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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 6, 2015.
Posted: 06 Aug 2015 15:27:22
ARB Newsclips for August 6, 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. AIR POLLUTION US carbon pollution from power plants hits 27-year low. Heat-trapping pollution from U.S. power plants hit a 27-year low in April, the Department of Energy announced Wednesday. A big factor was the long-term shift from coal to cleaner and cheaper natural gas, said Energy Department economist Allen McFarland. Outside experts also credit more renewable fuel use and energy efficiency. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_CARBON_POLLUTION?SITE=MIDTN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/08/05/science/ap-us-sci-carbon-pollution.html UPDATE 1-China's steel city feels impact of pollution regulations. Struggling from weak demand and facing new rules to clean up pollution, some firms in China's top steel producing city have scaled back production or even closed completely, lifting local steel prices off 20-year lows. China is using tougher environmental rules to help tackle a severe steel capacity glut that has depressed prices and saddled much of the sector… http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/06/china-steel-tangshan-idUSL3N10H14N20150806 Tesoro settles Martinez refinery pollution suit for $4 million. Texas-based oil manufacturer Tesoro Corp. has agreed to pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit claiming the company spewed smog- and ozone-producing pollutants at its refinery in Martinez. Bay Area air quality regulators announced the deal Wednesday after an eight-year investigation found that refinery workers disposed of the plant’s byproducts in sewer and water-treatment… http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Suit-over-air-pollution-at-East-Bay-refinery-6427224.php Butte County air quality remains OK despite smoky skies. While smoke from regional wildfires drifted high above Butte County on Wednesday, the air quality here has remained, for the most part, OK, according to the Butte County Air Quality Management District. Jason Mandly, associate air quality planner for the district, said north winds pushed smoke… http://www.chicoer.com/general-news/20150805/butte-county-air-quality-remains-ok-despite-smoky-skies Air quality advisory for Tehama County. The air quality in Tehama County is in the unhealthy range. Conditions will most likely vary from unhealthy to moderate over short periods of time as smoke from wildland fires in the Northstate drift over Tehama County. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma… http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/general-news/20150806/air-quality-advisory-for-tehama-county EPA foes turned asthma study into weapon for ozone fight. When a Johns Hopkins University researcher published a study showing race and income as risk factors for asthma, she started getting phone calls from industry groups opposing U.S. EPA's bid to tighten the national ozone standard. Dr. Corinne Keet said her newfound fans wanted to use her work to show EPA's ozone proposal wouldn't yield public health benefits. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2015/08/06/stories/1060023092 CLIMATE CHANGE Warming Climate Leaves Alaskans With Fewer Walrus to Hunt. Anna Oxereok grew up eating walrus in the western Alaska village of Wales. Today it's such a rare treat she can't bring herself to part with the plastic gallon bag of meat in her freezer. "I have to save it for something special," she says. Her brother caught two animals this spring and shared the meat and fat, but it didn't go very far in the village of 150. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ALASKA_WALRUS_HUNTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/08/06/us/ap-us-alaska-walrus-hunts.html http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Warming-temps-push-walrus-north-leave-Alaskans-6427987.php El Niño Tests How Soft Commodities Weather the Storm. The El Niño weather pattern can wreak havoc on already battered agricultural commodities. Investors in soft commodities are used to being slaves to the weather’s twists and turns. With prices now in a depression and the El Niño weather pattern looming, the forecast looks more unsettled than normal. http://www.wsj.com/articles/el-nino-tests-how-soft-commodities-weather-the-storm-1438834405 Senate panel votes to block Obama's climate rule. A Senate committee voted Wednesday to block implementation of the administration’s climate rule for power plants. The bill passed by voice vote at a hastily organized meeting of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee just across the hall from the Senate chamber in the Capitol… http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/250347-senate-panel-votes-to-block-obama-climate-rule EPA Clean Power Plan: Start Trading Carbon, Please. U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan does far more than the draft proposal to support states pursuing carbon trading, offering a “panoply” of tools, in the rule’s words. States can still choose to write plans to direct individual carbon-cutting actions, from burning more natural gas to building renewable power. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/epa-clean-power-plan-start-trading-carbon-please/ Hot enough for you? This is just the beginning. Millions of people around the world are experiencing a scorching summer, as records are broken and thermostats climb this week in parts of Europe. Temperatures in Paris and Brussels exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit at a time of year when 70-degree weather is the norm… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/08/06/stories/1060023072 Salmon face warming waters, changes to El Niño patterns in fight for survival on West Coast. It's not easy to be a salmon on the West Coast these days. From California to Alaska, record high temperatures and low snowmelt are affecting the species' survival in their freshwater habitats. Now, new research finds changes in the climate patterns associated with El Niño have shifted and are affecting productivity… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/08/06/stories/1060023067 Climate models fall short in predicting how insects respond to warming – study. If you are trying to predict how pests will respond to climate change, don't rely too much on climate modeling, says Daniel Bebber, a senior research fellow at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom. While the climate models can provide agricultural producers with information about how temperature… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/08/06/stories/1060023082 Climate change could help Canada's wine industry. Global warming could give Quebec's wine industry a boost by allowing new varieties of grapes to flourish, according to recent research. Climate scientists Philippe Roy and Isabelle Charron presented their work at the American Geophysical Union's Joint Assembly, held in Montreal in May. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/08/06/stories/1060023051 DROUGHT Hospitals look for ways to cut water use. Hospitals are among the highest water users in communities, but have a lot of potential to help California fight its ongoing drought, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Jonah Schein, a technical coordinator for the EPA's WaterSense Program, said the drought is shifting the focus of utilities' efficiency from energy to water. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0806-drought-watch-hospitals-20150806-story.html Biologists fear repeat of 2002 salmon kill in Klamath River. Biologists are worried the drought in the West is setting up the Klamath River through southern Oregon and Northern California for a repeat of the 2002 fish kill that left tens of thousands of adult salmon dead. Low water and warm temperatures have slowed the upriver migration of spring chinook, allowing parasites to infect them as they crowd together in cool water pools. http://www.vcstar.com/news/national/biologists-fear-repeat-of-2002-salmon-kill-in-klamath-river_91709267 How marijuana is making California drought worse. Environmental studies find that marijuana, now the top cash crop in California, is taking a heavy toll on some of the state's most sensitive ecosystems, especially in a drought. California's most valuable cash crop, marijuana, is taking a heavy toll on some of the state's most sensitive ecosystems, with the effects ranging from erosion… http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2015/0806/How-marijuana-is-making-California-drought-worse DIESEL ACTIVITIES Shale Boom Nudges Propane-Powered Trucks From Dream to Reality. For almost 80 years, Blue Star Gas distributed propane throughout the U.S. West Coast on trucks mostly powered by gasoline. Now the company is working to convert its 55 vehicles to run on the same stuff it delivers. Blue Star won’t be alone. UPS Inc. already has more than 1,000 propane-powered delivery trucks on the street, with plans to buy more. http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=39086 Carbon Adsorption to Reduce CNG Costs. Low-pressure dispensing and storage of compressed natural gas through carbon adsorption will further cut the price of the low-cost fuel and make filling stations affordable for smaller fleets, according to companies now working on the technology. Both said scientific breakthroughs with activated carbon about a year ago will commercialize the science involved. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/story/2015/08/carbon-adsorbsion-set-to-bring-down-cost-of-cng-storage-and-use-developers-say.aspx FUELS Oil hits multi-month lows on U.S. gasoline build worries. Oil prices hit multi-month lows on Wednesday after a surge in gasoline stockpiles in the United States as the summer season, the country's biggest demand period for motor fuels, neared its end. Futures of Brent, the global oil benchmark, hit a six-month bottom while that of U.S. crude touched a 4-1/2-month trough, despite a bigger-than-expected drawdown in U.S. crude stockpiles announced by the Energy Information Administration. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/05/us-markets-oil-idUSKCN0QA04O20150805 Eletrobras to pay Petrobras in debt settlement, government says. Brazil's two largest energy companies, Eletrobras and Petrobras , settled a quarrel on Wednesday worth billions of dollars in late payments for fuel supplies, the government said. Brazil's Energy Ministry said Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA, as Eletrobras is known, will pay Petrobras a bill that at one point late last year was estimated at around 8.6 billion reais ($2.47 billion)… http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/06/eletrobras-petrobras-debt-idUSL5N10G4XL20150806 Group seeks a legislative fix as California refinery profits surge. A consumer advocacy group says Californians paid a $4.8-billion premium compared with prices in the rest of the nation during the first half of 2015 because of the state's gasoline price spike, and it proposed legislation to fix what it sees as problems in the market. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0806-gas-prices-legislation-20150806-story.html http://www.eenews.net/energywire/2015/08/06/stories/1060023085 VEHICLES Tesla cuts annual production forecast; second-quarter loss widens. Tesla Motors Inc.'s second-quarter loss nearly tripled as it invested in launching a sport utility vehicle, releasing new versions of its flagship Model S sports sedan and constructing a giant battery plant near Reno. The Palo Alto electric-car company said Wednesday that it lost $184 million in the second quarter, compared with a loss of $62 million a year earlier. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-tesla-second-quarter-results-20150805-story.html Tesla In MI, Electric Cars In OK, Canadian Plug-In Car Sales: Today's Car News. Today, Tesla doubles down on efforts to overturn Michigan's direct-sales ban, an Oklahoma oil-field worker plans an electric-car rally, and we tally Canadian plug-in electric car sales for July 2015. All this and more on Green Car Reports. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1099440_tesla-in-mi-electric-cars-in-ok-canadian-plug-in-car-sales-todays-car-news Home and grid batteries sell out as Tesla gears up to launch new car. For Tesla Motors Inc., stationary energy storage is shaping up to be a big part of its business. The company introduced a home battery storage system, Powerwall, and a larger, utility-scale storage unit called Powerpack, in April (ClimateWire, June 10). "The demand has been really crazy. It's well over a billion dollars" of reservations… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/08/06/stories/1060023083 GREEN ENERGY Solar deals are hot, but investors fret; Sunrun IPO fizzles. A string of deals involving rooftop solar companies has shown both the appeal and potential of the business - and limits to investor enthusiasm. SunRun, the San Francisco-based solar financing pioneer, raised $250 million in an initial public offering Wednesday, but shares fell 13 percent. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SOLAR_DEALS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT East Bay cities aiding homeowners in adopting solar power. East Bay cities are making it easier for homeowners to go solar through a new program called East Bay SunShares, according to Walnut Creek city officials. Walnut Creek, Concord, Fremont, and Lafayette are partnering in running this program, which aims to promote utilizing solar power… http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_28589960/east-bay-cities-aiding-homeowners-adopting-soalr-power Cities making aggressive GHG cuts from buildings, transportation – DOE. A new Energy Department analysis of 20 U.S. cities shows that municipalities continue to lead the nation on key metrics of energy sustainability and climate change preparedness, including the widespread use of energy audits, the adoption of energy-efficient heating and cooling systems… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/08/06/stories/1060023068 OPINIONS COLUMN-U.S. refiners find the oil market's sweet spot: Kemp. Low crude prices and strong demand for gasoline are creating near-perfect conditions for oil refineries across the United States, especially those geared towards maximizing gasoline production. Valero, the country's largest independent refiner, made a gross margin of more than $13 on every barrel of oil processed in the second quarter… http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/06/usa-refiners-kemp-idUSL5N10H3IB20150806 Jay Ambrose: Three strikes for Obama’s climate plan. President Barack Obama has a new plan to fight global warming, and science is on his side, isn’t it? No, not exactly. But wait, calculations show the economy will benefit, don’t they? No, not even close — consumers will take a bath. Well, finally, the Constitution backs up the effort’s legality, does it not? It does not. These are some questions and answers... http://www.desertsun.com/story/opinion/columnists/2015/08/05/ambrose-obama-climate-change-plan/31168023/ Gov. Brown must release L.A. oilfield pollution report: Guest commentary. Are oil companies contaminating underground water supplies in Los Angeles? A more critical question is hard to imagine during California’s devastating drought. At stake is the purity of water our parched state desperately needs for drinking and irrigation. http://www.dailynews.com/opinion/20150806/gov-brown-must-release-la-oilfield-pollution-report-guest-commentary EDITORIAL: Clean Power Plan breath of fresh air. President Barack Obama’s new and badly needed Clean Power Plan to reduce air pollution in the form of greenhouse gases released this week has put him on a collision course with most of the Republicans running for president, including Gov. Chris Christie, who claim this is one more example of the Obama administration’s expensive job-killing regulatory overreach. http://www.thedailyjournal.com/story/opinion/editorials/2015/08/06/editorial-clean-power-plan-breath-fresh-air/31216953/ The economics of climate change. People have a lot of misconceptions when you tell them you’re from Alaska. No. We don’t all live in igloos. No. It’s not dark all the time. And yes, I am a Democrat who is concerned about climate change and supports responsible oil and gas development in Alaska. Now that you’re confused about Alaska again, let me explain. http://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/250368-the-economics-of-climate-change BLOGS 3 Ways the Clean Power Plan Will Strengthen Our Economy. On Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Clean Power Plan, the first legislation of its kind to curb carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from existing U.S. power plants. By improving air quality, the plan promises to prevent 90,000 childhood asthma attacks and avoid up to 3,600 premature deaths each year – without compromising economic growth. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2015/08/06/stories/1060023092 Clean Power, Dirty Money. The climate change rules that President Obama announced earlier this week will force modest but important and desperately needed reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Yet opponents of the rule are making apocalyptic predictions about its impact, with many newly discovering their voice as consumer advocates. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-weissman/clean-power-dirty-money_b_7948516.html Clean Power Plan Puts Emphasis on Clean Energy, Not on Natural Gas. America is taking historic action against climate change. On Monday, President Obama announced the first-ever national limits on carbon pollution from power plants. This breakthrough will help shield future generations from climate chaos and prevent thousands of premature deaths each year. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-caseylefkowitz/clean-power-plan-puts-emp_b_7949772.html California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.