What's New List Serve Post Display

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.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change legislation approaches pivotal showdown with oil
industry.
With only a few days left in the current session of the
California legislature, an aggressive political and public
relations fight between the oil industry and top lawmakers over
climate change legislation is moving into a final round. At stake
is the passage of far-reaching environmental bills that would
fundamentally alter the way the state does business and deals
with planet-warming pollution – but would likely also change the
way everyday Californians travel, live and consume.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/28/climate-change-legislation-showdown-california-sb350-sb32


Why Climate Change Could Make Hurricane Impact Worse.
Hurricane Katrina surprised disaster preparedness authorities
when it made landfall 10 years ago, leveling entire communities
and killing more than 1,800 people. The storm caused more than
$100 billion in damage, making it the costliest natural disaster
in U.S. history. But for all the damage the storm caused in New
Orleans, Katrina was a relatively weak hurricane when it hit the
city.
http://time.com/4013637/climate-change-hurricanes-impact/ 

Richmond agricultural conference to spotlight food security,
reducing emissions.
Farmers, scientists, policymakers, nonprofit organizations and
community leaders will converge in Richmond next week to explore
how sustainable, regenerative agriculture practices can help
reduce global warming and increase food security. The Soil Not
Oil International Conference, set for Sept. 4 and 5 at the
Richmond Civic Center, will focus on practical carbon farming
(also known as regenerative agriculture) solutions including
cover crops, planned grazing, compost application on range land,
tree planting and other holistic land use practices.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_28714064/richmond-agricultural-conference-spotlight-food-security-reducing-emissions


Nasa: sea levels rising as a result of human-caused climate
change – video
Josh Willis of Nasa explains the space agency’s announcement that
a long-term satellite imaging study has shown a dramatic rise in
sea levels due to climate change. He says the findings that sea
levels worldwide rose an average of nearly 3 inches (8 cm) since
1992 could indicate how strongly impacted coastal populations
will be in the coming century.
http://www.theguardian.com/science/video/2015/aug/28/nasa-sea-levels-rising-human-climate-change-video


DROUGHT

Is the drought killing California's giant sequoias?
Sixty feet from the top of a giant sequoia named Kong, biologist
Anthony Ambrose studied the foliage around him. Dense clusters of
green leaves grew like shaving brushes from the branches, cones
clustered like Indian clubs. Topping out 25 stories above the
ground, Kong was spectacular, an ancient beastly creature
well-suited for its name. Its trunk at the base measured 17 feet
across.
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-sequoia-drought-20150828-story.html


DIESEL ACTIVITIES

Hearing on greenhouse gas proposal shows where experienced
truckers stand.
Truckers on site at the Great America Trucking Show in Dallas had
a unique opportunity on Thursday, Aug. 27, to engage in direct
conversation with representatives of two federal agencies
proposing to further regulate truck emissions and fuel economy
standards. 
http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=29683#.VeCd7vlVhBc


FUELS

DOE to award up to $10M for Bioenergy Technologies Incubator 2;
provides $4M to two additional biofuel projects.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) released a Funding Opportunity
Announcement (DE-FOA-0001320)for up to $10 million to advance the
production of advanced biofuels, substitutes for petroleum-based
feedstocks and bioproducts made from renewable, non-food-based
biomass, such as algae, agricultural residues, and woody biomass.
This work supports the Energy Department’s efforts to make
drop-in biofuels more accessible and affordable, as well as to
meet the cost target equivalent of $3 per gallon of gasoline by
2022.
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2015/08/20150828-doe.html 

VEHICLES

Bosch acquires U.S. electric car battery developer Seeo.
Auto parts maker Robert Bosch has bought Seeo Inc, a
California-based company that has developed next-generation
lithium-ion batteries that could double the range of electric
cars. Electric vehicles have failed to take off with mainstream
customers because current battery technology limits the operating
range of vehicles to below 500 kilometres (311 miles), and
because vehicles take hours to fully recharge.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/28/seeo-ma-robert-bosch-idUSL5N11337N20150828?feedType=RSS&feedName=mergersNews


GREEN ENERGY

Solar power planned for four middle schools.
The use of solar panels at American Canyon High School has proven
to be a financially smart move for the Napa Valley Unified School
District — so smart that officials want to duplicate this success
at all of the district’s middle schools. Without opposition, the
school board told staff last week to request bids from companies
for solar installations at American Canyon Middle School and the
three middle schools in Napa: Harvest, Redwood and Silverado.
http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/solar-power-planned-for-four-middle-schools/article_29e0cb7c-8d65-5055-ae2e-52751b12aa64.html


MISCELLANEOUS

Cathedral City seeks to build CV Link segment early.
Cathedral City is seeking support from neighboring cities to
build an early segment of the CV Link — a proposed 50-mile
bicycle, pedestrian and low-speed electric vehicle path — to take
advantage of two grants before they expire. On Monday, the
Coachella Valley Association of Governments’ transportation
committee will consider amending existing CV Link contracts. 
http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2015/08/27/cathedral-city-seeks-build-cv-link-segment-early/71285970/


OPINIONS

California water storage bond a drop in a leaky bucket.
With news of an enormous El Niño year flowing in, some believe
their prayers might have been answered. But memory quickly turns
to the devastating flooding and mudslides so synonymous when
these subtropical storms arrive in California. In the past, such
deluges were were relatively uncommon. Now, many scientists are
predicting that prolonged periods of drought followed by
torrential downpours will be par for the course. Climate change
will bring greater weather extremes on both sides of the
precipitation spectrum. Add warmer winters that melt vital
mountain snowpack early in the season, and the period for
California to collect and store water becomes increasingly
short.
http://www.modbee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/community-columns/article32630679.html


BLOGS

Renewable Energy Investments: A Case Study.
Early adopters are consumers who aspire to own the newest gadget
even if it means paying top price. When it came to a renewable
energy plan for our home and automobiles, we were no exceptions.
Despite the high cost, we wanted our home and two cars dependent
on 100 percent clean and renewable energy. Why? Where did we get
the money? Was our idealism too expensive? Would this energy
cost-saving-investment make a difference in our monthly electric
bill? How long could it take to pay for itself? This blog post
answers those questions. We took the plunge, began our conversion
with 24 solar panels seven years ago and a few years later
purchased two 100 percent electric cars.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-schullo-and-dan-robertson/renewable-energy-investme_1_b_8028316.html




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