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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 18, 2015.
Posted: 18 Mar 2015 14:27:44
ARB Newsclips for March 18, 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 carbon revenue hits $1.6 billion. California's February carbon permit auction raised $629.5 million, bringing the state's total from the program's 10 quarterly auctions almost to $1.6 billion, state officials said on Tuesday. Funds raised by the sale of the permits to large emitting businesses like oil refineries and cement manufacturers are deposited into a state account dedicated to funding clean energy programs including California's ambitious high speed rail project. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/17/california-carbon-revenue-idUSL2N0WJ2JY20150317 Carbon credit faux pas: Panel to probe anomalies in tendering. After wrong calculations of carbon credits by consultants involved in the scientific closure of BMC's Gorai dumping ground led to embarrassment for the civic body, the state government has set up a high-level committee to inquire into tendering anomalies. http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-carbon-credit-faux-pas-panel-to-probe-anomalies-in-tendering-2069662 AIR POLLUTION State Senate Works to Block Christie From Settling Pollution Lawsuit Against Exxon. The New Jersey Senate approved two measures on Monday contesting Gov. Chris Christie’s attempt to settle a pollution lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corporation for a fraction of the damages that the state had originally sought. By a vote of 24 to 0, the Senate approved a resolution urging a judge to reject a proposed $225 million settlement in the case. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/17/nyregion/state-senate-works-to-block-christie-from-settling-pollution-lawsuit-against-exxon.html?mabReward=R2&_r=1 Lawmaker calls for a rebellion against EPA pollution emissions for backyard barbecues. A Missouri state legislator wants the Environmental Protection Agency to back off of people’s backyard barbecues. On Monday, State Senator Eric Schmitt (R) from St. Louis kicked off a #porksteakrebellion after he discovered the EPA is funding a study on propane grill emissions that suggest pit masters use a special tray to catch grease drippings and a "catalytic" filtration system to reduce air pollution… http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2015/03/17/lawmaker-calls-for-rebellion-against-epa-pollution-emissions-for-backyard/ EPA starts reviewing 50K comments on hot-button ozone rule. U.S. EPA's proposed tightening of the national ozone standard drew more than 50,000 public comments, many focusing on what the science says is an acceptable exposure level of the pollutant. Even the number of comments in the federal docket is a matter of contention with environmentalists claiming to have gathered and submitted more than 500,000 statements in support of a more stringent standard. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060015301/print CLIMATE CHANGE California Legislature Debating 2015 Climate Leadership Legislation. During his fourth inaugural address just three months ago, California Governor Jerry Brown announced an ambitious new plan to address the impacts of climate change in California over the next 15 years. The groundbreaking plan proposed to increase from thirty-three to fifty percent the amount of electricity derived from renewable sources, reduce the petroleum use in cars and trucks by up to fifty percent… http://www.environmentalleader.com/2015/03/18/california-legislature-debating-2015-climate-leadership-legislation/#ixzz3Ul1aL65i FEMA Finalizes New Requirement for State Disaster Plans to Consider Climate Change Impacts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced yesterday afternoon a change in its requirements for State Hazard Mitigation Plans that NRDC has been advocating for nearly three years. These plans, which states develop in order to prepare for future natural disasters, must now consider the projected effects of climate change on hazard risks. http://theenergycollective.com/nrdcswitchboard/2204916/fema-finalizes-new-requirement-state-disaster-plans-consider-climate-change- http://www.climatecentral.org/news/fema-states-need-climate-change-in-disaster-planning-18786 Global warming not to blame for mass starvation of sea lion pups, says NOAA. Yesterday it was reported that sea lion pups along the California coast are literally starving to death. According to scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), global warming has nothing to do with it. It's all part of an El Niño weather pattern that's wreaking havoc on the food chain supply. http://www.examiner.com/article/global-warming-not-to-blame-for-mass-starvation-of-sea-lion-pups-says-noaa California, Quebec Teaming Up On Climate Change. California raised $630 million by selling pollution allowances one Wednesday last month, each of them entitling the buyer to harm the climate with a ton of carbon dioxide. Most of the money that was raised during the quarterly allowance auction will be used to reduce customers’ electricity bills; the rest will go to environmental projects. http://www.climatecentral.org/news/california-quebec-teaming-up-on-climate-change-18784 Stephen Hume: Canada in need of climate change strategy, report says. British Columbia is one of three provinces demonstrating leadership in strategic climate change planning that should be coming from the federal government, says George Hoberg, a specialist in environmental and natural resource policy from the University of B.C. Hoberg is one of the contributors to a major national report from leading scientists across the country that urges Ottawa to swiftly co-ordinate a national program for pricing carbon. http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Canada+need+climate+change+strategy+report+says/10898721/story.html#sthash.28wf327R.dpuf DROUGHT New watering restrictions imposed amid California drought. With California heading into another parched year, state officials Tuesday beefed up emergency drought regulations, directing urban agencies to limit the number of days residents can water their yards. The move is expected to have little or no effect in most major Southern California cities, which already have watering restrictions. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-state-officials-watering-restrictions-20150317-story.html http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/California-drought-State-approves-sweeping-6139559.php http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2015/03/18/california-water-agency-tightens-restrictions-in.html http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x306747797/-Serious-drought-pushes-board-to-limit-water-use California restricts yard watering as drought persists. California regulators on Tuesday ordered every water agency in the state to restrict how often customers can water their landscaping, an unprecedented move that marks another milestone in the severe and ongoing drought. The decision was adopted unanimously by the State Water Resources Control Board and will take effect in about 45 days. http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article15199547.html#storylink=cpy Overpumping of Central Valley groundwater creating a crisis, experts say. A simple instrument with a weight and a pulley confirmed what hydrologist Michelle Sneed had suspected after seeing more and more dirt vanish from the base of her equipment each time she returned to her research site last summer. The tawny San Joaquin Valley earth was sinking a half-inch each month. The reason was no mystery. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-groundwater-20150318-story.html#page=1 Study: California Drought Decreases Hydropower, Increases Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The Pacific Institute says there is less hydroelectricity and more expensive electricity, due to the diminished river flows as a result of the California drought. In its study, the Oakland think tank, which focuses on water issues, said with reduced hydropower, the state has increased the use of natural gas to produce electricity. http://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/mar/18/study-california-drought-decreases-hydropower-incr/ Intensifying Calif. drought sets off alarms. As California's epic drought continues with no end in sight, it is setting off new alarms about unprecedented water shortages, increased wildfire threats, fewer crops and farmers, higher electric bills and huge economic losses for years — or even decades — to come. "Even if normal precipitation begins to fall, it will take a few years to overcome the massive deficits we've been running… http://www.khou.com/story/weather/2015/03/17/california-western-drought/23953599/ Restaurants, lawns, hoses: With no end in sight for drought, state expands restrictions on water use. Water restrictions are about to get stricter. Responding to the four-year drought that shows no signs of easing, officials at the State Water Resources Control Board voted Tuesday in Sacramento to extend current emergency water use rules and add several new ones. By the end of March, you’ll have to ask for a glass of water at a restaurant…http://www.ocregister.com/articles/water-654548-drought-state.html California drought making wildfires a year-round threat. The drought has meant bigger and more dangerous winter wildfires for California. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says winter wildfires so far this year have burned 3,200 acres in its jurisdiction. That compares to 800 acres by this point in an average year. http://www.redding.com/news/wire-news/california-drought-making-wildfires-a-year-round-threat Spigot tightens on state water use. Homeowners and businesses will have to cut back even more on water by the end of March, the California Water Resources Control Board voted Tuesday. Even with recent rain and conservation efforts, officials said, the drought is winning. Less water for lawns. Water suppliers must restrict how often lawns and landscaping can be watered; more areas will face two-day weekly limits. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/water-308461-ocprint-option-face.html DIESEL ACTIVITIES CARB now to allow retrofits for reefer rule compliance. It isn’t every day that a California Air Resources Board staff member can tell truck owners they may be able to spend less money than expected to comply with a state emissions regulation. The good news explains the excitement coming through the phone line from CARB Staff Air Pollution Specialist Rod Hill concerning Transportation Refrigeration Units, or reefers. http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=28667#.VQb_UjcLKGQ.email Cars and Global Warming: 5 Ways Diesel Engines Are Better for the Environment. Transportation industries continue to take steps that reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. The oil industry has made significant improvement in refining diesel fuel for cars and trucks. http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/Cars-and-Global-Warming-Diesel-Engines-Environment-Climate-Change/2015/03/18/id/630875/#ixzz3UksvWw8V Propel launches North America's first retail rollout of Neste HPR. Propel Fuels has launched California’s most advanced diesel fuel: Diesel HPR (High Performance Renewable) at Propel locations across Northern California. Propel’s Diesel HPR consists of 98.5 percent Neste Oil's NEXBTL renewable diesel, a low-carbon renewable fuel that meets petroleum diesel specifications for use in diesel engines while realizing the benefits of better performance and lower emissions. http://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/337416/propel-launches-north-americas-first-retail-rollout-of-neste-hpr FUELS California’s Cleaner Fuel Comes at Cost to Water: Report. The water it takes to supply energy to California, the biggest U.S. fuel market, has risen almost four-fold over two decades. And the culprit isn’t oil. It’s biofuels, according to a report. California’s “water footprint” for energy -- the water used to produce transportation fuels, natural gas and electricity consumed in the state -- rose to 7.7 cubic kilometers in 2012 from 2.1 in 1990, the report prepared by university and environmental researchers showed. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-17/california-s-cleaner-fuel-comes-at-cost-to-water-report Why Barclays Is Stockpiling 17 Filling Stations-Worth of Diesel in South Africa. Banks in South Africa, where the state electricity company is rationing supplies, are stockpiling fuel to run generators so that they can keep operating should power cuts worsen. Barclays Africa Group Ltd. said it has more than 400,000 liters (106,000 gallons) of diesel -- about 17 times the volume stored at the average South African filling station. Nedbank Group Ltd. has fuel to last about 10 days… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-18/banks-stockpile-diesel-to-counter-south-african-power-cuts U.S. Oil Prices Hold Losses After Inventory Data. EIA’s inventory report shows crude supplies in Cushing, Okla., at another record high. U.S. oil prices traded at six-year intraday lows Wednesday after weekly government data showed domestic crude supplies at a new record high. Light, sweet crude for April delivery recently fell $1.21, or 2.8%, to $42.25 a barrel http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-oil-prices-fall-as-traders-await-key-data-from-eia-1426675619?mod=europe_home … New ‘green diesel’ rolls out for Sacramento motorists. Sacramento motorists on Wednesday will be among the first in California to be offered a new “high-performance renewable” diesel fuel – produced largely from recycled plant and animal oils. This new generation of diesel biofuel, by Redwood City-based Propel Fuels Inc., is manufactured almost entirely from various plant- and animal-based waste… http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article15203738.html#storylink=cpy http://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/article15218597.html Biodiesel advocates want heating oil standard in NY. A coalition of environmental groups and renewable energy advocates want New York to require all heating oil sold in the state to include at least 2 percent biodiesel. The proposal passed the Assembly's Committee on Environmental Conservation Tuesday. Its sponsor is Assemblyman Steven Englebright, a Long Island Democrat who says a biodiesel standard would reduce carbon emissions while boosting the state's agricultural industry. http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/Biodiesel-advocates-want-heating-oil-standard-in-6139360.php European gasoline unseasonably firm following US strength. (AUDIO). Sophie Byron, managing editor for European and African light ends, discusses with editor Virginie Malicier, the gasoline seasonality switch from winter to summer specification and blending demand; and analyze Where US gasoline strength after strike action, refinery issues and maintenance has impacted European markets and supported demand for naphtha for blending. http://www.platts.com/podcasts-detail/oil/2015/march/europe-gasoline-naphtha-031815 Could a low-emission perennial grass help the cellulosic ethanol industry? Biofuel producers looking for a cellulosic feedstock that is both highly productive and has a relatively low environmental impact should cultivate the perennial grass miscanthus, a recent study suggests. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/03/18/stories/1060015251 VEHICLES DC environmental director to tout hydrogen-powered car. The District of Columbia's top environmental official will be taking a spin in a new car that's powered by air.On Wednesday, District Department of the Environment Director Tommy Wells will speak at a news conference and take a test drive of a hydrogen-powered vehicle built by Toyota. The car is on a tour of the East Coast for events with politicians and environmental officials. http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/DC-environmental-director-to-tout-6141638.php Californians Bought More Plug-in Cars Than China Last Year. More than just America’s most ardent plug-in electrified vehicle adopters by a wide margin, last year Californians bought enough PEVs to rank their state second among all nations of the world. That’s right, if California were its own country, its purchases of 29,935 plug-in hybrids…http://www.hybridcars.com/californians-bought-more-plug-in-cars-than-china-last-year/ GREEN ENERGY China Boosts Solar Target for 2015 as It Fights Pollution. China raised its solar target for 2015, promising to add almost 2 1/2 times as much capacity as the U.S. added last year, as it races to clear its increasingly polluted air. The world’s biggest emitter of carbon aims to install as much as 17.8 gigawatts of solar projects in 2015… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-18/china-increases-solar-target-for-2015-as-it-fights-air-pollution Solar Energy Startup Launches Campaign to Bring Hassle-Free Solar Energy to Everyone. Boston-based CloudSolar launches first-of-its-kind campaign with goal of removing barriers to solar energy. CloudSolar, a Boston-based startup, announced the launch of their Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for their first solar power farm with a fundraising goal of $300,000. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/18/ma-cloudsolar-idUSnBw185058a+100+BSW20150318 UPDATE 1-Gas contract secrecy row overshadows EU quest for energy union. The Brussels summit is meant to advance progress towards a single energy union in which power and gas would flow freely across borders, reducing the bloc's reliance on Russian gas and countering Gazprom's divide-and-rule tendency. But a clash between Germany, which has negotiated successfully with Gazprom, and Poland, which pays higher price…http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/03/18/eu-energy-idINL6N0WK40520150318 Tourmaline Hunts for Energy Deals as Rivals Dump Assets. Mike Rose started Tourmaline Oil Corp., now Canada’s third-largest natural gas producer, by scooping up land the last time energy companies were in a slump. Seven years on, he’s at it again. Tourmaline bought a gas property last week for C$257 million ($201 million) in shares and Rose, chairman and chief executive officer, plans to pick up additional assets… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-17/tourmaline-hunts-for-energy-deals-as-rivals-dump-assets Obama administration wants more renewable energy, tighter pollution controls on public lands. The Obama administration will seek tougher standards for companies extracting oil, gas and coal on taxpayer-owned land during its remaining months in office, even as it pushes for expanded solar and wind projects, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said Tuesday. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/03/17/obama-administration-calls-for-more-renewable-energy-tighter-pollution-controls-on-taxpayer-owned-lands/ EPA's carbon rule could spur $2.5B in power line investment – ICF. As coal-fired power plants go offline under U.S. EPA's Clean Power Plan, building new power lines to bring renewable energy to customers could spur $1.5 billion to $2.5 billion in investment over the next five years, according to an analysis by the consulting group ICF International. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/03/18/stories/1060015246 FERC denies Calif.'s request for waiver from real-time market rules. The West's experiment in real-time electricity markets is undergoing scrutiny from federal regulators. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decided Monday to investigate provisions of the Western energy imbalance market, which is intended to accommodate rising amounts of renewable energy. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/stories/1060015273/print Does Texas still need a renewable energy standard? Lawmakers weigh in. A Texas lawmaker laid out plans yesterday to eliminate previously surpassed state goals on renewable energy, as well as an infrastructure program that helped pave the way for expansive wind development. State Sen. Troy Fraser (R), a veteran of Texas electricity policy discussions, said it's time to move forward and cease programs that no longer are needed. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/stories/1060015244/print MISCELLANEOUS California’s Air Resource Board (ARB) Announces Deadline Extension. Intertek supports companies to meet regulatory requirements. Intertek, a leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide, announces a regulatory service to assist businesses to meet the requirements of the 2013 Consumer and Commercial Products Survey in support of the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Resource Board (ARB). http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/18/tx-intertek-idUSnBw185054a+100+BSW20150318 After Toxic Ash Spill, Energy Company And Locals Struggle Over Solution. When utility companies burn coal to make electricity — and it generated 39 percent of U.S. energy in 2013 — it leaves behind ash that can contain arsenic, selenium, boron and many other toxic substances. For decades, that ash simply has been buried in pits near the power plants and covered with water. http://www.npr.org/2015/03/18/393672334/after-toxic-ash-spill-energy-company-and-locals-struggle-over-solution Intertek: California’s Air Resource Board (ARB) Announces Deadline Extension. Intertek, a leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide, announces a regulatory service to assist businesses to meet the requirements of the 2013 Consumer and Commercial Products Survey in support of the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Resource Board (ARB). http://www.4-traders.com/INTERTEK-GROUP-PLC-4003872/news/Intertek--Californiarsquos-Air-Resource-Board-ARB-Announces-Deadline-Extension-20046365/ http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150318005054/en/California%E2%80%99s-Air-Resource-Board-ARB-Announces-Deadline OPINIONS California must stop acting like its water shortage isn't real. To the editor: California is in the fourth year of the worst drought in its recorded history and, as Jay Famiglietti warns, has about a year's worth of stored water left. But one wouldn't know it looking at all the still-green lawns. ("California has about one year of water left. Will you ration now?," op-ed, March 12) http://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-le-0317-tuesday-california-drought-20150317-story.html Don’t forget land use in drought debate. As California moves into its fourth year of prolonged drought, state and local agencies are mulling further restrictions on the use of water in urban settings. From prohibiting yard watering on cold or rainy days to stopping the operation of fountains, the search for ways to reduce water consumption continues. http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/soapbox/article15100547.html#storylink=cpy Senator de Leon’s Green Vision Has Valley Seeing Red. Senator Kevin de Leon, the same Los Angeles State Senator who proclaimed that “no one lives out there in the tumbleweeds” when referring to the Central Valley, has proven that he still doesn’t understand the realities faced by hardworking people who live here. His recent op-ed in the Fresno Bee pitching Senate Bill 350 was an unconvincing argument for and… http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2015/03/senator-de-leons-green-vision-has-valley-seeing-red/ Calif.'s water supply won't last more than a year, NASA scientist says. After four years of extreme drought, California only has one year of water left, according to a NASA scientist. The state's water reservoirs and backup groundwater storage are low -- its water supply began declining in 2002 before the drought started. "California has no contingency plan for a persistent drought like this one (let alone a 20-plus-year mega-drought), except… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/03/18/stories/1060015240 BLOGS Refiners Sue Railroad — Energy Journal. A trade group that represents U.S. refinery owners is suing BNSF Railway Co. for charging them to use tank cars implicated in several fiery train derailments, Alison Sider reports. BNSF has started charging an extra $1,000 for each older railcar used to ship crude, but the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers alleges BNSF is overstepping its authority and penalizing oil shippers for using less crash-resistant tank cars. http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2015/03/18/refiners-sue-railroad-energy-journal/ Looking back on the Weather Service’s call for this winter — it wasn’t that great. Forecasting the weather characteristics of an entire season months ahead of time is hard, and a science still in its infancy. This year’s winter outlook from the National Weather Service had mixed success. Its predictions for temperature and precipitation compared to normal were right in more places than they were wrong. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/03/18/looking-back-on-the-weather-services-call-for-this-winter-it-wasnt-that-great/ NPR ombudsman equivocates over equivalence story on climate-change fight. Last week, the Erik Wemple Blog criticized an NPR story that noted how “attacks” on climate-change deniers are allegedly starting to resemble previous “attacks” on scientists from the other side of the debate. Now NPR ombudsman Elizabeth Jensen has taken a look. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2015/03/17/npr-ombudsman-equivocates-over-equivalence-story-on-climate-change-fight/ Attacking 'Attacks' In The Climate Change Community. Last week, All Things Considered aired a piece by NPR's Geoff Brumfiel reporting on investigations into the work of so-called "climate skeptics" — scientists who doubt that climate change is a serious problem or that humans are causing it. The piece raised the broader issue of whether advocates on both sides of the climate change debate… http://www.npr.org/blogs/ombudsman/2015/03/17/393404106/attacking-attacks-in-the-climate-change-community China Spawns Its Latest Renewable Energy Billionaire. Cao Renxian, chairman of China’s Sungrow Power Supply, has joined the ranks of the world’s renewable energy billionaires following record closing highs in the share price of his Shenzhen-listed company this week. Sungrow makes power supply equipment for the solar and wind power industries, mainly inverters and converters. http://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2015/03/18/china-spawns-its-latest-renewable-energy-billionaire/ Energy efficiency and renewables: the cheapest, smartest way for states to cut carbon pollution. States will have a lot of flexibility in crafting plans to cut carbon pollution from power plants. And when it comes to making those cuts, energy efficiency and renewable energy are the best path forward. This is made clear in a new series of NRDC analyses that illustrate how expanding renewable energy and cutting energy waste are the cheapest…http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-caseylefkowitz/energy-efficiency-and-ren_b_6893352.html Challenging Our Children's Carbon Footprint. During a time when the human effect on the environment has never been more destructive, what are you doing to reduce your carbon footprint? Maybe you're making a conscious effort to walk more and drive less; perhaps you're a meticulous recycler; or maybe you're vigilant about not using any unnecessary energy. But what about not having kids? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ella-jameson/challenging-our-childrens_b_6887460.html ‘A Harbinger Of The Future': Climate Scientists Respond To Boston’s Record-Breaking Snow Season. When word got around that this winter was Boston’s snowiest ever recorded, a lot of people were thrilled. “Congratulations Boston!” the National Weather Service tweeted on Sunday, announcing the history-making event. “We are truly a title city,” the city’s mayor wrote. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/03/18/3634246/climate-scientists-respond-boston-snow-record/ Interior Secretary Says Climate Change Must Factor Into Decisions To Drill On Public Lands. Secretary Sally Jewell yesterday called for reform to the way that the Department of the Interior manages America’s energy resources in order to address the causes of climate change. In a bold speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Secretary Jewell outlined the Department of the Interior’s energy priorities and laid out three goals of “safe and responsible energy development, good government, and encouraging innovation… http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/03/18/3635378/sally-jewell-calls-for-climate-reform/ Electric Cars "Not Viable Markets" For Reborn A123 In U.S., Europe In Next 10 Years, CEO Says. The story of lithium-ion cell maker A123 Systems seems to sprout more irony by the day. A123 was once enthusiastic about electric cars, supplying batteries for the 2012 Fisker Karma. Then a recall drove A123 into bankruptcy; soon Fisker Automotive followed it. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1097303_electric-cars-not-viable-markets-for-reborn-a123-in-u-s-europe-in-next-10-years-ceo-says Group Buy Of Fiat 500e Electric Cars Ignites 'Feeding Frenzy,' 100-Plus Bought. Suppose you could get a new electric car for $83 a month--and its running costs per mile were only a fraction of what a gasoline car would in fuel. That'd be almost a free car, right? http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1097299_group-buy-of-fiat-500e-electric-cars-ignites-feeding-frenzy-100-plus-bought California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.