What's New List Serve Post Display

ARB Newsclips for October 16, 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

Shipping industry protests call for tax on emissions. Plane
emissions soar. In a brief released this week, a think tank
division of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development warned of rising emissions from the shipping industry
-- greenhouse gases could climb 50 to 250 percent in the next 35
years, according to the group -- and implored the industry to
act. Emissions from the maritime shipping industry, a little more
than 2 percent in 2012…
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/10/16/stories/1060026414 

AIR POLLUTION

Port of L.A. terminal met pollution goal despite unfulfilled
remedy steps.  The executive director of the Port of Los Angeles
says emissions levels at the China Shipping terminal met its
targets, even though it failed to fully implement a series of
pollution-reduction measures. The Port of Los Angeles met
air-pollution reduction targets at one of its busiest terminals
despite failing to take a number of steps it had agreed to impose
to control emissions, the port's top official says.
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-1016-port-pollution-20151016-story.html


Air Quality Monitoring System Can Be 95% Recycled. Environment SA
has launched the e-Series of air quality analyzers, designed with
special consideration to the environmental impacts of the product
during its whole lifecycle. The measurement modules of the
e-Series air quality monitoring systems are fitted in closed
cell… 
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2015/10/16/air-quality-monitoring-system-can-be-95-recycled/#ixzz3okqG2LRf


CLIMATE CHANGE

Oil and Gas Companies Make Statement in Support of U.N. Climate
Goals.  Ten of the world’s big oil companies, mainly from Europe,
on Friday jointly acknowledged their industry’s role in global
climate change and said that they agreed with the United Nations’
goals of limiting global warming. The point, in a public
declaration, was to try convincing…
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/17/business/energy-environment/oil-companies-climate-change-un.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0


Oil bosses fight 'bad guy' image ahead of climate talks. Oil and
gas industry bosses pledged on Friday to curb gas flaring as they
sought to boost their image in the climate change debate ahead of
a United Nations summit later this year, but disagreed on putting
a price on carbon emissions. The leaders of 10 companies that
produce 20 percent of the world's oil and gas recognized that
current greenhouse gas levels…
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/16/us-oil-climatechange-idUSKCN0SA0ME20151016


Another weird effect of climate change — too many female sea
turtles. Climate change is affecting wildlife in a lot of
serious, and occasionally weird, ways. It’s destroying the icy
habitats of polar bears and walruses. It’s driving fish species
out of their normal habitats and taking away the food supplies of
seals, sea lions and whales. It’s even causing bumblebees’
tongues to shrink.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/10/16/another-weird-effect-of-climate-change-too-many-female-sea-turtles/



Congressmen want probe of Exxon Mobil 'failing to disclose'
climate change data. Members of Congress are asking for a federal
investigation into Exxon Mobil. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles) and
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Walnut Creek) wrote a letter Wednesday to
Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch asking the Department of Justice whether
the company violated the law by “failing to disclose truthful
information” regarding climate change.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-investigation-exxonmobil-20151015-story.html


Shutting down debate on climate change.  Are you skeptical of
human-caused global warming or climate change like many respected
scientists and climate experts? Then you should be prosecuted
like a Mafia mob boss, according to 20 academics at ivory towers
such as Columbia, Rutgers and the University of Washington.
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/environment/article39388794.html#storylink=cpy


DROUGHT

Bel-Air water hogs spur move to impose stiff penalties on L.A.
guzzlers. Water hogs, beware. The Los Angeles Department of Water
and Power agreed Wednesday to study ways to curb excessive water
use after the City Council called for a crackdown that could
include “severe financial penalties” and “as a last resort,
shutting off water.”
The council approved a motion…
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-bel-air-water-wasters-drought-20151015-story.html


El Niño keeps getting stronger, raises chance of drenching rains.
The National Weather Service now expects El Niño to bring
greater-than-average rainfall to virtually all of California,
forecasters said for the first time Thursday. The new forecast is
significant because it raises the chance that El Niño will send
big storms not only to Southern California and the San Francisco
Bay Area…
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-el-nino-forecast-20151015-story.html


El Niño: Wet winter likely across California, not just in south,
new report says. In the latest sign that El Niño conditions are
likely to bring wet weather to drought-parched California,
federal scientists on Thursday announced for the first time that
the entire state -- including the northern part of California
from the Bay Area to the Oregon border…
http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_28974825/el-nino-wet-winter-conditions-now-likely-across


DIESEL ACTIVITIES

Adomani, A-Z Bus partner to maintain hybrid school bus fleets.
Adomani announced an agreement with A-Z Bus Sales to partner in
the conversion and maintenance of hybrid and all-electric drive
school bus fleets.  With this partnership, Adomani said it will
supply A-Z Bus Sales with a patented Adomani drivetrain and
components for retrofitting school buses that are capable…
http://fleetowner.com/running-green/adomani-z-bus-partner-maintain-hybrid-school-bus-fleets


Neste renewable diesel to power Oakland's city fleet. The city of
Oakland, California, began filling up its vehicles with Neste’s
NEXBTL renewable diesel in order to reduce the emissions of its
municipal fleet. Oakland is the first major U.S. city to convert
its entire fleet to renewable diesel. The switch from petroleum
to renewable diesel took place in early October. Reduced
emissions resulting from the use of renewable diesel will allow
the city of Oakland to decrease its carbon footprint and help
meet ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets established
by the city.
http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/12479/neste-renewable-diesel-to-power-oaklands-city-fleet


FUELS

China to revive corn-based ethanol amid record high stocks.
China, the world's second-largest corn consumer, is set to resume
building new corn-based ethanol plants after a nearly decade-long
ban, in a move that could help absorb the country's record
stocks, industry sources said. Beijing barred corn-based ethanol
in late 2006 on concerns over food security at a time of rising
domestic corn prices.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/16/china-ethanol-idUSL3N12G19820151016?virtualBrandChannel=11563


VEHICLES

Norway Is a Model for Encouraging Electric Car Sales. Berit
Nordgarden and her husband, Eivind Tellefsen, loved their
nonpolluting Nissan Leaf electric car. But they found its 85-mile
battery life too short for weekend trips to their cottage with
their two young children. So the outdoorsy couple took a deep
breath and bought a second car: a Tesla Model S luxury sedan with
three times the battery range…
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/17/business/international/norway-is-global-model-for-encouraging-sales-of-electric-cars.html


Companies pledge more electric vehicle charging stations in
California. Corporate and government leaders gathered Thursday in
Los Angeles to announce that hundreds more electric vehicles will
be coming to California roads -- and they'll have hundreds more
places to charge up. Navy and Marine Corps bases in the state
will get 450 of the zero-pollution vehicles, while several major
utilities…
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_28979033/companies-pledge-more-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-california


VW RECALL

VW’s Global Vehicle Sales Decline as Diesel-Motor Recalls Loom.
Volkswagen AG’s namesake car brand reported a 4 percent decline
in global sales last month amid a scandal over cheating on
diesel-emissions tests. Deliveries at the VW brand, which is at
the center of the crisis, fell to 513,500 cars from 534,800 a
year ago, the Wolfsburg, Germany-based company said Friday in a
statement.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-16/vw-loses-market-share-in-europe-as-diesel-cheating-recalls-loom

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/foreign/2015/10/16/vws-car-sales-decline-diesel-motor-recalls-loom/74056762/

http://www.ibtimes.com/volkswagen-emissions-scandal-german-carmaker-loses-european-market-share-2143782


Volkswagen to Daimler: We Could Do With Your Help on Compliance.
As Volkswagen AG reels from one of the worst corporate scandals
in German history, Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch had an unusual
request for his counterpart at Daimler AG: could we have one of
your top managers to help dig us out of this mess? Surprisingly,
Daimler Chairman Manfred Bischoff consented…
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-16/vw-hires-compliance-chief-from-daimler-in-wake-of-diesel-scandal


Volkswagen's Advertising of Rigged Diesels Probed by FTC.
Volkswagen AG is under investigation by the U.S. Federal Trade
Commission for advertising claims for cars that were marketed as
“clean diesels,” but were actually rigged to pass pollution
tests. Justin Cole, a spokesman for the agency, said the FTC is
coordinating with the Justice Department and the Environmental
Protection Agency, which opened their own…
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-14/volkswagen-s-advertising-of-rigged-diesels-probed-by-ftc


Is Volkswagen Losing its Grip? Volkswagen AG failed to keep pace
with European competitors as the German carmaker’s market share
slipped last month in the wake of the diesel-emissions test
scandal. Volkswagen’s registrations in Europe rose 8.3 percent in
September, while the overall market expanded 9.8 percent, the
Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association…
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-10-16/is-volkswagen-losing-its-grip-


VW Sustainability Reports May Have Hinted at Problems. Research
suggests there may have been hints of the still-unfolding diesel
emissions scandal at Volkswagen AG hidden in corporate
sustainability reports. The German automaker is facing charges,
first made by U.S. regulators on Sept. 18, that for years it used
software to mask the true emissions of its diesel cars…
http://www.bna.com/vw-sustainability-reports-n57982059519/ 

Volkswagen crisis may be platinum-coated for emission-control
system suppliers. Automobile emissions-control system makers such
as Johnson Matthey and France's Faurecia are set to gain more
from the chaos engulfing Volkswagen after its diesel emissions
tests scandal, investors say. Europe's largest carmaker needs to
fix up to 11 million vehicles, and the scandal is likely to lead
to tighter…
http://www.autonews.com/article/20151016/OEM10/151019904/volkswagen-crisis-may-be-platinum-coated-for-emission-control-system

  
GREEN ENERGY

Canada election: how Stephen Harper’s fossil fuel gamble may have
backfired. The Conservative prime minister pledged to make the
country an ‘energy superpower’, but with the election ahead and
many Alberta residents struggling to make ends meet, a promise
has become a liability for Harper. It’s 11.30am in the pumping
heart of Canada’s tar sands industry, on a day when local crude
is trading at a rock-bottom $29 a barrel.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/16/canada-election-stephen-harper-fossil-fuel-backfires


Kasich energy plan would repeal Obama rules, boost drilling. GOP
presidential hopeful John Kasich wants to repeal impediments to
oil and natural gas production, including Obama administration
regulations and limits on offshore drilling. The provisions are
part of the energy plan the Ohio governor published Thursday, in
which he frames energy limitations as roadblocks to economic
growth.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/257078-kasich-energy-plan-would-repeal-obama-rules-boost-drilling


CalCharge adds utility, school, patent firm as members. A
consortium aimed at growing energy storage is expanding,
especially in Southern California. University of California, San
Diego; Los Angeles-based utility Southern California Edison Co.;
and MPEG LA, a patent licensing firm, have joined the CalCharge
alliance. The nonprofit group works on the development,
commercialization and adoption of storage technologies.
http://www.eenews.net/energywire/2015/10/16/stories/1060026425 

General Mills factory wins DOE accolades for energy efficiency
efforts. The Department of Energy on Tuesday commended a General
Mills factory that has devised a way of making fruit snacks and
cereal using 23 percent less energy. The company's Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, plant was recognized for introducing efficiencies in its
production process over the past two years.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/10/16/stories/1060026409

MISCELLANEOUS

ONE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LAW YOU SHOULD KNOW. On Oct. 8,
California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed a law (S.B. 673) aimed at
improving protections for low-income and minority communities
from hazardous waste impacts. What makes it of national interest
is one of its requirements that the California agency in charge
of issuing new or modified related permits…
http://www.bna.com/one-new-environmental-b57982059441/ 

OPINIONS

Climate Change at the Bank of England.  It is not a central
banker’s job to protect energy investors from themselves. The
risks of climate change—increasingly severe storms, crop failures
and flooding of coastal cities—need no embellishment.
Nonetheless, Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England and
chairman of the global Financial Stability Board, recently warned
that climate change poses another danger:…
http://www.wsj.com/articles/climate-change-at-the-bank-of-england-1444948424


Voters to GOP: 'I'm not a scientist' won't cut it on climate
change. If the Republican Party wants to win the White House in
2016, it should take climate change seriously.
In the 2012 presidential campaign, global warming didn't come up
in any of the three debates between Mitt Romney and President
Obama.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-maibach-gop-climate-change-position-20151016-story.html


BLOGS

Air Toxics Lessons for Texas from a Friendly Rival. California
has had success dealing with air toxics challenges similar to
those facing Texas. California has had success addressing air
toxics challenges similar to those in Texas. For all their
differences, Texas and California have a few big environmental
challenges in common: large populations that drive significant
miles on roadways…
http://blogs.edf.org/texascleanairmatters/2015/10/15/air-toxics-lessons-for-texas-from-a-friendly-rival/


Volkswagen's Lies Show Need for Real Emissions Tests. Caught
red-handed for cheating on diesel emissions tests, German
carmaker Volkswagen's actions in putting profits before public
health have underscored the need for urgent reforms of car
industry pollution laws. These reforms must ensure that future
vehicle approvals and emission tests are independent, transparent
and reflect real-life driving conditions.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/aaron-grayblock/volkswagens-lies-show-nee_b_8292538.html


Bosch: Diesel demand still strong, despite VW scandal. Is A
Happier Story In The Works For Oil Burners? ike an auto racer's
results on the circuit, Volkswagen's recovery from its
diesel-emissions scandal may well depend on spin control. That's
what Bosch Chairman Volkmar Denner said in recent remarks at an
event in Germany, Reuters reports. Bosch is a major VW supplier,
of course, so it does have some skin in the game.
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/10/16/bosch-diesel-demand-still-strong-despite-vw-scandal/




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