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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 25, 2016.
Posted: 26 Oct 2016 10:15:46
ARB Newsclips for October 25, 2016. 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 A tax on carbon pollution faces surprising opposition. Some environmental groups and social justice advocates are fighting a proposed emissions tax in Washington. What gives? Court Olson spent about 50 hours last summer and fall approaching hundreds of strangers at suburban Seattle bus stops and farmers markets to talk about climate change. http://www.hcn.org/articles/a-proposed-carbon-tax-in-washington-faces-surprising-opposition AIR POLLUTION China to Have World's Largest Nuclear Capacity in 15 Years: WNA. China is set to overtake the United States to have the world's largest nuclear capacity over the next 10 to 15 years as it races to build new reactors to combat pollution, the World Nuclear Association (WNA) said on Tuesday. http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2016/10/25/world/asia/25reuters-asia-nuclear.html World Logistics Center, air district agree to cash settlement for Moreno Valley project. Lawsuit deal calls for firm to pay up to $26 million for clean-air programs. A lawsuit settlement between Moreno Valley and regional air quality officials over the planned World Logistics Center calls for the developer to pay millions toward air cleanup programs. Under the agreement, developer Highland Fairview will pay the South Coast Air Quality Management District 64 cents per square foot… http://www.pe.com/articles/air-816710-district-environmental.html New report shows spike in poor air quality days in Paradise. The Butte County Air Quality Management District has released the summer's air quality report, and the number of poor air quality days in Paradise is up. Preliminary data shows that in Paradise, seven days in 2016 exceeded the 2008 federal ozone standard. In 2015, stricter ozone standards were put in place. http://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/butte/new-report-shows-spike-in-poor-air-quality-days-in-paradise/131381608 Valero to pay $249,000 for Benicia refinery air violations. Valero Refining Co. has agreed to pay nearly a quarter of a million dollars to settle violations of air quality regulations at its Benicia plant, officials said Monday. The Solano County refinery violated emission limits on nine occasions, reported hydrocarbon leaks from storage tanks six times… http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1106876_green-car-reports-2017-best-car-to-buy-nominee-toyota-prius-prime CLIMATE CHANGE UN weather agency: Heat-trapping gas surges beyond milestone. The World Meteorological Organization says heat-trapping gases in Earth's atmosphere are growing faster than before, surging permanently beyond a troubling milestone. The United Nations agency says global carbon dioxide levels, which first reached 400 parts per million last year, are likely to stay above that symbolic 400 milestone all year and for generations to come. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_GREENHOUSE_GAS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Company climate change plans too weak to meet Paris goals – survey. Plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by big companies represent only a quarter of the amounts needed to limit global warming under targets agreed last year by almost 200 nations, a study showed on Tuesday. "More companies are acting, but still have a long way to go,"… http://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-business-idUSKCN12P0BW?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=7f18b10c2c-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-7f18b10c2c-327747457 Greenhouse gases milestone shows need for action: WMO. Greenhouse gases rose to a symbolic milestone in 2015, taking climate change into a new phase which could last generations even if governments act to curb man-made global warming, the U.N. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Monday. Globally averaged concentrations of carbon dioxide, the main man-made greenhouse gas, reached 400.0 parts per million (ppm) in the atmosphere… http://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-carbon-idUSKCN12O0WL Climate change is disturbing hundreds of bird species, including our beloved osprey. There are many epic animal migrations in nature, and one is currently underway in the D.C. area. Millions of birds are in the process of escaping the cold, polar air and flocking south, some to as far away as Brazil. Today, Washington, D.C., sits in the middle of the Atlantic Flyway, but climate change will greatly alter avian ranges and migration patterns. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/10/25/climate-change-is-disturbing-hundreds-of-bird-species-including-our-beloved-osprey/ Obama administration expects climate deal to speed up. The quick approval of the Paris Agreement on climate change could lead to a faster timetable for countries to implement their plans to reduce carbon emissions, an Obama administration official said Tuesday. U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Jonathan Pershing said a climate change meeting in Morocco next month will see a more aggressive implementation plan for the Paris Agreement. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obama-administration-expects-climate-deal-to-speed-up/article/2605525 Species may be listed as threatened based on climate change projections, court says. Federal authorities may list a species as “threatened” based on climate models that show habitat loss in the coming decades, an appeals court decided Monday. The state of Alaska, oil company groups and Alaskan natives had challenged a decision by the federal government to list a sea ice seal subspecies as threatened and deserving of protection. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-species-climate-projections-20161024-snap-story.html http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2016/1025/With-an-eye-on-climate-change-court-gives-bearded-seals-endangered-status Reservoirs Provide Tap Water Yet Significantly Contribute to Climate Change. Hydropower dams are generally thought to be a clean source of electricity. By moving water through turbines, dams can generate large amounts of electricity almost continuously and without causing air pollution. It’s partly for these reasons that more than 3,700 hydroelectric dams are currently proposed or under construction worldwide. https://ww2.kqed.org/science/2016/10/25/reservoirs-provide-tap-water-yet-significantly-contribute-to-climate-change/ How climate change is expanding the desert. Climate change is causing the deserts of China to grow, displacing thousands of people who live along their fringes. Nearly a fifth of the country is currently desert land, and experts estimate this area is growing at a rate of 1,300 square miles every year. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/10/25/stories/1060044737 The polar vortex is coming back. The polar vortex in recent years has brought the kind of miserable cold to northern states that made it hard to breathe outside. We're probably in for more of the same. That's the finding of a new study published yesterday in the journal Nature that finds that as the Arctic warms, it is shifting the polar vortex to Europe. That in turn will bring more bursts of frigid cold to North America. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/10/25/stories/1060044745 Scientists say El Niño altered disease risk in U.S. Weather changes associated with El Niño have drastic regional effects on disease in the United States and could hold important lessons as the climate warms, according to a new study. Temperature inversions in the Pacific Ocean that occur irregularly every few years lead to weather patterns that ripple across the United States… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/10/25/stories/1060044754 Now a new study says coffee decline not from warming. The coming coffee Armageddon, caused by a fungal disease that devastates coffee crops and spread by climate change, may be a myth. The spread of coffee leaf rust may not be advanced by climate change, a new study contends. Researchers found that there is no evidence that a recent drop in Colombia's coffee production could be attributed to a warming planet… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/10/25/stories/1060044755 Ancient trees played big role in climate change — study. New research into the Earth's atmospheric conditions 300 million years ago has uncovered evidence that ancient forests were major contributors to shifts in the planet's climate. Using a collection of fossil plants preserved in the Illinois Basin, the study… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/10/25/stories/1060044748 Everyone likes the HFC amendment — except the U.S. Senate Having spent years trying to avoid entering into a climate treaty that would require Senate ratification, the Obama administration has almost certainly just joined a climate treaty that will require Senate ratification. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/10/25/stories/1060044756 ALISO CANYON Aliso Canyon 1 year later: Health study stuck in limbo amid cancer fears At the top of Tampa Avenue, in their Porter Ranch home, Candice Garcia and her family fell ill with rashes on their faces, their chests and hands. Headaches began, and her daughter’s asthma became worse. http://www.dailynews.com/health/20161024/aliso-canyon-1-year-later-health-study-stuck-in-limbo-amid-cancer-fears DIESEL ACTIVITIES Regulators Announce Date for Greenhouse Gas Phase 2 Final Rule. A rule aimed at reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from heavy- and medium-duty trucks will take effect in two months, federal regulators announced Oct. 25. The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration worked jointly on the rule, and the agencies indicated in the Federal Register that Dec. 27 will be the final rule’s official start date. http://ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=43671 FUELS In California's Methane-Reduction Crosshairs, Dairy Industry Faces Regulation for the First Time. As with California's other climate action efforts, this one could provide a roadmap for other states or for federal regulation, which the industry will likely fight. Despite heavy pushback from the state's livestock producers, California Gov. Jerry Brown last month signed a law aimed at cutting methane emissions from cattle operations, the largest source of heat-trapping methane in the country's biggest dairy-producing state. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/24102016/methane-gas-global-warming-climate-change-california-dairy-industry-regulation-first-time-jerry-brown VEHICLES Green Car Reports 2017 Best Car To Buy nominee: Toyota Prius Prime. The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime is a far, far better plug-in hybrid than its predecessor. It defaults to electric-only operation, it has 25 miles of EPA-rated electric range and in electric operation, it is by far the most energy-efficient vehicle you can buy this year in the U.S. And when it reverts to running as a standard hybrid car, it's rated at 54 mpg combined. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1106876_green-car-reports-2017-best-car-to-buy-nominee-toyota-prius-prime VW RECALL Judge approves $15 billion Volkswagen emissions settlement. A federal judge in San Francisco has approved a nearly $15 billion court settlement of most claims against Volkswagen for its emissions-cheating scandal. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer signed the order Tuesday approving the largest auto-scandal settlement in the nation's history. Volkswagen admitted last year that about 475,000 VWs and Audis with 2-liter four-cylinder diesel engines were programmed to cheat on emissions tests. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_VOLKSWAGEN_EMISSIONS_SCANDAL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-emissions-idUSKCN12P22F?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social http://www.wsj.com/articles/volkswagen-s-14-7-billion-buyback-deal-on-emissions-scandal-approved-1477409939 http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2016/10/25/business/25reuters-volkswagen-emissions.html http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2016/10/25/volkswagen-settlement-approved/92719174/ http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Judge-approves-Volkswagen-emissions-settlement-10283809.php http://www.krcrtv.com/news/judge-approves-volkswagens-15b-emissions-settlement/131424871 http://www.cbsnews.com/news/court-approves-15-billion-volkswagen-emissions-settlement/ http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2016-10-25/judge-approves-volkswagen-emissions-settlement http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/foreign/vw-emissions-scandal/2016/10/25/vw-approval/92722172/ http://www.businessinsider.com/r-update-1-us-judge-approves-147-billion-settlement-over-vw-diesel-vehicles-2016-10 http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/us-judge-approves-dollar147-billion-settlement-over-vw-diesel-vehicles/ar-AAjnUPH?ocid=ansmsnnews11 http://www.autoblog.com/2016/10/25/volkswagen-midsize-three-row-suv-origin-video/ http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/What-Volkswagen-owners-can-expect-from-the-diesel-10297917.php http://www.rediff.com/business/report/fifteen-billion-volkswagen-emissions-settlement-approved/20161025.htm http://phys.org/news/2016-10-billion-volkswagen-emissions-settlement.html What Volkswagen owners can expect from the diesel settlement. A federal judge on Tuesday approved a settlement between Volkswagen AG and about 475,000 owners of diesel cars that don't meet U.S. emissions standards. Volkswagen admitted last year that the cars were programmed to cheat on emissions tests. The German automaker will spend up to $10 billion to either buy the cars back or fix them and compensate owners. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_VOLKSWAGEN_OWNERS_QA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4a1fbe7a17bf4e5c82d6d1d1794e8997/what-volkswagen-owners-can-expect-diesel-settlement http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/10/25/us/ap-us-volkswagen-owners-qa.html Nissan: $2B in VW diesel settlement for EV infrastructure could be a boon for all (except hydrogen). 28 companies warned the DOJ last month that the money could upset the apple cart. VW's diesel scandal is causing a small civil war in the electric vehicle world. Last month, 28 companies sent a letter to the Department of Justice saying that the way that the automaker's $14.7-billion settlement... http://www.autoblog.com/2016/10/25/nissan-2b-vw-diesel-settlement-ev-infrastructure/ Germany’s VW Probe Hasn’t Implicated Top Brass, Prosecutor Says. For more than a year, investigators on three continents have pored over documents and testimony, digging for evidence that Volkswagen AG’s top leadership approved the diesel-cheating program that has plunged the carmaker into crisis. In Germany, the hunt has come up empty so far. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-25/germany-s-vw-probe-hasn-t-implicated-top-brass-prosecutor-says Volkswagen Needs to Convince EU That Damaged Cars Will Be Fixed. Volkswagen AG is facing renewed pressure to repair the damage caused by its diesel emissions scandal, with the European Union calling on the carmaker to start compensating affected consumers and show clear proof that vehicles will be fixed within the coming year. VW “should clearly identify what will be offered to consumers and this in a similar manner” across the 28-nation bloc… http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-OFJQ1DSYF01W01-7CDSUG2PN9P6MN33VL5S2HPAV3 GREEN ENERGY Solar Winds’ Spur Geomagnetic Storm That May Affect Power Lines. Charged particles flowing from the sun have touched off a strong geomagnetic storm across the Earth that can disrupt power grids, satellites and radio navigation systems. Geomagnetic conditions increased early Tuesday before weakening by midday, according to the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-25/-solar-winds-spur-geomagnetic-storm-that-may-affect-power-lines Renewable energy capacity overtakes coal. The IEA says in a new report that last year, renewables accounted for more than half of the increase in power capacity. The report says half a million solar panels were installed every day last year around the world. In China, it says, there were two wind turbines set up every hour. Renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar and hydro are seen as a key element in international efforts to combat climate change. http://www.bbc.com/news/business-37767250 RELATED ARTICLES https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/25/keep-it-in-the-ground-renewable-energy-breaks-new-records http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/sd-fi-iea-report-20161024-story.html New regulations threaten Calif. landfills. The landfill gas industry in California is facing two emerging threats: more stringent environmental regulations and the competitive renewable energy market. A landfill in Riverside County, Calif., operated by Waste Management Inc. recently decided to shut down its generators to comply with a new regional rule to cut emissions of nitrogen oxides, pollutants that contribute to smog. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/2016/10/25/stories/1060044741 MISCELLANEOUS Looking out for No. 2: Dogs sniff out fecal pollution. Some specially trained dogs are helping humans curb themselves. A company that has trained dogs to recognize the smell of human fecal bacteria has been sniffing out sources of water pollution nationwide, discovering broken sewer pipes, leaking septic tanks and illegal sewage discharges, to the delight of environmental groups and government agencies. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_POO_SNIFFING_DOGS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Bill Gates Foundation Gives $210 Million to Seattle-Based University. Microsoft founder Bill Gates through his foundation has donated $210 million to an initiative based at the University of Washington in Seattle aimed at improving people's health around the world, university officials said on Tuesday. http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2016/10/25/us/25reuters-university-bill-gates-foundation.html OPINIONS Washington State’s Ambitious Carbon Tax Proposal. Anybody hoping for a robust national discussion about climate change this election year has been sorely disappointed. But one state, Washington, has been having just such a debate, thanks to an ambitious ballot proposal that would impose a tax on carbon emissions. The proposal, Initiative 732, started as a long-shot campaign by an economist… http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/24/opinion/washington-states-ambitious-carbon-tax-proposal.html?mabReward=CTM&_r=0 California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.