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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 12, 2014

Posted: 12 Nov 2014 15:07:56
ARB Newsclips for November 12, 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

Carbon 'tax' will pump up California gas prices Jan. 1. When you
head to the pump on Jan. 1, 2015, expect to pay more for gasoline
in California. It's part of what some business groups call a
hidden gas tax or carbon tax that was * not* approved with a
public vote by Californians. In 2006, the Legislature and Gov.
Schwarzenegger passed Assembly Bill 32 which is legislation that
set an absolute statewide limit on greenhouse gas emissions.
http://www.news10.net/story/news/local/sacramento/2014/11/11/carbon-tax-will-pump-up-california-gas-prices-january-1/16005672/


AIR POLLUTION

What US, China agreed to do to limit emissions. The United States
and China are pledging to move faster to reduce or limit
emissions of heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming. China
and the U.S. are the world's two largest polluters, and by taking
action together, leaders from both countries hope to spur other
nations to be equally aggressive as they work to finalize a
worldwide climate treaty next year.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CLIMATE_CHANGE_GLANCE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/11/12/china-us-climatechange-idINKCN0IW21R20141112

http://online.wsj.com/articles/u-s-china-agree-to-curb-greenhouse-gas-emissions-1415763692


US pollution data on Beijing blocked on mobile app. All the
sky-clearing measures plus cooperation from the weather kept
Beijing relatively free of air pollution for most of a seven-day
Asia-Pacific conference. Then, toward the end as top leaders met,
the smog crept back. So, China went to Plan B: Censor the
pollution monitors. Many Beijingers get up-to-the moment updates
on pollution…
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_APEC_BEIJING_POLLUTION?SITE=FLPLA&SECTION=INTERNATIONAL&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


No-burn alert for Southern California continues.  Southern
California air quality regulators are banning wood burning for
the third day in a row because of excessive air pollution. The
South Coast Air Quality Management District is issuing a no-burn
alert for Wednesday because a high concentration of fine particle
air pollution is in the forecast.
http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/11/11/47993/no-burn-alert-for-southern-california-continues/

http://www.pe.com/articles/air-753923-fine-wood.html 

CLIMATE CHANGE

US-China climate deal aims to prod others to act. A
groundbreaking agreement struck Wednesday by the United States
and China puts the world's two worst polluters on a faster track
to curbing the heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming.
With the clock ticking on a worldwide climate treaty, the two
countries sought to move beyond their troubled history as
environmental adversaries and spur other nations.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CLIMATE_CHANGE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/12/china-usa-climatechange-idUSL3N0T21YK20141112

http://www.kqed.org/news/story/2014/11/12/148286/china_us_pledge_to_limit_greenhouse_gases?category=world&source=npr

http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/11/11/4230229_us-china-unveil-new-climate-change.html?rh=1

http://www.capradio.org/news/npr/story?storyid=363467360 
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-11-12/china-s-move-with-u-dot-s-dot-on-pollution-spurs-work-on-climate-deal

http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-obama-xi-climate-change-20141111-story.html#page=1

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/13/world/asia/climate-change-china-xi-jinping-obama-apec.html?_r=0


Nation's last big icebreaker endures despite age. The last U.S.
icebreaker capable of crushing through the thickest ice of the
Antarctic and Arctic resumed its mission after the latest repairs
to postpone its already past-due retirement. Climate change makes
the 38-year-old Polar Star Icebreaker's science and security
missions ever more vital, according to scientists and other
backers of rebuilding the country's dwindling ice fleet.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_LAST_POLAR_ICEBREAKER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


DIESEL EMISSIONS

Port of Los Angeles touts 80 percent drop in diesel particulate
matter. Emissions are down at the left coast’s largest port, but
much of the improvement may not be due to port regulations. The
Port of Los Angeles recently announced it had made major strides
in addressing pollution from ships, trucks, trains and other
sources. The port’s 2013 Inventory of Air Emissions said diesel
particulate matter is down 80 percent, nitrogen oxides are down
57 percent…
http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=27959#.VGOsCRbSp5I


DROUGHT

Water conservation efforts pay off: U.S. usage lowest in decades.
 Americans recently passed a milestone when federal officials
reported that water use across the nation had reached its lowest
level in more than 45 years: good news for the environment, great
news in times of drought and a major victory for conservation.
What was surprising in the U.S. Geological Survey report released
last week was how little of the 13% decline in national water
usage was due to the public cutting back.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-water-20141112-story.html 

Drought-defying tomato harvest breaks California record. Defying
the state’s devastating water shortage, California farmers
produced a record tomato crop. The harvest came in at an
estimated 14 million tons of processing tomatoes. Those are the
type used to make sauce, salsa and other products, and represent
about 96 percent of all the tomatoes grown in California. Water
conservation efforts pay off: U.S. usage lowest in decades.
http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article3792494.html 

Orange growers assess drought impact on crop. This is one of
those years that drives citrus farmers nuts, said Rod Radke, who
grows navel oranges in Fresno County. Early harvest reports
indicate good-quality oranges in terms of shape and sweetness,
but the drought and lack of irrigation water are being blamed for
slow and uneven fruit sizing. "It's hard to figure out how much
crop is going to make it to market, because there are so many
variables," Radke said. "It's not simple arithmetic."
http://www.agalert.com/story/?id=7295 

FUELS

Missouri governor to help lead biofuels group. Missouri Gov. Jay
Nixon is in line to serve as a leader of the Governors' Biofuels
Coalition. Nixon's office said Monday that he will become vice
chairman of the organization in 2015 and then could become
chairman in 2016 when Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad's term ends. The
coalition supports fuels such as ethanol made from corn.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MO_BIOFUELS_COALITION_NIXON_MOOL-?SITE=MOCAP&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


Archer Daniels Sees Corn-Based Ethanol Business Staying Strong.
ADM Profit Rises 60% as Low Corn Prices Boosted Margins. Archer
Daniels Midland Co. expects its corn-based ethanol business to
remain strong in the year ahead despite sliding energy prices
that have cut into profit margins, executives said Tuesday.
Strong demand over the summer for ethanol and low corn prices
translated to the best profit margins in years for U.S. ethanol
makers…
http://online.wsj.com/articles/archer-daniels-midlands-profit-rises-60-1415104413


CARB fines Chevron $329,700 for selling 'over-oxygenated' fuel.
The California Air Resources Board recently fined a major U.S.
oil producer for selling fuel that didn’t meet California’s
standards.  In a news release, CARB announced it had reached a
$329,700 settlement with Chevron Corp. after Chevron admitted to
violating California’s reformulated gasoline regulations. Chevron
admitted to supplying gasoline in violation of California state
regulations at its terminals in Montebello and Richmond, Calif. …
http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=27958#.VGOsaBbSp5I


Will natural gas stall out as heavy-duty alternative? Just two
years ago, natural gas power was forecast to fuel up to 20% of
new heavy-duty trucks by the end of the decade. But now, thanks
to everything from declining diesel prices to fleet concerns
about natural-gas payback and fueling infrastructure, it appears
those earlier predictions of the future strength of natural gas
were too rosy.
http://fleetowner.com/running-green/will-natural-gas-stall-out-heavy-duty-alternative


CA Prepares for Updated CNG, LNG Fuel Tax Rules in Up Front. The
California State Board of Equalization is readying the
implementation of revisions to A.B.1907, which includes new use
fuel tax rates for compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied
natural gas (LNG) that is used as a fuel in motor vehicles.
Effective Jan. 1, 2015, the tax rate for CNG will be adjusted to
$0.0887/gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE)…
http://www.ngtnews.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.10207#.VGOothbSp5I

Ethanol market chasing U.S. as Canada’s fueling options flatline.
Despite having capable vehicles, hurdles lay ahead if Canadian
consumers are going to see alternative fuel infrastructure. For
advocates of Canada’s biofuel industry, availability of ethanol
at the pump is a discouraging statistic. In the United States,
there are more than 3,000 fueling stations that meet the E85
ethanol standard, but in Canada…
http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/regulation/ethanol-market-chasing-us-canadas-fueling-options-flatline-142054/


Buster Biofuels to employ Viesel Fuel enzymatic biodiesel
process. A 5 MMgy plant under construction in San Diego, Buster
Biofuels, will be producing biodiesel using the latest process
technology of enzymatic production. Buster Halterman, CEO of
Buster Biofuels, told Biodiesel Magazine that his company is
working with Stuart, Fla.-based Viesel Fuel LLC to install Viesel
Fuel’s unique adaptation of enzymatic biodiesel process…
http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/235824/buster-biofuels-to-employ-viesel-fuel-enzymatic-biodiesel-process


VEHICLES

UPDATE 1-Hyundai, Kia to triple range of green cars by 2020.
Hyundai Motor Co and affiliate Kia Motors Corp plan to triple
their number of fuel-efficient cars by 2020, addressing concerns
about the pair's green track record and competitiveness in fuel
economy. Investors have voiced concern about Hyundai's latest
Genesis and Kia's Soul having lower fuel mileage than their
predecessors...
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/12/hyundai-motor-kia-motors-environment-idUSL3N0T21J320141112


RPT-As gas prices slide, U.S. car buyers go for size, shun
hybrids. It is the automotive equivalent of Pavlov's bell: when
gasoline is expensive, U.S. car owners try to downsize, but once
pump prices ring down, they salivate over big pickup trucks and
SUVs. With gas prices dipping below $3 a gallon last month for
the first time since December 2010, size is back in vogue.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/12/usa-gasoline-guzzlers-idUSL2N0T129Y20141112


US safety regulators probe Honda, Nissan vehicles for steering
issues. U.S. safety regulators have opened separate
investigations into potential steering issues in an estimated
374,000 Honda Accord sedans and an estimated 17,000 Infiniti EX35
compact crossover vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) has opened a preliminary evaluation into
the failure of electric power steering in certain 2013…
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/11/honda-nissan-usprobes-idUSL2N0T11FR20141111


Kia's 'Soulful' first electric car. Finally, there is an
all-electric car for people who thought they would never want
one. The 2015 Kia Soul EV is a normal-looking Soul with a useful
travel range of nearly 100 miles on a single charge, stable ride
and handling, generous and flexible cargo space, comfortable
seating and fast-charge capability.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Kia-s-Soulful-first-electric-car-5888060.php


GREEN ENERGY

Australian renewable energy target talks break down.  Australia's
opposition party said on Wednesday it quit talks with the
government aimed at agreeing a renewable energy target, ending
hopes of long-term certainty for potential investors in the
burgeoning sector. Australia is one of the world's biggest carbon
emitters on a per capita basis, but rising electricity bills and
cheaper rooftop solar have driven down electricity use since a
centre-left government first set the target in 2009.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/12/australia-renewables-idUSL3N0T201Z20141112


Germany plans tax relief to raise energy efficiency and cut
emissions. Germany plans 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in tax
concessions to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and
lift sales of electric cars, in an action plan to help Europe's
biggest economy meet CO2 emissions targets, a policy document
showed. Despite a shift to renewables, Germany's CO2 emissions
are rising partly due to a move away from nuclear power…
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/12/germany-energy-idUSL6N0T23OJ20141112


MISCELLANEOUS

Fire retardant chemicals found in small group of Californians.  A
new study -- the first of its kind -- released Wednesday shows
that a small group of people carry in their bodies traces of
chemicals in flame retardants that for decades have been used in
the manufacturing of furniture and children's products. The
study, while small, offers the first glimpse of how these
chemicals, which have been shown to cause cancer…
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_26917986/fire-retardant-chemicals-found-small-group-californians


OPINIONS

Column- Lester Snow is the answer man on the water bond. 
Californians, you just voted yourselves a $7-billion-plus water
bond measure. What happens now? Lester Snow can draw you the map
of water needs and detail the money being spent. He's navigated
state waters for years in a multitude of jobs, among them head of
the state's Department of Water Resources and other agencies.
He's spent more time on water than Duke Kahanamoku.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-morrison-lester-snow-california-water-20141112-column.html#page=1


BLOGS

Can Biofuels Make A Comeback? Len Rand, CEO of xF Technologies,
says his company has come up with a material that can
dramatically reduce particulate matter in diesel tailpipe
emissions. It also fights corrosion. And it can be used as a food
additive. “It can smell like almonds…anise,” he said. The
Albuquerque-based company has developed an efficient two-step
process that converts corn stover or other relatively low cost
biomass into furoate ester…
http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelkanellos/2014/11/11/can-biofuels-make-a-comeback/


The Drive For All-Renewable Power Confronts Economic Reality. In
Europe, economic reality is catching up with the renewable energy
movement. Justin Gillis wrote recently in the New York Times
about Denmark’s aggressive push to eliminate the burning of
fossil fuels by 2050. The country is already well on its way to
achieving that goal. Denmark generates more than 40 percent of
its power from renewable sources…
http://www.forbes.com/sites/lorensteffy/2014/11/12/the-drive-for-all-renewable-power-confronts-economic-reality/


Some Utilities Are Making it Cheaper to Drive Electric Cars. Some
utility companies are starting to encourage consumers to make the
switch to plug-in electric vehicles (EVs). JEA, a utility company
in northeastern Florida, recently began offering to its nearly
half a million household and business electricity customers a
rebate of up to $1,000 for the purchase or lease of a plug-in
electric vehicle.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gina-coplonnewfield/some-utilities-are-making_b_6142606.html


Small solar bike path now open in Holland.  There's just
something appealing about the idea of a solar-powered road.
Letting that ugly ribbon through the countryside generate power,
interact smartly with cars, bikes and pedestrians and even
charging up your electric car. It all just seems magical, doesn't
it? Well, yes, which is why there are so many critics of a small
(230 feet), $3.7 million solar bike path test space that was just
installed in Holland.
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/11/11/small-solar-bike-path-now-open-in-holland/




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

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