slam Kentucky
Democratic Senate nominee Alison Lundergan Grimes with a similar
theme — that Obama “vowed” to bankrupt the coal industry. (The
second ad, a 15-second hit, says: “She says she supports coal but
she backed Obama after he vowed to bankrupt coal.”) This made us
wonder: When did the president make such a statement? 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2014/10/08/the-repeated-claim-that-obama-vowed-to-bankrupt-coal-plants/






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

ARB What's New

preload