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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for January 27, 2015.
Posted: 27 Jan 2015 11:04:11
ARB Newsclips for January 27, 2015. 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 gas prices low, 'hidden tax' making changes. Gas prices dropped another $0.13 over the past two weeks, but industry analysts say they are likely to go back up soon. In addition to rising wholesale prices is what many are calling a "hidden gas tax." It's an effect of California's Cap and Trade Program, also known as AB-32. http://www.ksby.com/news/california-gas-prices-low-hidden-tax-making-changes/ Cap and trade's political impact on gas prices will be felt when fuel prices turn around -- ARB leader. The effect of California's cap-and-trade program on how much motorists pay for their gasoline likely will be more visible when fuel prices rebound, the head of the state's Air Resources Board said yesterday. Mary Nichols, chairwoman of ARB, said in an interview during the VerdeXchange 2015 conference here that when cap and trade expanded… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060012340/print AIR POLLUTION Air pollution looms as pressing issue for families and lawmakers. Poor air quality and its adverse impacts to health have risen as a key concern for both policymakers and the public, threatening family health and quality of life, Utah's economy and the vibrancy of its outdoor recreation. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620436/Air-pollution-looms-as-pressing-issue-for-families-and-lawmakers.html Utah residents rank air pollution as No. 1 threat to quality of life. It's not crime, not crowded highways or even crowded classrooms that concern Utah residents the most and pose the greatest threat to their quality of life. If you look out the window, it is the air and the pollution that hangs on during winter temperature inversions or summer bouts of haze. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620440/Utah-residents-rank-air-pollution-as-No-1-threat-to-quality-of-life.html Study Raises Concerns About Toxic Oil and Gas Emissions in California Air. An infrared camera, air sampling and surveys reveal that methane and toluene are among the contaminants showing up in Kern and Ventura counties. he infrared video showed an eerie scene: waves of volatile chemicals floating from the vent pipes of an oil-and-gas processing plant in the Lost Hills region of Kern County, Calif. http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20150126/study-raises-concerns-about-toxic-oil-and-gas-emissions-california-air Wood burning is not a major threat to the climate – study. Emissions from wood burning by people in developing countries have a smaller climate impact than previously thought, according to a new study. "[This] is good news because woody biomass is a fundamental source of accessible and affordable energy for the majority of tropical populations," said Rudi Drigo, a co-author of the study. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060012325/print CLIMATE CHANGE On climate change, 'not a scientist' not enough for some U.S. Republicans. Rick Perry's farewell speech to the Texas legislature listed the accomplishments expected from an outgoing Republican governor of the country's largest oil-producing state. But his Jan. 15 speech also did something less predictable: touting his environmental record, from lowering Texas' carbon emissions to turning the state into a global leader in wind energy production. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/27/us-usa-politics-climatechange-insight-idUSKBN0L00D620150127 Australia temperatures rising faster than rest of the world: official report. Australia faced a rise in temperature of potentially more than 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century, an increase that would outpace global warming worldwide, the country's national science agency said on Tuesday. In its most comprehensive analysis yet of the impacts of climate change… http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/27/us-australia-climatechange-idUSKBN0KZ2KI20150127 Rhetoric on EPA, Climate Show Divisions Among Republican Presidential Hopefuls. One likely Republican presidential candidate called the Environmental Protection Agency “locusts” while another compared climate change to a “sunburn,” exposing a contrast with several other likely contenders within the party who recently acknowledged the role of human activity in climate change. http://www.bna.com/rhetoric-epa-climate-n17179922496/ Global warming could make blizzards worse. We’re on the verge of another historic blizzard, with as much as two or three feet of snow expected in parts of the Northeast. Already, the press is throwing around terms like “Snowmageddon” to describe what’s coming. Next comes politics: Whenever the East Coast sees an extreme snow event, the weather is perfect for snow trolling – e.g., trying to use one cold event to refute a warming climate trend. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/01/26/global-warming-could-make-blizzards-worse/ Oil-rich Saudis find new help in struggle to delay action on climate change: Cheap gas. As the ruler of a country that sits atop 300 billion barrels of oil, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah was no fan of proposals to limit the burning of fossil fuels. During most of his reign, the king’s chief envoy to climate talks was a global-warming skeptic who boasted of his success at scuttling climate treaties. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/oil-rich-saudis-find-a-new-ally-in-struggle-to-delay-action-on-climate-change-cheap-gas/2015/01/26/4d277170-9cc7-11e4-bcfb-059ec7a93ddc_story.html Yep, Climate Change Is Still Causing Insane Storms. Forecasters are projecting "crippling snowfall amounts and life-threatening blizzard conditions" throughout the Northeast. They may as well toss in a 100 percent likelihood of jokes from American conservative media about how snow invalidates the idea of global warming. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2015-01-27/northeastern-blizzard-elicits-time-tested-conservative-responses-on-climate-change Climate Change: The Need for a More Consistent Baseline and Immediate Action. The UN climate conference in Lima set the stage for Paris in 2015. Next year’s accord is to provide a working, albeit not a final, answer to the question: Is it possible to keep global warming at or below the 2 degree Celsius limit? This limit is considered the boundary beyond which the negative climatic, economic and social consequences of climate change… http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2015/01/climate-change-the-need-for-a-more-consistent-baseline-and-immediate-action Why Bigger Snowstorms Come With Global Warming. Amount of rain and snow falling in the heaviest precipitation events in the Northeast has jumped 71% in last half-century, consistent with climate change. Winter storm Juno is expected to dump as much as 3 feet of snow across parts of New England early this week. Media outlets have already dubbed the storm "a massive blizzard of epic proportions." http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20150127/why-bigger-snowstorms-come-global-warming Warming Ups Odds of Extreme La Niñas, Wild Weather. La Niña events can drive weather patterns wild around the globe from helping exacerbate drought in West Africa and increase rainfall in areas as diverse as South Asia and the Pacific Northwest. The more extreme the La Niña, which is characterized by a cooling of waters in the tropical Pacific, generally the more pronounced the impacts can be. http://www.climatecentral.org/news/warming-doubles-likelihood-extreme-la-ninas-18592 Asia-Pacific region faces stiff problems in addressing climate change, experts say. With 61 percent of the world's population and nearly half of the world's carbon emissions, the Asia-Pacific region is instrumental in the fight against catastrophic climate change. But structural problems in some countries are hampering progress. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060012335/print DROUGHT Record-setting rainless January sparks fears, fire. It was an astonishing scene in the heart of winter — dozens of Pacifica residents rushing to grab whatever household valuables they could as flames raced down a coastal bluff toward their homes. Firefighters halted the blaze early Monday before it could do serious damage, but the evacuations punctuated a January that is poised to go down as the driest in California history, giving rise to summerlike conditions… http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Destructive-extremes-California-s-dry-January-6041530.php DIESEL ACTIVITIES Diesel pollution cut at Port of Oakland. The mean emission rate of black carbon from diesel trucks at the Port of Oakland dropped 76% from 2009 to 2013, a California study finds. The improvements in air quality are linked to a port program to modernize trucks. http://www.thepacker.com/fruit-vegetable-news/Diesel-pollution-cut-at-Port-of-Oakland-289853131.html Exhaust from newer diesel engines not cancer-causing: Study. A new study has concluded there’s no evidence that exposure to new-technology diesel engine exhaust is linked to lung cancer. It’s the first study to evaluate lifetime exposure to new technology diesel exhaust. The study also found new-technology diesel engines produce 90% less emissions than older diesel engines. http://www.trucknews.com/health-safety/exhaust-newer-diesel-engines-not-cancer-causing-study/1003063423/ http://www.hybridcars.com/study-clears-newer-diesels-of-lung-cancer-and-other-risks/ FUELS Oil Trades Near 6-Year Low as OPEC Fails to Turn Focus From Glut. Oil traded near its lowest close in almost six years as OPEC’s warning that prices may surge without new investment in production failed to shift the market’s focus from more immediate signs of a supply glut. U.S. crude inventories probably rose to 401.9 million barrels last week, the highest in records dating back to August 1982… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-27/oil-trades-near-six-year-low-as-u-s-supplies-seen-widening-glut.html Key issues and updates on the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The Senate is closing in on a vote to authorize the Keystone XL oil pipeline, although Democrats temporarily stalled progress Monday. But the fate of the $8 billion project depends not only on what happens in Congress, but also in the courts, at the White House and with TransCanada, the pipeline's developer. http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article8203536.html#storylink=cpy Gas prices continuing to drop. Prices at the pump have dropped substantially across the nation in the past year and according to newly released fuel gauge reports, gas is expected to get even cheaper. The average cost of fuel in the South Valley was $2.42 per gallon on Monday, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report – the lowest gasoline price estimated since 2009. http://hanfordsentinel.com/news/gas-prices-continuing-to-drop/article_5f6bcf82-d04b-5834-b8b4-3cee4f7737b2.html Cities may be leaking more heat-trapping methane than previously thought. A new approach to measuring methane leaks revealed that the Boston area alone lost enough natural gas during one year to fuel 200,000 homes. Some of the nation's metropolitan areas may be losing tens of millions of dollars a year in natural gas leaks, which add a potent greenhouse gas to the atmosphere. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Global-Warming/2015/0124/Cities-may-be-leaking-more-heat-trapping-methane-than-previously-thought We can solve climate change, but it won’t be cheap or easy. Pretty much everyone who acknowledges the problem of climate change is hungry for good news about it, which makes sense, as most of the news is overwhelming and awful. There is high demand for optimism — I hear it every time someone asks me to write or speak on climate — so inevitably there is supply. http://grist.org/climate-energy/we-can-solve-climate-change-but-it-wont-be-cheap-or-easy/?utm_source=syndication&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed Natural gas's role in state's low-carbon future comes with caveats. The head of the California agency keeping the state on track to meet its ambitious climate goals didn't rule out the long-term use of natural gas yesterday but said she also sees caveats on the horizon. California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols, speaking at the VerdeXchange 2015 conference here, rejected the premise of the panel she was on, dubbed "Natural Gas -- Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution?"… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060012339/print In patent dispute, Supreme Court sides with startup. The Supreme Court today sided with startup company Gevo Inc. in a lingering dispute over patents for technology related to the commercial development of an advanced biofuel, isobutanol. The justices vacated a federal appeals court ruling that last year upheld two patents belonging to Butamax, a BP PLC-DuPont Co. joint venture, in a lawsuit alleging that Gevo infringed on the patents. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060012286/print GREEN ENERGY Worry for Solar Projects After End of Tax Credits. For more than a year now, an enormous solar thermal power plant has been humming along in the Arizona desert, sending out power as needed, even well after sunset. The plant, called Solana, was developed by the Spanish energy and technology company Abengoa and has succeeded in meeting an elusive solar goal… http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/26/business/worry-for-solar-projects-after-end-of-tax-credits.html?_r=3&utm_content=buffere908e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer Biden: U.S. has Caribbean’s back as it seeks to revamp energy sector. Vice President Joe Biden met with leaders of Caribbean nations Monday, saying the U.S. would do what it could to help those countries revamp their energy sectors, a vital concern given the region’s dependence on oil shipments from ailing Venezuela. Speaking at the Caribbean Energy Security Summit in Washington… http://www.fresnobee.com/2015/01/26/4349568_biden-us-has-caribbeans-back-as.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy Lee decides to back S.F. clean power program, but with conditions. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, in a major pivot on the issue of competing with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to provide cleaner power to city customers, directed officials Monday to develop a city-run renewable energy program by the end of the year. Lee and his allies had opposed a clean energy program that was approved by a veto-proof majority… http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Lee-decides-to-back-S-F-clean-power-program-but-6041780.php Solar energy supporters, utilities spar over legislation. Solar energy supporters are pushing back against a bill backed by Indiana's utilities that would change how much credit owners of small-scale solar installations get for the power they generate. The bill authored by state Rep. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, would amend Indiana code for so-called "net metering," under which electric customers… http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2015/01/26/3460710_solar-energy-supporters-utilities.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy Regulator clears 3GW power line in southwest US. The Bureau of Land Management has approved the $2bn SunZia Southwest Transmission project that should be able to carry 3,000MW between New Mexico and Arizona starting in 2020. The federal authorization is a key permit required for building the 515-mile (829km) line. The developer still is working to secure state and local permits in Arizona and New Mexico. http://www.argusmedia.com/pages/NewsBody.aspx?id=982621&menu=yes MISCELLANEOUS California again tops ranking of the most animal-friendly states. California has been very, very good to animals. So says the Humane Society of the United States, which bills itself as "the nation's largest and most effective animal protection organization." For the sixth straight year, the society has ranked the Golden State No. 1 on its list of 50 states for laws and policies relating to wildlife, farm livestock, pets and animal fighting. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-capitol-business-beat-20150126-story.html OPINIONS Virginia’s move to cut emissions the smart way. WHETHER REPUBLICAN state leaders like it or not, the Environmental Protection Agency is going to require them to cut their states’ greenhouse-gas emissions. They can choose to do it the easy way or the hard way. One Virginia Republican is proposing they choose the easy way — and the smart way. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/virginias-move-to-cut-emissions-the-smart-way/2015/01/25/91ba59a6-9c45-11e4-bcfb-059ec7a93ddc_story.html Editorial: Why we need to address population growth's effects on global warming. Earlier this month, Pope Francis made news when he said that not only was climate change real, but it was mostly man-made. Then, last week, he said that couples do not need to breed “like rabbits” but rather should plan their families responsibly — albeit without the use of modern contraception. http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-population-and-climate-change-20150125-story.html Is Obama pro- or anti-drilling? It depends. President Barack Obama is attempting to create a legacy as both driller-in-chief and environmental champion, as he proposes to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness while also touting a drilling boom across the United States that he didn’t create. http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article8206065.html#storylink=cpy Letter: Whatever happened to that hidden gas tax? Whatever happened to that hidden gas tax? Here’s a little memory check. Do you remember the deluge of scare ads over the last several months about a “hidden gas tax” that was going to drive up gas prices by 86 cents a gallon? Do you remember the various oil industry front groups with wholesome-sounding names pushing that story? http://www.chicoer.com/opinion/20150124/letter-whatever-happened-to-that-hidden-gas-tax Looking for answers. I read with interest John Lindsey’s column Sunday about ocean acidification and the companion piece about the acidic effect on shellfish production in Maine and the Northwest. Unlike the very complex climate change debate, the chemistry here is so simple that even a senator would have trouble denying that mankind is materially impacting our ocean’s environment. http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2015/01/26/3460371/looking-for-answers.html#storylink=cpy BLOGS U.S. Gas Prices End Their Record-Breaking Streak of Daily Declines. For the first time in four months, gasoline is a little more expensive today than it was yesterday. The national average price for a gallon of regular gas was $2.038 on Tuesday, up from $2.033 on Monday, according to auto club AAA. http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015/01/27/u-s-gas-prices-end-their-record-breaking-streak-of-daily-declines/ Verdict Is In—There’s Broad Support for Plan to Cut Methane Pollution. When the White House announced ambitious plans to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 45 percent, EDF President Fred Krupp called it a landmark move. And according, to a recent poll, 66 percent of Americans agree that strong federal standards are needed to safeguard our air from methane pollution… http://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/2015/01/27/verdict-is-in-theres-broad-support-to-cut-methane-pollution/ Tech Lowers NOx Emissions in California Oil & Gas Sector. US NOx emissions map Achieving further reductions in nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions is a focal point for U.S. oil, gas and industrial businesses, as well as automakers, as state air quality authorities work to follow through on proposed new federal NOx emissions limits. Public air quality authorities in Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley… http://www.triplepundit.com/2015/01/new-combustion-tech-lowers-nox-emissions-california-oil-gas-sector/ Do the automakers really need help with the U.S. efficiency standards? If you paid attention to the press coming out of the Detroit Auto Show last week, you’d have the strong impression that low gasoline prices are making it difficult for automakers to comply with fuel economy standards. http://www.theicct.org/blogs/staff/do-automakers-really-need-help-us-efficiency-standards Air pollution hits crops more than climate change. Atmospheric pollutants may impact India’s major crops like wheat and rice more than temperature rise, says a new study based on a ‘regression model’ that predicts future events with information on past or present events. http://www.scidev.net/south-asia/agriculture/news/air-pollution-hits-crops-more-than-climate-change.html#sthash.07qj2aRJ.dpuf GM launches Green Dealer Recognition program. GM has launched a “Green Dealer Recognition” program for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealerships across the US. Participating dealers have proven track records in areas such as energy reduction, renewable energy use, water conservation efforts, recycling, on-site nature habitats and community outreach. The program aligns with General Motors’ companywide efforts to reduce its environmental footprint… http://www.greencarcongress.com/2015/01/20150126-gm.html An increasingly rare type of solar farm goes online in California. When the huge solar farm just outside of Las Vegas called Ivanpah opened up in early 2014, many lamented that this type of solar plant, called solar thermal, could soon become a dinosaur. Late last week another of these large solar thermal farms was officially turned on, and it truly could be one of the last of this size built in the U.S., https://gigaom.com/2015/01/26/an-increasingly-rare-type-of-solar-farm-goes-online-in-california/ BMW i3 Electric Car Super Bowl TV Ad: Now It's Out [UPDATED]. Advertising is crucial for automakers trying to explain the benefits of electric cars to an often-skeptical public. So what better forum than the advertising mecca that is the Super Bowl? While teams battle for the National Football League championship during Super Bowl XLIX, BMW will try to catch customers' attention with an ad for its i3 electric car on Sunday, February 1. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1096360_bmw-i3-electric-car-to-appear-in-super-bowl-tv-ad Do Low Gas Prices Hurt Renewable Energy Adoption? Unlikely, Says Analyst. Gas prices have fallen dramatically in the U.S.--40 percent in six months--and it's assumed by some that this will hurt the renewable-energy industry. With the financial advantage of solar or wind energy curtailed by cheap oil, the logic goes, consumers will be less interested in switching from fossil fuels. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1096488_do-low-gas-prices-hurt-renewable-energy-adoption-unlikely-says-analyst Can Electric-Car Fast Charging Be Profitable? Answer: Unclear. DC fast charging helps alleviate one of the major roadblocks to electric-car adoption--limited range--by giving drivers more ability to travel longer distances. That's why carmakers and other entities back the installation of more and more DC fast-charging sites. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1096477_can-electric-car-fast-charging-be-profitable-answer-unclear California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.