Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2011 13:36:57 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 3, 2011 From: rblake@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 3, 2011. 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 A Year Later, L.A.'s Ports Continue Struggling With Clean Air Violators. A year after Neon Tommy first reported trucking companies are making an end-run around stricter clean air rules, Port of Los Angeles officials addressed the Harbor Commission at a meeting about its own investigation into the problem. Under the end-run practice, a clean truck takes cargo a short distance outside port gates where it meets an older, dirtier truck that transports the load to its final destination. Last month the California Air Resources Board, the state’s regulatory emissions agency, voted to outlaw these clean-to-dirty swaps, but it could take up to a year for the statute to take effect. Posted. http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/01/year-later-ports-continuing-struggling-clean-air-violators CLIMATE CHANGE Predicting the Climate-Changed City of the Future. Imagine the commute of the future: "The Jetsons," or more "Blade Runner"? Will family sedans crisscross in blue skies, or will machines crawl past craggy skylines in perpetual night? Such visions are staples of the entertainment business but deservedly scarce in universities, government and industry. None have the crystal ball that shows which future technologies and behaviors -- some of which would surely astonish today's city slicker -- have become routine. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/03/03climatewire-predicting-the-climate-changed-city-of-the-f-70805.html Budget Deficit Could Make Gov. Brown's 2011 Climate To-Do List Daunting. Democrats in the Legislature have introduced a bill to mandate a Renewable Portfolio Stamdard of 33 percent by 2020. For California, indisputably the nation’s leader on climate policies, 2011 is likely to be a year in which the state comfortably widens its lead. From auto emissions standards to the construction of solar and wind farms, California is expected to take major steps forward. The first step will be decidedly backward, however. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS26837758320110103 California Moves To Cap Greenhouse Gases. The measure sets a statewide limit on the emissions from sources responsible for 80% of California’s greenhouse-gas emissions and establishes a price signal needed to drive long-term investment in cleaner fuels and the more efficient use of energy, according to CARB. The regulation is designed to provide covered entities with the flexibility to seek out and implement the lowest-cost options to reduce emissions. Posted. http://greensource.construction.com/news/2010/101228Greenhouse_Gases.asp GREEN ENERGY San Joaquin Valley Utilities And Firms Work To Meet Green Energy Mandates. The sun performed as promised at Jim Jasper's business near Newman. He installed about 4,000 panels that capture solar energy for use in processing almonds at Stewart & Jasper Orchards. Jasper said he expects to save as much as $250,000 on his Pacific Gas & Electric Co. bill each year. But he said something else that gets to the crux of the renewable energy debate: "It doesn't pencil out without the subsidies." Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/02/1495066/green-energy-gets-real.html#ixzz19zY4shOG The 10 Most Hopeful Green Business Stories of 2010. There's a lot to be said for viewing the year just passed through the rear-view window. Toyota's hybrids hit the wall, so to speak, in terms of being seen as a paragon of safety. BP spouted all too vividly the perils of the petro-based economy. The bigger peril, climate change (or global warming, or whatever it's called) became, somehow, a non-issue, politically speaking. Indeed, the political climate in the United States turned against pretty much all things environmental. Meanwhile, toxic substances and gender-bending chemicals found their way into everything from mattresses to baby bottles. I could go on. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS343483219420110103 VEHICLES DOWNEY: 1 Million Electric Cars. Outgoing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had his Million Solar Roofs Plan. Will incoming Gov. Jerry Brown have a Million Electric Cars Plan? It is the hope of an influential environmental group that Brown will. Persuading the new governor to launch such a bold initiative is one of Environment California's top priorities for the New Year. The group mentioned the idea in a letter that went out with holiday cards in December. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/columnists/downey/article_9c45d981-8a90-57bd-90a5-df22059cdcb2.html DIESEL EMISSIONS California Air Resources Board To Help Fund Switcher Particulate Filter Project In L.A. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently selected a switching locomotive particulate filter demonstration in Los Angeles among several projects the board plans to help fund. The selected projects will advance clean-engine technologies that can reduce locomotive emissions, according to CARB. The partners pursuing the L.A. project include Union Pacific Railroad, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., and Johnson Matthey. The partners plan to test a Johnson Matthey diesel particulate filter system on a switcher operating at the ports. Posted. http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article/California-Air-Resources-Board-to-help-fund-switcher-particulate-filter-project-in-LA--25372 OPINION Working Together, We Can Clean Our Air. Can the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District do more to get buy-in from the people of Kern County and the Central Valley? Does the regional air-quality agency simply have an image problem? Or does this come down to a public that's not willing to make the necessary sacrifices to return the Central Valley's air to a state of reasonable healthfulness? Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/editorials/x437101336/Working-together-we-can-clean-our-air Like Day, Night Lunacy Follows Liberalism. It's an almost seamless transition from the concept of fantasy vs. reality that I wrote about last week to what can be properly categorized as lunacy in so much of what passes for conventional wisdom by our friends on the left. The catchy headline from the December 23 Daily News, "She thinks my tractor's smoggy," belied just such lunacy of regulation, spending and junk science. Suggesting little controversy, the article described how over $27,000 of state grant money would replace one 1989 tractor, while other unspecified funds would replace other tractors. Posted. http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/opinion/ci_16998652 BLOGS California's New Eco-Laws: Curbs On Toxics, Tax Breaks For Green Business. A slew of new environmental laws in California is on the books for 2011, including measures to outlaw the use of cadmium in children's jewelry, allow the conversion of offshore oil rigs into artificial reefs, and offer sales-tax exemptions for equipment for green businesses. The state's brutal recession and high unemployment were cited by businesses fighting increased regulation over the past year. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/01/environmental-legislation-2010-california.html Battle Brews over EPA's New Emissions Regulations. All in all, 2010 was a year to forget for environmentalists — carbon cap-and-trade legislation died, international climate talks sputtered and even the clean-tech market took a hit — and 2011 isn't looking much better. The incoming class of Republicans taking over the House in January features no shortage of members who deny the connection between man-made greenhouse-gas emissions and a warming planet — let alone think it's worth trying to lower those emissions. Posted. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2040485,00.html#ixzz19zYuO0Vm ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 4 Jan 2011 16:57:51 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 4, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 4, 2011. 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 Smog Contributes to Dangerous Heart Rhythm Disorders. Study found detectable changes in heart's electrical system after exposure to polluted air. The role that air pollution plays in heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias) that can cause sudden death may be underestimated, according to researchers. A small study of 25 healthy people without heart disease found detectable changes in the heart's electrical system when the participants were exposed to polluted air. Posted. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/heart/articles/2011/01/04/smog-contributes-to-dangerous-heart-rhythm-disorders_print.html CLIMATE CHANGE Finding the Fingerprints of Climate Change in Storm Damage -- a Very Long Detective Story. Hurricanes could become more prevalent with climate change, but the economic pain they deliver might not be recognized as man-made for 260 years. That means smashed homes and ruined roads may not be attributable to greenhouse gases for centuries, according to new research that suggests climate policies like adaptation should be designed without financial evidence of climate-enhanced windstorms. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/04/04climatewire-finding-the-fingerprints-of-climate-change-i-22773.html?pagewanted=print GREEN ENERGY California First State To Adopt New National Efficiency Standard For Light Bulbs. Californians will see the light – and a resulting energy cost savings – earlier than the rest of the United States. The California Energy Commission says Golden State consumers will be the first in the nation to save money under a federal law improving the energy-efficiency standard of light bulbs. The standard outlined in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 says that a 100-watt bulb manufactured on or after a set date must use 28 percent less energy than a traditional 100-watt incandescent light bulb. In effect, the bulb cannot use more than 72 watts. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/04/v-print/3297072/california-first-state-to-adopt.html EPA To Enforce New Emission Rules On Power Plants. The Environmental Protection Agency this week starts regulating greenhouse gases from power plants and other big polluters for the first time. The rules only apply to new construction and major expansions, but they've become hugely controversial. Critics say they will drag down the economic recovery. Old Dominion Electric Cooperative was trying to get permits for a massive new coal-fired power plant in Virginia. But last fall, it delayed the project. David Smith, the utility's director of environment, says there were two main factors: the recession, which was cutting demand for electricity, and uncertainty about EPA's greenhouse gas rules. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/01/03/132612887/epa-to-enforce-new-emission-rules-on-power-plants In California and Arizona, Governors Emphasize Renewable Energy Goals. In his inaugural address, California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. reiterated a campaign pledge to seek development of 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity in the state by 2020. In Arizona, Gov. Janice Brewer, elected to her first full term in November, said the state will develop a robust solar industry that is “the envy of the world.” In New Mexico, meanwhile, new Gov. Susana Martinez, after being sworn in Jan. 1, created a small-business task force to identify rules that it concludes would harm business growth and job creation. Posted. http://solarhbj.com/news/in-california-and-arizona-governors-emphasize-renewable-energy-goals-01270 Green Skeletons Lurk In GOP Closets. It may be heresy to conservatives, but a trip down memory lane shows nearly all of the top-tier Republican presidential contenders want to save the planet from global warming. On the campaign stump, in books, speeches and nationally-televised commercials, aspiring GOP White House candidates such as Tim Pawlenty, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney have warned in recent years about the threats from climate change and pledged to limit greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/46699.html OPINION Brown’s Speech: Blunt, Sober And Necessary. Gov. Jerry Brown sounded very much a grown-up in his inaugural speech Monday, and in the best sense of the term. His bluntness about the severity of upcoming budget cuts – few if any programs are likely to be spared – appeared to be a message both for the public (expect pain) and the Sacramento establishment (expect change). Coupled with Brown’s repeat of his promises to only raise taxes with voter approval and to shun accounting gimmicks, his overriding goal is to finally have California adopt an honest budget that is sustainable going forward, ending what he called years of “denial and delay.” Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/04/browns-speech-blunt-sober-and-necessary/ BLOGS Did Climate Change Cause Haiti Quake? At the American Geophysical Union meeting late last month, University of Miami geologist Shimon Wdowinski argued that the devastating earthquake a year ago may have been caused by a combination of deforestation and hurricanes (H/T Treehugger). Climate change is spurring more, stronger hurricanes, which are fueled by warm ocean waters. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=80278#ixzz1A6incTqs Duraflame Loses, Courts Says They Must Obey The BAAQMD's Wood Burning Rule. The following is a press release from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, it's in regards to Duraflame's attempt to exclude themselves from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's wood burning rule....The California courts have unanimously affirmed the Bay Area Air Quality Management District's authority to make manufactured logs sold and used in the Bay Area subject to the Air District's wood burning rule. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/incontracosta/detail?entry_id=80272#ixzz1A6kddXTa ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2011 12:09:51 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 5, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 5, 2011. 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 Air Regulators Ask For No Burning This Week in Bay Area. Air pollution regulators are asking Bay Area residents to refrain from burning wood fires this week because of weather conditions that trap smoke near the ground and could spur a mandatory burning ban on Thursday and Friday. In a new clean air strategy this cold season, this is the third time the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has asked the public not to burn in an effort to reduce smoke. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17010504?nclick_check=1 Imported Natural Gas Raises Health, Pollution Concerns. Some San Diegans are concerned that SDG&E is contributing to the area's air pollution through using a process that imports natural gas from other countries. The imported gas is piped into San Diego through a pipeline operated by Sempra Energy and SDG&E in Baja California. When the liquid natural gas is shipped overseas, it can be delivered at minus 260 degrees. But when it's heated, the gas generates more air pollutants that could affect air quality and health. Posted. http://www.10news.com/news/26372818/detail.html Farmers Hesitant To Purchase Cleaner Tractors. In an effort to comply with newly tightened air regulations, tractor manufacturers are introducing less-polluting models, but farmers are reluctant to purchase the vehicles. The Tier 4 standards, a part of U.S. EPA's air regulations, require new nonroad diesel engines to produce fewer nitrous oxides. Tractor makers have accomplished this task by building vehicles that will convert exhaust to mostly water vapor and atmospheric nitrogen, reducing the risk of acid rain. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/05/11 CLIMATE CHANGE Scientist Proves Conservatism And Belief In Climate Change Aren't Incompatible. According to the conventional wisdom that liberals accept climate change and conservatives don't, Kerry Emanuel is an oxymoron. Emanuel sees himself as a conservative. He believes marriage is between a man and a woman. He backs a strong military. He almost always votes Republican and admires Ronald Reagan. Emanuel is also a highly regarded professor of atmospheric science at MIT. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-scientist-climate-20110105,0,6481221.story Study: No-Till Farming Reduces Greenhouse Gas. Cropland that's left unplowed between harvests releases significantly smaller amounts of a potent greenhouse gas than conventionally plowed fields, according to a new study that suggests no-till farming can combat global warming. Researchers said the findings could also help farmers make more efficient use of the costly nitrogen-based fertilizers used to promote plant growth. No-till farming apparently slows the breakdown of fertilizers in the soil, they said. Posted. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=132669531 Solar Power Notches 2 Victories, Sort Of. Two recent developments in California solar policy aim to make it easier for small-scale renewable energy projects to connect to the grid, but it's unclear how much they will help the smallest developers. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) decided last month to require the state's three investor-owned utilities to hold quarterly auctions to build renewable energy projects up to 20 megawatts in size until a total of 1 gigawatt (1,000 MW) is reached. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/05/3 New Year Offers Buffet Of New State Regulations. California has a new environmental regulation for just about everyone. The grab bag of rules that took effect this week will -- among other things -- change the way Californians insure cars, buy light bulbs and build buildings. Drivers for the first time can shop for "pay as you drive" insurance policies that will reward them for reducing the time they spend sitting in traffic. The first such policies, which are pegged to actual mileage audits, are now being offered by State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. and the Automobile Club of Southern California, with other companies expected to follow suit. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/05/4 Congress To Obama: You Can’t Regulate Carbon Emissions. Obama To Congress: Watch Me. In the first two years of his term, President Obama fought a number of pitched battles with Congress, from healthcare reform to financial regulation reform. He won more than he lost, but one issue on which he lost spectacularly was his quest to regulate the emissions of greenhouse gasses through a cap-and-trade system. Republicans were unified in their opposition to what they called a "job-killing cap-and-trade program," and even many Democrats were skeptical; a bill never even came up for a vote. Posted. http://www.scpr.org/programs/patt-morrison/2011/01/04/congress-to-obama-you-cant-regulate-carbon-emissio/ GHG Emissions Trigger New Air Quality Permitting Requirements. The U.S. EPA has recently promulgated environmental regulations for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that will impose significant new air quality permitting requirements on both new and existing industrial facilities and projects. For new projects in particular, these requirements could substantially affect the associated cost, design, and permitting timelines. Posted. http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/5210/ghg-emissions-trigger-new-air-quality-permitting-requirements/ A 'Bulge' In Atmospheric Pressure Gives Us A Super-Cold Winter Amid Global Warming. Icicle-covered oranges in Florida. The United Kingdom swamped with its coldest December in more than a century. Travelers stranded in airports surrounded by snowy fortresses. These have been some of the dominant images this winter, and now one forecaster says it's going to get colder. Yesterday, an AccuWeather meteorologist predicted that January could be the chilliest for the nation as a whole since the 1980s. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/05/1 GREEN ENERGY Electrifying: A Decade of EV Subsidies. Making electrification a mainstream reality Electrification. Some think it’s a joke. A part of a big global warming hoax. And, if you live in the short term, electrification is a pretty silly story. Without massive government subsidies and tax incentives plug-in vehicles are the quickest path to automotive bankruptcy. However, if you think long term, the fungible greatness of electrification offers potential impossible to ignore. Still, how many billions is the path to cost-effective electrification worth? Posted. http://www.favstocks.com/electrifying-a-decade-of-ev-subsidies/0430758/ OPINION Can We Trust The State Air Board To Give The Whole Truth And Nothing But The Truth? As California's smog-fighting Air Resources Board gets set to impose America's first cap-and-trade rules for fighting the greenhouse gases most scientists believe are helping cause global warming and climate change, it is also considering imposing a "truth" rule on everyone who testifies in its hearings or submits reports to it. For some, that appears a bit ironic right now, as the board has just scaled back diesel particulate pollution regulations that were based on a report whose lead author turned out to have falsified his academic credentials. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_17014423 BLOGS Environmentalists Sue to Block A New City In L.A. County. A coalition of environmental and Native American groups has sued the California Department of Fish and Game over permits issued to build 21,000 homes on Los Angeles County's last major tract of undeveloped land. The coalition, which filed the suit Monday in San Francisco County Superior Court, alleges that fish and game officials violated state environmental codes in granting permits Dec. 3 for the controversial Newhall Ranch development. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/01/newhall-ranch-santa-clarita-los-angeles-development.html Scary New Year's Resolutions for Our Air Agency in Southern California. The South Coast Air Quality Management District is holding its monthly Governing Board meeting on Friday of this week. The Governing Board sets the policy and makes regulations for the District, which is charged with enforcing clean air laws in the South Coast Air Basin. The South Coast Air Basin is the region that includes all of Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. Home to more than 16 million residents, the region consistently tops the lists for the filthiest air in the nation. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/amartinez/scary_new_years_resolutions_fo.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2011 11:15:09 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 6, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 6, 2011. 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 New California Governor Brown Reappoints CARB Chairman Nichols. California Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday, Jan. 5, announced his reappointment of Mary Nichols as chairman of the California Air Resources Board. “I am delighted to join the Brown administration and be reappointed as chairman of the California Air Resources Board,” Nichols says. “I look forward to continuing the work of ARB to clean California’s air, protect the public’s health and help drive the development of clean and more efficient energy sources and technologies to power our state’s economy and generate new green jobs.” Posted. http://www.ccjdigital.com/new-california-governor-brown-reappoints-carb-chairman-nichols/ http://www.favstocks.com/california-governor-brown-reappoints-mary-nichols-as-arb-chair/0530825/ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/06/BAI51H4NSO.DTL&type=printable http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_17019165 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-06/ca-gov-names-top-advisers-wife-to-serve-unpaid.html Tractor Replacement Application Deadline Extended. A grant program to help replace agricultural tractors has expanded the application period and eligibility. Applications are still being accepted, and more applicants are eligible for a new air district incentive program that replaces off-road agricultural tractors. The program application period runs through Jan. 31. Funding for the program comes from a combination of local, state and federal sources. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/01/05/1717232/tractor-replacement-application.html#ixzz1AH2KXgSr Climate Change Coalition Declares Sierra, Delta Habitats Threatened By Climate Change. Both the Sierra Nevada and the San Francisco Bay-Delta have been named by environmental groups to a new list of 10 American habitats threatened by climate change. The list was released Wednesday by the Endangered Species Coalition, a network of hundreds of conservation groups in the United States. The 10 threatened habitats – deemed most important for endangered species in a warming world – were selected by a panel of 10 scientists from across the country representing academia and the conservation community. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/06/3302970/coalition-declares-sierra-delta.html# Analysis: Obama under Pressure to Delay EPA Carbon Rules. The Obama administration is facing intense pressure from all sides to delay its efforts to limit greenhouse gases, but don't expect it to call off its chief enforcer on climate -- the EPA -- without a fight. Congress failed last year to pass a climate change bill and into this vacuum has been thrust the Environmental Protection Agency -- a symbol of government excess for the political right but an institution of last resort for environmentalists. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7043VX20110105 Famed Global-Warming Critic Speaks In O.C. In the public debate over climate change, it's hard to find a more controversial figure than S. Fred Singer. A leader among climate-change "skeptics," Singer has published a small library of books on the subject. He regularly delivers his verdict in public talks: that climate change is a natural process, unrelated to human activity and unlikely to have the harmful effects predicted by many scientists. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/change-282875-climate-singer.html US House Republican Power Shift Could Impact US Energy, Climate Policy. Republicans took control of the US House of Representatives Wednesday and their dual goals of slashing federal spending and eliminating what they call "job-killing" government regulations could significantly alter US energy and climate-change policy. Representative John Boehner, an Ohio Republican, is scheduled to make his first speech as speaker of the House at about 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT). Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/6725662 Green Energy Mapping California's Worldbeating Cleantech Boom. Of all the companies around the world that the UK's Guardian called out for its second annual Global Cleantech 100, roughly a third are based in California. The list spans technologies including energy generation, storage and efficiency; water and waste water; transportation and others. The special report includes an interactive map of where the firms are located. It makes an interesting study by itself, showing a dense cluster of 31 firms over California, with a smattering of others around the US. About a dozen are concentrated in a few northeastern states. Four are located in China, two in India. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/01/05/mapping-californias-worldbeating-cleantech-boom/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader California Leads the Way in New Energy Efficiency Standards. As of this week, 100-watt incandescent bulbs manufactured after Jan. 1, 2011 can not be sold in California stores. The new law means a former 100-watt bulb will have to use 72 watts or less, or be 28% more efficient. The 72-watt replacement bulb will provide the same amount of light (measured in "lumens") for lower energy costs. Adam Gottlieb, spokesman for The California Energy Commission, said the Golden State is the first state in the country to enact the new light bulb efficiency standards outlined under federal law. Posted. http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=115751&catid=2 Green Goods Movement: Port of Long Beach. Once home to the naval ships of World War II, and my grandfather, a naval officer on the Hornet, the Port of Long Beach is now part of the largest port complex in the United States. When combined with its twin port, the Port of Los Angeles (to be featured in my next piece), it is the 5th busiest port complex in the world and receives nearly 40% of all containers imported into the United States. With approximately 7 Million TEUs (containers) passing through the port each day, it is the port of entry for approximately 64% of all container traffic from Asia. Posted. http://www.greengrowthcc.com/2011/01/06/green-goods-movement-port-of-long-beach/ Vehicles Technology That Breaks the Car Industry Mold. As the auto industry faces tougher fuel-economy standards, engineers are working on longer-term fixes for what ails today's models: too much weight, inefficient engines, a troubled fuel source for gasoline-powered cars and recalcitrant batteries in electric ones. Here's a look at four technologies that could make cars more environmentally friendly. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052748704405704576064091264764416-lMyQjAxMTAxMDAwNTEwNDUyWj.html Opinion Why Not Solar Power in the Desert? Here’s Why. We’ve all grown up in love with the idea of renewable energy helping to reduce our negative impact on the planet. So now that renewable energy projects are being proposed in high numbers out in the desert, many people wonder what all the controversy is about. After all, the desert is where the sun shines brightest. So why are the environmentalists still not happy? Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/06/why-not-solar-power-in-the-desert-heres-why/ Blogs Climate News Snooze? Has media coverage of human-driven climate change gone away, or gone undercover, as was the case for this CBS radio reporter seeking a quiet zone at Copenhagen climate talks a year ago? If so, does this matter? In my year-end summary post over the weekend, I touched on some analysis showing, unsurprisingly, that after several years of heavy exposure, global warming, the greatest story rarely told, had reverted to its near perpetual position on the far back shelf of the public consciousness — if not back in the freezer. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/climate-news-snooze/?partner=rss&emc=rss Boxer: EPA Climate Delay Bill Could Pass, But Would Be Rejected By Obama. One of the Senate’s most liberal lawmakers signaled Wednesday that there may be enough support there to pass legislation delaying the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. But Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), one of the strongest advocates in the upper chamber for reducing the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, warned that such legislation, if passed, would likely be rejected by President Obama. Posted. http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/136205-boxer-epa-climate-delay-bill-could-pass-senate-but-will-be-rejected-by-obama ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2011 11:43:17 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 7, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 7, 2011. 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 Wood-Burning Advisory In Effect. Chico — The Butte County Air Quality Management District is asking Chico residents to voluntarily refrain from using woodstoves and fireplaces today and tonight. The agency issued the request — in effect until midnight tonight — because air quality is forecast to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. The advisory is part of the district's "Check Before You Light" program. Officials and health professionals have identified smoke from home wood stoves and fireplaces as a major source of wintertime air pollution in the county. Posted. http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_17032986 California Ports First to Scrub Ship's Emissions with Seawater. A new technology that uses seawater to remove pollutants from the exhaust of ships' auxiliary engines and boilers will be tested for the first time on a container vessel visiting Southern California in a three-year project starting this coming spring. Co-sponsored by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the $3.4 million project is expected to reduce the ship's sulfur oxide emissions by up to 99.9 percent and particulate matter by as much as 85 percent. Posted. http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2011/2011-01-06-092.html CLIMATE CHANGE Boxer Promises GOP A Fight On Climate Change. Washington -- Sen. Barbara Boxer had this to say Thursday to newly empowered Republicans aiming to block federal regulators from cracking down on greenhouse gas emissions: Not so fast. The California Democrat, head of the Environment and Public Works Committee, vowed to "use every tool" to beat back any effort to undermine the Environmental Protection Agency's power to regulate carbon as an air pollutant. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_17027203?source=rss http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F01%2F06%2FMNMT1H5B7F.DTL http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704415104576066210314489834.html?mod=googlenews_wsj http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47155.html http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20110107/NEWS06/101070323/1002/NEWS01/Boxer+takes+swing+at+GOP+climate+plans 2 Environment Rules Halted in New Mexico. Acting on a campaign promise, New Mexico’s new Republican governor, Susana Martinez, has scuttled a state regulation requiring annual 3 percent cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. A second environmental rule intended to control the discharge of waste from dairies in southern New Mexico was also dropped before publication. A different state rule that caps greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources like power plants remains in effect for the time being. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/us/07emit.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Congressional Review Act Might Not Be an Option to Fight EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regs. Asked last weekend in a televised interview how he planned to stop U.S. EPA regulation of carbon -- rules he says have the potential to inflict serious harm on the economy -- House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton mentioned only one specific strategy: using the Congressional Review Act. What the Michigan Republican did not mention is that the core EPA findings and rules related to carbon mitigation were published more than 60 continuous legislative days ago, making it impossible to nullify them through a resolution of disapproval under that act. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/06/06climatewire-congressional-review-act-might-not-be-an-opti-3674.html Sierra Nevada, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Listed As Top Areas Under Duress. California's Sierra Nevada mountain range and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in the Bay Area have been identified as two of the most threatened ecosystems in the United States, especially as climate change threatens to undermine the state's water supply and cause more wildfires. The interconnected regions were listed on a "top 10" list this week on areas where wildlife, fish and plants are potentially nearing extinction. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/07/6 Climate Shifts Are Changing New Weather 'Normals'. As the new decade opens up, researchers are gathering data that will redefine weather pattern averages for the nation. The "new normals" will update the averages for temperatures, rainfall and snow. A climate normal bases itself on the weather patterns of a particular region over a 30-year period. Every decade, in accordance with international agreements, the National Climate Data Center releases new temperature and rain and snowfall normals for 10,000 regions across the country. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/07/1 DIESEL EMISSIONS Diesel Technology Forum Endorses DERA Reauthorization. Executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF), Allen Schaeffer, has issued a statement praising President Obama’s reauthorization of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) earlier this week. “While the reauthorization of DERA isn’t receiving the publicity that some other legislative issues attracted, it will be a significant and important accomplishment for the 111th Congress,” Schaeffer said. “Because of the national importance of modernizing older diesel engines to reduce emissions, DERA is one of the most important clean air initiatives passed by Congress in recent years,” he continued. Posted. http://fleetowner.com/green/archive/diesel-technology-forum-dera-reauthorization-0107/ FUELS Ethanol In Gasoline Bad For Engines And Emissions. The Obama Administration has directed the EPA at the behest of corn growing states to allow 15 percent ethanol in gasoline. The EPA staff is disturbed by this but have no choice but to carry out Obama’s bad policy for the environment. Count on you car lasting half as long as it would without the rule. Alcohol fuel, ethanol and methanol, is highly corrosive to metal, which is what all engines are made. Ethanol in gasoline engines requires the manufacture to coat the engine parts with a thin layer of plastic. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/environmental-policy-in-national/ethanol-gasoline-bad-for-engines-and-emissions Uranium Mill in Colorado Gets License. Denver — Colorado regulators on Wednesday approved a license for the first new rock-crushing uranium mill to be built in the United States in more than 25 years to make fuel for nuclear power plants. The plan still has many hurdles to overcome, including transportation and air emissions permits, and opponents said they would keep up their fight as well. But the approval of a license to handle radioactive materials is still a big step forward for a plan to bring back a storied, deeply controversial industry that boomed across many corners of the West before crashing in the 1980s. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/us/06uranium.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=print GREEN ENERGY Capital Firm Solar Power To Sell 70% Share To Chinese Company. A Chinese solar manufacturer has agreed to acquire 70 percent of Solar Power Inc. for $33 million, news that sent shares in the Roseville-based company soaring by more than 29 percent. LDK Solar Co., one of the world's largest makers of solar wafers, will pay about 64 cents per share for its stake in Solar Power, bringing much-needed cash to the struggling local company. In the deal, LDK will take over the operations of Solar Power's manufacturing plant in China, which employs about 150 people. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/07/v-print/3305955/capital-firm-solar-power-to-sell.html California Solar Firms Lured To Other States. Just as Gov. Jerry Brown begins his term – after a pledge to create 500,000 green jobs – financial incentives are luring some California solar panel manufacturers to expand in other states. This week, two Silicon Valley solar panel manufacturers announced they would build factories in southern states that offered business-friendly conditions and strong clean energy markets. Stion, based in San Jose, will invest $500 million to build its new production facility in Hattiesburg, Miss., after the state agreed to a $75 million loan, and tax and training incentives. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/california-solar-firms-lured-other-states-7893 2011's Green Homes To Be Cheaper, Smarter, Tighter. What will be the top 2011 trends in green building? A non-profit research group expects green homes will become increasingly affordable, smart and energy efficient -- all trends that Green House agrees are likely. "We believe it's going to be a promising year for the green building industry," writes Tom Breunig of the Earth Advantage Institute, a Portland, Ore.-based group that has has certified more than 11,000 eco-friendly homes. A recent report by McGraw-Hill Construction also gives a rosy forecast. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/01/2011-green-buillding-trends/1 Kaiser Permanente Installs Panels At First Of 15 Facilities. Health care giant Kaiser Permanente has made good on its plan to deploy solar power at its California facilities with the installation of 1 megawatt at a hospital in Santa Clara. The panels, built by Recurrent Energy, are the first of 15 MW total to be deployed on 15 Kaiser facilities in California. The Santa Clara panels are spread over two parking garages and are coming online in segments, according to Kaiser Permanente spokesman Karl Sonkin. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/07/8 VEHICLES Toyota Aims to Remain King of the Hybrids. Tokyo — As Toyota heads to the Detroit auto show that opens Monday, the company aims to burnish its reputation as a leader in environmental technology — an image increasingly under threat from resurgent rivals. Both Nissan and General Motors have been promoting their new electric-powered vehicles, which began reaching consumers last month. And Ford, which will start selling an all-electric version of its popular Focus compact later this year, will use the Detroit show to promote its green credentials. As Toyota works at the Detroit show, it will be trying to convince customers that there is still mileage in the gas-electric hybrid technology it pioneered more than a decade ago with its Prius. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/business/global/07toyota.html?src=busln&pagewanted=print Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf Make Electric Inland Debut. Riverside resident Mark Sterner is an electric-car owner from way back, so he wasn't surprised when Chevrolet dealers told him his new Volt might attract some attention on the road. Sterner, who made his first electric car himself when he converted a Mazda Miata in the early 1990s, became Riverside's first Volt owner Thursday when he took delivery of the vehicle at Singh Chevrolet in the city's auto center. The much-anticipated Chevy Volt, which runs on electric for 40 or so miles and has a gas-powered motor to provide extended driving range …Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/local/stories/PE_Biz_D_volt07.1a8d3f.html GM Plans For Wireless Car Chargers. General Motors Co. today announced a deal that aims to equip electric cars with units that can charge electric gadgets like smart phones and digital music players. The deal allows GM to take a $5 million stake in Powermat, a company that sells cordless charging units. And under the surface, the deal may have bigger implications. It allows for the possibility of recharging electric cars without plugging them in. This would be done by parking an electric car on a charging mat that could be placed anywhere. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/07/12 Ford To Release Charging App With Electric Vehicle. Drivers of the battery-powered Ford Focus Electric will be able to use their smartphones to control recharging, thanks to an application unveiled by the automaker at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. MyFord Mobile will display the Focus' charging status, allow owners to start or stop charging, locate the nearest charging station and check the overall health of the battery. It is part of Ford's attempt to give drivers as much control over their energy use as possible. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/07/15 OPINION Editorial: Back To The Future With Many Of Brown's Picks. Some days ago, we questioned why Gov.-elect Jerry Brown was taking so long in announcing his appointments. Now that he's seated and making a few, we wonder if he should have taken a bit more time. Brown made an excellent choice in appointing former Assemblyman John Laird as natural resources secretary. Laird's deep knowledge of coastal issues – and his strong advocacy of water conservation while in the Legislature – will serve the state well. So will his expertise on all state programs, having chaired the Assembly Budget Committee from 2004 to 2008. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/07/v-print/3305660/back-to-the-future-with-many-of.html Greenhouse Gases. Erlich suggests we pretend that we knew the sun was going to get hotter and threaten our planet. If so, wouldn't we try to reduce the greenhouse gasses. Therefore, even if this wasn't true, shouldn't we reduce greenhouse gases anyway to be sure our planet would be safe. This makes no sense. The main and most powerful greenhouse gas is water vapor, which makes up about 1 percent of the atmosphere. Removing water vapor would cause crop failures. The greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, makes up less than .04 percent of the atmosphere. There has been no correlation between the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and climate. Removing carbon dioxide slows plant growth. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/07/greenhouse-gases/#ixzz1AN2oQHAL Should State Air Board Impose “Truth Rule”. As California’s smog-fighting Air Resources Board (ARB) gets set to impose America’s first cap-and-trade rules for fighting the greenhouse gases most scientists believe are helping cause global warming and climate change, it is also considering imposing a “truth” rule on everyone who testifies in its hearings or submits reports to it. For some, that appears a bit ironic right now, as the board has just scaled back diesel particulate pollution regulations based on a report whose lead author turned out to have falsified his academic credentials. Posted. http://www.smmirror.com/?ajax#mode=single&view=31582 BLOGS Hold That Megawatt! “Frequency regulation,” an esoteric but increasingly important element of the electric system, is getting a new competitor. Frequency regulation is as critical as voltage control or generating capacity but is not something that most customers notice, at least until it goes catastrophically wrong. It means fine-tuning the system to keep supply and demand in balance. The problem is that the North American electric grid is supposed to run at 60 cycles, meaning that the electrons change direction 60 times each second. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/hold-that-megawatt/?partner=rss&emc=rss House Republicans Seek To Limit EPA Climate Rules. The 112th Congress has just begun, and so have the attacks on the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gases. Three Republican House members -- Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.), Shelley Moore Capito (W. Va.) and Ted Poe (Tex.) have each introduced separate bills aimed at blocking EPA from regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Posted. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/post-carbon/2011/01/house_republicans_seek_to_limi.html Who is Standing Against Polluters and For Clean Air? Yesterday I noted that several polluter-supported members of Congress are introducing legislation to “throttle” the Environmental Protection Agency, which would sacrifice much-needed safeguards by putting the profits of corporate polluters at the top of their agenda. Fortunately, some members of Congress are just as determined to make sure the EPA can keep doing the job it has for the last forty years - protecting the health of all Americans by cracking down on corporate polluters and the life-threatening air pollution they recklessly dump. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/paltman/who_is_standing_against_pollut.html E.P.A. Faces First Volley From the House. The newly empowered Republicans in the House aren’t wasting any time making good on their pledge to throttle the Environmental Protection Agency. On the first full day of legislative business, House Republicans introduced measures on Wednesday to block the environmental agency’s proposed regulation of greenhouse gases and new rules limiting toxic air emissions from cement factories. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/e-p-a-faces-first-volley-from-the-house/?src=mv A Steady Dose of Atmospheric Detergent. To start the new year on a hopeful note, here is a piece of good news about the environment. A new study suggests that the level of a substance that acts as a kind of detergent in the atmosphere is a lot steadier than previously believed. That may not sound like a big deal, but it is: it means that future pollution levels can be predicted with some confidence from current and projected emissions, and that the study therefore provides a firmer scientific basis for regulations and other efforts aimed at controlling those emissions. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/a-steady-dose-of-atmospheric-detergent/?partner=rss&emc=rss California Cap-and-Trade Rules: Still Flawed. There has been a lot of cheering over the Dec. 16 decision by the California Air Resources Board to adopt rules setting up the nation’s first cap-and-trade system for reducing carbon emissions. While the regulations represent an important first step and contain several positive elements, their flaws are serious and shouldn’t be ignored. As the regulations now stand, their ultimate result could be a massive giveaway to the state’s biggest polluters. Instead of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the proposed rules could result in billions of dollars in windfall profits to polluting industries at the expense of California’s most vulnerable communities. Posted. http://www.opposingviews.com/i/california-cap-and-trade-rules-still-flawed ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:38:56 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 10, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 10, 2011. California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 7, 2011. 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 Socal Air District Considers Emission Credits. The governing board for Southern California's anti-smog agency is expected to consider a plan that would allow companies to pollute by purchasing emission credits. The Clean Air Act requires new sources of air pollution to offset their emissions by reducing emissions elsewhere in an effort to prevent overall air quality from getting worse. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/01/07/financial/f095052S43.DTL#ixzz1AePSGZKX Vote Delayed On Calif. Air Pollution Program. After more than two hours of public comment, the governing board of Southern California's anti-smog agency postponed voting Friday on a controversial plan that would allow companies to pollute by purchasing emission credits. The South Coast Air Quality Management District board instead decided to vote on the issue at its February meeting. The Clean Air Act allows for the creation of a market where a company that reduces pollution can sell the credits to other facilities that produce emissions. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-07/vote-delayed-on-calif-air-pollution-program.html Slashing Pollution without Job Losses Is Aim of Shasta County Officials. Recent laws aimed at curbing California’s greenhouse gas emissions will kill jobs, critics say. But government officials and industry leaders in Shasta County are working on a plan to cut emissions while protecting jobs in forestry, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, utilities, power generation construction, transportation and other key sectors in the local economy. Over time, efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions could even create several- dozen jobs across the north state, planners believe. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2011/jan/08/slashing-pollution-without-job-losses/ CLIMATE CHANGE Senate Dems Gear Up to Battle House GOP on EPA's Climate Regs. House Republicans ready to unravel U.S. EPA's work on greenhouse gas emissions are beginning to find a newly invigorated opposition on the other side of the Capitol. Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) yesterday put the new House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman on notice by name, vowing to "use every tool available to me" to prevent a derailing of carbon emissions regulations by Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.). Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/01/07/07greenwire-senate-dems-gear-up-to-battle-house-gop-on-epa-22835.html Newly Empowered Republicans Float Bills to Block EPA's Air Regs. Three days into the new Congress, rank-and-file Republicans in the House are quickly making it clear that one of their main priorities will be blocking new air regulations from U.S. EPA -- and not just the ones that are aimed at climate change. On the climate side, with top-ranking Republicans promising to pass legislation that would block agency actions they see as harmful to the economy, there are already plenty of options on the table. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/01/07/07greenwire-newly-empowered-republicans-float-bills-to-blo-20939.html Climate Change May Continue for at Least a Millennium. Climate change may be unstoppable for the next millennium. Rising carbon-dioxide levels in the atmosphere will affect the climate for at least another 1,000 years, based on a simulation by researchers at Canada’s University of Victoria and University of Calgary. That will cause the West Antarctic ice sheet to collapse by the year 3000 and raise sea levels by 4 meters (13 feet), it showed. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-10/climate-change-may-continue-for-a-millennium-researchers-say.html Climate Change Reveals Disease As National Security Threat. Washington — One of the most worrisome national security threats of climate change is the spread of disease, among both people and animals, U.S. intelligence and health officials say. But more than a decade after such concerns were first raised by U.S. intelligence agencies, significant gaps remain in the health surveillance and response network — not just in developing nations, but in the United States as well, according to those officials and a review of federal documents and reports. Posted. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/01/10/v-print/106405/climate-change-reveals-disease.html China Moves Toward Carbon Emissions Trading To Improve Energy Efficiency And Competitiveness. Shanghai -- When Professor Chen Hongbo tried to promote carbon trading in China three years ago, he found himself under fire. As developing countries like China aren't obliged to limit the byproduct of their economic growth, opponents argued vehemently that they saw no need to motivate Chinese industries to either emit less greenhouse gases or pay for their emissions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/10/1 Inertia Makes CO2 Emissions A 1,000-Year Problem – Report. Climate change will persist -- and in some parts of the world, intensify -- for 1,000 years or more after the world stops burning fossil fuels, according to research published online yesterday by the journal Nature Geoscience. Other studies, including a recent report by the National Academy of Sciences, have reached a similar conclusion: that climate change is essentially irreversible from the standpoint of a human lifetime. Much of the inertia built into Earth's climate comes from its seas. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/10/4 Climate Change may Ruin Sierras and Delta. Say your goodbyes to the Sierras, the California Delta, and the state of Hawaii now, because they might not be around for much longer. A new study by the Endangered Species Coalition says that many American landmarks face destruction due to climate change, according to the Gate. Some places will get warmer, others colder; some dryer, some wetter. New species will invade and others will vanish, rendering the landscape unrecognizable. Posted. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/green/Climate-Chance-may-Ruin-Sierras-and-Delta-113089779.html Republicans Launch Swift Attack on Obama's Climate Change Agenda. As widely anticipated, Republicans in the House of Representatives have wasted no time with their efforts to neuter the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), using the first two days of legislative business to introduce several bills that would strip the watchdog of its right to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/1935500/republicans-launch-swift-attack-obamas-climate-change-agenda DIESEL Diesel Truck Owners Offered One-Day Briefing on New Rules. With new air quality regulations in the wind, state and local government agencies will be holding a one-day diesel "truckapalloza" for the local trucking industry on Jan. 22 at the Caltrans offices in Old Town. All diesel-fueled trucks, buses, trailers and refrigeration units operating in California, including those based out of state, are being required to take steps to reduce air pollution. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/07/diesel-truck-owners-offered-one-day-briefing-new-r/ Garden Grove Schools Get 13 Clean-Air Buses. The Garden Grove Unified School District received a $195,000 grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District that will allow officials to buy 13 additional environmentally-friendly school buses powered by compressed natural gas, district officials announced Friday. The latest AQMD award brings the total amount of grants the school district has received for these lower-emission buses to $2.2 million, according to a statement, which also says that the district will provide $15,000 per bus in matching funds for a total contribution of $195,000. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/buses-283203-district-school.html GREEN ENERGY Urban Communities Aid Green Issues. We know there will be something important on the ballot related to the environment. We want to get people to vote who are the most impacted and haven't voted historically," said Ian Kim, campaign manager for Communities United against Proposition 23, now Communities United for Clean Energy and Jobs. Kim and his cohorts are still riding high from the successful campaign to stop Proposition 23, which would have suspended California's Global Warming Solutions Act. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/08/INF81H3LSV.DTL#ixzz1AeUavdPW 'Greener' Weapons Station Development. A climate action plan for the former Concord Naval Weapons Station shows how a mix of zoning rules, building regulations and transportation policies should significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions created by development there. The city released the plan this week, laying out the nuts and bolts of how development at the base can be accomplished cutting per-capita emissions 40 percent by 2030 from what they would be without the "green" rules. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/growth/ci_17038514?nclick_check=1 DOE Starts At The Top In Bid To Cut Emissions, Set Good Example. To gain access to the latest energy advancement at the Department of Energy's headquarters complex in Washington, D.C., you must travel a maze of hallways and find the door marked with the cryptic code "1E029." Once through the door, you start a dizzying, claustrophobic climb up a metal spiral staircase. You pass what might or might not be a working security camera lying on the concrete floor and reach an imposing metal door. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/10/6 Why Electric Vehicles Will Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. A recent article by John Peterson argued that electric vehicles will take us backward in our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that today's hybrid cars are more effective in reducing GHGs. Peterson's commentary rests on recent research by Carnegie Mellon University regarding life-cycle emissions of various vehicle types. Posted. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/01/why-electric-vehicles-will-significantly-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions VEHICLES Toyota Maintains That Hybrids Are Better Than Evs. More than 10 years after the release of the Prius, Toyota pushes to maintain its lead in environmental automobile technology, a role that is growing more competitive with the recent resurgence in electric vehicles (EVs). Both GM and Nissan released EVs last month, the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf, respectively. Ford plans to release an all-electric version of its popular Focus model later this year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/10/11 Argonne Technology Could Double Range For Electric Cars. A small piece of a battery developed at Argonne National Laboratory may end up being the turning point in the technology of electric cars, doubling their range while reducing their weight and extending their lives. The composite cathode material Argonne scientists have been revising since 2001 uses a combination of cheaper and lighter materials that allow the batteries to be charged at a higher voltage. That can increase energy storage by as much as 100 percent over the current conventional cathode material. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/10/18 MISCELLANEOUS Health Concerns Gain Traction In Calif. The newest opposition to "smart" electric meters is gaining traction -- even if its validity is questionable. Amid claims of malfunctioning meters, privacy issues and dubious economic value, health issues stemming from electromagnetic waves are the latest objection that smart meter opponents have seized upon to block California's multibillion-dollar rollout. Northern California residents and lawmakers have been sounding the alarm for the past year, saying that the meters, when layered on top of microwaves, cell phones, wireless routers and other emitters, are the final straw. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/10/3 OPINION At Least Some Politicians Get It. Advocates of federal action to address climate change had little to cheer about in 2010. The prospects may be even grimmer this year, with nearly every important committee chair in the now Republican-controlled House dismissing the threat of global warming or the human contribution to it. As Congress dawdles and denies, some states are moving forward. Massachusetts recently announced a plan to curb emissions from homes, cars and factories by one-fourth below 1990 levels over 10 years … Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/opinion/10mon3.html A `Truth Rule' For State Air Board? As California's smog-fighting Air Resources Board gets set to impose America's first cap-and-trade rules for fighting the greenhouse gases most scientists believe are helping cause global warming and climate change, it is also considering imposing a "truth" rule on everyone who testifies in its hearings or submits reports to it. For some, that appears a bit ironic right now, as the board has just scaled back diesel particulate pollution regulations that were based on a report whose lead author turned out to have falsified his academic credentials. Posted. http://www.presstelegram.com/opinions/ci_17045614 BLOGS Attacking the EPA: Scary Myths and Scarier Realities. Only a couple of days into the new Congress, Representative Mary Blackburn and at least 46 colleagues have proposed an air-pollution solution that's both simple and ingenious: Pass a law declaring that pollutants aren't pollutants. Blackburn's bill, H.R. 97, states: "The term 'air pollutant' shall not include carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarb ons, perfluorocarbons, or sulfur hexafluoride." If only it were that simple. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/mbrune/detail?entry_id=80587#ixzz1AePzGB8c ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2011 12:49:30 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 11, 2011 From: rblake@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 11, 2011. 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 California’s Heavy Rains Counter La Niña’s Ways. For meteorologists and climate scientists, the flooding that has affected the Australian state of Queensland has not been unexpected. It is seen as collateral damage from the current La Niña, a lowering of sea-surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean. While a typical La Niña — the low-temperature side of the cycle known as the El Niño/Southern Oscillation — usually brings wet weather to the western Pacific, it also brings dry conditions to the Southern United States, including Southern California. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/science/earth/11nina.html?_r=1&ref=earth&pagewanted=print South Korea Carbon Trading Bill Faces Opposition From Business Groups. South Korea’s government is facing opposition from business groups over its proposal to start a carbon-emissions trading system in 2013. Business groups, including the Federation of Korean Industries, the Korea International Trade Association, the Korean Employers Federation and the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, want the government to delay the adoption of carbon emissions trading, the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry said at a conference today on the subject in Seoul. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-01-11/south-korea-carbon-trading-bill-faces-opposition-from-business-groups.html Climate Change May Continue for at Least a Millennium. (Corrects temperature conversion in last paragraph.) Climate change may be unstoppable for the next millennium. Rising carbon-dioxide levels in the atmosphere will affect the climate for at least another 1,000 years, based on a simulation by researchers at Canada’s University of Victoria and University of Calgary. That will cause the West Antarctic ice sheet to collapse by the year 3000 and raise sea levels by 4 meters (13 feet), it showed. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-01-10/climate-change-may-continue-for-a-millennium-researchers-say.html One In Five Not Interested In Climate Change. One in five people are not interested in climate change because they don't believe 'others are doing their bit', according to new research. Finding published yesterday (January 10) to mark the launch of the Climate Week Awards, prompted sociologist and environmental campaigner Lord Anthony Giddens to speak out. The research also points to a worrying 15% of the population unwilling to change their behaviour based on the facts of climate change alone. Posted. http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=19228&channel=0&title=One+in+five+not+interested+in+climate+change+ FUELS Much-Touted Cellulosic Ethanol Is Late In Making Mandated Appearance. A projected shortfall in the production of an important green energy alternative could hurt U.S. efforts to move away from fossil fuels, a ClimateWire analysis has found. U.S. EPA figures indicate that in the second half of 2010, not a drop of cellulosic ethanol -- a much-touted fuel that taps the sugars from farm wastes and other non-food sources of biomass -- was commercially blended with gasoline. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/11/1 Oil Rises in New York After Alaskan Crude Pipeline Leak Cuts U.S. Supplies. Oil climbed for the first time in three days after an Alaskan pipeline carrying about 15 percent of U.S. crude output was shut following a leak. Futures gained as much as 2.2 percent after the Trans- Alaska Pipeline System was closed Jan. 8, forcing companies including BP Plc to suspend 95 percent of production from the North Slope area. China’s oil imports rose 18 percent in 2010, customs data showed today. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-10/oil-rises-in-new-york-after-alaskan-crude-pipeline-leak-cuts-u-s-supplies.html Banned Caffeinated Alcoholic Drinks Now Used For Ethanol. Sparks. Tilt. Joose. Four Loko. Liquid Charge. Torque. These drinks may sound fun, but they’ve all been discontinued. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration called the caffeine added to these alcoholic beverages an “unsafe food additive” and issued letters of warning to four manufacturers in November. In response, manufacturers pulled their beverages from shelves to reformulate them without caffeine and other stimulants or dispose of them completely. The caffeinated alcoholic beverages that once promised to fuel you will now become fuel. Posted. http://earth911.com/news/2011/01/11/banned-caffeinated-alcoholic-drinks-now-used-for-ethanol/ GREEN ENERGY San Jose-Based Sunpower Signs Contracts With Southern California Edison. San Jose-based SunPower, Silicon Valley's dominant solar panel manufacturer, on Monday announced three power purchase agreements with Southern California Edison to deliver 711 megawatts of solar power. The deal, one of the largest for photovoltaic solar power in the United States, would produce enough power for about 460,000 California homes. "This is an unprecedented time for solar photovoltaic," Marc Ulrich, the utility's vice president of renewable and alternative power, said in a statement. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_17058666?nclick_check=1 Will Green Energy Crush Oil Investment Returns? (USO, XOM, PBW, QCLN). As oil continues to skyrocket to nearly $100/barrel, alternative energy companies might slash into the profits of oil titans and provide the most lucrative investment for 2011 and beyond. While the price of oil is subject to much short-term volatility, peak oil - the idea that the maximum point of oil extraction from the earth has been reached - is becoming a legitimate concern for environmentalists, policymakers, and households. Peak oil would drive oil prices up permanently, thus making alternative energy more attractive. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/01/11/benzinga768996.DTL&type=printable Berkeley Zero Net Energy Cottage Deserves Study. Karen Chapple's just-built second home looks exactly like what it is: a cottage that packs 450 square feet of living space into a traditional shell with a pitched roof, warm wooden walls and a shaded front porch. Old news - except that it sits tucked behind a century-old bungalow on a quiet Berkeley block with neighbors close on either side, stealth infill that in its own discreet way deserves study by every city where the need for housing outstrips the supply of obvious land. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/11/DDLU1H5DSF.DTL&type=printable Making Skylights More Energy-Efficient. All shapes and types of skylight can be green with the right options and installation. A skylight may seem like a sustainability no-brainer. It provides daytime lighting year-round, and cheap solar heat in the winter. But green skylights must be carefully designed and installed, or they could waste more energy than they save. The US Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that skylights can contribute to heat gain and loss by 40 percent more than other windows. However, there are ways to maximize the energy efficiency of skylights. Posted. http://www.mnn.com/your-home/remodeling-design/stories/making-skylights-more-energy-efficient First Home Wind Turbine Approved in San Diego. San Diego, California has approved the first vertical axis wind turbine for the county. Not soon after, the first one has gone live at the home of Tim Williams, who has a personal mission to “go green”. His 3.4 kW Falcon turbine from WePOWER was installed on an 18′ pole on his property by Joe Moore Construction, an authorized WePOWER dealer. According to a news release, Joe Moore had to appear before the County Building Department and present the WePOWER’s Falcon Turbine for approval. Posted. http://domesticfuel.com/2011/01/10/first-home-wind-turbine-approved-in-san-diego/ A Black Market for 100-Watt Bulbs? US Ban Looms. Few people seem to know that 100-watt incandescent bulbs, the Thomas Edison-type, are leaving store shelves. They were phased out in California on Jan. 1, and will be phased out across the U.S. on Jan. 1, 2012. That's less than a year away. Which makes you wonder, will people hoard the old 100-watt bulbs? Will there be a black market for retro illumination? There are people who scoff at global warming or just aren't as happy with energy-efficient, low-watt alternatives like CFLs and LEDs. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/01/a-black-market-100-watt-bulbs-california-phaseout.php Appliance Rebate Program. Current stats on Appliance Rebate Program: Total Funds Paid: $20,860,850; Apps received: 266,995; Funding Requested Exceeding Availability: $3,086,000 (as of 1/5/2011) http://www.cash4appliances.org/stats/index.html State Budget Plan: Five Years Of Higher Taxes, $12.5 Billion In Spending Cuts. Sacramento -- To erase the state's enormous deficit, Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday asked Californians to accept deep service cuts, more taxes and a fundamental shift in the way resources are distributed. Brown, who took office a week ago, called for $12.5 billion in what he called "drastic cuts" to nearly every state program except K-12 schools, $12 billion in revenues and nearly $1 billion in reserves for the next 18 months to lead the state out of a $25.4 billion budget deficit that has been growing as the economy weakened. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17056188 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/10/BASJ1H6RON.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703779704576073760670210434.html?mod=WSJ_Election_LeftTopStories http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/us/11california.html?_r=1&hp Merger Of Duke Energy And Progress Energy Would Create Largest U.S. Utility. As chief executive of the Charlotte-based Duke Energy, James F. Rogers has become a familiar face in Washington over the past three years, playing his part in the futile effort to forge a cap-and-trade scheme to limit greenhouse gas emissions. But with climate legislation moribund, Rogers has turned to breathing more life into his own company. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/10/AR2011011006959.html CalSTRS Joins The Climate Registry. West Sacramento, Calif.-The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) today announced it has joined The Climate Registry, the leading voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) registry in North America. A nonprofit group governed by states, provinces and tribes, The Registry helps organizations measure and reduce their GHG emissions. Posted. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110110006752/en/CalSTRS-Joins-Climate-Registry New Military Bill Orders Pentagon to Buy Solar Panels from US Firms Only. The U.S. military from now on will be able to only “buy American” when it comes to the purchase of solar energy panels—a move that may upset the government of China. During the closing days of Congress last month, lawmakers inserted language into a military appropriations bill requiring the Department of Defense to buy solar panels exclusively from U.S. manufacturers. The new law effectively cuts China, the top exporter of solar panels, out of the American military market. Posted. http://www.allgov.com/US_and_the_World/ViewNews/New_Military_Bill_Orders_Pentagon_to_Buy_Solar_Panels_from_US_Firms_Only_110111 Governors In California, Arizona To Push For More Solar Energy. As Jerry Brown (D) retook the reigns of California, and Jan Brewer (R) won her first election to the governorship of Arizona, both made clear in their inaugural addresses that renewables like solar and wind are imperative to both states. “I have set a goal of 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2020 and I intend to meet it by the appointments I make and the actions they take,” said Gov Brown in his inaugural speech. The goal is in line with former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) projections. Posted. http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/governors-in-california-and-arizona-push-for-solar-energy-011011/ Vanadium to Revolutionize Green Energy. The ‘Holy Grail’ of renewable energy – grid scale power storage – appears to be finally within reach. So is the ability to make electric cars far more practical or user-friendly. This is why the world’s most influential leaders, ranging from U.S. President Obama to the Premier of China and even famed multi-billionaire Warren Buffett, are all heralding an exotic industrial metal called vanadium. Governments the world over are directing billions of dollars of grants into vanadium’s fast-emerging role in the electrification of society’s energy supplies.. Posted. http://seekingalpha.com/article/245896-vanadium-to-revolutionize-green-energy Terra-Gen Sells 150MW California Wind Farm, Leases It Back. GE Energy Financial Services, a unit of GE (NYSE: GE), and Bankers Commercial Corporation, a unit of UnionBanCal Corporation, have acquired a 150-megawatt wind farm in California. The two companies have purchased the Alta Wind I project, the first phase of the $1.2 billion Alta Wind Energy Center, which is expected to comprise about 3,000 megawatts of generating capacity when completed... Posted. http://www.brighterenergy.org/21798/news/wind/terra-gen-sells-150mw-california-wind-farm-leases-it-back/ California Solar Companies Make Waves. Solar power can, of course, reduce carbon emissions and help individuals and businesses slash their energy spending. The widespread adoption of solar energy also has the potential to create jobs - and, in so doing, can help the country build a stronger, greener economy. Posted. http://www.getsolar.com/News/Solar-Energy-Facts/General/California-Solar-Companies-Make-Waves-800334024 VEHICLES GM Reveals Plans For All-Electric Vehicle. General Motors Co. has announced it is developing an all-electric car in the United States in an effort to expand their selection of battery-powered vehicles. GM CEO Daniel Akerson said the new addition would fill a separate niche than that of the Detroit-based automaker's extended-range Chevrolet Volt that went on sale in December. The new car is "more of a metro car or an urban car," Akerson said yesterday at the North American International Auto Show. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/11/15 Education Key To Alternative Fuels. Automakers will have to boost consumers' knowledge about electric and hybrid cars if they hope to boost sales of alternative fuel vehicles, according to a U.S. study. "While consumer awareness about alternative fuel vehicles continues to grow, only about one in five consumers state they are "very familiar" with any alternative-fuel technologies, according to a new survey by Maritz Automotive Research Group. Posted. http://www.windsorstar.com/technology/Education+alternative+fuels/4089640/story.html OPINION Key Points in Governor's Budget. The budget Gov. Jerry Brown proposed Monday includes program cuts, a June election to extend tax increases and a reordering of state and local government to close a deficit he estimated at $26.4 billion. Here are some of the elements: PROGRAM CUTS. Education: Provide K-12 schools with roughly the same spending as the current year. If June tax extensions fail, schools would likely see significant cuts. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/11/v-print/3314618/budget-breakdown.html Youngblood: Sorry Easy Bake, incandescent has to go. When I was growing up most of my friends, and even my cousins had an Easy Bake Oven. I thought they were so cool. Whip up the special batter, pour it in the special cake pan, and push it through the Easy Bake. After 20 minutes, Wha-lah! Chocolate Cake! You know the really amazing thing about an Easy Bake Oven? The heat source was one incandescent light bulb. Well, I guess by next year Hasbro is going to have to come up with another way to bake all of those little miniature cakes in all of those Easy Bake Ovens across the country. Why? Because as of Jan. 1, 2012, the 100 watt bulb will be banned; and, that is just the beginning. Posted. http://www.examiner.net/opinions/opinions_columnists/x1062714130/Youngblood-Sorry-Easy-Bake-incandescent-has-to-go CRAIG BASDEN: We're Chaffing At The Wrong Air-Quality Agency. In response to recent Sounding Board comments about the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, it's important to note that, counter to what some writers implied, the air district has no jurisdiction over mobile sources such as auto and truck emissions. The California Air Resources Board has this authority. The CARB consists of 11 part-time members appointed by the governor with the consent of the state Senate. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/community/x1937969128/CRAIG-BASDEN-Were-chaffing-at-the-wrong-air-quality-agency 10 Common Misconceptions About California's Cap-and-Trade Program. This article originally appeared on the Natural Resources Defense Council's Switchboard blog, and is reprinted with permission. In the aftermath of the California Air Resources Board’s historic vote to adopt the nation’s first-of-its kind program to cap global warming pollution across California’s economy, understandably there are questions about what the program will accomplish and how it will get us there. Below, I will attempt to clear up 10 common misconceptions about the program: Q1: Isn’t cap-and-trade dead? Posted. http://www.greenbiz.com/print/41351 Why Electric Vehicles Will Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. A recent article by John Peterson argued that electric vehicles will take us backward in our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that today's hybrid cars are more effective in reducing GHGs. Peterson's commentary rests on recent research by Carnegie Mellon University regarding life-cycle emissions of various vehicle types. I believe Peterson's highly negative view of electric vehicles is unwarranted and inaccurate due to a number of reasons that I describe below. Posted. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/01/why-electric-vehicles-will-significantly-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions?cmpid=rss BLOGS Consumer Electronics Show: Your Car Isn’t As Cool As Your Kid’s Fuel Cell-Powered One. Gadgets for kids were nestled among the grown-up toys at the Consumer Electronics Show –- but these aren’t your average model cars or train kits. Instead, the tiny toy vehicles on display at the OWI Inc. booth run on renewable power. A bullet train set operates using an integrated solar panel and a racing car has a fuel cell module that runs for up to seven hours when a magnesium metal sheet comes into contact with salt water. Other solar-powered gizmos for children: miniature transforming robots and even walking king crabs and “attacking inchworms.” http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/01/consumer-electronics-show-your-car-isnt-as-cool-as-your-kids-fuel-cell-powered-one.html An Energy Epiphany: Staying Home Is Cheap. There is a new thrill in my life. Every week Reliant Energy now sends me a weekly e-mail summary of my home electricity bill. No kidding, for someone interested in energy use and conservation, the Smart Meter reading is interesting. I just got my e-mail and I learned that between Jan. 2 and Jan. 8, my wife, 5-year-old daughter and I spent $23.12 on our home electricity. That is $9.68 more than we spent the week before, when we were mostly away on vacation. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/an-energy-epiphany-staying-home-is-cheap/?pagemode=print California Utility Adds To Its Renewable Portfolio. Southern California Edison continues to add to its renewable-energy portfolio, announcing Monday that it signed contracts for more than 800 megawatts of electricity generated from solar photovoltaic plants being built in three California counties. The utility is now the nation’s largest provider of renewable power, deriving about 19% of its supply from renewable sources, according to Mike Marelli, the company's director of renewable energy contracts. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/01/solar-power-renewable-energy-california.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Global Warming and the English Language. Last week, I wrote a post about the deepening doubts many climate scientists have expressed about democracy’s ability to avert dangerous climate change. These “doubts” have manifested themselves first and foremost in growing support for federally-funded geoengineering research, which has attracted significant support as a result of the perceived failure of climate-change negotiations in Copenhagen in 2008. Posted. http://blogs.forbes.com/williampentland/2011/01/11/global-warming-debate/ Climate 3000. What if this and that... The art of prediction is one that often fails and only the test of time will show who is right and who is wrong. Climate models use quantitative methods to simulate the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and ice. There is a new paper in Nature Geoscience that examines the inertia of carbon dioxide emissions. New research indicates the impact of rising CO2 levels in... Posted. http://www.enn.com/climate/article/42215/print On Our Radar: U.S. Chamber Backs Growth of Fossil Fuels. The top energy official at the United States Chamber of Commerce, the powerful lobbying group, urges lawmakers to focus on expanding fossil fuel energy production, not “high-cost energy sources” like wind and solar. “Having people really understand our energy reality, rather than energy as we would like it to be, is incredibly important, particularly at this juncture in terms of our economy,” Karen Harbert, a former high-level official at the Department of Energy under President George W. Bush, says in an interview. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/on-our-radar-u-s-chamber-backs-growth-of-fossil-fuels/?pagemode=print ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:34:29 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 12, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 12, 2011. 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 Wilmington-Area Schools To Get Air Filters In Bid To Cut Asthma. The effort aims to reduce the effects of pollution from the Port of Los Angeles on children at more than 40 campuses. Air filters will be installed in more than 40 Wilmington-area schools in an effort to alleviate asthma linked to pollution from the Port of Los Angeles, air quality officials announced Tuesday. The $5.4-million contract is part of a landmark 2008 settlement between environmental groups and the city of L.A., after community opposition threatened to halt a $274-million terminal expansion at the port. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pollution-schools-20110112,0,7004511,print.story Vote To Determine Future Of LA Air Pollution Delayed. The Southern California anti-smog agency delayed voting upon a bill this past Friday that could potentially increase the air pollution in Los Angeles and neighboring counties. The controversial bill would allow companies that reduce their pollution emissions to sell their emission credits to other companies. This issue has arisen three times since 1996, and each outcome resulted in lawsuits filed by environmental groups. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/green-living-in-los-angeles/vote-to-determine-future-of-la-air-pollution-delayed CLIMATE CHANGE Scripps Takes Lead In $25 Million Climate Research Project. Money from Earth Networks will fund research center, data collection. Earth Networks will pump $25 million over five years into the project, which Scripps scientists will guide toward new frontiers of understanding climate-changing gases. The company also will establish a research center for climate science at Scripps, which is part of the University of California San Diego. “We’d like the conversation about greenhouse gases to get back to the data instead of strongly held political points of view,” said Tony Haymet, director of Scripps. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/11/company-pumps-25-million-scripps-climate-research/ New Global Network To Precisely Measure Emissions. A D.C. area company and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography will announce Wednesday that they are launching an ambitious project that aims to precisely gauge how human activity is affecting the climate. The $25 million, five-year commercial venture will include 50 sensors in the United States and another 50 around the world to measure atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/11/AR2011011107140_pf.html 2010 Ties For Warmest Year On Record. The year 2010 tied with 2005 as the planet's warmest on record, and 2010 was also the wettest year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Nine of the past 10 years also rank among the 10 warmest on record, reinforcing the idea that the planet is heating up, the warming driven by emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The warming was apparent in surface-temperature data despite two unusually cold winters in a row in the eastern United States, said David Easterling, chief of the scientific services division at NOAA's National Climatic Data Center. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/year-283785-record-warmest.html http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iP5ADEAhfNez-Nq6gy4GjEMAOUhw?docId=a1e02e8925ab4d4ea0848271d24e7884 California Air Resources Board Grants Forest Clearcutters a Free CO2 Pass. Charged with implementing the provisions of A.B. 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, the California Air Resource Board (ARB) last Dec.16 held a marathon day of public testimony in Sacramento before adopting the cap-and-trade program they declared would set “the gold standard” for such programs nation-wide. Perhaps they meant fool’s gold, because in its rush to establish the final forestry greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting protocols for the program, the board tarnished the standard by giving timber companies a free pass on clearcutting. Posted. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/?q=print/8565 Global Warming Portends New Threat To Life. As global climatic conditions worsen and put the world in jeopardy, local environmentalists have warned that global warming could be heralding a new threat to life on earth. Mr Ebrima Jatta, an environmentalist said that global warming has been a gradual phenomenon as people’s attitude towards the environment begins to impact negatively on the natural world and task environmentalists with figuring out the panaceas. Posted. http://today.gm/hi/news/2972.html?print Measuring Greenhouse Gases, A New Business Venture. Weather data is big business in the United States, with services like AccuWeather, the Weather Channel and Weather Underground together generating more than $1 billion in revenue each year. Now, one of those companies -- the newly renamed Earth Networks, which owns the popular WeatherBug website and desktop weather widget -- is hoping to do the same for climate data. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/12/2 EPA Gives Biomass A 3-Year Reprieve From GHG Permits. The use of biomass will be exempt from the Obama administration's new greenhouse gas regulations for three years, U.S. EPA announced today, giving the agency more time to address concerns that permitting requirements could chill investment in an emerging form of renewable energy. The decision responds to criticism from the biomass industry, which has claimed that the energy source is not contributing to climate change because it is part of a natural, carbon-neutral cycle. When new plants are grown, the argument goes, they absorb the same amount of carbon dioxide that the other plants had released when they were burned. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/12/1 DIESEL EMISSIONS Diesel Era Ends For MTA Buses. Metro will become the only major transit agency in the U.S. with a fleet run entirely on alternative fuels. Officials say the shift has sharply cut emissions of cancer-causing pollution. After almost two decades of effort to reduce vehicle emissions, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will retire its last diesel bus Wednesday and become the only major transit agency in the nation with a fleet that is totally equipped with alternative-fuel technologies. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-buses-20110112,0,1826018,print.story CARB Approves Amendments To Regulations. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved amendments to the In-Use On-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation (Truck and Bus Rule) and the Heavy-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Regulation (California SmartWay mandate). The amendments are designed to help fleet owners affected by the global recession, which has led to lower than expected emissions levels. The Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) is encouraged by an amendment to the California SmartWay mandate that addresses concerns previously raised by the group. Posted. http://refrigeratedtrans.com/2010-emissions/carb-approves-regulations-0112/ http://bulktransporter.com/regulations/carb-approves-amendments-regulations-0112/ GREEN ENERGY Recycling Garden Waste as Eco-Fuel. If this is the time of year you start thinking about firing up the firepit or chiminea, or if you've invested in a wood-burning stove for your home, you'll no doubt be thinking about what sort of fuel you can burn. Choosing the right supplier of eco-friendly fuel can be tricky, but if you're a keen gardener (or even if you keep a small vegetable plot), you might already know that there is a lot of free fuel around. Burning wood and garden waste is effectively carbon neutral, as the amount of carbon the plants absorbed while growing is equivalent to the amount of carbon released when burned, so as long as you're getting your fuel from a sustainable source, then you won't be contributing to global warming. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS366540816320110111 California Economy Depends on Green Energy. A portrait of California's economic future is emerging, and it's heavy on the green. In 2010, the worldwide investment in green energy topped $243 billion, up 30 percent from the previous year, according to Grist. The US is at risk of being outpaced by countries like China, which increased its green energy investment significantly last year. European wind and solar companies also made great strides. But the Bay Area is poised to capture at least some of that market. Numerous automotive innovators are located near San Francisco. Posted. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/California-Economy-Depends-on-Green-Energy-113350174.html Enviro Regulations Poised To Close 20% Of Coal Plants – Study. If there were no prospects for a future price on carbon or climate regulations, perhaps a small fraction of the coal plants slated for retirement by 2020 would keep the lights on, suggests the author of a new forecast on that form of energy. Short of that, however, efforts to eliminate U.S. EPA's climate regulations will make little difference for the fate of that industry, said Steve Fine, a vice president with consulting group ICF International, which presented some of its new projections for coal yesterday. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/12/3 Energy Envoy Calls For Raising Electricity Prices In Developing Countries. Raising the price of electricity is at the heart of alleviating energy poverty, Special Envoy for International Energy Affairs David Goldwyn said. Speaking at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars yesterday, Goldwyn called promoting energy access for the 1.6 billion people worldwide who must use wood, coal or even dung to heat their homes and cook the "most important development priority, political priority that we can have." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/12/5 Coal-Fired Power Remains Big For The Future. Although China's future in renewable energy may turn out to be bright, the near future looks to be heavy in coal. For the past 50 years, more than 70 percent of China's energy has been supplied by coal. Demand has increased about 10 percent a year since 2000. The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts China will have to add 736 gigawatts of coal-fired capacity by 2035. Each gigawatt of coal-fired capacity requires about 2.9 million metric tons of coal per year. This would mean a 60 percent increase in coal usage between now and 2035. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/12/9 VEHICLES Clean Cars Will Cut U.S. Emissions More Than Transit – Study. The United States can cut most emissions from transportation by 2050, but urban strategies like transit and dense development won't play a large role, according to a report issued yesterday. The Pew Center on Global Climate Change said transportation emissions could drop 65 percent by midcentury, and improved auto technologies like biofuels, fuel cells and electric cars will do the bulk of the work (E&ENews PM, Jan. 11). Increasing transit, by contrast, will only cut a few percentage points off of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and only if development gets denser. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/12/4 MISCELLANEOUS Silicon Valley Leadership Group Sends Governor Tech Plan. A powerful Silicon Valley policy group representing more than 300 companies wants Gov. Jerry Brown to create a Cabinet-level post to improve California's high-tech and manufacturing competitiveness. The Silicon Valley Leadership Group forwarded its proposal to key leaders of the Brown administration and members of Silicon Valley's legislative delegation in Sacramento Monday night. Carl Guardino, president and CEO of the Leadership Group, said Tuesday that the Brown administration had asked for the plan, which is similar to one drafted last year for Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california-budget/ci_17067141?source=rss OPINION Spare the Air Raises Quality Of Life For All. Thank you very much for your editorial to encourage residents to refrain from burning wood during the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s recent Spare the Air alert (“Grapes and Raisins,” Jan. 6). The regulation is critical to protect public health. Wood smoke generates tiny particles that are associated with a range of adverse respiratory health impacts, especially for children and the elderly, and those with existing chronic disease. These particles are so small, they can bypass the body’s airway defenses and enter directly into the lungs and blood stream, where they can contribute to breathing problems, heart attacks and stroke. Posted. http://napavalleyregister.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_0fe2871a-1e12-11e0-b3e4-001cc4c03286.html District Agrees Air Fine Was Unfair. In the San Joaquin Valley, our air-quality challenges are more difficult than those in any other region in the nation. On one hand, we have been given circumstances over which we have no control: the valley's geography, topography and climate turn our region into a bowl with a lid; pass-through highway traffic brings pollution without any economic benefit; and emissions from the northwest add to our own. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/community/x1937969177/District-agrees-air-fine-was-unfair NICHOLS: California Dreaming - Or Nightmare? Delaware mirrors the Golden State with onerous new vehicle rules. Attention drivers. Effective with model year 2014, all new vehicles sold in Delaware must comply with draconian California emissions standards that are more stringent than even federal regulations. Delaware won't be the last state where this happens. The standards were imposed by Delaware Secretary of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Collin O'Mara, who unilaterally amended the state administrative code. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/11/california-dreaming-or-nightmare/?page=2 BLOGS Vote To Determine Future of LA Air Pollution Delayed. The Southern California anti-smog agency delayed voting upon a bill this past Friday that could potentially increase the air pollution in Los Angeles and neighboring counties. The controversial bill would allow companies that reduce their pollution emissions to sell their emission credits to other companies. This issue has arisen three times since 1996, and each outcome resulted in lawsuits filed by environmental groups. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/green-living-in-los-angeles/vote-to-determine-future-of-la-air-pollution-delayed ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:07:03 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 13, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 13, 2011. 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 U.S. Carbon Emissions To Fall In 2011, Rise In 2012. Carbon dioxide emissions, which are from fossil fuels and trap heat in the atmosphere, are expected to fall in the United States in 2011 before rising in 2012 as the economy recovers, according to the government's energy forecaster. The Energy Information Administration's monthly report says carbon emissions should fall 0.6 percent this year to 5.587 million tonnes. This decline will be caused by lower power demand, as temperatures are expected to be cooler in the coming summer than this past summer. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/13/11 CLIMATE CHANGE Picarro Goes For Gold In Gauging Greenhouse Gases. Measuring greenhouse gases is getting to be a good business. On Wednesday, Sunnyvale Company Picarro Inc. announced a $5 million deal for its measuring instruments that will be deployed at 100 greenhouse gas monitoring stations worldwide. "This is the biggest order, from the unit standpoint, in our company's history," said CEO Michael Woelk. The 10-year-old company signed the deal with AWS Convergence Technologies, which is investing $25 million over the next five years to build the monitoring stations, including 50 in the United States. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/13/BUPJ1H7JH1.DTL&type=printable CO2 Trading Worth Up to $212 Billion Opposed by Japan, Korea. Japanese and South Korean companies, adopting arguments that helped block carbon trading in the U.S., are opposing government plans to set up emission markets worth a potential $212 billion by 2020. The Federation of Korean Industries said Jan. 11 that starting emissions trading in 2013 would add to the cost of doing business and put the country at a disadvantage unless Japan and China do the same. Keidanren, Japan's largest business lobby said 61 of 64 companies that responded to a survey in September opposed introducing carbon trading. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/01/12/bloomberg1376-LEX3I91A1I4K01-55QVD0RV4V2KTCJN7M92VPOI4A.DTL&type=printable EPA Grants Greenhouse-Gas Rule Exemption. The Environmental Protection Agency is granting an exemption under its controversial greenhouse-gas requirements, saying that it will provide a three-year reprieve for facilities that burn wood chips and other biomass products to generate electricity. These facilities, often times power plants and paper makers, represent a small segment of the sectors that have to comply with the EPA's new greenhouse-gas regulations, which went into effect Jan. 2. But the EPA's action was seen as an important move at a time when the agency has been accused of overstepping its bounds and has come under fire for imposing potentially costly regulations. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703583404576079671129356558.html Biomass Over Climate. Under pressure from some members of Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is easing up on regulating global warming pollution from facilities that burn biomass for energy. The agency said Wednesday it needs more time to figure out whether biomass - including farm waste, sawmill scraps and forest thinnings - is really a green fuel. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson notified members of Congress who had complained that new rules regulating industrial carbon dioxide emissions would make it hard to develop new biomass energy plants they see as job creators and part of a national green energy strategy. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/12/1508639/epa-eases-up-on-pollution-from.html#ixzz1AvvGgPBb http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=12600395 UCSD Climate Change Scientists Pioneering New Tracking Tool. UC San Diego and a private company have launched what's being called the world's first and largest privately funded network to track greenhouse gases. Currently, scientists rely on a few dozen sampling stations to continuously monitor greenhouse gases around the globe. But now, UCSD's Scripps Institution of Oceanography is teaming with a private-sector company, Earth Networks, to build the world's most comprehensive network for tracking carbon around the globe. Posted. http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/jan/13/ucsd-climate-change-scientists-pioneering-new-trac/ Calling All Corporate Leaders: Full Speed Ahead On Greenhouse Gas Reductions. Last October, EPA held its final Climate Leaders meeting. While many were concerned about the sudden dissolution of the program, some saw it as inevitable. The consensus is that the EPA Climate Leaders program has provided significant value to companies over the past eight years. Beginning with 11 charter members in 2002, the program grew to 275 companies in 2010, with annual GHG reductions totaling 18 million metric tons of CO2 annually – enough to power over 2 million homes for one year. Posted. http://www.favstocks.com/calling-all-corporate-leaders-full-speed-ahead-on-greenhouse-gas-reductions/1231166/ State Official Explains 'Clear Incentive' In Emerging Cap-And-Trade Plan. Correction appended. A senior California official yesterday shed more light on how the state expects to enforce greenhouse gas emissions cuts as well as provide emitters with a backstop in case of carbon allowance price spikes under its fast-approaching cap-and-trade program. Kevin Kennedy, assistant executive officer in charge of the Office of Climate Change at the California Air Resources Board (ARB), addressed greenhouse gas cuts set to go into effect in California next year during a briefing with attorneys. He explained that enforcement will proceed, in part, via a "surrender obligation" rule that would penalize emitters for failing to meet deadlines. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/13/2 Last Year Was The Wettest And Tied 2005 For The Hottest. 2010 tied 2005 as the warmest year since records began in 1880, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said yesterday. Combined land and surface temperatures last year were 1.12 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average, according to a report from NOAA's National Climatic Data Center. Last year was also the wettest on record. The record-setting conditions in 2010 are part of a overall warming trend driven by human activities that pump carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, said David Easterling, the NOAA climate center's chief of scientific services. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/13/5 DIESEL Clean Trucks Program Expansion Approved. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners approved the inclusion of smaller trucks to the Clean Trucks Program on Monday. The board in its meeting also approved penalties for “dray-offs” within the Harbor district — switching cargo from a “clean” to a “dirty.” The board added “Class 7” trucks to its program. Class 7 trucks are smaller than “Class 8” trucks. Under the program Class 8 trucks are subject to strict emission standards and older models have been progressively banned from terminals since 2008. Posted. http://www.lbpost.com/news/don/10925 Diesel Hybrid Market Fires Up. Hybrid trucks are already in commercial production, and with Peugeot’s pending launch of the world’s first diesel-electric hybrid passenger car, the industry is poised for considerable growth. Although the U.S. lags behind Europe in terms of favoring light-duty diesel applications, interest may soon grow as the European market takes off. The environmental benefits of diesel hybrid technologies are impressive, allowing for an average fuel consumption saving of 20 to 35 percent. Posted. http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/7534/diesel-hybrid-market-fires-up AGC’s General Counsel Negotiates Compromise on California Emissions Rule. In 2007, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) set in motion strict off-road diesel emissions rules that could have had long-range impact on contractors and equipment suppliers. When the recession hit the state particularly hard, the CARB rules, based data that was questioned from the outset, seemed unfair and costly. Officials estimated the equipment replacements and upgrades would cost billions of dollars. Posted. http://enr.construction.com/people/awards/2011/0112-Michael_Kennedy.asp GREEN ENERGY Dashboard: San Diego County Environment Improves. The second annual quality-of-life "dashboard" for San Diego County showed improvements in several environmental indicators but concluded that the region still lags behind many parts of the state and nation in some key measurements. The assessment, published Wednesday by the non-profit Equinox Center in Encinitas, includes 14 key metrics, including jobs and wages, water and energy consumption, climate change, mobility, housing affordability, waste disposal and land development. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/12/report-san-diego-county-environment-improves/ Environmentalists Lose Bid to Protect Arcadia Woodland. Ignoring protests from residents and environmentalists Tuesday, the County Board of Supervisors opted to let crews bulldoze about 11 acres of coast live oaks and sycamore trees north of Arcadia. Infuriated by the lack of official response, protesters plan to meet the bulldozers head on this morning near Wilderness Park in hopes of stopping the destruction. " Posted. http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_17069980?source=rss#ixzz1Avu6iTg4 UC Davis Wins Ag Research Grants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $40 million in research grants to the University of California, Davis, to develop new bioenergy sources and climate-change-tolerant plants. The awards were among the largest research grants received by the UC Davis campus in recent years, behind a five-year, $75 million grant in 2009 from the U.S. Agency for International Development. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/13/1509488/uc-davis-wins-ag-research-grants.html#ixzz1Aw4iaIYW ENERGY: Cox Communications Goes Green with Fuel Cells. Cox Communications will unveil a pair of biogas-powered, 400-kilowatt fuel cells Thursday ---- a green energy purchase made possible by use of a California utility ratepayer fund and federal tax credits. Both the state and the federal governments have implemented numerous programs to create markets for energy generators that produce fewer greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_3041c09c-87c6-5d3d-a9a8-8c5b5b108241.html Buzzing With Energy. The $452 million Lodi Energy Center is shaping up nicely six months into the two-year construction timeline, the Northern California Power Agency reports, and it's on schedule. The agency is teaming up with the California Energy Commission on the 296-megawatt energy center now under construction on 4.4 acres of city-owned land off Interstate 5 north of Eight Mile Road near the White Slough wastewater treatment plant. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110113/A_NEWS/101130320 Energy Commission Awards Over $500,000 for Research on Effects of Climate Change on Hydropower. The California Energy Commission today awarded $582,685 for research projects including one that will look at the effects of climate change on hydropower projects. Funds for the four research projects come from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. The Energy Commission approved $299,970 to the University of California at Davis to look at the effects of climate change on hydropower operations and their environmental impact downstream. Posted. http://yubanet.com/regional/Energy-Commission-Awards-Over-500-000-for-Research-on-Effects-of-Climate-Change-on-Hydropower.php Analysis: Solar Stocks Face another Tough Year In 2011. Investors hoping that 2011 will mark the return of off-the-charts growth in solar stocks will be sorely disappointed, though the industry's battered share prices make for good bargains in the meantime. In 2010 the fast-growing industry logged its biggest sales year ever, yet shares of solar panel makers lagged the broader market significantly. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70B6GV20110112 California's Energy Policies May Make or Break Plug-In Hybrids. California policies aimed at reducing electricity use and curbing greenhouse gas emissions have the unintended consequence of making new plug-in hybrid vehicles uneconomical, according to a Purdue University economist. Wally Tyner, the James and Lois Ackerman Professor of Agricultural Economics, said California's tiered electricity pricing system means Californians will pay some of the highest electricity rates in the country to recharge plug-in hybrid vehicles. Posted. http://westernfarmpress.com/management/californias-energy-policies-may-make-or-break-plug-hybrids VEHICLES Auto Makers Seek Help on Fuel Rules. Washington—Auto makers are asking newly empowered House Republicans to help fight a proposal under consideration by the Obama administration to boost fuel-economy standards for new cars and trucks to as high as 62 miles per gallon by 2025. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the car industry's main trade group, wrote in a letter to U.S. Reps. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.) and Fred Upton (R., Mich.) that fuel-economy standards are "by far the most expensive regulations auto makers face." Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704803604576078020305484178.html OPINION Save Energy, Save Our Troops. A NATO oil tanker truck was blown up by insurgents at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border last week, and while no one was injured, the incident temporarily closed the Khyber Pass, the main supply artery for Western troops in the Afghan theater. This has become an all-too-routine occurrence; in the last nine years some 1,000 Americans have been killed on fuel-related missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/13/opinion/13anderson.html?_r=2&pagewanted=print EDITORIAL: Chicken Little Eats Crow. Doomsayers who make a living warning that the sky is falling victim to human-induced pollution need to take a deep breath. It turns out Mother Nature has her own resources for cleaning up the air. The journal Science reported Friday that hydroxyl, a chemical that plays a central role in regulating pollutants in the Earth's atmosphere, is less susceptible to fluctuations in concentration than previously thought. As a result, scientists now believe the atmosphere's capability of cleaning itself is relatively stable. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/12/chicken-little-eats-crow/ California Poised to Write New Chapter in Energy Policy. With gridlock likely in the 112th Congress and the Administration’s mandate accordingly tempered, those interested in America’s energy policy and 21st century competitiveness should look West. As newly-elected California Governor Jerry Brown’s ambitious state budget undergoes the scrutiny of multiple media cycles, other elements of the senior statesman’s agenda may easily go unnoticed – including what impact Governor Brown part deux may have in renewing an American innovation economy. Posted. http://leadenergy.org/2011/01/california-poised-to-write-new-chapter-in-energy-policy/ BLOGS Another One Bites the Dust? California's cap-and-trade partners are dropping like flies. It's not official yet, but it's looking like what was once envisioned as a regional carbon trading program involving seven US states and four Canadian provinces, will now involve just one US state - California - and just three provinces: Quebec, British Columbia, and Ontario. One by one, members of the Western Climate Initiative have postponed their involvement or dropped out altogether, as Arizona did last February when Gov. Jan Brewer issued an executive order backing out of the carbon trading program. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/01/12/another-one-bites-the-dust/ Will New California Governor Approve Plan For 1 Million Electric Vehicles? Motivated by Prop 23's defeat in November, Environment California is working on getting Governor Jerry Brown on board with a plan to reduce California's dependence on oil by getting one million clean vehicles on the Golden State's roads by 2022. Why one million? As Dan Jacobson, Environment California's legislative director, explains: It's our theory that if you can get to a million that basically creates a tipping point. There will then be so many clean cars that Detroit and all the automakers will just start selling us nothing but clean cars. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/01/13/california-governor-approve-plan-1-million-electric-vehicles/print/ EPA Defers Greenhouse-Gas Requirements For Burning Biomass As Fuel [Updated]. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will defer greenhouse-gas permitting requirements for emissions from industries' burning of biomass -- plant materials and animal waste that are used as fuel. Announced Wednesday, the EPA says the three-year deferral will allow the agency to research the environmental impact of burning biomass for fuel and to develop rules on whether emissions from such sources would require permitting under the Clean Air Act. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/01/epa-defers-greenhouse-gas-requirements-for-biomass.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 EPA Delays Climate Rules for Biomass Industry. In another sign that the Environmental Protection Agency is moderating its climate policy, it announced Wednesday it would exempt the biomass industry from limits on greenhouse gas emissions for three years. More than two dozen lawmakers had urged EPA to hold off on applying new rules aimed at curbing greenhouse gases from large emitters to facilities that burn wood and farm waste. Posted. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/post-carbon/2011/01/epa_delays_climate_rules_for_b.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:20:06 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 14, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 14, 2011. 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. VEHICLES Transit Expert Speaks At League Of Women Voters Luncheon. The Woodland League of Women Voters invites everyone to their 17th annual State of the Community luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at the Woodland United Methodist Church in Woodland. The Woodland League has been studying climate change and sustainability of resources over the last two years. In keeping with this they have invited Dr. Dan Sperling, the director of the UCD Institute of Transportation Studies to speak. In his talk titled "Toward Two Billion Cars and What to Do About it," Dr. Sperling will address whether this is sustainable not only in the U.S. but worldwide. Posted. http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_17095274 California May Have The Highest Costs For Charging Electric Vehicles, Study Says. The state's tiered rate system, in which rates rise as people use more power, could make owning plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles more expensive than in other states. Californians may end up paying the highest electricity rates in the country to charge their electric vehicles, a new study says. The state's tiered rate system, in which customers are charged higher rates as they use more electricity, could make plug-in hybrid and battery-powered vehicles more costly to own, according to a Purdue University study. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-autos-electric-rates-20110114,0,5583251,print.story CalStart to Manage CARB Hybrid and Electric Incentive Program. The California Air Resources Board has chosen CalStart for the second year in a row to manage the nation's largest incentive program for hybrid and electric trucks and buses. Last year's program resulted in the purchase of more than 650 hybrid trucks in California. The CARB Hybrid Vehicle Incentive Program (HVIP), initiated in late 2009, encourages fleet operators to purchase hybrid trucks instead of conventional ones. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-print.asp?news_id=72712 MIT Panel Says Charging Infrastructure, Not Technology, May Be The Bigger Roadblock For Electric Vehicles. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology report, issued yesterday, concludes that creating a nationwide infrastructure for electric vehicles appears to be a bigger challenge than producing affordable batteries to power the cars. The report, authored by professors Ernest Moniz and John Deutch, summarizes an MIT symposium last year on the electric vehicle. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/14/2 AIR POLLUTION LNG and Pollution, Questions and Answers. We asked SDG&E spokesman Art Larson to answer some questions via e-mail about the use of LNG in the county, then ran his responses past Bob Kard, who heads the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District. Question: The air pollution folks in San Diego aren't just concerned about its use in vehicles, but also homes and businesses, and say that its use in San Diego would lead to an additional 4 to 5 tons of pollutants in our air. How do you respond to that allegation? Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/13/lng-and-pollution-questions-and-answers/ Gas From Afar Pollutes Here, Critics Say. San Diego’s air quality folks are worried that natural gas imported from overseas could erase decades of work cleaning San Diego’s air. County officials say that San Diego Gas & Electric, which operates the region’s natural gas pipelines and distribution lines, is allowing the import of the extra-polluting gas and hasn’t taken steps to minimize its impact. “If you’re doing something today that is increasing the emissions in the air, you have an obligation to clean that up,” said County Supervisor Ron Roberts, who also serves on the state Air Resources Board. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/13/gas-from-afar-pollutes-here-critics-say/ CLIMATE CHANGE California Carbon Market May ‘Hurt’ Refiners, S&P Says. California’s planned cap-and-trade program to cut greenhouse gases may hurt the credit of refinery owners in the state, such as Tesoro Corp. and Valero Energy Corp., Standard & Poor’s said. Companies with California refineries will have to buy “a substantial number of carbon credits” in the program that is set to start next year, a “potential adverse development” for corporate credit, New York-based S&P said today in a report. The California Air Resources Board approved last month the cap-and-trade regulation that will force power plants, refineries, factories, cars and trucks in the state to cut their pollution roughly 15 percent by 2020. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-01-13/california-carbon-market-may-hurt-some-oil-refiners-s-p-says.html Proponents of California’s Global Warming Law Were Against Renewables Before They Were For Them. Just forget about that whole global warming scare that was still in vogue up until just over a year ago before the “climategate” scandal erupted, to say nothing of updated research that interlinks natural forces with warming and cooling trends as opposed to human activity. In fact, over 1,000 scientists from the across the globe have gone on record to question earlier claims advanced through the United Nations that have been used to justify “cap and trade” schemes modeled after the Kyoto Protocol of 1997. Posted. http://biggovernment.com/kmooney/2011/01/13/proponents-of-californias-global-warming-law-were-against-renewables-before-they-were-for-them/ East Asian Businesses Snub Cap And Trade. Companies in Japan and South Korea have taken stances opposing carbon emissions markets, saying the system would harm business. The Federation of Korean Industries stated that an emissions trading scheme would add to the cost of doing business, unless Japan and China also initiate a scheme. Keidanren, Japan's largest business lobby, said 61 of 64 companies opposed the introduction of carbon trading, according to a survey from September. Japan and South Korea are two of Asia's top carbon emitters. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/14/9 GREEN ENERGY Which Cities Charge Exhorbitant Fees For Solar Permits? If you’re a business hankering to save the planet in San Clemente, a permit to install solar panels will set you back nearly $14,000. If you’re a business hankering to save the planet in Anaheim, Santa Ana, Mission Viejo or Laguna Beach, it will cost you nothing. Some Orange County cities are strangling progress by charging exorbitant fees for solar installation permits, the Sierra Club says. Posted. http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2011/01/13/which-cities-charge-exhorbitant-solar-permit-fees/72540/ China Has The Highest Wind Power Capacity In The World, According To Its Official Government News Agency. Last year it added 62 percent -- or 16 gigawatts -- in new wind power capacity, the Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday. By the end of 2010, the country's total wind power capacity stood at 41.8 gigawatts. That ranks slightly higher than U.S. capacity, which measured 40.2 gigawatts by the end of last year. The United States added 5 gigawatts in capacity last year. The report didn't specify the amount of Chinese capacity able to access power transmission and distribution networks. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/14/11 Calif. Agency Mulls 'Opt Out' Or Wired Substitutes As Fallout Persists. San Francisco -- A burst of opposition to smart meters in a Northern California county appears to have turned heads in the state commission with jurisdiction over the emerging technology, with at least two prominent officials yesterday signaling they would consider letting consumers opt out. In separate interviews, California Public Utilities Commission members Nancy Ryan and Timothy Simon said they were open to looking at new policies that would either let ratepayers reject smart meter installation outright or pursue wired rather than wireless connections. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/14/1 In Los Angeles, Officials Announce Attainment of a Cleaner-Energy Goal. Although solar electricity is still a tiny fraction of its portfolio, Los Angeles officials have made progress in adding renewable energy and are marking the milestone of obtaining 20 percent of the city’s power from renewables in 2010. The total actually comes to 19.7 percent, officials from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported, but the trend is clear. Posted. http://solarhbj.com/news/los-angeles-officials-mark-attainment-of-cleaner-energy-milestone-01294 OPINION The Energy Deal That's Still Possible. President Obama promised in the fall that a top priority of his legislative program for 2011 would be an energy policy "that helps us grow at the same time as it deals with climate change in a serious way." With global warming deniers now in charge of the House of Representatives, there would seem to be little hope for major legislation on clean energy or climate in this Congress. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/13/AR2011011306212_pf.html Editorial: Reasons to Cool It on Global Warming. A man perhaps as responsible as anyone for debunking global warming hysteria was in town last week to speak to the curious and the converted at Chapman University. Dr. Fred Singer also spoke with us about the state of global warming. Dr. Singer, chairman of the Science and Environmental Policy Project and professor emeritus of environmental sciences at the University of Virginia, concedes that global warming alarmists persist in their efforts to control our lives, fortunes and economies, but he notes that opposition from scientists and others like him have significantly impeded that cause. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/-284004--.html Air Pollution Isn’t Just Dirty, It’s Poisonous! I spent the year-end holidays in a surprising way: helping friends set up a nursery. They are expecting a baby in March, but when troubling signs of a premature delivery threatened, the mother was rushed into the hospital and put on bed rest. She’s one of the busiest, most active people I know, so the next few months (touch wood) aren’t going to be easy for her. But she will do whatever it takes to protect her infant. Posted. http://www.favstocks.com/air-pollution-isnt-just-dirty-its-poisonous/1431267/ BLOGS Largest Renewable Energy Projects of 2010. A recently published round-up of the biggest renewable energy projects completed during the year shows that, despite the global recession, the renewable energy sector remained buoyant during 2010. The list of record-breaking projects was put together by the editors of Renewable Energy World. Offshore wind. 2010 was the year in which offshore wind came of age. Posted. http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.printerfriendly/id/21719 GE Begins Move Into Green Data Centers With $520 Million Deal. GE wants a slice of the burgeoning green-data-centers pie — and it’s willing to spend half a billion dollars to get it. The company, which manufactures everything from wind turbines to electric car charging stations, announced today it has acquired power conversion technology company Lineage Power for $520 million from Gores Group; an offering that GE says will help it leverage huge opportunities in telecom and making data centers more efficient. Posted. http://venturebeat.com/2011/01/13/ge-kicks-off-green-data-center-play-with-520-million-acquisition/ Ports Of Los Angeles And Long Beach To Test New Seawater Scrubber Device To Cut Vessel Emissions. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are co-sponsoring a project to test a seawater scrubber system for the first time on a container ship, beginning this spring. The technology uses seawater to filter pollutants from ships’ auxiliary engines and boilers. The Hamworthy Krystallon Seawater Scrubber is designed to run cold but can be operated at temperatures up to 450°C. Posted. http://www.favstocks.com/ports-of-los-angeles-and-long-beach-to-test-new-seawater-scrubber-device-to-cut-vessel-emissions/1331227/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:10:55 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- **ADDENDUM** ITEM To Newsclips for January 14, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 14, 2011. California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 14, 2011. 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. **ADDENDUM** Jerry Brown: A New Direction On Eco-Issues? With all the budget cutting and tax talk coming out of Sacramento, newly elected California Gov. Jerry Brown's eco-agenda might seem to be on the back burner. But UCLA Law School's environmental policy activists are aiming to nudge it to the fore. "California's economic future depends on its environmental health," warned a report released Thursday by the school's Emmett Center on Climate Change and the Environment and the Evan Frankel Environmental Law & Policy program. It cautioned that the public health costs of failing to protect natural resources "will prove to be a drain on the state's economy." Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/01/jerry-brown-a-new-direction-on-eco-issues.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:24:46 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 18, 2011 From: mfricke@arb.ca.gov Newsclips for January 18, 2011. Air Pollution China sets air pollution reduction goal: China says it is implementing new environmental standards to reduce vehicle and industrial emissions into the atmosphere. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/01/14/China-sets-air-pollution-reduction-goal/UPI-53141295029075/ . Fourth Winter Spare the Air alert issued for Monday: Bay Area air quality officials have issued a Winter Spare the Air alert for Monday, the fourth of the season. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17113824?nclick_check=1 Climate Change This isn't about climate change – but it may be the face of the future: Since 1975, disasters of all kinds have claimed the lives of more than 2.2 million people. Storms, floods, droughts and other weather-related phenomena were responsible for two thirds of these deaths, according to the UN's International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, which has warned that climate change is likely to increase the frequency and severity of these events. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/this-isnt-about-climate-change-ndash-but-it-may-be-the-face-of-the-future-2185153.html Diesel Emissions Exposure to Diesel Exhaust Linked to Lung Cancer: Another research that used 11 previous studies conducted in Europe and Canada suggests that occupational workers who are exposed to diesel fumes have a 31% increased risk of developing lung cancer as compared to those workers who are not exposed at all. http://seerpress.com/exposure-to-diesel-exhaust-linked-to-lung-cancer/22136/ Fuels Roadshow: Why diesel prices are so high: What is up with the price of diesel? In my long-term memory, diesel used to be cheaper than regular gas or at least similar in price. But now diesel is at least as much as premium and 25 to 40 cents a gallon more than unleaded regular gas. Can you explain that? http://www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadshow/ci_17121232 Mercedes-Benz Calls for More Hydrogen Infrastructure: German auto maker Mercedes-Benz says governments and utility companies need to invest more in hydrogen infrastructure in order to help get use of fuel cells in cars. http://domesticfuel.com/2011/01/18/mercedes-benz-calls-for-more-hydrogen-infrastructure/ Green Energy SMUD will build green facility that makes more energy than it uses: The Sacramento Municipal Utility District's new $111 million, ultra-green East Campus will create 300 construction jobs and set in motion one of the larger redevelopment projects in Sacramento. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/18/3330997/smud-will-build-green-facility.html BP Hydrogen Power Venture With Abu Dhabi Delayed on Carbon Gas Question: BP Plc said a proposed $2 billion hydrogen power plant in Abu Dhabi is delayed at least three years to await the sheikdom’s decision on whether to use carbon dioxide produced by the plant to help boost oil output. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-18/bp-hydrogen-power-joint-venture-awaits-decision-by-abu-dhabi.html Vehicles Toyota Advances Hydrogen Fuel Cell Plans Amid Industry's Battery-Car Push: Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s largest seller of hybrid vehicles, said it’s on schedule to sell hydrogen cars by 2015 or sooner in California, Japan and Germany as an alternative to battery-powered models coming to market. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-13/toyota-advances-hydrogen-plans-amid-industry-s-battery-car-push.html Norwegian EV Automaker Starts Production, in Indiana: It’s not every day you get to see a factory being set up before your eyes, but that was the scene in Elkhart, Indiana Wednesday as the Norwegian electric automaker Think geared up its new U.S. factory. http://www.bnet.com/blog/electric-cars/norwegian-ev-automaker-starts-production-in-indiana/2979 Big three Japanese carmakers in ‘green’ push: Japan’s three largest carmakers have joined forces to promote the adoption of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, with a plan to build 100 filling stations in Japan for the next-generation “green” cars by 2015. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ac949ba6-1f44-11e0-8c1c-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=rss#axzz1BPIrDQjF Misc The Queen of the Road: Is it easier to fail smog check in winter?: COMMUTER: Both my wife and I had to get smog checks for our cars in the past couple of weeks. They both passed, but the tech told us that our numbers were higher than average for the low-speed emissions test that they do. My wife's car was borderline for failing. They got to talking and the tech said that cars that are smogged in the colder months are much more likely to fail than those smogged in warmer months. Is this true? http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_17121484 Blame industry, not cars, for pollution: A new government study has broken the popular belief that vehicles are the major source of Particulate Matter (PM) air pollution. Instead, industrial emissions and road dust are the prominent causes, says environment ministry’s Source Appropriation Study in seven big cities of India. Particulate matter was the fastest growing pollutant in most Indian cities but its sources were not known. http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/651549.aspx Opinion What is the Conservative Solution to Pollution?: When it comes to health and environmental protections, House Republicans seem content to remain the "Party of No." In just the first week of the 112th Congress, they have rolled out bills and a resolution to block or dismantle standards to reduce harmful air pollution. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jwalke/what_is_the_conservative_solut.html Does climate change explain the Roman Empire's fall? A group of scientists is adding another explanation for the most over-determined event in history: climate change. Writing in the journal Science, the experts claim that Rome's Third Century Crisis -- a period of political and economic unrest that inaugurated the empire's slow decline -- coincided with "distinct drying" recorded in tree rings, which may have rendered European agriculture less productive. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2011/01/does_climate_change_explain_th.html Climate change debate may not be just about climate change : The debate about climate change isn't so much about whether or not climate change is happening but what actions to take if it is. Proponents say we need to quickly switch from oil-based energy and transportation to renewable energy and electric / hybrid vehicles, and to cut carbon emissions drastically. http://caivn.org/article/2011/01/18/climate-change-debate-may-not-be-just-about-climate-change Blogs Will new California Governor approve plan for 1 million electric vehicles? Motivated by Prop 23's defeat in November, Environment California is working on getting Governor Jerry Brown on board with a plan to reduce California's dependence on oil by getting one million clean vehicles on the Golden State's roads by 2022. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/01/13/california-governor-approve-plan-1-million-electric-vehicles/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 09:49:36 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 19, 2011 From: mfricke@arb.ca.gov Newsclips for January 19, 2011. Air Pollution EU delays tackling air pollution to 2012 or later: The European Union's executive has agreed to delay new laws forcing industry to take costly steps to tackle air pollutants that are blamed for respiratory problems and premature deaths in cities. Posted http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFLDE70H2AN20110119?sp=true Chimneys: repair or replace? November 2010 updates to the Palo Alto building codes puts the city of Palo Alto in compliance with Bay Area Air Quality Control Management District requirements aimed at reducing wood-smoke air pollution. The codes prohibit one-for-one replacement of a damaged wood-burning fireplace or the construction of a new one. Posted http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=19750 EPA releases emissions data from animal feeding study: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is making data publicly available from a two-year study of air emissions from animal feeding operations (AFOs). AFOs, which house large numbers of animals for production of meat, dairy products and eggs. Posted http://southeastfarmpress.com/government/epa-releases-emissions-data-animal-feeding-study Obama Issues Executive Order to Cut Red Tape: In his most forceful reply yet to industry groups and Republicans who have accused the administration of slowing the economic recovery by tying up businesses in red tape, President Obama has ordered a top-to-bottom review of federal regulations to get rid of rules that are outdated and harmful to the economy, the White House announced this morning. Posted http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/01/18/18greenwire-obama-issues-executive-order-to-cut-red-tape-93114.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Climate Change Improved Measurements of Sun to Advance Understanding of Climate Change: Scientists have taken a major step toward accurately determining the amount of energy that the sun provides to Earth, and how variations in that energy may contribute to climate change. Posted http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/01/19/improved-measurements-of-sun-to-advance-understanding-of-climate-change Climate change growing risk for insurers: industry: Insurers are struggling to assess the risks from climate change, industry officials say, with the floods in Australia and Brazil highlighting the potential losses from greater extremes of weather. Posted http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70I1BT20110119 Climate change study had 'significant error': experts: A climate change study that projected a 2.4 degree Celsius increase in temperature and massive worldwide food shortages in the next decade was seriously flawed, scientists said Wednesday. Posted http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/climate-change-study-had-significant-error-experts-20110120-19wuy.html Bills would rein in Va. AG's climate change probe: Two Democratic senators are offering bills that would restrain conservative Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s civil inquest into climate change research at the University of Virginia. Posted http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20110118/NEWS01/110118035/-1/ESN/Bills-would-rein-in-Va.-AG-s-climate-change-probe 'Climate Change' stocks see rapid global growth: The number of ‘climate change' stocks available globally has rocketed from 510 in 2007 to nearly 800 now according to fund manager Schroders. The firm, which runs the Global Climate Change fund, identifies five main drivers in the sector energy efficiency, clean energy, low carbon fossil fuels, sustainable transport and environmental resources. Posted http://www.mindfulmoney.co.uk/2969/investing-strategy/climate-change-stocks-see-rapid-global-growth.html M&G analysis on Stiglitz lecture: World renowned economist and winner of the Nobel prize for economics Professor Joseph Stiglitz shared his thoughts on climate change, its effects on the global economy and South Africa in a lecture on Monday January 17 2011. Editor-in-chief of the Mail and Guardian Nic Dawes takes us through some of Stilglitz's key points. Posted http://www.mg.co.za/multimedia/2011-01-18-mg-analysis-nic-dawes-on-stiglitz-lecture Diesel Emissions Findings on pollution damage to human airways could yield new therapies: Researchers from Duke University Medical Center have identified how nanoparticles from diesel exhaust damage lung airway cells, a finding that could lead to new therapies for people susceptible to airway disease. The scientists also discovered that the severity of the injury depends on the genetic make-up of the affected individual. Posted http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=19767.php Fuels Diesel price hike largest since April: A week after diesel prices barely budged, the national average retail price of diesel jumped 7.4 cents to $3.407 a gallon during the week ended Monday, Jan. 17, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration. Posted http://www.ccjdigital.com/diesel-price-hike-largest-since-april/ U.S. Xpress orders 1,000 SmartWay certified trucks: U.S. Xpress, based in Chattanooga, Tenn., has ordered 1,000 new Peterbilt 587s, the truck maker announced. Peterbilt’s new Model 587s have been certified as fuel-efficient by the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program. Posted http://www.overdriveonline.com/u-s-xpress-orders-1000-smartway-certified-trucks/ Report Questions Role of Shale Gas as Bridge to Low Carbon Future: Without a global carbon price, the expanding shale gas boom would exacerbate climate change and take money away from renewable energy projects, a new report said, calling for a worldwide pause until countries take steps necessary to lower the risks of the new wave of drilling. Posted http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS210245011720110119 Shell tests new engine oil, diesel fuel formulas: A new fuel-saving engine oil formula and a nitrogen-enriched diesel blend are being tested by Shell, which said both products arecaimed at global light- and heavy-vehicle markets, respectively. Posted http://fleetowner.com/green/archive/shell-tests-engine-oil-diesel-fuel-formula-0118/ Green Energy California’s solar power increasingly Chinese made: The Obama administration is reviewing a complaint from the United States Steelworkers union that China has violated free trade rules through its subsidization of renewable energy companies. Meanwhile, one American photovoltaic module maker, Evergreen Solar, is shutting down its Massachusetts factory and relocating manufacturing operations to China, lured by incentives offered the Chinese government. Posted http://www.grist.org/article/californias-solar-power-increasingly-chinese-made Vehicles EPA, Calif. Defend Waiver for State's Tailpipe Standards: Though the Obama administration has moved ahead with nationwide limits on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks, the legal fight over California's authority to set still-tougher standards has continued in court. Posted http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/01/18/18greenwire-epa-calif-defend-waiver-for-states-tailpipe-st-36026.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Misc (oddball items) Giant snails monitor air pollution in Russia: A Russian waterworks has recruited giant African snails to act as living sensors to monitor air pollution from a sewage incinerator, the company said Tuesday. Posted http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hoJ44qLXKrdBzJffsyO8btUEYaPw?docId=CNG.5e990f15315b01b62a102f8e3ce05846.1a1 Grad students create color-changing clothes that detect air pollution: Pollution has never been so fashionable: A pair of NYU grad students have created a high-tech sweatshirt emblazoned with pink lungs that suddenly show blue veins when exposed to dirty air. Posted http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/01/19/2011-01-19_grad_students_create_colorchanging_clothes_that_detect_foul_air_shirts_act_as_to.html#ixzz1BV3UttrC . Drug gangs and air pollution: It's reported that 20 to 25 percent of the inspection stickers on cars in Travis County are counterfeit. It's only around 7 percent in Dallas County. But as Sheriff's Lt. Jerry Kitchens says, "A lot of cartels are getting into this. It's big business." And it means that not only are the cartels messing up people's lives with their drugs, their messing up the air for the rest of us, because the cars and trucks that can't pass inspection and remain on the road with fake stickers account for up to half of the air-quality problems in North Texas. Posted http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/01/drug-gangs-and.html Opinion 10 Trends Driving Action on Climate Change in 2011: But despite the glacial pace of leadership at the top, there are many reasons why real global action on climate change is inevitable. Posted http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/01/19/10-trends-driving-action-on-climate-change-in-2011/ Blogs You Can Believe Your Eyes: Low Visibility Can Mean Higher Death Rates: A study released today by Hong Kong University and published in the journal Environmental Research has found that lower visibility due to pollution has a direct correlation with increased rates of mortality in Hong Kong. Posted http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2011/01/19/you-can-believe-your-eyes-low-visibility-can-mean-higher-death-rates/#ixzz1BV3yBmef Retail gasoline remains at record mid-January levels: Gasoline pump prices continued their slow creep higher over the last week while oil prices drifted lower in spite of higher demand in China and other places overseas. Posted http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/01/retail-gasoline-remains-at-record-mid-january-levels.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 12:55:03 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 20, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 20, 2011. 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 Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Sends 7 To Hospital. Sacramento, CA -- Some midtown Sacramento residents were taken to the hospital Thursday morning after feeling nauseous as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. They live in a 16-unit stucco apartment building near 24th and Capitol Avenue. Fire crews believe a carbon monoxide leak made them sick. "I knocked on the door and had to get my neighbor to help me,” said John Hayden, after being released from the hospital. Hayden passed out around midnight and was unconscious when firefighters arrived at his apartment. Posted. http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=118663&catid=2 http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2011/01/midtown-apartme.html http://www.kcra.com/news/26557105/detail.html Activists Dismayed By Manchin's Plan To Curb EPA. “Environmental activists who have fought mountaintop removal for years praised the decision as vindication of their battle. They said Thursday that Manchin should be putting people harmed by air and water pollution ahead of corporate profits.” Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/20/manchins-1st-bill-will-seek-to-curb-power-of-epa/ CLIMATE CHANGE California Air Board Works On Cap-And-Trade Risk. The ghost of California's electricity crisis haunts cap and trade. State regulators creating a market to cap greenhouse gas emissions know that someone somewhere will probably try to manipulate the system, just as Enron gamed the state's electricity market 10 years ago. They are determined to make manipulation as difficult as possible. Fraud could undermine the market, raise energy prices for Californians, hinder the state's fight against global warming and wreck the chances of one day creating a national cap-and-trade system - a key goal of many environmentalists. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/17/MNCS1H5E1C.DTL&type=printable Oversight Sufficient For US Carbon Derivatives Market: Report. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission can rely on its enhanced authority contained in the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to oversee the country's derivatives market for carbon dioxide allowances and offsets in an effective manner, an interagency report concluded. "The current legal framework for oversight of derivative markets, as enhanced by the Dodd-Frank Act when it becomes effective in July 2011, will provide for robust and effective oversight of carbon derivatives markets and closely linked derivative markets, such as those based on energy commodities," the study said. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/Coal/8429015 UN Weather Agency: 2010 Tied With 1998 And 2005 For Warmest Year On Record. Geneva (AP) - The warmest year on record is a three-way tie: 2010, 2005 and 1998. So says the U.N. weather agency, providing further evidence Thursday that the planet is slowly but surely heating up. Average temperatures globally last year were 0.95 degrees Fahrenheit (0.53 Celsius) higher than the 1961-90 mean that is used for comparison purposes, according to World Meteorological Organization. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/wire/sns-ap-un-un-warmest-year,0,2424213,print.story European Commission Halts Transfers of Carbon Emissions Allowances Until Thefts Are Sorted Out. The European Commission has suspended transfers of carbon dioxide emissions allowances for at least a week while it investigates some computer-aided thievery, including the loss of 475,000 of them from a registry in the Czech Republic. The move allows most of the trading in the world's largest carbon emissions trading system to continue because the bulk of the market's activity is in forward or futures trades. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/20/20climatewire-european-commission-halts-transfers-of-carbo-22394.html?pagewanted=print GOP Staff, Energy Lobby In Closed-Door Talks. Top staff members for key House and Senate Republicans met in a closed-door session Tuesday with energy industry interests to work on strategy to handcuff the Obama administration’s climate change agenda. With the backing of GOP caucus leaders, aides for House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee ranking member Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) are seeking unwavering support from a host of industries for an all-out push to block federal and state climate rules. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47867.html#ixzz1BbEPEM00 Shrinking Snow and Ice Cover Intensify Global Warming. New research shows that the decreases in Earth's snow and ice cover over the past 30 years have exacerbated global warming more than models predict they should have, on average. ANN ARBOR, Mich.—The decreases in Earth's snow and ice cover over the past 30 years have exacerbated global warming more than models predict they should have, on average, new research from the University of Michigan shows. Posted. http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/01/20/shrinking-snow-and-ice-cover-intensify-global-warming_print.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Shippers Examine Advantages of Fuel Change. “The push for shipping companies to reduce emissions and improve the energy efficiency of their fleets is coming in part from stricter environmental regulations, at both the national and international levels.” http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/20/business/global/20iht-rbogship.html?ref=airpollution GREEN ENERGY Mayor Johnson Sees Green Economy In Sacramento's Future. In his State of the City address today, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson will propose creating a regional clean-tech authority to pump $100 million into school retrofits and recommend building a series of biofuel plants that would manufacture fuel from waste. He'll also outline how to double the number of green technology jobs in the region and urge that 20 percent of the area's food be purchased from local farms and ranches. The State of the City address will be held today at the Sacramento Convention Center. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/20/v-print/3337345/mayor-johnson-sees-green-economy.html Growth Of Sacramento's Green Sector Flat In 2009, Study Says. After doubling over the past 15 years, job growth in Sacramento's green sector was flat in 2009, according to a new study. But San Francisco-based Next 10, which released the report, said the local region continues to be a leader in the state's rapidly expanding green economy and is well-positioned for further growth. "The (Sacramento) region has a tremendous foundation for the future," said F. Noel Perry, Next 10's founder. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/19/v-print/3334293/growth-of-sacramentos-green-sector.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/19/BUH81HAU94.DTL&type=printable http://www.mercurynews.com/hotjobs/ci_17132711 http://economy.ocregister.com/2011/01/19/o-c-green-jobs-grow-67/47682/ Obama Brings U.S. Clean Energy Trade Issues To Table In U.S.-China Talks. Echoing concerns expressed by U.S. businesses, President Obama yesterday pressed Chinese President Hu Jintao to pry open his nation's doors to foreign competitors, including U.S. technology companies hoping to tap into China's effort to control its greenhouse gas emissions. "I welcomed his commitment that American companies will not be discriminated against when they compete for Chinese government procurement contracts," Obama said after White House talks with Hu. "And I appreciate his willingness to take new steps to combat the theft of intellectual property." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/20/2 New Reactor Harnesses Sun's Energy Like Plants. Researchers have unveiled a prototype reactor which mimics plant life, turning the Sun’s energy to make hydrocarbon fuel. Developed by a team of scientists from the United States and Switzerland, The solar device uses the Sun’s rays and the metal ceria, or cerium oxide, to break down water or carbon dioxide into energy which can be stored and transported. Harnessing the power of the sun has been but a pipe dream as conventional solar panels must use the power they generate in situ. With the ceria fueled reactor, this issue is solved. Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/01/20/new-reactor-harnesses-suns-energy-like-plants/ VEHICLES Clean Tech Arrives, With Limited Payoff. Fremont's Economic Base Shifts After Auto Industry's Retreat, but Boost From New Companies Has Been Modest So Far. Fremont - A few years after finishing high school in 1994, Steve Andersen found work building auto hoods and fenders in a loud, gritty auto plant in his hometown here. Today, he has a new job in town: supervising technicians in smocks and hairnets who create material for solar panels in a white-floored laboratory. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703954004576090043961924776.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_News_SanFranciscoBayArea68_2 Commute Times Improve In Sacramento Thanks To Recession. If you find yourself grumbling less during your commute these days, there's good reason. For many Sacramento commuters, the route to work is not nearly as crowded as a few years ago. While Sacramento commuters spend on average 24 hours a year stuck in traffic, that's better than in most urban areas, and it's a smoother commute than drivers here have had since 1993, a new report shows. The main reason, however, isn't a happy one. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/20/v-print/3337370/commute-times-improve-in-sacramento.html State Approves $14.2M, Clearing The Way For Santa Cruz County To Purchase UP Rail Line. Sacramento --- The California Transportation Commission voted 10-1 on Wednesday to grant the county $14.2 million to acquire 32 miles of rail line from Watsonville to Davenport after a commissioner cut a surprising, last-minute deal for Union Pacific to drop its price. The panel approved the county Regional Transportation Commissions plans for the project in late June, but needed to take a separate vote Wednesday to allocate state transportation funds. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/central-coast/ci_17141272?nclick_check=1 EPA, Chrysler Work On Hybrid Engines For Minivans. Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Chrysler and the Environmental Protection Agency are trying to adapt an engine technology invented by the EPA to improve gas mileage in minivans. The company and the government agency said Wednesday they're working to fit the EPA's hydraulic hybrid system into Chrysler minivans. If it works, the system could boost minivan mileage 35 percent to around 27 miles per gallon. Currently the top Chrysler minivan gets 20 mpg in combined city and highway driving. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/green-energy/ci_17138206 MISCELLANEOUS Real Hunters Get The Lead Out. It is time for those of us who hunt to quit using outdated lead bullets and start moving toward high-tech copper bullets – even if they are more expensive. Lead bullets are bad for everyone: They contaminate the meat we bring home as well as the gut piles we leave behind, and they also poison any scavengers that consume the contaminated meat. Moreover, the evidence against lead bullets is now solid. In a North Dakota study of 738 people whose blood was tested, those who ate a lot of wild game had higher lead levels than those who ate little or none. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/20/real-hunters-get-the-lead-out/ BLOGS Everything's Bigger in Texas. Texans are proud of a lot of things, but the state's air quality isn't one of them. That makes it doubly bizarre that Governor Rick Perry is so determined to stop the EPA from requiring big polluters to conform to the Clean Air Act. Texas industries produce more toxic mercury pollution, more smog, and more greenhouse gases than any other state. And although Texas is a very big state, it's not so big that its air pollution doesn't affect its neighbors. Just ask the folks across the Red River in Oklahoma how they feel about Texas coal plants. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/mbrune/detail?entry_id=81375#ixzz1BbQxVdmI Tough Climate Math in the Face of CO2 and Energy Forecasts. It’s hard to find projections for both global energy demand and emissions of carbon dioxide from fuel burning that don’t have a sustained upward trajectory for decades to come. The latest such forecasts were issued on Wednesday by Exxon Mobil, at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, and by BP. I’ll focus more on the BP report because it’s posted online, while Exxon’s is still awaiting publication. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/20/tough-climate-math-in-the-face-of-co2-and-energy-forecasts/?pagemode=print Clean Air Act: Wrong Tool for Controlling Global Warming. Regulatory agencies are created to write laws that Congress deems too technically complex, cumbersome or politically difficult to pass on a case-by-case basis. If you're a liberal, these agencies represent a delegation of authority. For conservatives, Congress is abdicating authority. Nowhere are these philosophies more apparent and the resulting turmoil greater than at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Environment, for some, is a religion with the same level of vitriolic exchange that one might expect between Darwinians and Creationists. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gary-liberson/clean-air-act-wrong-for-f_b_808553.html Severe Smog Linked to Deaths in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s most striking feature — the skyline of skyscrapers silhouetted against Victoria Peak — is getting harder and harder to see. Over the last few decades, as the city’s economy and that of neighboring mainland China has expanded, visibility in the region has plummeted as air pollution has worsened. This is not just a concern for tourists who are worried about how their photos will turn out. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/severe-smog-linked-to-deaths-in-hong-kong/?scp=3&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:45:59 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 20, 2011 From: mfricke@arb.ca.gov Newsclips for January 20, 2011. California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 21, 2011. 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 Los Angeles' 'green zone' plan is aimed at low-income, high-pollution areas “Under a motion to be introduced Friday by four Los Angeles City Council members, these communities would be designated as special "green zone" districts. The aim would be to attract clean industries through incentives, including help obtaining permits and tax and utility rebates. Polluters, meanwhile, would be targeted with tougher inspection and enforcement protocols.” Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-hazards-pacoima-20110121,0,770453.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fscience%2Fenvironment+%28L.A.+Times+-+Environment%29&utm_content=Google+Reader EPA Loses in bid to delay air rules “A federal judge on Thursday rejected the Obama administration's request to delay by more than a year controversial new regulations targeting emissions of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants from industrial boilers.” Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703921504576094410120469054.html Naval weapons station climate plan draws praise from environmentalists “The creation of a climate action plan for the former Concord Naval Weapons Station site puts Concord at the forefront of California's efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, city officials and environmental activists said Wednesday as the plan was presented.” Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17149598?nclick_check=1 Activists dismayed by Manchin's plan to curb EPA “The EPA ruled that destructive and unsustainable mining practices at what could have been the state's largest mountaintop removal operation would cause irreparable environmental damage and threaten the health of communities around the nearly 2,300-acre site.” Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/20/manchins-1st-bill-will-seek-to-curb-power-of-epa/ Findings on pollution damage to human airways could yield new therapies “Researchers from Duke University Medical Center have identified how nanoparticles from diesel exhaust affect lung airway cells, a finding that could lead to new therapies for people susceptible to airway diseases. The scientists also discovered that the severity of the injury depends on the genetic make-up of the affected individual.” Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/clean-green/news-detail.asp?news_id=72744&news_category_id=20 CLIMATE CHANGE Peabody-Calera Partnership Could Bring U.S. 'Green Cement' to China Peabody, the largest privately held coal producer, would operate the surface mine. Huaneng and Calera plan to deploy Calera technology that would convert a percentage of the plant's carbon dioxide emissions into cement and other building … The deal is a foot in the door in China for Calera, which has backing from Silicon Valley investor Vinod Khosla and the U.S. Department of Energy to further develop and deploy its proprietary technology. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/21/21climatewire-peabody-calera-partnership-could-bring-us-gr-92498.html Greenland's Ice Feels the Heat in Record-Setting 2010 “Unusually warm conditions in much of the country helped extend the annual melting season by up to 50 days longer in 2010 than the average observed between 1979 and 2009, researchers found.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/21/21climatewire-greenlands-ice-feels-the-heat-in-record-sett-93789.html?scp=10&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Naval Weapons Station climate plan draws praise from environmentalists ... forefront of California's efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, city officials and environmental activists said Wednesday as the plan was presented. ... http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17149598 New Mexico’s About-Face on GHGs Not Expected to Hinder Regional Action “New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez’s swift actions to stall progress on greenhouse gas regulations she inherited from her predecessor will likely hinder the state’s participation in the Western Climate Initiative’s (WCI) cap-and-trade program, environmental authorities said, although it will not sideline the regional initiative itself.” Posted: http://solveclimatenews.com/news/20110121/new-mexico%E2%80%99s-about-face-ghgs-not-expected-hinder-regional-action FUELS AP Sources: EPA Expected to OK More Auto Ethanol “The EPA s poised to approve higher levels of corn-based ethanol in gasoline for all cars manufactured in the past decade. It has approved 15 percent ethanol for all cars and light-duty trucks manufactured since 2007.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/21/AR2011012103163.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/20/1520776/ap-source-epa-expected-to-ok-more.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/21/epa-approves-more-ethanol-in-fuel-for-cars/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_0541c079-0f18-5aed-87f8-2cfe45427198.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/01/20/2240536/ap-source-epa-expected-to-ok-more.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/21/AR2011012103163.html Clark County buying 1M gallons of alternative fuel “A northern Nevada refinery has been awarded a contract to supply Clark County with about 1 million gallons of a cleaner, alternative fuel to power the county's diesel vehicle fleet. The new contract with Clark County is its biggest since environmental regulators certified GDiesel for the state's alternative fuels program in August.” Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/20/clark-county-buying-1m-gallons-of-alternative/ DOE backing biofuels project in Louisiana “The U.S. Department of Energy said Thursday that it will back a $241 million loan guarantee to help build a manufacturing plant for renewable diesel fuel in Louisiana. Plans call for the use of animal fats, used cooking oil and other waste grease as feedstocks for the fuel, which will be produced at Norco, La., near New Orleans.” Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/20/doe-backing-biofuels-project-in-louisiana/ GREEN ENERGY Bloom Energy unveils plan to make fuel-cell technology more affordable “Some experts said power-purchase agreements could help spread the use of fuel cell technology, much as they have in the solar industry, by lowering the upfront costs for users.” Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bloom-energy-20110121,0,7833210.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fbusiness+%28L.A.+Times+-+Business%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Green Jobs In California Grow Despite Recession “Employers offering jobs in solar-power generation, electric-vehicle development and environmental consultation added 5,000 jobs in 2008. Overall, about 174,000 Californians were working in eco-friendly fields by 2009, compared to just 111,000 in 1995, the nonprofit research group Next 10, which conducted the study, reported.” Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-green-jobs-20110119,0,356275.story http://www.citytowninfo.com/career-and-education-news/articles/green-jobs-in-california-grow-despite-recession-11012002 Mayors Scramble to Preserve Block Grant Funding for Energy Projects “The block grant program provides funding to states and local entities for projects that improve energy efficiency and reduce fossil fuel emissions.” Posted http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/01/20/20greenwire-mayors-scramble-to-preserve-block-grant-fundin-70540.html Solar project offers a boon to the Inland region “Near the California-Nevada border, workers have begun construction of BrightSource Energy's Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System. When completed, this 392-megawatt solar thermal power plant will produce enough clean, competitively priced power for about 140,000 Californian homes, displacing 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year.” Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/localviews/stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_D_op_20_woolard_loc.8c91d.html DESERT: Solar energy zones proposed on public land “Federal officials have scheduled more than a dozen meetings in the coming months to gather public comments on their proposal to create solar energy development zones on public land in six western states.” Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_solar21.11c5750.html PG&E Ends Plan to Buy Iberdrola Wind Farm in California “Iberdrola, the largest owner of wind-energy parks, canceled its plans to sell its Manzana wind project in Southern California on Jan. 14, PG&E said today in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The cancellation comes after a state administrative law judge recommended last month that California regulators deny PG&E’s request to buy the proposed plant, PG&E said in its filing.” Posted http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-20/pg-e-ends-plan-to-buy-iberdrola-wind-farm-in-california.html Big wind in the county, questions and answers “Big wind farms are planned on public and private land in eastern San Diego County, western Imperial County and northern Baja.” Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/20/big-wind-in-the-county-questions-answers/ Green Energy May Generate More Profit for Farmers Sacramento lawmakers have given the California Energy Commission an annual budget of $100 million to support the development of alternative and renewable. Posted. http://westernfarmpress.com/management/green-energy-may-generate-more-profit-farmers San Diego Utility's Contracts to Buy Solar Electricity Win State Agency Approval “The California Public Utilities Commission recently approved two solar energy contracts for San Diego Gas & Electric Co., whose parent corporation has been actively pursuing solar power. The utility received approval of two 20-year power purchase agreements with Centinela Solar Energy.” Posted. http://solarhbj.com/news/san-diego-utilitys-contracts-to-buy-solar-electricity-win-state-approval-01306 Calif. rule may stunt Oregon clean energy market “In a bold policy move last week, a California authority limited the amount of renewable energy credits its utilities can purchase outside the state, raising questions about the future of renewable energy development on its borders, including in Oregon.” Posted. http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/01/calif-rule-may-stunt-oregon-clean.html Endurance Placed on California Approval List “Endurance Wind Power is a manufacturer of advanced wind turbines designed specifically for distributed wind power applications. Their line of modern, induction based wind turbines bring efficient, reliable, safe and quiet, renewable energy within reach of homeowners, farmers, businesses and institutions across North America and an expanding global market.” Posted. http://www.altenergymag.com/news_detail.php?pr_id=18993 Biolamps uses CO2 to light up the streets “These lamps contain algae mixed with water, which converts the CO2 into oxygen which it then emits back out into the atmosphere. In addition to creating Oxygen, the lamp also converts the CO2 into a biomass which can be used to power up the lamps. If the lamp has more CO2 biomass than it needs, it uses an underground tube system to push it to the nearest filler station where it can be converted into a biofuel to power eco cars.” Posted. http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/01/biolamps-uses-co2-to-light-up-the-streets/ Regents Back Plans for New LBNL Solar Energy Center “Development of a new solar research center located at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory advanced Tuesday, as the UC Board of Regents' Committee on Grounds and Buildings approved financial and design proposals at the regents' meeting at UC San Diego.” Posted. http://www.dailycal.org/article/111596/regents_back_plans_for_new_lbnl_solar_energy_cente Department Of Energy Extends Renewable Energy Loan Guarantee Solicitations “The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that it is extending the final Part I application deadline for loan guarantees under its July 2009 energy efficiency, renewable energy, and advanced transmission and distribution technologies solicitation.” Posted. http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=7cac9444-a659-4fe0-9200-0ed208f0e53b A Bright Idea: Introducing ESL Light Bulbs from Vu1 “For the most part, the ESL bulbs are made of recyclable material, namely the plastic and the glass. But like many electronic devices today, the semi-conductors and electronic components are not as easily recyclable. The good news is that unlike CFL’s, we do not have to worry about heavy metals such as mercury with the ESL.” Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/01/light-bulbs-beyond-cfl-led-introducing-esl/comment-page-1/ VEHICLES Chicago cabbies to use Ford natural gas vans “A Chicago taxicab company will soon begin using a dozen Ford Transit Connect vans that run on natural gas instead of petroleum.” Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/21/chicago-cabbies-to-use-ford-natural-gas-vans/ Mitsubishi to launch 8 hybrid, electric models by 2015 “As demand for fuel-efficient cars increases, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. is mapping out plans to introduce eight hybrid and battery-powered models by 2015.” Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/01/21/12 Commentary UMRTI 100 “The key to a long-term recovery of the American automobile manufacturing industry is in executing an excellent portfolio of products. Our research finds that increasing fuel economy standards will lead to a portfolio of products that is more likely to raise than to lower the profits of the Detroit 3 automakers. Posted. http://www.autonewsservice.org/newsletter/ MISC An Open Green Building Schema “Green Building XML (gbXML) is one of the unsung heroes of this industry transition. As an open XML schema, it is free for anyone to use and any software manufacturer to incorporate into their products. The schema attempts to create a universal language for all things “green building” to facilitate interoperability between an ever-expanding number of software tools for the built environment.” Posted http://www.greenbuildingpro.com/articles/57-features/2714-gbxml-an-open-green-building-schema College lands grant for green careers “Cerritos College has received the second installment of an Edison International grant to provide scholarship support for students pursuing green job programs at the school.” Posted. http://thedowneypatriot.com/view/full_story/11077635/article-College-lands-grant-for-green-careers?instance=special_coverage_bullets_right_column Do Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Really Last 10 Years? “In California, compact fluorescent lightbulbs aren't lasting as long as expected. Utilities like PG&E, which has subsidized consumer purchases of CFLs in the state, originally figured a bulb would last more than nine years, but based on experience has lowered that to about six. We've found in our past tests that some spiral CFLs were still shining brightly after 10,300 hours of use. That works out to 3 hours a day for 9.4 years.” Posted. http://consumerist.com/2011/01/do-compact-flourescent-bulbs-really-last-10-years.html Want to Learn About Smart Grid? Don’t Call Your Utility “A recent thesis written by an undergraduate at Purdue University involved the researcher calling 100 electric companies that were planning or deploying smart grid technologies. The result was that far too many of the utilities’ front line employees were not equipped to answer questions, and at times, gave shockingly uninformed responses to an eager customer.” Posted. http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/want-to-learn-about-smart-grid-dont-call-your-utility/ The Economics of Superinsulating Windows “Retrofitting commercial buildings with highly insulating windows is an investment that can pay off in five years. Since commercial spaces vary widely in terms of square footage, orientation to the sun, local climate, and many other factors, not all savings will be the same.” Posted. http://www.technologyreview.com/business/27012/?p1=BI BLOGS Thailand Closes Diving Sites After Massive Coral Bleaching “Many of the world’s shallow-water corals are already stressed by overfishing, pollution and shipping, but some marine biologists fear that climate change and ocean acidification, caused when carbon dioxide is absorbed by the oceans, pose a far more serious threat and could ultimately lead to the total collapse of many reefs.” Posted http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/thailand-closes-diving-sites-to-protect-corals/?scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=cse A Stubborn Link Between Jobs and Traffic Jams “The average national unemployment rate reached its lowest point in the last decade, 4.6 percent, commuters spent 5.25 billion hours stuck in traffic and wasted 4.19 billion gallons of fuel. Higher unemployment also correlates with a slight decline in how congestion costs are offset by the use of public transportation.” Posted http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/a-stubborn-link-between-jobs-and-traffic-jams/?scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Home Wind Turbine a First for San Diego Driven by his desire to go green, Tim Williams recently became the first San Diego resident to install a wind turbine at his home. The 3.4-kW Falcon turbine, a product of WePOWER, has since gone live, and will hopefully convince other homeowners to follow suit. This particular model is conducive to residential homes because it [...] http://www.greenbuildingpro.com/blogs/featured-blogs/sustainablog/2723-home-wind-turbine-a-first-for-san-diego The Hill's Congress Blog - Fuel-Efficient Vehicles are the Way to Go “Ironically, the Prius, the most successful hybrid electric vehicle in U.S. history, was introduced by Toyota in 2000 at the same time that GM introduced the Hummer II. The different fates of the two companies in the ensuing decade are stunning. Last year the Prius sold 900,000 units worldwide -- while GM was in bankruptcy and the Hummer II all but disappeared.” Posted. http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-a-environment/139191-fuel-efficient-vehicles-are-the-way-to-go ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:03:31 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 24, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 24, 2011. 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 With Extension Denied, EPA Sends Boiler Rules to White House. “On the same day that a federal judge rejected U.S. EPA's bid to wait 15 more months before setting a set of controversial air pollution rules for industrial boilers, the agency sent the final rules to the White House for review, drawing fire from environmentalists, who say the agency was being disingenuous in requesting an extension.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/01/21/21greenwire-with-extension-denied-epa-sends-boiler-rules-t-75622.html?scp=9&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse INLAND REGION: Fireplace Rule Gets Dress Rehearsal. Southern California residents may have seen televised advisories telling them whether it's a good day to warm up with their home fireplaces or wood stoves. Those who ignore an advisory and light up the fireplace anyway won't face any punitive action just yet, but the regional air pollution agency is hoping the messages educate people about the consequences of burning on bad-air days. In November, fines ranging from $25 to $150 kick in. Wood smoke contributes to fine-particle pollution, linked to an array of ailments. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_fireplace24.193c488.html HEPA Filter May Improve Air Near Wood-Burning Stoves. Indoor pollution and cardiovascular health risks lower when filter was in use, study finds. HEPA filters may help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease caused by exposure to indoor air pollution, a new study suggests. Canadian researchers looked at 45 adults from 25 homes in a small community where wood-burning stoves were the main sources of pollution. HEPA (high-efficiency particle air) filters were placed in each home's main activity room and in each participant's bedroom. The HEPA filter was operated normally during one seven-day period and without the internal filters during another seven-day period. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/649100.html CLIMATE CHANGE Warming Effect Of Melting Ice Fields Stronger, Report Finds. A study of the 'albedo effect' – the reflection of radiation from sunlight back to space by Arctic ice and glaciers – shows that shrinkage has led to higher heat absorption than previously estimated. The dramatic shrinking of Arctic Sea ice and the Northern Hemisphere's glaciers and snowfields has reduced the radiation of sunlight back into space more than scientists previously predicted, according to a new study in the journal Nature Geoscience. As a result, the ocean and land mass exposed by the melting ice and snow have absorbed more heat, contributing to global warming. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-me-climate-arctic-20110121,0,2377795,print.story Mountain Plant Communities Moving Down Despite Climate Change, Study Finds. A study in the journal Science challenges assumptions that climate change and rising temperatures would send vegetation to higher elevations. A rise in precipitation could be the cause. Predictions that climate change will drive trees and plants uphill, potentially slashing their range to perilous levels, may be wrong, suggests a new study that found vegetation in California actually crept downhill during the 20th century. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-climate-trees-20110121,0,1920274,print.story Scenario to Cap World Emissions by 2020 Is Fading Fast, Warns IEA Economist. “Unless the United States, Europe, China, India and the other emerging economies get on a crash course to slash greenhouse gases, Birol contends, world leaders can simply forget about one of their oft-talked-about goals: stabilizing the average global temperature rise at 2 degrees Celsius.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/24/24climatewire-scenario-to-cap-world-emissions-by-2020-is-f-69072.html?scp=16&sq=Fuels&st=cse For Many Species, No Escape as Temperature Rises. “Over the past two decades, an increasing number of settlers who have moved here to farm have impinged on bird habitats and reduced bird populations by cutting down forests and turning grasslands into fields. Now the early effects of global warming and other climate changes have helped send the populations of many local mountain species into a steep downward spiral, from which many experts say they will never recover.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/22/science/earth/22kenya.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=climate%20change&st=cse UK Prepares To Submit Final List Of Sites For Nuclear. The U.K. government is preparing to submit to parliament a final list of sites suitable for new nuclear power stations, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary said Monday, clearing the way for a new nuclear fleet to help the country meet climate change obligations and keep the lights on. Once approved by lawmakers, the list of sites will allow companies including EDF Energy, the U.K. subsidiary of Electricite de France SA (EDF.FR), to come forward with formal planning applications. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110124-707508.html Some Himalayan Glaciers Advance, Despite Warming. (Reuters) - Some Himalayan glaciers are advancing despite an overall retreat, according to a study on Sunday that is a step toward understanding how climate change affects vital river flows from China to India. A blanket of dust and rock debris was apparently shielding some glaciers in the world's highest mountain range from a thaw, a factor omitted from past global warming reports. And varying wind patterns might explain why some were defying a melt. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70M1RC20110123 EU Carbon Trading Thefts Reveal Systemic Flaws. Brussels - Nikos Tornikidis, a trader of carbon emissions permits in the Czech Republic, was used to the ups and downs of Europe's Emissions Trading System, a euro90 billion ($122 billion) online market splintered across 30 nations. But the news last week that hackers had stolen euro7 million in emissions permits from his firm revealed just how vulnerable the market — and his company's money — was. "No one had any clue," said Tornikidis, a portfolio manager at emissions permits trading company Blackstone Global Ventures, after alerting national authorities on Wednesday morning. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-24/eu-carbon-trading-thefts-reveal-systemic-flaws.html "Blue Carbon" Initiatives Emerging As Promising Carbon Sinks. Robin Miller winced as she stuck her hand into the frigid waters of an experimental Delta wetland to probe the soft soil below. "I found it," the U.S. Geological Survey scientist called out, pulling from the muck a small packet filled with rotting plants called "proto-peat." In time, that plant matter becomes peat, the rich soil formed by decayed plants that makes the Delta such productive farmland. Though farmers have long prized peatland, scientists are also according it new respect given its impressive carbon gas storage capabilities. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_17164343?source=rss&nclick_check=1 Scripps Deal Could Change Climate Policies. Just two years after British researchers discovered a hole in Earth’s ozone layer, countries around the globe agreed to phase out chemicals that caused the problem in what became known as the Montreal Protocol of 1987. Scientists still use that pact as an illustration of how the ability to measure environmental changes leads to new programs and regulations. Closer to home, attempts to curtail beach pollution in California blossomed in the late 1990s after expanded water-quality testing highlighted bacterial pollution in coastal waters. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/22/scripps-deal-could-change-climate-policies/ States Take Lead In Efforts To Fight Climate Change. Now that 2010 has gone down as one of history's hottest years, many states are choosing not to wait for Congress to tackle global warming and are taking their own steps to slash greenhouse gas emissions. States are increasingly adopting spending more money (partly federal) on energy efficiency and prodding big polluters to cut heat-trapping emissions. "This is ground-breaking work the states are doing to provide leadership," says Kevin Kennedy of the California Air Resources Board a state agency that approved rules in December to cut the state's current carbon dioxide emissions 15% by 2020. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/01/states-tackle-global-warming-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions/1 FUELS EPA Allows Higher Ethanol Levels In Gas For Most Cars. “The agency said 15 percent ethanol blended with gasoline is safe for cars and light-duty trucks manufactured from 2001 to 2006, expanding an October decision that the higher blend is safe for cars built since 2007. The maximum gasoline blend has been 10 percent ethanol.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/22/business/energy-environment/22ethanol.html?sq=Fuels&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=4&adxnnlx=1295888752-lPXYzHNslL/HQoZqPbe8GQ http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/22/1524035/epa-allows-higher-ethanol-levels.html Enzyme Maker Sees U.S. Ethanol Volume Rising, Still Missing EPA Mandate. Copenhagen, Denmark -- Novozymes, the world's biggest producer of industrial enzymes, forecasts that the U.S. biofuels industry will produce 13.8 billion gallons of ethanol this year, a 5 percent increase from 2010, as U.S. EPA allows increased blending of ethanol in gasoline and as U.S. exports continue to increase. EPA requires that 13.95 billion gallons of ethanol and other biofuels be blended into gasoline this year in the United States. On Friday, EPA announced that vehicles made in the last decade can now use up to 15 percent ethanol. The agency already approved using the blend on cars made in or after 2007 (ClimateWire, Oct. 14, 2010). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/24/6 GREEN ENERGY Solarcity Plans To Add 25 Workers This Year. Foster City-based SolarCity said it will add 25 employees to its local operations this year. The company, which recently moved to larger facilities on Academy Way, now employs about 75 in the Sacramento area, up from about 13 last year. SolarCity has about 700 solar projects in the Sacramento region, including major retail outlets and large-scale manufacturing facilities such as Intel Corp.'s Folsom location. The company also has a large number of residential customers, who lease solar systems. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/22/v-print/3342971/solarcity-plans-to-add-25-workers.html VEHICLES Mazda To Lease Electric Vehicles In Japan In 2012.“Mazda is developing its own electric car for leasing in Japan starting in spring 2012, joining the rush to develop green vehicles, an area in which it's lagging General Motors, Nissan and other rivals. The electric vehicle will be based on the car maker's Demio subcompact, called the Mazda2 overseas, and will have a driving range of 120 miles (200 kilometers) on a single charge”. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/24/AR2011012401435.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/24/1525426/mazda-to-lease-electric-vehicles.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/24/mazda-to-lease-electric-vehicles-in-japan-in/ http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/01/24/2244607/mazda-to-lease-electric-vehicles.html#storylink=misearch http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/24/14 Betting on Green, Mitsubishi to Park 3 Models. “Mitsubishi’s American unit will drop three slow-selling models by 2013: the Galant midsize sedan, the Eclipse sporty coupe and the Endeavor S.U.V. In their place, Mitsubishi will offer some of the smaller hybrid and electric models, which will also be aimed at developing markets.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/automobiles/23MITSU.html?scp=3&sq=green%20vehicles&st=cse Delta To Host Free Emissions Testing “Sponsored by San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and Valley Clean Air Now, the program is designed to help reduce emissions in older, out of tune cars. If the vehicle does not pass the emission test, the motorist will receive a $500 voucher for repairs at a local Gold Shield-certified smog shop.” Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110122/A_LIFE/101220304 Reducing Parking Spaces Helps Cities Cut Auto Emissions. With bicycle share schemes, smoothly running metros and pedestrian-only streets, Europe has an edge over the New World when it comes to alternatives to automobile transportation. A new study reveals that Europe has success with another tool designed to remove people from their cars: subtracting parking spaces. Because every vehicle trip must end in a parking space, limiting parking through economic and policy changes has significantly reduced miles driven in 10 European cities, according to "Europe's Parking U-Turn Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/24/3 Electric Cars Hit The Fast Tracks. While plug-in vehicles are rolling into showrooms, some of them are also gearing up for the racing circuit this summer. Plans are moving ahead for the EV Cup, the first-ever circuit race to feature only electric vehicles. The EV Cup, a mostly European venture, will host seven races this year. Four of them will be held in the United Kingdom, one in Spain, one in Portugal and one in the United States, most likely in California. The races are being used as a promotion tool for EVs. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/24/5 DOE Slow To Distribute Clean Car Loans, Putting Startups At Risk. Despite having a pool of $25 billion in loans for advanced vehicle technology, automakers and startup companies say the federal government has been sitting on the funds, putting projects at risk of collapse. Less than $8.5 billion of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan program has been distributed since its launch in September 2008, despite $42.7 billion in requests. Some applications have sat for two years, and other companies have reported that it took seven months for the loans to close. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/24/12 With Rising Demand, GM Considers Doubling Volt Production. General Motors Co. will double production capacity for the Chevrolet Volt next year to 120,000 as the company works to boost sales, according to two sources close to CEO Dan Akerson. Akerson said this month that Volt production may increase to 25,000 this year, up from the planned 10,000. But now GM is reportedly working on boosting its 2012 capacity from the original target of 60,000, although that is contingent on availability of parts and demand. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/24/13 MISCELLANEOUS Government Roundup: Environmentalists Sue Over Sludge Project. “The Association of Irritated Residents, backed by lawyers at the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment, filed the action in Kern County Superior Court, charging the county didn't adequately study all of the project's environmental impacts including its cumulative ones when considered with other projects. It says the county didn't accurately calculate the project's greenhouse gas emissions or identify adequate ways of offsetting pollution.” Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1515766528/Government-roundup-Environmentalists-sue-over-sludge-project?utm_source=widget_56&utm_medium=photo_entries_teaser_widget&utm_campaign=synapse BLOGS In New N.Y.U. Plant, a Collateral Carbon Benefit. “New York University is in the final phases of opening a power plant that provides electricity for its lights, elevators and computers and steam for heating and cooling water. The new plant is nearly 90 percent efficient, meaning it gets almost three times as much useful energy out of a unit of fuel as a typical utility power plant does. And its carbon dioxide output is 23 percent smaller than that of N.Y.U.’s old system.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/in-new-n-y-u-plant-a-collaterial-carbon-benefit/?scp=6&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Slower Flow Threatens Aging Pipeline. “Energy experts and even executives at Alyeska, the pipeline operator, are warning that more shutdowns of the aging pipeline network may be in store in the future. One problem, perhaps the central problem, is the long-term decline in oil flow down the pipeline as a result of the virtual collapse of Alaska production over the last couple of decades.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/slower-flow-threatens-aging-pipeline/?scp=7&sq=climate%20change&st=cse America’s Energy Challenge, and Opportunity. “The goal, to my mind, can be to build the foundations of an energy system sufficient to meet human needs, with limited environmental costs, as the world heads toward and beyond a mid-century crest of some 9 billion people seeking decent lives.” Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/americas-energy-challenge-and-opportunity/?scp=4&sq=green%20energy&st=cse ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 11:08:39 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips of January 25, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 25, 2011. 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 Browner Leaving As Top Obama Adviser On Energy, Climate. Washington (AP) — President Barack Obama's top adviser on energy and climate matters is stepping down, two White House officials confirmed Monday. The departure of Carol Browner underscores that there will be no major White House push on climate change, given that such efforts have little chance of succeeding on Capitol Hill. Browner, a former Environmental Protection Agency administrator under President Bill Clinton, will be leaving the White House just as Republicans in Congress prepare to take on the Obama administration over global warming and the administration's response to the massive Gulf oil spill. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-obama-energy-adviser,0,6045828,print.story Scientists' Hopes For Climate Data Are Up In The Air. Shortly after it lifted off in February 2009, NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Antarctica. With that, a $250 million investment became scrap metal on the ocean floor and an effort to begin using satellites to measure atmospheric carbon dioxide and trace emission-reduction actions was dealt a huge setback. Scientists say the information the OCO was intended to collect is a crucial piece of the data needed not only by those monitoring the Earth's environment but also by federal officials struggling to understand possible national security implications of those climate changes. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/24/AR2011012404892_pf.html Efforts to Fight Climate Change Revive Optimism. Brussels - For years, China was seen as a major obstacle to global efforts to combat climate change because of its refusal to reduce emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. Now, for some, the concern is not that China is moving too slowly but that it is rushing ahead so fast that clean-energy companies in the West will be left in the dust. Demands on China for verifiable monitoring of emissions have been a long-running source of tension in climate negotiations. Posted. http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/efforts-to-halt-climate-change-provoke-new-optimism/ Calif. Panel Signals 'Viable' Path Forward For CCS Projects. Carbon capture and storage is a necessary, safe and viable option for California polluters as they eye ways to comply with the greenhouse gas emissions cuts called for under state law, a state-sanctioned panel of scientists, industry officials and environmentalists argue in a new report. The report, from a review panel created a year ago by three state agencies, recommends that California move forward with CCS under the umbrella of its climate change law, A.B. 32, which calls for emissions cuts to 1990 levels by 2020 starting next year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/25/6 Space-Based 'A-Train' Will Provide More Accurate Climate Data. NASA is preparing to launch a satellite designed to study aerosols' influence on Earth's climate and continue a long-standing record of solar energy, measurements that could help improve the accuracy of climate models. Known as Glory, the satellite is set to launch Feb. 23 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Southern California aboard a Taurus XL rocket. Once in space, it will settle into an orbit roughly 440 miles above the Earth. That will place Glory in a line of satellites known as the A-Train, named for their afternoon orbit around the equator. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/25/4 California Report Examines Capture and Storage of Greenhouse Gases. The general public may be mostly in the dark about carbon capture and storage, but California’s increasing focus on greenhouse gas emissions is beginning to shed more light on the subject. Among other things, a recent report titled “Findings and Recommendations by the California Carbon Capture and Storage Review Panel” mentions the prospect of using eminent domain to acquire suitable sites for storing carbon dioxide and other gases underground, or transporting compressed C02 in pipelines. Posted. http://solarhbj.com/news/california-report-examines-capture-and-storage-of-greenhouse-gases-01324 DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB Touts Results of Diesel Cleanup. A broad range of projects targeting freight transport, funded by state bond money and administered by the California Air Resources Board and air districts, has slashed emissions along trade corridors and near ports, cutting pollution from trucks, trains and ships. More than 5,300 diesel trucks traveling the state's busiest trade routes are being cleaned up, CARB says, thanks to its Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program. The program is supported by $1 billion in voter-approved Proposition 1B bonds, of which $450 million has already been allocated. Not all of it is for trucks; some goes to locomotive and stationary diesel engines. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-print.asp?news_id=72782 http://www.ccjdigital.com/carb-touts-diesel-cleanup-program%E2%80%99s-success/ California Claims Success For Its Diesel Cleanup Program. Pollution emissions along trade corridors pollution from trucks, trains and ships has been slashed under the Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program, the California Air Resources Board claims. “These ambitious efforts are improving our air quality as well as the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Californians who live near major diesel pollution sources such as busy highways, ports and railyards” says CARB Executive Officer James Goldstene. “We estimate that these projects will eliminate more than 3 million pounds of diesel soot plus 60 million pounds of smog-forming pollutants from our environment over the next few years,” he says. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=17440 FUELS Alternative Fuels Don’t Benefit the Military, a RAND Report Says. The United States would derive no meaningful military benefit from increased use of alternative fuels to power its jets, ships and other weapons systems, according to a government-commissioned study by the RAND Corporation scheduled for release Tuesday. The report also argued that most alternative-fuel technologies were unproven, too expensive or too far from commercial scale to meet the military’s needs over the next decade. In particular, the report argued that the Defense Department was spending too much time and money exploring experimental biofuels derived from sources like algae or the …Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/business/energy-environment/25fuel.html?_r=1&ref=business&pagewanted=print EPA's Approval Of Higher Ethanol Blends May Reduce Air Quality, Critics Assert. As the country strives to wean itself off fossil fuels and meet renewable fuel targets, some in the environmental regulatory community say air pollution questions may be taking a backseat. They point to U.S. EPA's decision Friday to allow higher blends of ethanol to power cars made in the last decade as a key example. "Higher levels of ethanol in motor vehicle fuel mean higher emissions of nitrogen oxides, an important contributor to ground-level ozone and other harmful air pollutants," said Bill Becker, executive director of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/25/7 GREEN ENERGY I Think We Can,' New San Fran Mayor Says Of 100% Green-Power Goal. Just weeks before leaving his post as San Francisco's mayor earlier this month, California's new lieutenant governor, Gavin Newsom, pledged that the Golden Gate City would be powered by 100 percent renewables by the year 2020. But with Newsom (D) now in Sacramento, the responsibility for turning San Francisco's renewable energy dream into a reality has fallen on the shoulders of interim mayor Ed Lee. Since he was sworn in on Jan. 12, it has been a whirlwind first two weeks on the job for Lee. The new mayor was in Washington, D.C., last week as part of the U.S. mayors' annual winter meeting. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/25/4 VEHICLES California, EPA to Work on Joint Auto Standards. Washington - California state officials have agreed to work with federal officials to develop new greenhouse-gas standards for cars and light-duty trucks built for 2017 through 2025, following weeks of pressure from the auto industry. In an announcement Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said California officials have scrapped their plans to issue state-specific standards in March. Instead, the EPA and California Air Resources Board will now issue standards jointly by Sept. 1. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703555804576102482690814622.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5 http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/01/epa-department-of-transportation-align-with-california-on-release-date-for-clean-car-standards.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-24/feds-and-california-to-propose-new-fuel-rules.html http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/01/feds-california-agree-to-propose-2017-25-mpg-rules-sept-1/1 http://detnews.com/article/20110124/AUTO01/101240408/California-agrees-to-feds%E2%80%99-timetable-on-emissions#ixzz1C0Kiw9o5 Republicans Target High-Speed Rail For Cuts. California's hugely ambitious and futuristic high-speed rail project will be front and center of the coming showdown between President Obama and House Republicans who are hell-bent on cutting domestic spending. Obama's State of the Union address tomorrow, 6 p.m. PST, will lay out his plan to protect "investment" spending from the GOP axe: specifically infrastructure, energy, education and R&D. He is drawing directly from the Clinton playbook, defining spending as investment and focusing on key areas around a competitiveness theme. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=81592#ixzz1C438sZfi New Green Trail Under BART Moving Forward. The areas below elevated BART tracks are not normally known for their picturesque beauty, but Alameda County's transportation agency is hoping to change that. The Alameda County Transportation Commission is moving forward with a plan to build a 12-mile bike path under the elevated BART tracks between Oakland and Hayward. The project -- called the East Bay Greenway -- would offer a landscaped, car-free corridor from just north of the Fruitvale BART station all the way just south past the Hayward station. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_17163502?source=rss&nclick_check=1 Preview And Price Tag Out For The First Global Plan For Sustainable Energy. Providing the world with universal energy access will cost $38 billion annually over the next two decades, according to the first-ever Global Energy Assessment (GEA) due out this summer. The 2,000-page report will provide for the first time detailed energy information about developing countries as well as a sweeping examination of everything from technology trends to the links between human health and pollution on future energy requirements. More than five years in the making, the assessment is the product of research and peer review by 300 authors from a dozen countries and some of the world's leading research institutions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/25/3 New Leaf Deliveries Are Delayed. Anxious buyers of Nissan's Leaf electric vehicle may need to wait longer than expected. Officials expect a four- to five-month delay for delivery, initially scheduled for the early months of this year. The waits are attributed to the fact that carmakers want the first wave of electric vehicle buyers not to be disappointed with their purchases. A happy first crop of owners will mean more follow-up purchases as time goes by. But the delays are brewing some frustration among buyers. "We don't know what's going on," says Eugen Dunlop of Davis, Calif., who ordered his Leaf last summer. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/25/10 OPINION Don't Give Stadiums A Pass On Environmental Laws. I'm not into face painting or tailgate parties, but I do like NFL football. I also care about our environment and the laws that protect it. What, you may ask, do these subjects have to do with each other? I would have answered "nothing" if you asked me two years ago. But California seems to have gone stadium crazy with repeated attempts to exempt NFL stadiums from environmental safeguards protecting our air, water, quality of life and natural habitats. One of those attempts, a 2009 bill to exempt a stadium in the City of Industry from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), passed. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/25/EDCJ1HDK0G.DTL&type=printable BLOGS China Leapfrogs U.S. Wind Power Industry. Chinese turbines are now harnessing more wind power than machines installed in the U.S., according to a trade group Monday. For the first time ever, the Asian giant’s capacity –- the amount of electricity that can be generated using wind –- blew past the U.S. to soar 62% to 41,800 megawatts. American-based turbines can produce up to 40,180 megawatts, a 15% jump from the beginning of 2010, according to a report from the American Wind Energy Assn. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/01/china-leapfrogs-us-wind-power-industry-american-installations-halved-in-2010.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Browner Leaving Climate-Change Job. Carol Browner, who has served as President Obama’s top environmental adviser in the White House, will leave the administration soon, a senior White House official said Monday night. Ms. Browner had been viewed as a close adviser to Mr. Obama in the White House. A veteran who was administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President Clinton, her name was floated as a possible candidate for a deputy chief of staff when Rahm Emanuel departed to run for mayor of Chicago. Posted. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/browner-leaving-climate-change-job/?pagemode=print ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:05:49 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 26, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 26, 2011. 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 Interest in Carbon Market Growing Amid Shortcomings, UNFCCC Says. Interest is increasing in the United Nation’s Clean Development Mechanism, the world’s second-largest carbon market, an official from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change said. “I see the interest in CDM growing," David Abbass, the public information officer for the UNFCCC, said in an interview in Johannesburg today. "It’s evident in our pipeline. Even in a time of relative uncertainty, we still see the requests for validation rising,” He was countering a statement yesterday by Robert Kelly, the regional technical adviser for North Africa at the UN Development Program, that the CDM is “barely making a dent” on the amount of greenhouse gases released in to the atmosphere. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-01-26/interest-in-carbon-market-growing-amid-shortcomings-unfccc-says.html Politics Marks Obama, GOP Battle Over Regulations. “With a sympathetic ear to corporate America, Republicans are talking about fighting existing and proposed regulations that Obama and congressional Democrats prize, including limits on greenhouse gas emissions and rules to enforce last year's financial and health care overhauls.” Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/01/26/2247924/politics-marks-obama-gop-battle.html#storylink=misearch DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB Counts Emissions Reductions. A broad range of projects targeting freight transport, funded by state bond money and administered by the California Air Resources Board and air districts, has slashed emissions along trade corridors and near ports, cutting pollution from trucks, trains and ships, CARB announced Jan. 24. More than 5,300 diesel trucks are being cleaned up, 19 locomotives operating in the Central Valley and Southern California are being upgraded, and clean electrical power will be available this spring for ships docking at the Port of Oakland costing $250 million as part of implementation of CARB’s Goods Movement Emission Reduction Program. Posted. http://www.truckersnews.com/carb-counts-emissions-reductions/print/ FUELS U.K. Energy Policy Risks Prompting Renewed `Dash for Gas,' Lawmakers Say. Changes to U.K. energy policy may lead to a renewed “dash for gas” as utilities choose cheap gas-fired plants over renewable projects, Parliament’s Energy and Climate Change Select Committee said in a report today. Government policy needs to “put the cleanest form of energy at the top of the agenda,” Committee Chairman Tim Yeo said in a statement. If the type of capacity is not part of the decision-making process, companies will choose the “cheap and easy” option, the committee said in the report. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-01-26/u-k-energy-policy-risks-prompting-renewed-dash-for-gas-lawmakers-say.html http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110125-717922.html Xtra Lease Targets Fuel Efficiency with Newest Trailers. Xtra Lease has ordered 6,000 new fuel-efficient trailers equipped with aerodynamic side skirts and low rolling resistance tires, providing fleets access to new equipment and opportunities to lower their fuel costs. A leading provider of trailer rentals and leases, Xtra Lease will add both features on new trailers, 53-foot and longer, due to arrive at company rental locations throughout the U.S. between February and August. Not only will the new trailers provide added fuel efficiencies, they'll comply with California's Greenhouse Gas regulation and are safe to enter and operate in that state without penalty. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-print.asp?news_id=72800 GREEN ENERGY Obama Wants Billions More Put In 'Clean Energy'. Washington - President Obama on Tuesday charted a plan for investing billions more dollars in "clean energy" programs and renewed his call for an end to tax breaks for oil companies. In his State of the Union address, Obama prodded lawmakers to subsidize research on cleaner-burning alternative energy sources at the expense of traditional fossil fuels as a way to boost U.S. competitiveness, wean the country off foreign oil imports and aid the nation's economic recovery. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/26/MNC91HECVV.DTL&type=printable Obama, Announcing Clean Energy Standard, Looks for Compromise. “President Obama's pursuit of a clean energy standard reflects the heightened political challenges facing his administration and makes it more apparent that his campaign promises to cap carbon emissions will be unfulfilled before he runs for re-election.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/26/26climatewire-obama-announcing-clean-energy-standard-looks-27848.html?scp=10&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Obama Places Energy Investments at Center of Economic Argument. “In a State of the Union address that focused like a laser beam on the U.S. economy, President Obama last night called on Congress to slash federal spending but invest more in developing cleaner sources of energy.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/26/26climatewire-obama-places-energy-investments-at-center-of-75076.html?scp=4&sq=green%20vehicles&st=cse Green-Energy Future Looks Black as Recession Bites: Davos Diary. The future is black, not green. Get used to oil trading at $100 a barrel. Drilling disasters are good because they focus the oil industry’s attention on safety. Oh, and our insatiable thirst for yet more energy sources threatens to deplete the world’s food and water supplies. That’s the bleak message from the World Economic Forum’s opening discussion on global energy at its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. Fatih Birol, the chief economist of the International Energy Agency, led a panel that delivered a somber outlook for renewable energy. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-01-26/green-energy-future-looks-black-as-recession-bites-davos-diary.html Study: 100 Percent Renewable Energy Possible By 2030. A study in the wonky journal Energy Policy makes the case that the whole world could be using exclusively renewable energy within 20 years. The plan doesn't even include nuclear power, natural gas or biofuels, which sometimes spur deforestation. The analysis, by UC Davis research scientist Mark Delucchi and Stanford engineer Mark Jacobson, contradicts industry claims that renewable energy is a pipe dream and that we must continue using costly and unhealthy energy sources such as fossil fuels and nuclear power. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=81690#ixzz1CABpnrZv Local Democrats Cheer Obama For Focus On Economy And Clean Energy. Santa Cruz - Applause erupted at the Santa Cruz County Democrat Party headquarters during President Obama's State of the Union speech when he touched on sustainable energy, ending government subsidies to large oil corporations and improving education for children. The Democrat headquarters on Front Street was packed with more than 50 Obama supporters who watched the speech on a big screen television, paying close attention to every word and proposal Tuesday night. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17198299?nclick_check=1 After Jobs-Focused Speech, Obama Tours Wisconsin Factories.“He reiterated the goals he set in Tuesday night's speech of having 80 percent of America's electricity come from clean-energy sources by 2035 and putting 1 million electric vehicles on the nation's roads by 2015.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/26/AR2011012602087.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/26/after-address-nation-obama-heads-wisconsin/ Obama's SOTU Nod Unleashes Lobbying On Clean-Power Goal. The lobbying, negotiating and deal making now begins on clean energy legislation. With President Obama in his State of the Union describing the framework for a "clean energy" measure, environmental, business and other groups this morning began to determine how they move forward. Those who favor the concepts Obama laid out called the speech an important jump start for action. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/26/1 Senators Laud 'Clean Energy' Push. President Obama’s call for Congress to pass a mandate that includes both traditional renewable energy sources like wind and solar as well as GOP favorites nuclear and “clean coal” may be the driver needed to bang through the most aggressive and politically feasible means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions on Capitol Hill this Congress. Obama set a new goal in his speech Tuesday night, calling for 80 percent of U.S. electricity to stem from “clean energy” sources by 2035. Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=695C75D7-BA05-4FF7-B5A3-C261E5A12949 VEHICLES Nissan Plant Keeps Japan Jobs, Sends Green Message. “The Oppama plant in the Tokyo suburb of Yokosuka is a showcase for Nissan Motor Co.'s ambitions to be a leader in green auto technology. And the plant, shown to reporters Tuesday, is good publicity for the company amid recent moves by Japanese automakers including Nissan to send production and jobs overseas.” Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/24/1526668/nissan-shows-busy-leaf-electric.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/25/AR2011012500431.html MISCELLANEOUS Home Heating Deaths Continue Despite Outreach Programs. Home heating tips and warnings. * Never use a grill, barbecue or gas-powered generator indoors. * Keep portable space heaters at least three feet away from anything flammable, and do not plug them into an overloaded extension cord. Also, make sure air flows easily through the unit, and that its wiring is not damaged. * Check to see that your appliance pilot lights burn with a stable blue flame; yellow or unsteady flames can indicate a problem. * Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x654319042/Home-heating-deaths-continue-despite-outreach-assistance-programs Green Medical Clinic Greets Public.“The floors of the new Vineyard Center for Family Health are made of linseed oil, yeast and bark. The counters are made from crushed root beer bottles, and the carpets in the physicians’ offices are recycled. The environmentally friendly center, which has been open since November, held an open house Tuesday for community members to tour the Oxnard site.” Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/25/green-medical-clinic-greets-public/ OPINION Air District Faces Challenges.“Since 1980, air pollution from businesses has been reduced by more than 80%. Given where we are in our journey toward cleaner air, each of us must have the courage to look in the mirror and do our part as we craft reasonable remedies to protect public health. Enormous challenges remain, and we cannot achieve our clean air goals on the back of businesses alone. Scientific polls show that air quality is a high priority for Valley residents and that they are willing to do their part to reduce air pollution. Most residents respond positively to calls to refrain from using wood-burning fireplaces and to reduce driving.” Posted http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/01/24/2245423/seyed-sadredin-air-district-faces.html#storylink=misearch EDITORIAL: What Brown Can’t Do For You. California Governor Is Over The Moon For Renewable-Energy Jobs. After a 28-year absence, Jerry Brown has returned to the California governor’s mansion with a mission to make America’s most broke state less broke and more green. He might as well try singing “California Dreamin’ ” to the tune of “The Impossible Dream.” Since being sworn in Jan. 3, Mr. Brown has declared a fiscal emergency and pressured the state legislature to close a $25.4 billion budget gap. His plan to balance the once Golden State’s ledger contains a 50-50 combination of spending cuts and tax hikes. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/25/what-brown-cant-do-for-you/ The Focus Turns To The 2020s. I made the point in my last post that many developing countries could be hard pressed to meet their 2020 emission reduction goals simply because the clock was now running against them. The reality is that from a major infrastructure point of view, the 2010’s are largely a done deal, at least in terms of new hardware. If projects are not already in the pipeline or at the very least represent an expansion of an existing, relatively mature business area, then they will not materially impact the emissions over this coming decade. http://theenergycollective.com/davidhone/50251/focus-turns-2020s BLOGS California, U.S. Agree on Emissions-Standards Announcement Date. The Environmental Protection Agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the California Air Resources Board — the three agencies with primary responsibility for setting the next round of standards on fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions for cars and light-duty trucks — have agreed to announce their proposals for 2017-25 model-year vehicles by Sept. 1, 2011, according to an E.P.A. press release issued on Monday. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/26/california-federal-agencies-agree-on-emissions-standards-announcement-date/ Q.-and-A.: Imperiled Birds on a Warming Planet. A few days ago I wrote about the risk of massive extinctions from impending climate change over the next century, especially among animals that live high on mountains or in the tropics. They will have difficulty moving themselves to cooler climates, either because they cannot move further up in altitude or because the distance from the tropics to a cooler habitat is simply farther than they can travel. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/26/q-and-a-imperiled-birds-on-a-warming-planet/?pagemode=print The Future of Algae Fuels Is … When? “Certainly a number of investors continue to bet on the promise of squeezing oil from algae in amounts substantial enough to put a dent in the use of petroleum-based fuels. And dozens of companies and academic labs are busy chasing that dream.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/25/the-future-of-algae-fuels-is-when/?scp=2&sq=Fuels&st=cse Stricter Air Policies. The Federal Clean Air Act celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Although many areas still suffer from high amounts of emissions the air is generally cleaner than it used to be. Although areas may have cleaner air quality than they did in the past Pittsburgh is the one city in Pennsylvania that is always linked to poor air quality. As far as air quality is concerned, The American Lung Association consistently ranks Pittsburgh as being one of the worst cities for air quality in the country. When we look at Pittsburgh’s air quality many factors come into play. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/environmental-policy-in-pittsburgh/stricter-air-policies CA Doubled Pace of Renewables Last Year. California Regulators say the state's utilities about doubled the growth of new renewable energy sources last year. The California Public Utilities Commission says developers added 653 megawatts of capacity in 2010, nearly twice the pace of 2009. For all that, utilities did not quite make the state-imposed requirement that they get 20% of their electrical generation from renewables by last year. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/01/25/ca-doubled-pace-of-renewables-last-year/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Creeping Along Toward New Fuel Standards. This week, California and federal regulators gave themselves a fall deadline in their collaboration to create national fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards for model year 2017-2025 cars and light trucks. The agencies say they will propose the new standards by September 1, 2011. The September deadline is something of a setback for California, which had planned to release state standards in March. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/01/25/creeping-along-toward-new-fuel-standards/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:48:43 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips January 27, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 27, 2011. 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 Soot Crackdown Lags As EPA Wrestles Other Deadlines. U.S. EPA's air division has made headlines under President Obama for its push to limit greenhouse gases and toxic pollution, but the busy office is running late with new limits on asthma-inducing soot, close observers of the rulemaking process say. The Obama administration is nearing a decision point on particulate matter (PM), a pollution cocktail that includes run-of-the-mill dust and the chemical-laden soot that is released when fossil fuels are burned. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/27/1 CLIMATE CHANGE Obama Seeks New Path To Environmental Goals. Washington (AP) — Facing a Congress that is more hostile to environmental regulation, President Barack Obama is moderating his environmental goals: a clean energy standard that mixes nuclear, natural gas and "clean coal" with wind, solar and other renewable sources. In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Obama called for 80 percent of the nation's electricity to come from clean sources by 2035. That goal represents a new strategy to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide blamed for global warming, following the death of cap-and-trade legislation that Obama pushed in Congress for the last two years. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i5brUcNLuTRn0QPkb1pvLrFy1JTA?docId=1035b44296c84ed39e62276a1158374f Administration Seeking Momentum for Clean Energy Standard. President Obama and key members of the administration fanned the nation yesterday to promote his plans to expand clean energy initiatives, moving quickly to build momentum behind a key agenda item pitched to a national audience on Tuesday. The effort contrasts with Obama's low-key approach last summer, when Senate Democrats were struggling to advance climate legislation that collapsed before midterm elections. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/27/27climatewire-administration-seeking-momentum-for-clean-en-12429.html?pagewanted=print Obama's Clean-Energy Goals Have Industry Questioning Feasibility. Plans call for 1 million electric vehicles on the road within four years and 80% of the nation's power coming from green sources by 2035. Executives say the ability to get steady funding would help. President Obama has grand plans for a green nation — 1 million electric vehicles on the road within four years and clean power sources providing 80% of the nation's energy by 2035. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-obama-clean-energy-20110127,0,5225775,print.story South Korean Parliament to Debate Carbon-Trading Bill. (Updates with committee's comment in fourth paragraph.) South Korea's presidential committee plans to submit legislation on carbon-emissions trading to parliament next month amid opposition from business groups. The bill will have flexibility on the timing of its introduction and the quota for free permits, according to a report from the Committee on Green Growth to President Lee Myung Bak, as shown on the government website. South Korea, Asia's fourth-biggest polluter, said in November it aims to adopt a carbon-emissions trading system in 2013 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight global warming. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/01/26/bloomberg1376-LFNUCW6KLVR801-7FT67KEM5OE88RPB5FJO1C3C3T.DTL&type=printable Administration Preparing Plans For International Climate Aid. The Obama administration is developing blueprints to guide billions of dollars in U.S. funding to poor countries that face threats from climate change or are transitioning to clean energy economies. The strategies for international adaptation and clean energy finance remain under wraps. Even businesses and aid groups that have been asked to comment on the strategies say they have not been permitted to actually see the plans they are assessing. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/27/3 Obama’s Green Focus Now Firmly On Clean Energy. Barack Obama’s State of the Union address has confirmed the writing on the wall in his administration’s desire for a price on carbon in the US; there will be no pursuit in the last two years of his first term on his once-desired policy for cap and trade to tackle climate change. This was confirmed not by what Obama said on the subject in his speech. He didn’t talk of climate change, global warming, greenhouse emissions caps, UN climate treaties or cap and trade. Posted. http://www.carbonpositive.net/viewarticle.aspx?articleID=2252 California Using Carbon Markets to Clean up Ozone-Killers. Decades after most industrialized countries banned Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), tons of the stuff is still lurking in old refrigerators and foam insulation. Now the US state of California is using carbon markets to pay for the destruction of this environmental WMD, which can have up to 10,000 times the global-warming impact of carbon dioxide. Jeff Cohen has spent more than 25 years developing environmental protocols and formulating policy for everyone from the Chicago Climate Exchange to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Posted. http://www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/pages/dynamic/article.page.php?page_id=7978§ion=news_articles&eod=1 FUELS US Agencies And California Agree To Timetable For Fuel Efficiency Standards. The US state of California has agreed to work to the same timetable as the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on new fuel efficiency standards for the next generation of cars and light-duty trucks. The agreement will see the California Air Resources Board (CARB) release its proposals for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards for model years 2017-2025 in September, at the same time as the DOT and EPA. CARB had been planning to release its proposals in March. Posted. http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/policy/i/3751/ California, EPA Agree to Set New Fuel Economy Numbers Before September. In 2017, the federal government's Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) mandate will enter a new phase of increases that are likely to be the most dramatic in the law's history. In order to give the automotive industry time to gear up for compliance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had been scheduled to map out its CAFE recommendations the 2017 through 2025 model years by October. Posted. http://www.hybridcars.com/news/california-epa-reach-agreement-set-new-fuel-economy-numbers-september-29327.html Clean Energy Industry Skeptical Of Obama's Goals. Despite the President's strong affirmation of his clean energy goals during Tuesday's State of the Union Address, the clean energy industry has been reserved in its enthusiasm. Among President Obama's promises were that the U.S. would reach 80 percent dependence on renewable sources by 2035, and that he would put 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. But Obama has set clean energy goals before that have failed to materialize in the governmental support necessary for their completion. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/27/clean-energy-obama_n_814720.html?view=print GREEN ENERGY Obama's Clean-Tech Vision Meets With Skepticism. Los Angeles -- President Barack Obama has grand plans for a green nation - 1 million electric vehicles on the road within four years and clean power sources providing 80 percent of the nation's energy by 2035. But after getting a surprisingly extensive shout-out in Obama's State of the Union address - he sees clean tech as the country's best chance to seize its "Sputnik moment" - industry officials this week were less than enthused and questioned whether the ambitious targets were even attainable. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/27/v-print/3356396/obamas-clean-tech-vision-meets.html Down Side Of Energy Efficient Flourescent Bulbs. Ann Scalapino never leaves home without an incandescent light bulb tucked into her purse. She suffers from migraines that she believes are triggered by fluorescent lights, so when she visits friends who use the energy-efficient bulbs in their homes, she asks them to replace them while she visits. But now that traditional incandescent light bulbs are being phased out as California leads the nation in adopting stricter energy efficiency standards, Scalapino is one of a committed group of incandescent light bulb lovers who are buying them in droves. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110126/articles/110129569&template=printart One Of County's Largest Solar Projects Moves Forward. One of the largest planned solar projects has been given the green light for development. The California Public Utilities Commission recently approved a renewable energy contract for San Diego Gas and Electric, said Andy Horne, Imperial County deputy executive officer of natural resources development. The CPUC approved a 20-year power purchase agreement with Centinela Solar Energy, operated by LS Power. Posted. http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-news-solar-project-20110127,0,2149122,print.story GE, NRG, Conocophillips Team Up To Fund Energy-Tech Ventures. Three major energy companies announced the formation today of a new joint venture to back promising energy technologies, putting a $300 million initial investment into the new company. General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE), NRG Energy Inc. (NYSE: NRG) and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) said their Energy Technology Ventures would fund in the next four years about 30 companies in their early and growth stages. The collaboration will launch with investments in three startups, the companies said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/27/6 California Wilderness Proposals Face Dicey Political Environment. Washington – The next California wilderness fights will stretch from the desert to the Delta, in a dicey new political environment. This week, the state's two Democratic senators set the stage by introducing wilderness-related bills. Their prospects are unclear, but their ambitions are undeniable. "I've still got 1 million acres to go," Sen. Barbara Boxer said of her aspirations Wednesday. In Tehama and Shasta counties, for instance, Boxer wants to designate a 17,869- acre Sacramento River National Recreation Area. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/27/v-print/3355434/california-wilderness-proposals.html BLOGS For Excess Solar Flow, a Veg-O-Matic for Voltage. Until very recently, the solar industry was mainly concerned with getting a toehold in the production of electricity at a utility-level scale. Now a New Jersey company is looking for its niche in a different field — how to handle a system that is saturated with solar energy, sometimes enough to destabilize the electric grid. Petra Solar. The company, Petra Solar, has a highly visible product: it is under contract to supply 200,000 panels that Public Service Electric & Gas will attach to utility poles around New Jersey. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/for-excess-solar-flow-a-veg-o-matic-for-voltage/?pagemode=print Obama Ducks and Covers on Climate. The “C-word,” climate, appears to have become to the Beltway what the “P-word,” population, has been in climate treaty negotiations for a long time — unmentionable. It’s one thing to cave to a wave of naysaying climate rhetoric and build a new American energy conversation on points of agreement rather than clear ideological flash points like global warming. It’s another to duck and cover entirely on climate, as President Obama did in his State of the Union message. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/26/the-c-word-vanishes/?scp=6&sq=climate%20change&st=Search Government Scientists Warn Of California 'Superstorms'. If climate change isn't on your radar yet, perhaps a massive 'superstorm' dumping as much as 10 feet of rain across California would put it there. USGS scientists unveiled a scenario that would cause such a storm at a conference last week, noting that the damage a 'superstorm' would cause would dwarf that caused by a large earthquake by a factor of five. A quarter of all homes in the state would likely experience flooding. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=81790#ixzz1CG41cxSz ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:34:29 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 28, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 28, 2011. 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 Valley Air Quality Much Better, But More Must Be Done. In the San Joaquin Valley, our air-quality challenges are more difficult than those in any other region in the nation. On one hand, we have circumstances over which we have no control: the valley's geography, topography and climate turn our region into a bowl with a lid; pass- through highway traffic brings pollution without any economic benefit; and emissions from the northwest add to our own. On the other hand, our resources and capacity to absorb the economic costs of combating air pollution are limited due to our high poverty and unemployment rates. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/26/1529729/valley-air-quality-much-better.html Part Of Hinkley's Plume Shows Contraction; Two Other Parts Show. Hinkley - A plume of toxic hexavalent chromium has receded on the town's western edge, according to recent samples. But it's creeping out on its northeastern and southeastern edges, Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board officials told about 200 Hinkley residents during a public forum at Hinkley Elementary School Wednesday night. The expansion is a violation of the water board's 2008 directive to contain the plume, board officials said. That has been unsettling to many in Hinkley. Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_17223255?source=rss Activist Returns To Community To Battle Pollution. After graduating from a prestigious university, a young Hispanic woman decided to return to her community in East Los Angeles to start a campaign against pollution blamed for an increase in local cancer and asthma cases. "When I was a little girl, I saw the trains go by and it was a happy thing and fun. We waved to the conductors and I wondered why they didn't have any passengers," 24-year-old Isella Ramirez says of her childhood in the small city of Commerce, six miles from downtown Los Angeles. Pollution resulting from the shipping of merchandise …Posted. http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2011/01/27/activist-returns-community-battle-pollution/ Environmental Group Urges New EPA Air Rules. An environmental group in Iowa urged the state's residents to push their senators to support a new standard by the U.S. EPA that would limit toxic air pollution from power plants. Jessica Buchberger, a spokeswoman for Environment Iowa, said plants in Iowa are releasing mercury, an issue she says is important to the health of residents and their children. There is 2,735 pounds of mercury emitted each year, Buchberger said. To put that into context, a 1-gram (0.0022-pound) drop of mercury can contaminate a 20-acre lake, she said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/28/10 CLIMATE CHANGE Sen. Inhofe Shapes Major GOP Bills to Fight EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regs. The Senate's most vocal climate change skeptic has taken a key role in crafting two bills to be introduced next week that would both permanently stop U.S. EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), who famously called climate change the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people," will unveil a bill with House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) that would strip EPA of its authority to limit carbon emissions from power plants, refineries and other stationary sources. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/28/28climatewire-sen-inhofe-shapes-major-gop-bills-to-fight-e-51835.html?pagewanted=print Record Snowstorms Indicator Of Global Warming. The heavy snows that are hitting our area make many people question global warming. But according to Environment Ohio, as the earth warms, many areas of North America will experience more storms with extreme levels of rain and snowfall. And while the frequency of storms has decreased in the middle latitudes, the intensity of those storms has increased. It stands to reason that if the world is getting warmer--… Posted. http://www.examiner.com/environmental-news-in-toledo/record-snowstorms-indicator-of-global-warming UN Chief: Economic Model An Environmental Threat. DAVOS, Switzerland -- The world's current economic model is an environmental "global suicide pact" that will result in disaster if it isn't reformed, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon warned Friday. Ban said that political and business leaders need to embrace economic innovation in order to save the planet. "We need a revolution," the secretary-general of the U.N. told a panel at the World Economic Forum on how best to make the global economy sustainable. "Climate change is also showing us that the old model is more than obsolete." Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/28/1532054/un-chief-economic-model-an-environmental.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/28/un-chief-economic-model-an-environmental-threat/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_1d29e1e9-e2cd-5a4e-b193-53581e415d54.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/01/28/2250634/un-chief-economic-model-an-environmental.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/28/AR2011012801168.html UN Climate Talks In Focus At Davos Forum. U.S. businesses must do more to pressure Congress to act on climate change and realize that China is "winning the green race," world leaders and climate change experts said Thursday at the World Economic Forum. In a panel discussion at Davos, where some 2,500 business leaders and politicans are gathered, U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres said China "is going to leave us all in the dust" in the transition toward a more energy-efficient global economy. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/article_3c2acc36-ee54-5be5-a29f-f62d083f5c4a.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/01/27/2249581/un-climate-talks-in-focus-at-davos.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/27/AR2011012704382.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/27/un-climate-talks-in-focus-at-davos-forum/ Warmest Current In 2,000 Years Found To Be Thawing The Arctic. A North Atlantic current that carries water into the Arctic Ocean is warmer than it has been for at least 2,000 years, according to a new study. The recent heating of the water flowing through the Fram Strait, between Greenland and the Norway's Svalbard archipelago, is likely a major factor in the ongoing retreat of Arctic sea ice, concludes the research, published yesterday in the journal Science. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/28/4 U.N. Leader Switches Focus From Climate To Clean Energy. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced his plan to switch his focus from international climate change negotiations to promoting clean energy and sustainable development. After failing to find significant solutions at the 2009 climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark, Ban decided world leaders are not yet ready to come together on climate change. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/28/10 DIESEL EMISSIONS Advisory Panel Says New Technology Is Needed To Verify Emissions Cuts. Determining whether individual nations comply with future climate pacts will require a new satellite to keep tabs on countries that resist other forms of monitoring, a government advisory panel says. The elite, independent panel of scientists -- known as JASON -- examined the United States' ability to monitor the progress of international agreements to reduce carbon dioxide emissions produced by burning fossil fuels. Although JASON's work is often classified, the new report is not. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/28/3 FUELS California’s Political Correct Police Are Killing Local Gas Stations. Why are gas prices different in different parts of the country? When asked, the usual answer is “I don’t know.” Different regions have different requirements for fuel additives. Here in California drivers are under stringent regulations. Gas station owners are under constant assault by such groups as the Air Resource Board, the Sierra club, and any number of environmental groups, not to mention the EPA. In the 1990s, gas stations were required to dig up their tanks and replace them with new hi-tech supposedly leak proof tanks. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/republican-in-fresno/california-s-political-correct-police-are-killing-local-gas-stations Exxon Predicts Gas Use Will Surpass Coal's. In Exxon Mobil Corp.'s crystal ball, the future of natural gas is looking increasingly rosy. Global demand for natural gas, commonly used for heating homes and businesses and for generating electricity, will increase 2% a year through 2030, the Texas oil giant says, raising the 1.8% estimate it made last year. This is no small change. It means that Exxon expects the world in 2030 to burn seven quadrillion British thermal units of gas more than the company predicted a year ago. That's about the same amount of energy consumed by California in a year. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704062604576106310422123304.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Exxon: Global Gasoline Demand To Fall Over 20 Yrs. “There will be 400 million more cars on the world's roads 20 years from now, yet gasoline consumption will decline, according to a projection from Exxon Mobil Corp. in its long-term energy outlook released Thursday. The world's biggest investor-owned oil and gas company expects energy use overall will grow 35 percent by 2030, But that growth would be three times higher if people used as much energy per capita as they do now. Nowhere is that more apparent than in projections of gasoline demand. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/27/exxon-global-gasoline-demand-to-fall-over-20-02/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/27/AR2011012705106.html EPA Urges 'Civility' In Fuel-Efficiency Debate. U.S. EPA officials used an appearance at the Washington Auto Show yesterday to clear up some misconceptions about their consideration of new fuel efficiency standards for cars produced between 2017 and 2025. No, the agency has not decided the standards will reach 62 mpg in 2025. No, the agency is not encouraging automakers to choose one technology, like electric vehicles, to meet the standards. And no, the agency has not finished reviewing the cost and technology challenges for automakers. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/28/4 Researchers Find Gut Reactions To Biofuel Issues In Cows. Scientists hunting for ways to drive down the cost of converting plant waste into fuel may have found some valuable clues in the bellies of cows. Researchers employing high-tech genetic sequencing methods identified dozens of gut-dwelling organisms that help cows break through the protective sheath that guards the sugars inside plants. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/28/5 Most Of U.K.'S 'Green' Fuels Come From Questionable Sources. The majority of biofuels in the United Kingdom do not meet their own standards for sustainability. The country's Renewable Fuels Agency has found that only 31 percent of the biofuels used to power vehicles meet the requirements to be considered "renewable." Suppliers were unable to verify the origin of the fuel for the other two-thirds. Under the government initiative, suppliers were told to ensure that at least 50 percent of their biofuel was to be sourced from renewable sources, like biomass or used cooking oil. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/28/9 GREEN ENERGY UC Berkeley Ranked As World's Greenest School. The University of Indonesia has named UC Berkeley the world's "greenest" university. In its index released last month, the Jakarta school ranked Berkeley's environmental policies and other factors just ahead of the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom. Northeastern University in Boston was third on the list. "It's really nice to be recognized, especially by your peers," said Lisa McNeilly, UC Berkeley's sustainability director. The Indonesian list is one of many that measure universities' commitment to environmentalism and renewable energy. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_17218191?source=rss On A School Lawn, Protests Over Solar Panels. Hundreds of students and their parents protest the installation of solar panels on the popular front lawn at Dwyer Middle School in Huntington Beach. To the students at Dwyer Middle School in Huntington Beach, the grassy area below the stairs is the spot. For Nina Nguyen, 13, it was where she was asked out by a boy for the first time. For Mark Elvidge, 12, it's where he met his first friend at the school. It's where students socialize before and after class, where physical education classes are held and where middle school culminates for the eighth-graders. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-solar-panel-protest-20110128,0,73663,print.story Australian Company Joins Race To Make 'Green' Cement From CO2. London -- An Australian cement and minerals company believes it has an answer to a problem that is vexing the experts -- how to safely and effectively capture the carbon from a power plant at very low energy cost and high efficiency. Not only that, but the resulting byproducts may have uses in construction or farming. Calix, based in Sydney, says its Endex Reactor can scrub 90 percent of the carbon dioxide from the fuel gas of a power plant -- burning either natural gas or gasified coal -- by using specially treated lime. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/01/28/28climatewire-australian-company-joins-race-to-make-green-29244.html?scp=4&sq=Fuels&st=cse http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/28/1 Redlands: Project Could Convert Trash To Power. A technology that helped a struggling Austrian city shed its dependence on fossil fuels and become economically vibrant could be brought to Redlands. A renewable energy company born in that small town is proposing to use waste from a Redlands landfill and sewage treatment plant to create electricity, synthetic natural gas and other fuels. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/politics/stories/PE_News_Local_D_waste27.49fd5bb.html Exxon Mobil Forecast Predicts A Price On Carbon By 2030. The developing world's accelerating thirst for energy can be met by parallel advances in new technologies, including unconventional natural gas production, deepwater oil drilling, biofuels and hybrid vehicles, Exxon Mobil Corp. officials said in the company's annual energy outlook report. Parallel increases in energy demand and supply, plus increases in energy efficiency, will protect consumers from a mismatch that could trigger price shocks, said William Colton, Exxon Mobil's vice president for corporate strategic planning. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/28/2 U.S. Chamber Launches 'Energy Reality Tour' To Counter Obama. Calling it "unrealistic" and too costly, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is criticizing President Obama's latest plan for changing the nation's energy mix and reducing its heavy reliance on oil and coal. "The fundamental problem with the administration's approach on energy is that it picks winners and losers," said Karen Harbert, who heads up the chamber's Institute for 21st Century Energy. "Raising taxes on the industry that fuels our lives shows a profound detachment from our energy and economic reality." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/28/6 VEHICLES GM Says It No Longer Needs Gov't Loan To Go Green. “General Motors Co., in another sign of its progress since a government-led bankruptcy, said Thursday it is withdrawing its application for $14.4 billion in federal loans it had sought to help build more fuel-efficient cars.” GM, which has posted three straight profitable financial quarters since its 2009 bankruptcy, said it no longer needs the loans because the company's cash position has improved. GM applied for the loans in 2009 to modernize plants to build fuel-efficient vehicles. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/27/1530680/gm-withdrawing-government-loan.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/27/gm-withdrawing-government-loan-application/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_4e6b7ed7-00ce-58ae-994f-3eda8ee1cbff.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/01/27/2249340/gm-withdrawing-government-loan.html#storylink=misearch Car Rental Company Going Green With New Projects. “Enterprise Rent-A-Car says it will spend $150 million over five years to make all of its locations environmentally friendly.” The St. Louis-based company announced its Enterprise Sustainable Construction Protocol on Wednesday. It says all newly constructed and retrofitted locations will be designed, built and managed with sustainability in mind. Enterprise says its efforts will focus on seven areas, including use of sustainable materials, energy efficiency, recycling and process innovation. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jan/27/car-rental-company-going-green-with-new-projects/ New Passat Delivers German Engineering Built In U.S. “Volkswagen has redefined craftsmanship with their world debut of the all-new Passat, a transformational car in Volkswagen‘s ambitious growth plan for the U.S. market.” Designed in Germany and made in America, the Passat was developed as a larger vehicle with premium features and handling characteristics that will perfectly match it with the tastes and lifestyles of Americans. It will be built in Chattanooga, Tenn., at the world’s newest, most advanced and environmentally responsible auto assembly plant. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/27/new-passat-delivers-german-engineering-built-in-us/ Government Pushing More Fuel Efficiency For Trucks. “Future longhaul trucks, school buses and large pickup trucks will be required to cut fuel consumption and emissions by 10 to 20 percent under first-ever fuel efficiency plans for trucks released Monday by the Obama administration.” For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department announced proposed fuel economy requirements and reductions in tailpipe emissions for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, beginning with those sold in the 2014 model year and into the 2018 model year. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/oct/25/government-pushing-more-fuel-efficiency-trucks/print/ OPINION Viewpoints: Earth's Hardworking Forests Are Taken For Granted, To Their Peril. This year, 2011, is the International Year of Forests. Forests are the lungs of our planet, providing clean air and stabilizing our climate. They collect, clean and store rainfall and snow, slowly releasing it for crops and drinking water. They are open space and solace, homes for wildlife and places for us to work and play. Cool, you say, I love forests. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/28/v-print/3358533/earths-hardworking-forests-are.html EDITORIAL: Snow Job. Depending on government will leave you stranded. Wednesday’s five-inch layer of snow paralyzed the nation’s capital and served as a potent display of nature’s fury. A blanket four-times as thick pushed a number of northern cities like New York and Newark into the record books with the heaviest January snowfall ever. The storm’s aftermath provides a lesson that should linger long after the chilly nights have passed: Depending upon government to solve our problems inevitably ends in disappointment. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/27/snow-job/ Our View: Investigate Evidence Of Global Warming. It is time for an independent investigation of whether or to what degree human activities are creating catastrophic global warming. It should be conducted by scientists untainted by advocacy and uncompromised through receiving taxes or private funding to advance or debunk the theory. Many in the new Congress were elected on promises to re-evaluate global warming claims used to justify Draconian regulations. A "team of nongovernment and non-U.N. experts must be established with access to all the raw data, records, adjustments, fudges ... Posted. http://www.appeal-democrat.com/common/printer/view.php?db=marysville&id=103496 BLOGS Tesla Plans Electric SUV, Due In 2014. Tesla, the electric car manufacturer, has begun planning for a small sport utility vehicle that will be called Model X and come to the market in 2014, the Palo Alto company said. Although the vehicle will be the size of a small SUV, Tesla said it would offer a much larger interior because the electric drive train and components will take up less space than a conventional gasoline engine and transmission. Tesla also is working with Toyota to develop an electric version of the RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle. It will go on sale in 2012. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/01/tesla-plans-electric-suv.html Environment and Electrons Create Sparks in SoCal. The road that takes you from the sleepy town of Boulevard into the path of the Sunrise Powerlink is a dusty, unmarked path that’s a couple of miles long. It ends at a gate without a sign, where a guard stands in the hot midday sun. He knows to keep any unauthorized visitors away; there’s a party going on inside, while the protesters make noise for hours outside. No one yet knows what the Sunrise Powerlink will end up looking like, and at what cost -- and that’s just two of the main issues people have with it. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/01/27/environment-and-electrons-create-sparks-in-socal/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:08:32 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 31, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 31, 2011. 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 Valley Air District Highlights Progress Against Pollution. But not much has changed, according to some measures. A television commercial by the local air district touts the winter of 2009-10 as the Valley's cleanest on record, but is that true? Yes -- with an asterisk. The number of days with a "good" air-quality index has risen sharply over the past decade as the number of unhealthy days plummeted. But by another yardstick, the district's claim is debatable. The Valley's air last year violated standards for soot and fine-particle pollution nearly as often as it did 10 years ago, according to state records. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/01/31/v-print/1751218/valley-air-district-highlights.html EPA Proposes No Changes To Carbon Monoxide Limits. The current air quality standards for carbon monoxide (CO) are strong enough to protect public health, U.S. EPA said today as the agency issued a proposal to keep the existing limits. Carbon monoxide is best known for its ability to reach dangerously high levels in homes, but the poisonous gas is also regulated under the Clean Air Act because elevated levels outdoors can lead to health problems. It is released mainly from the tailpipes of cars and other pieces of equipment that use combustion engines. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/31/2 EPA Wants To Keep Exemption For Toxic Refinery Emissions. U.S. EPA has signaled that it won't reverse a George W. Bush-era policy that lets refineries burn some byproducts without treating them as toxic waste, drawing scorn from environmentalists, who had asked the incoming Obama administration to rethink the rule. Under the policy, which was put in place in 2008, refineries can burn more than 300,000 tons of sludge and other oily materials in gasifiers each year without being subject to the storage and reporting requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) or the Clean Air Act rules that set limits on emissions from solid waste incinerators. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/31/3 CLIMATE CHANGE Gov. Jerry Brown Is Facing Tricky Environmental And Energy Issues In California. California Gov. Jerry Brown's decisions regarding environmental and energy issues will affect public and private spending and public health for the foreseeable future. As Gov. Jerry Brown lays out his first-term agenda Monday, he confronts a thorny array of environmental and energy issues, many with a potential to drive billions of dollars in state and private spending and have a major effect on public health. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-brown-environment-20110131,0,3348295,print.story Expiration of Kyoto Would Mean Little for CO2 Markets, EU Says. The possible expiration of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012 would mean “very little” for carbon markets because they are driven by national targets, a senior European Union official said. The EU, which runs the world’s biggest carbon cap-and-trade program, may need a “reflection” on the 1997 global agreement after some developed countries said they won’t commit to future limits under the treaty starting in 2013, said Jos Delbeke, director general for climate at the European Commission. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-01-31/expiration-of-kyoto-protocol-would-mean-little-for-carbon-markets-eu-says.html Green Exchange to Offer California Carbon Contracts, Chief Says. Green Exchange Holdings LLC plans to offer carbon-dioxide futures contracts for California’s cap-and- trade program, said Thomas Lewis, the chief executive officer of the trading hub. “We’re writing contracts as we speak to issue in the California market,” Lewis said today at a conference in Washington on carbon markets hosted by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Green Exchange is a New York-based trading hub for pollution rights whose owners include CME Group Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-01-31/green-exchange-to-offer-california-carbon-contracts-hub-s-chief-says.html Winter Storms Don't Undermine Global Warming Science, Climate Experts Say. Tree limbs snap, the power goes out, the car needs digging out again. Along with the grumbling about winter snow there's also a common curiosity: So what does all this say about global warming? How can the average world temperature be inching up and 2010 be tied for the warmest year ever, when places from North Carolina to New England get buried by whopper winter storms? There are several scientific explanations that help sweep away the snow confusion. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/30/1534606/winter-storms-dont-undermine-global.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/01/30/2252908/winter-storms-dont-undermine-global.html#storylink=misearch Study: Arctic Waters Are Warmest In 2,000 Years. Water flowing into the Arctic Ocean from the North Atlantic is the warmest it's been in at least 2,000 years, reports a new international study that's bad news for climate change as well as polar bears needing sea ice for survival. Waters of the Fram Strait, which runs between Greenland and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, have warmed about 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 100 years, according to the study published in the Jan. 28 issue of the journal Science. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/01/arctic-waters-warmest-2000-years/1?csp=34 Bankers Learn Climate Science. At the woods' edge, small groups of HSBC technology managers, armed with clipboards and measuring tapes, meticulously determine the circumference of specially tagged trees down to a tenth of an inch. They're wearing bright orange vests because it's deer-hunting season, and though field science isn't in their job descriptions, their employer, HSBC bank, wants them to understand climate change. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/28/AR2011012806024.html Senate GHG Bill Would Strike Down Federal, Some State Regs. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) will introduce a bill later today that would prohibit federal agencies from regulating greenhouse gas emissions and also limit states' ability to implement carbon dioxide laws. The measure would prevent the federal government from regulating greenhouse gas emissions for their effects on climate change, according to a source familiar with the bill. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/31/1 Europe's Carbon Emissions Trading -- Growing Pains Or Wholesale Theft? New York -- Have criminals found a lucrative niche in carbon markets? Previously, many bankers and traders said no, insisting that one-off incidents involving theft or cheating in Europe's Emissions Trading System (ETS) were isolated events attributable mostly to the youth of the market. Advocates of a cap-and-trade approach to tackling climate change said that such growing pains are inevitable, but regulators and legitimate market participants would get better at warding off abuses. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/31/3 U.N. Chief Says Climate Change Is No Longer His Top Issue. United Nations -- The tenor of international climate negotiations has changed, and the United Nations' top leadership is changing with it, officials here are saying. While tackling climate change will remain a central issue, it will no longer be the top issue for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Ban's office said. The U.N. chief will still press for action on climate change, but in the context of the broader fight to achieve sustainable development, including through the advocacy of greener business practices, clean energy deployment, and tackling environmental degradation in the developing world. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/31/4 FUELS Are Some Local Gas Stations Breaking The Law? Almost 1,000 stations in California are not in compliance with a state order from Oct. 15 involving gasoline pumps. If you use one of those clips that lets you automatically pump gasoline into your car, there's a one in 12 chance the gas station you're patronizing is breaking the law. State officials estimate almost 1,000 of California's 12,000 service stations have not yet complied with an Oct. 15 order from the State Fire Marshal to remove the hands-free pumping clips from so-called VST nozzles. About 3,000 California stations had those particular nozzles last fall. Posted. http://danville.patch.com/articles/are-some-local-gas-stations-breaking-the-law-2 Global Methane Accounts May Be Misleading. Estimates on the potential for greenhouse gas sequestration from lakes and rivers may be off by up to 25 percent. Freshwater resources have shown to be efficient carbon sinks, sucking excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helping slow the creep of climate change. However, these same lakes also emit methane, a gas with 20 to 30 times the heat-trapping potential of carbon dioxide. The research, published in Science, compiled methane (CH4) emission data from 474 freshwater lakes, streams, rivers and reservoirs throughout the world. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/31/5 GREEN ENERGY New Electricity Meters Stir Fears. Inverness Park, Calif. — Pacific Gas and Electric’s campaign to introduce wireless smart meters in Northern California is facing fierce opposition from an eclectic mix of Tea Party conservatives and left-leaning individualists who say the meters threaten their liberties and their health. In the San Francisco Bay Area, “Stop Smart Meters” signs and bumper stickers have been multiplying on front lawns and cars. Four protesters have been arrested for blocking trucks seeking to deliver the meters. Since 2006, PG&E has installed more than seven million of the devices, which transmit real-time data on customers’ use of electricity. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/31/science/earth/31meters.html?_r=1&ref=science&pagewanted=print Lighting Switch Requires A Change In Mind-Set. America, prepare to embrace "lumens." For more than a century, buying light bulbs has been a fairly straightforward transaction: consumers have judged pear-shaped incandescent bulbs by how much wattage, or power, they consume. But the government wants the next generation of bulbs to be measured by their brightness. And that means lumens. In a nation with 4.4 billion light sockets, it's a tall order. "It's a big deal, and it's going to take a while for customers to get used to the difference," said Jorge Fernandez, who buys light bulbs for Home Depot. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/30/AR2011013003415_pf.html http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/01/31/13 ENERGY: New Financing Powers Panels For Residents. Solar panel prices overreach many homeowners' budgets, no matter how green they want to be; but recently new companies have eliminated upfront costs, bringing solar power costs down to earth. Homeowners looking to reduce their contribution to global warming or save money on electric bills often consider installing solar panels, especially in North San Diego and Southwest Riverside counties, where the sun shines hot and often. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_747f776f-2daf-5bc1-86d7-bc049532b7a0.html Can The U.S. Help Its Solar Power Industry Reach Financial Liftoff? First of a four-part series. "This is our generation's Sputnik moment," President Obama said at the top of his State of the Union address to Congress last week. He was expressing a vision of his administration's high-stakes campaign to help American companies claim leadership in future clean energy technologies. Behind the rhetoric is a thrust by the administration to target federal investments in technology on ways to dramatically change energy use across the economy -- in transportation, electricity generation, industrial processes and building design. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/01/31/1 VEHICLES A Hybrid Made for the Highway. HIGHWAY driving is not where hybrids shine. Typically, their fuel economy gains are most impressive in town, where low-speed driving is powered by electricity and efficiency is aided by a regenerative braking system. The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid was engineered to level the playing field a bit for drivers who spend more time commuting on the highway than sitting in stop-and-go traffic. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/automobiles/30HYBRID.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=green%20vehicles&st=cse Three Green Machines. Fiat is not the only automaker with something to show off. Other highlights at this year's Washington Auto Show: Herndon-based Volkswagen Group of America introduced the new Passat TDI, a sedan it said can achieve a fuel economy of 43 miles per gallon. Starting at $20,000, the car was assembled at the company's newly built production facility in Chattanooga, Tenn. Volkswagen has also set a 2012 debut for its new hybrid Jetta and electric Golf models. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/28/AR2011012805981.html Gene and the Machine: The Shocking Truth About The Electric Volt. Here's the hyphen-heavy heap of hype on the Chevy Volt, GM's new, highly touted plug-in hybrid electric car: It's packing a 16-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery. It has a 1.4-liter, 16-valve, 4-cylinder, in-line gasoline engine fed by a 9.3-gallon fuel tank. It's got front-wheel drive and does a peppy 8.8-second zero-to-60. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/21/AR2011012105347.html MISCELLANEOUS 7-Eleven Experiments With Eco-Friendly Stores. At the 7-Eleven across from the Shusse Inari shrine here, the glare of fluorescent light bulbs that is synonymous with convenience stores has been replaced by the soft glow of light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, that consume half the energy and last much longer. The store, which opened a year ago here in the birthplace of the Kyoto Protocol, is the prototype of the latest eco-friendly 7-Eleven, one of 100 that will be open in Japan by the end of February. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/31/business/energy-environment/31green31.html?scp=3&sq=green%20vehicles&st=cse OPINION Mr. Obama's New Energy. ENERGY POLICY was near the top of President Obama's agenda in his State of the Union address Tuesday - a topic so politically toxic last year that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) ran a campaign ad in which he shot a "cap and trade" bill with a hunting rifle. Nearly all Republicans joined Mr. Manchin and other coal-state Democrats in opposing the comprehensive energy plan that Democratic leaders pressed in 2010. Cap-and-trade was a desirable policy, but Congress passed nothing. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/30/AR2011013004012.html Valley Deserves Praise For Efforts To Clean Air. In the San Joaquin Valley, our air-quality challenges are more difficult than those in any other region in the nation. On one hand, we have been given circumstances over which we have no control: The Valley's geography, topography and climate turn our region into a bowl with a lid; pass-through highway traffic brings pollution without any economic benefit; and emissions from the northwest add to our own. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110129/A_OPINION/101290314 Will That Electric Feeling Last? Charles Lane's Jan. 28 column ["Cold truths on electric avenue," Washington Forum] provided some truths about electric cars and battery technology in cold weather. However, I found it odd that he based his thesis on his gut: "My hunch is that electrics would have faced similar problems or worse." We won't know for sure until side-by-side tests are undertaken among gasoline, diesel, electric and hybrid cars. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/30/AR2011013004238.html Cold Truths On Electric Avenue. Count me among the many thousands of Washington area residents who spent Wednesday night stuck in traffic as a snowstorm sowed chaos all around us. Being car-bound in sub-freezing weather for six hours can make a guy think. I counted my blessings. The situation could have been worse, I realized: My fellow commuters and I could have been trying to make it home in electric cars, like the ones President Obama is constantly promoting, most recently in his State of the Union address. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/27/AR2011012707040_pf.html BLOGS Top Environmental Priorities For The California PUC. Over the past decade, the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates the state's investor-owned utilities, has emerged as a leader on policies that provide significant environmental and economic benefits. Governor Brown recently announced two of his three new appointees to the five-member CPUC, and the new Commission should continue to build on this proud track record of environmental leadership. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/dwang/detail?entry_id=81980 Sustain What? During a recent visit to the University of Connecticut, I was interviewed by Bob Wyss, an associate professor of journalism, for a climate issue of Wrack Lines, the magazine of the Connecticut Sea Grant College Program. The issue is out and contains a variety of interesting articles. In the interview, I articulated a few ideas that are worth posting here, in part as a starting point for you to ask me a question or two, as well. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/sustain-what/?scp=6&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Inquiry and Intimidation. I haven’t seen this reported elsewhere — but Republicans in Congress are planning to investigate the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, looking for evidence of corruption and wrongdoing. It’s absurd, of course: a tiny commission with a small budget didn’t offer much scope for corruption. But what this is really about is intimidation — in much the same way that investigations of climate scientists are about intimidation. What the GOP wants is to make people afraid even to do research that produces conclusions they don’t like. Posted. http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/31/inquiry-and-intimidation/?pagemode=print Why Electric Cars Aren’t Selling. Hong Kong had its worst-ever year in terms of roadside pollution in 2010, according to government data. It also hosts the world’s highest traffic density, says the Clear the Air, a local antipollution organization. But despite rising concern over roadside pollution levels and a government campaign to get consumers and companies to adopt zero-emissions vehicles, electric cars aren’t yet creating much spark. Mitsubishi, EuAuto and Tesla each offer an electric car to Hong Kong consumers to replace gasoline-powered ones, but so far, there have been few takers. As of Dec. 31, just 70 electric cars were registered in Hong Kong. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/hong-kong/2011/01/31/why-electric-cars-arent-selling/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2011 12:33:40 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 1, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 1, 2011. 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 Smog-Eating Tile Roofs Being Offered By KB Homes. It is a green home-building feature that is particularly fitting for Southern California: a concrete tile roof that neutralizes the smog-forming nitrogen oxides spewed into the air by automobiles. Hoping to attract environmentally concerned homebuyers, KB Home, based in Los Angeles, has joined forces with Boral Roofing, the Irvine-based manufacturer of what is being called "smog-eating tile." Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_smogeating01.208048e.html CLIMATE CHANGE Sen. John Barasso, R-Wyo., Introduces Bill To Keep EPA From Regulating Carbon Emissions. The Daily Caller reports on Barrasso's legislation, which aims to stop the EPA from from becoming the de facto regulators of the American economy:The Defending America’s Affordable Energy and Jobs Act seeks to stop bureaucracies from unilaterally passing economically unsound regulations for the sole purpose of addressing climate change. It has seven co-sponsors, including Republican Sens. Mike Enzi of Wyoming, James Inhofe of Oklahoma and John Thune of South Dakota. Posted. http://washingtonexaminer.com/print/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/02/sen-john-barasso-r-wyo-introduces-bill-keep-epa-regulating-carbon Natural Gas, Electronics Groups Sue EPA Over Emission-Reporting Rules. New federal regulations that require companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions have drawn several new lawsuits from electronics companies and the natural gas industry, which argue that there are flaws in the way U.S. EPA designed the program. Trade groups such as the American Gas Association and the Semiconductor Industry Association, as well as the manufacturing giant 3M Co. and natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy Corp., want the agency to rethink various elements of the reporting rules that were finalized at the beginning of December. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/01/2 U.S. Chamber Supports Some Admin Energy Plans But Not Emission Regs. The U.S. business community can make common cause with the Obama administration on the promotion of new energy technologies and expanded siting for electricity transmission at the same time it urges Congress to bar U.S. EPA's plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce official said today. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/01/5 U.S. Should Let States Regulate CO2 Pipelines -- DOE-Backed Report. The federal government should avoid taking over the regulation of carbon dioxide pipelines, leaving future infrastructure build-out to the private sector with primarily state oversight, according to a new Department of Energy-backed report. That framework, the report says, would allow future networks of CO2 pipes developed for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) to follow the successful model that has created a more limited pipeline network to transport CO2 for use in oil and natural gas production. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/01/9 $46M Spent On Failed Calif. Global Warming Measure. Sacramento, Calif. -- More than $46 million was spent for and against a failed November ballot measure that would have suspended California's landmark global warming law, according to campaign finance reports filed Monday. Out-of-state oil companies and their supporters spent $10.5 million promoting Proposition 23, while opponents spent more than $36 million. The initiative would have suspended the state's 2006 greenhouse gas reduction goals until California's unemployment rate, now 12.5 percent, drops to 5.5 percent and holds there for a year. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/31/AR2011013106274_pf.html http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/01/10 Global CO2 Output Slightly Lower In 2009. Although the United States, Europe, Canada, Russia and South Africa all saw lower carbon emissions in 2009, China had an increase of more than 13 percent from the previous year. In 2009, U.S. emissions fell to levels not seen since 1995-1996 because of lower industrial output related to the recession. China's increase was the equivalent of adding the annual emissions of Germany, Greece and Peru combined. India saw strong growth in its carbon output from an increase in coal burning. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/01/6 GREEN ENERGY Energy Panel Leader Expects Push For Production Of More U.S. Oil. The chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee said Monday that the crisis in oil markets sparked by Egypt’s political unrest should not divert Congress from pursuing long-term strategies to develop more clean and renewable energy resources. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico Democrat, predicted that the latest Middle East crisis will amplify calls on Capitol Hill to expand U.S. oil production as a way to ease dependence on unstable foreign suppliers. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/31/energy-panel-leader-expects-push-for-production-of/print/ Obama's Energy Plan and Your Energy Bill. Electricity prices will increase, but your bill could actually come down. A national energy plan proposed last week by President Obama could have a paradoxical impact on the nation's energy bills. It is likely to raise electricity prices by forcing utilities to use certain sources of energy, but it could lower energy bills by offering people incentives to reduce the amount of electricity they consume. According to an outline supplied by the White House, the energy plan would include a clean energy standards that would require that the United States get 80 percent of its energy from "clean" sources by 2035. Posted. http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/32247/?ref= VEHICLES Are Consumers Really Ready For Plug-Ins? While many potential consumers are getting their first glimpse of plug-in electric vehicles at the auto shows across the country, it may be a while before they actually start buying the cars. More EVs are on display than ever before, and the press coverage is heating up. At the Washington Auto Show, the Ford Focus Electric, slated to hit the market later this year, received the 2011 Green Car Vision Award. Ford also recently unveiled its C-Max Energi, the first plug-in SUV of its kind. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/01/3 BLOGS Filling in the Blanks on Himalayan Glaciers. Last year the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ended up with a bit of mud on its face, when it had to retract an alarming claim in its landmark 2007 assessment: that the probability of Himalayan glaciers “disappearing by the year 2035 and perhaps sooner is very high.” Climate skeptics pilloried the panel for including what proved to be an unsubstantiated and, glaciologists said, unlikely figure. Rajendra K. Pachauri, the head of the panel, called the inclusion of the statistic a “regrettable error.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/filling-in-the-blanks-on-himalayan-glaciers/?pagemode=print In a Warm Room, the Globe Feels Hotter. As any climate scientist will attest, proof of global warming is found not in the warmth or cold of any given day or even a particular year, but in long-term trends in temperature averaged across the entire planet. Yet research has shown that local weather does play a role in people’s judgment about climate change: one recent national study found that for each 3.5 degree Fahrenheit rise in temperature above a local average, Americans became 1 percent more likely to agree that “solid evidence” exists that the earth is getting warmer. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/in-a-warm-room-the-globe-feels-hotter/?pagemode=print Natural Gas: It’s Not Easy Being Green. Bloomberg Tapping natural gas in Texas. The green bona fides of the energy source are coming under increased scrutiny. Natural gas has long enjoyed a clean-and-green reputation — at least in comparison with coal, its brethren fossil fuel and most immediate substitute in the electricity-generation game. And of course, T. Boone Pickens and others would like to see natural gas replace oil as the chief source for the nation’s transportation fuels. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/natural-gas-its-not-easy-being-green/?pagemode=print Energy Crises Don’t Necessarily Lead to Energy Legislation. Political instability in Egypt is sending the price of oil higher. But could it be the catalyst for an overhaul of the nation's energy policy? Though Egypt is not a large producer of oil, it does serve as a critical link in the supply chain. About 600,000 barrels of crude oil and roughly 1.2 million barrels of refined oil products travel through Egypt's Suez Canal each day. To date, the vital shipping lane remains open for business, but if it stops running the public could be in for some major pain at the pump and elsewhere. Posted. http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/01/31/energy-crises-don-t-necessarily-lead-energy-legislation ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 13:09:32 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 3, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 2, 2011. 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 House GOP Readies Bill To Restrict EPA's Regulation Of Carbon Emissions. Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) is expected to unveil draft legislation Wednesday that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating carbon emissions under the Clean Air Act. Upton, the new chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, aims to prevent the Obama administration from using the Clean Air Act as "a regulatory vehicle to impose a cap-and-trade energy tax," according to a committee aide. Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, is expected to announce similar draft legislation in the Senate. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/02/AR2011020203720.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/01/1538089/ap-sources-house-gop-readies-restrictions.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/02/ap-sources-house-gop-readies-restrictions-on-epa/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_2458cd2d-ac5f-5098-8c3e-770fbe449fca.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/01/2256092/ap-sources-house-gop-readies-restrictions.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/02/AR2011020200615.html Long-Delayed Projects Get Exemption From New Air, Climate Rules. The Obama administration will spare a stalled power plant project in California from the newest federal limits on greenhouse gases and conventional air pollution, U.S. EPA says in a new court filing that marks a policy shift in the face of industry groups and Republicans accusing the agency of holding up construction of large industrial facilities. Posted. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/02/1 CLIMATE CHANGE California Court Clouds Cap-And-Trade Outlook. * Alternatives to cap-and-trade not well analyzed-court * Tentative ruling could face objections, then appeals * California cap-and-trade plan due to start in 2012. SAN FRANCISCO - A San Francisco judge has tentatively ruled that California did not adequately consider alternatives to creating a carbon market, a decision which clouds the premier U.S. climate change program's outlook. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/02/environment-california-idINN0129249720110202 District Hailed For Adopting Environmental Curriculum. John Muir Elementary - Students in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District could soon be getting an extra dose of environmental awareness in their science, history and social studies courses, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Sempra Energy Foundation and a new curriculum developed by the California Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2011-02-01-71237.113116-District-hailed-for-adopting-environmental-curriculum.html Obama Admin. Threatens Climate Veto. The Obama administration Wednesday repeated its threat to veto legislation that would curb its ability to regulate greenhouse gases. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson said that the White House continues to oppose any efforts from Capitol Hill to hamstring her agency on climate change. “What has been said from the White House is that the president’s advisors would advise him to veto any legislation that passed that would take away EPA’s greenhouse gas authority,” Jackson told reporters on Capitol Hill. Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=7E7DACDF-F8BE-4694-AC71-84B1437627B7 Award-Winning Scientists Ask Congress To Take A 'Fresh Look' At Climate Change. Scientists are urging Congress to take a "fresh look" at climate change, asking lawmakers to trust mainstream climate research and give lesser weight to the claims of skeptics. "Some view climate change as a futuristic abstraction. Others are unsure about the science, or uncertain about the policy responses," reads a Jan. 28 letter from 18 prominent researchers to members of the House and Senate. "We want to assure you that the science is strong and that there is nothing abstract about the risks facing our nation. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/02/3 Transparency International Plans Overview Of Carbon Trading Abuses. New York -- The Berlin-based anti-corruption group Transparency International is preparing a global assessment of carbon trading and climate finance in an effort to point regulators' attention to the high risk of abuse of the carbon markets. But that initiative will not take a look at specific cases of bribery, kickbacks or other schemes involving the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), officials clarified in response to a recent E&E report. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/02/7 Report Offers 'Affordable Ways' To Reduce Beef Industry's GHGs. Improving the diet of cattle and storing carbon in pasture soils can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the beef industry, according to a report released today by the nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists. "There is a range of affordable ways beef producers, especially those who raise beef on pasture, can significantly reduce their impact by cutting emissions and capturing more carbon in soil," said Doug Gurian-Sherman, the group's senior scientist and the report's author. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/02/7 GREEN ENERGY San Diego Links With Utility, University To Speed Smart Grid. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders announced yesterday that he would partner with General Electric Co., the University of California and local utility San Diego Gas & Electric to create a "holistic" electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. San Diego Gas & Electric; GE; the University of California, San Diego; and the nonprofit business group CleanTECH San Diego -- a consortium of local government officials, lawyers, professors, bankers and executives from energy companies -- …Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/02/6 Chamber, Renewable Groups Clash Over Ability To Meet Clean Energy Goal. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce yesterday summarized how it views President Obama's goal of doubling the country's clean energy production in 25 years: "impossible." Hitting that target would require a nearly eightfold increase in renewable power generation, the business trade group said, a boom that can't happen with the existing obstacles. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/02/4 VEHICLES Growing An American Electric Car Industry, A Tale Of Two Companies. The third of a four-part series. Click here for part one and here for part two. Not long after the auto bailouts, the financial crash and the election of President Obama, General Motors Co. had a choice to make. It had designed an electric car, the Chevrolet Volt, to prove it could build something besides gas guzzlers. To make this car even close to affordable, it would need a battery unlike any that had been made before. This battery would have to overcome its own bulk to power the Volt for 40 miles. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/02/1 Consumer Qualms Could Hamper Obama's Electric Vehicle Goals. President Obama's goal of having 1 million electric vehicles deployed in the United States by 2015 may be too ambitious, because manufacturers are hesitant to mass-produce the cars amid uncertain consumer demand, a panel of auto industry executives and analysts say in a new report. Although nearly every major car company is planning to produce either a battery electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid, there may not be enough production volume to meet the million-vehicle goal in four years, the experts warn. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/02/15 OPINION Working Together, We Can Clean Our Air. Can the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District do more to get buy-in from the people of Kern County and the Central Valley? Does the regional air-quality agency simply have an image problem? Or does this come down to a public that's not willing to make the necessary sacrifices to return the Central Valley's air to a state of reasonable healthfulness? Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/editorials/x437101336/Working-together-we-can-clean-our-air Air Index Questions. In "Valley air gains worth touting?" the graph shows the number of good and unhealthy days between 1999 and 2010. In the Jan. 29 article, Mark Grossi writes: "The index includes air ratings -- healthy, moderate, unhealthy for people with lung problems and unhealthy for everyone." While the numbers seem encouraging, do these tell the whole story? Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/02/2255981/air-index-questions.html#storylink=misearch BLOGS A Few Sighs of Relief Over Cuomo’s Budget. Given the pressure for deep cuts in hard economic times, New York environmental groups seemed relieved that Governor Andrew Cuomo was more surgeon than hatchet man in announcing his proposed budget on Tuesday. “Governor Cuomo has effectively targeted cuts to inflict the least amount of pain while holding the line on vital services like mass transit, the Environmental Protection Fund and the Department of Environmental Conservation,” said Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/02/a-few-sighs-of-relief-over-cuomos-budget/?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Cooling Off The Heated Climate Change Rhetoric. The scene: A crowded room at the American Meteorological Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Seattle last week, where the theme was "communicating weather and climate." Climate scientists and weather experts from the U.S. and around the world, along with a sizable contingent of communications specialists from various media outlets, government agencies and academic institutions, are listening to a presentation by Kevin Trenberth, a climate researcher who heads up the Climate Analysis Section at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colo. Posted. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2011/02/cooling_off_the_heated_climate.html Survey Shows 58% Of Polled Companies Have No Emissions-Measuring Plan. A recent survey of 143 energy and utility professionals indicates 58% have no system to record carbon emissions. That's a slight improvement from 61% who responded the same way during 2010, reports Enviance Inc., a software provider for management of environmental, health, and safety compliance activities. Posted. http://www.ogj.com/index/blogs/health-safety-environment/blogs/OGJ/health-safety-environment-blog/post987_4014142441511916797.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 13:05:39 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 3, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 3, 2011. 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 Court Orders EPA To Revisit S. Calif. Ozone Plan. San Francisco -- A federal appeals court ordered U.S. EPA yesterday to revisit a 2003 plan for cutting smog in the Los Angeles region, saying the agency failed to require transportation control measures to account for projected increases in vehicle miles traveled. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said EPA's review of California's ozone attainment plan for the Los Angeles-South Coast Air Basin was "arbitrary and capricious" because, among other elements, the agency did not direct the state to plan for offsetting growth in vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/03/13 CLIMATE CHANGE California Groups Seek Overhaul of State Carbon Market. California should abandon a cap-and- trade program for greenhouse gases and rewrite regulations for cutting the emissions that scientists link to climate change, an environmental-justice group said. The program, in which power plants, refineries and factories buy and sell the right to emit carbon dioxide, will let companies pay to “continue polluting in low-income communities,” Alegria De La Cruz, legal director at the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment, said today in a telephone interview from San Francisco. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-02-03/california-advocacy-groups-seek-overhaul-of-state-s-carbon-market-rules.html Court Ruling Could Threaten State Emissions Law. San Francisco -- A California court has issued a tentative ruling that could delay implementation of the state's climate change law. In a proposed decision released with little fanfare, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith faulted the California Air Resources Board (ARB) for, in his view, not doing enough to complete environmental analyses or consider alternatives to a cap-and-trade market to regulate carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/03/8 EPA Must Work With States To Limit Rules' Reliability, Cost Impacts – Regulator. U.S. EPA should work with stakeholders to ensure that electric reliability and pricing do not suffer from expected environmental regulations covering power plant emissions, coal ash waste handling and other issues, according to a draft resolution to be presented at a February meeting of utility regulators. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/03/6 GREEN ENERGY Democrats Launch 'Green Energy' Bills. Flanked by solar energy business people and investors, legislative Democrats announced Wednesday that they're resurrecting a bill to require utilities to buy at least 33 percent of California's electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Legislators presented the proposal along with related measures as a pro-business effort to help create jobs. "The budget is and remains our top priority," said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/03/v-print/3373329/democrats-launch-green-energy.html Newsom Sings Praises Of China At Green Biz Event In SF. The forum was sponsored by Oakland-based GreenBiz Group, a company that seeks to help professionals integrate sustainable business practices into their routines. Joel Makower, GreenBiz Group chairman and executive editor, opened the discussion by praising Newsom's green efforts as San Francisco's mayor. While in the mayor's office, Newsom introduced citywide composting bins and converted all city vehicles to run on biodiesel fuels, Makower said. "We also have the nation's highest green building standards and the highest recycling rate," Newsom said. Posted. http://sfappeal.com/news/2011/02/newsom-sings-praises-of-china-at-green-biz-event-in-sf.php Report Criticizes California Electricity Surcharge Program. California consumers have paid $700 million for research on clean and efficient energy. But a legislative analyst says the money has not been well spent and urges that the program be overhauled or killed. California electricity users have paid $700 million in surcharges for research on clean and efficient energy production, but not all of the money may have been well spent and the program should be overhauled or killed, state officials say in a new report. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/la-me-energy-20110203,0,3425269,print.story Energy Firms Aided by U.S. Find Backers. In late 2009, the federal government gave $151 million in grants to advance 37 clean energy ideas deemed too radical or too preliminary to attract much private financing — like electricity storage that mimics photosynthesis and batteries that double or triple the energy stored per pound. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/business/energy-environment/03energy.html?_r=1&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=2&adxnnlx=1296752417-EMWUnK6xVVJbPTQ3L+7nBQ Obama Spotlights Energy Efficiency Work At Penn St. im Freihaut thinks he might be on the verge of one of those "Sputnik moments" that President Barack Obama referred to in his State of the Union speech. The Penn State scientist wants to transform the building industry by making energy-efficient renovations more affordable. The administration is so interested that Obama plans to get a firsthand look at Freihaut's lab during a scheduled stop Thursday in State College. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/02/1539009/obama-spotlights-energy-efficiency.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/02/2256938 /obama-spotlights-energy-efficiency.html#storylink=misearch Green Is Good In A Blue State. Change one letter in Gordon Gecko’s infamous credo and it becomes the mantra of Democratic policymakers from President Obama to Gov. Jerry Brown and the majorities of the state Senate and Assembly: Green is good. In their eyes, it’s very, very good. Perhaps too good. They say: Greater energy efficiency, expanded recycling, cleaner manufacturing, more renewable energy will foster new categories of jobs that will drive California’s economy into broad sweeping uplands – green, naturally – of prosperity and sustainability. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=zgs2oxn5mot9bu# Cleantech Companies Off To A Good Start. Six cleantech companies that received a total of $23.6 million in seed funding from the Department of Energy's highly regarded ARPA-E program have, a year later, attracted more than $100 million in private capital investment. The announcement, made late Wednesday by the Energy Department, seeks to highlight ARPA-E's success in making early and strategic investments in potentially game-changing clean-energy technologies. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_17281319 New research at work: Bing Energy of Chino to make cost-saving fuel cells. Bing Energy's licensing deal to bring new research to the marketplace could allow the firm to produce hydrogen fuel cells at significantly lower prices, the company's vice president for business development said. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_17275786 Calif. Lawmakers Promote Clean Energy Standards. The California Legislature's Democratic leaders are promising quick passage of bills they say will position the state as the national leader in developing clean energy alternatives and green jobs. The package introduced Wednesday includes a bill requiring utilities to get one-third of their power from alternative energy sources like wind, solar and geothermal by 2020. The state is currently on track to get 21 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2012. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/02/1539310/calif-lawmakers-promote-clean.html http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110202/A_NEWS/110209975&cid=sitesearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/02/calif-lawmakers-promote-clean-energy-standards/ http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/03/n-kingstown-suggests-statewide-turbine-standards/ http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/02/2257222/calif-lawmakers-promote-clean.html#storylink=misearch Obama To Propose Goal For Energy Efficiency In Buildings. President Obama will announce an ambitious effort to reduce energy use in the nation's commercial buildings by 20 percent when he delivers a speech today in State College, Penn. The plan, called the Better Building Initiative, seeks to spark a spending spree on things like new lighting, windows and heating systems in thousands of strip malls, hospitals and universities across the country. The administration hopes to meet the efficiency goal by 2020. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/03/3 Alternative-Energy Bill Should Be Top Priority For Congress – Poll. Of eight issues Congress could tackle this year, Americans most favor an energy bill that would provide incentives for solar and other alternative energy sources, according to a new Gallup poll. Eighty-three percent of individuals would favor such energy legislation, placing the issue ahead of overhauling the federal tax code, speeding up withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, addressing illegal immigration or passing stronger gun control laws, the poll said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/03/4 VEHICLES Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid's Selling Point Is Power, Not Fuel Economy. The main advantage of the hybrid Touareg over other versions is getting V-8 power out of a V-6. If you're looking to make your fuel dollars go further, the diesel TDI is your best bet. Volkswagen recently put on sale the second generation of its mid-size sport utility vehicle, the 2011 Touareg. Sitting at the top of the Touareg line is the $61,385 Hybrid, a vehicle that is eminently capable and well-executed. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-vw-touareg-hybrid-review-20110203,0,1497095,print.story Electric Vehicle Recharging Stations Get Funding. As the latest wave of electric cars arrives in California, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District on Wednesday awarded $3.9 million to four companies to install charging stations in homes and public places. Most of the money will be used to lower the cost of installing charging stations in the homes of electric car drivers, helping fund the installation of 2,750 chargers throughout the Bay Area. The money also will pay for installing 30 fast-charging stations in places accessible to the public, such as stores, restaurants or government buildings. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/03/BU3I1HI1FL.DTL&type=printable http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110202/ARTICLES/110209892 The Hazy Anatomy Of A Potential 'Game-Changer' In Automobiles. The last of a four part series. Click here for part one, here for part two and here for part three. In his State of the Union address, President Obama painted a vision of the jobs of tomorrow -- then pointed to the scientists of today. "None of us can predict with certainty what the next big industry will be, or where the new jobs will come from," Obama admitted. But historically, he said, the government has funded basic research that the private sector hesitated to fund itself. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/03/1 IBM On The Hunt To Perfect The Lithium-Air Car Battery. As the Obama administration searches for a breakthrough battery, it will have company -- a 100-year-old U.S. company doing the research on its own dime. IBM, better known for its computers and mainframes, has spent two and a half years researching lithium-air batteries, a technology that could eliminate the gap between gasoline cars and electric cars, if it works. In late 2009, IBM applied for a Department of Energy grant to defray some of the cost of this risky research. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/03/2 MISCELLANEOUS EPA To Regulate Toxic Chemicals In Drinking Water. The EPA plans to set standards for perchlorate and 16 other substances, reversing a Bush-era decision. The Environmental Protection Agency took steps Wednesday to curb toxic substances in drinking water, including perchlorate, a chemical thought to threaten the thyroid gland that has contaminated hundreds of public water wells, mostly in California. The agency also moved to set standards for 16 other substances that can invade water supplies and impair human health. Perchlorate, a remnant of California's manufacturing, aerospace and military bases, can inhibit thyroid hormone production, especially in fetuses and infants. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-na-water-epa-20110203,0,2407777,print.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/03/MNLD1HI0UJ.DTL&type=green CA Stations Still Using Non-Compliant Hands-Free Pumping Clips. California's Fire Marshal office has sent lists of non-compliant stations to local fire districts. Walnut Creek, CA – California officials have estimated that nearly 1,000 of California's 12,000 gas stations have not yet complied with an October 15 order from the State Fire Marshal to remove hands-free pumping clips from VST nozzles, Patch.com reports. Stations with VST nozzles must either remove the hands-free clip or install approved nozzles at a cost of $180 to $300 each. Posted. http://www.nacsonline.com/_layouts/internal/NewsStory_Print.aspx?pid=c60fc9f1-31f4-40d5-8669-d14591979395 OPINION Peering Into A Post-Petroleum World. As protests in Egypt underscore the hazards of relying on imported oil, a bus and bike-riding scientist at UCLA is working on clean fusion energy that could wean us from foreign fuel. The story of how I ended up in the basement of a UCLA physics building, getting a tour of a plasma facility with a young scientist working on the development of clean fusion energy, begins with the uprisings in the Middle East. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0202-lopez-20110202,0,7786114,print.column Court’s AB 32 Ruling Is Quite Narrow and At Most a Temporary Setback . Cara published a terrific summary of a tentative California superior court decision in which the court held that the state’s Air Resources Board (CARB) violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in implementing AB 32, the state’s landmark climate change legislation. The CEQA portion of the ruling — should the judge stick with it when he finalizes his decision — is a setback for efforts to implement California’s law. But I think it’s worth emphasizing that it’s only a temporary setback and one that may not even have the effect of delaying the air board’s climate change plan. Posted. http://calclimate.berkeley.edu/aggregator/sources/1?? OPINION Debating Carbon-Dioxide Emissions. A recent Washington Times editorial unfairly disparaged climate research based on a purposefully narrow representation of science (“Snow job,” Comment & Analysis, Jan. 28). The editorial cited a recent study about glaciers in the Himalayas to try to downplay the effects of climate change. However, as your editorial noted, the study was limited. Dirk Scherler, the study’s lead author, told Reuters news agency, “Overall in the Himalayas, the glaciers are retreating.” The editorial misrepresented science in the service of its ideological opposition to government policies aimed at reducing carbon-dioxide emissions. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/2/debating-carbon-dioxide-emissions/ Give Me The Green Light. Businesses respond to signals, not speeches. High unemployment tells companies to hold off on production, and low interest rates tell companies to borrow, but State of the Union addresses don't have the power to tell companies to do anything. So when the president says he's committed to green energy, that's fine. But the U.S. isn't giving alternative energy companies the green light. We're giving off something more like a ruddish-yellow light, as if to say: Go ahead if you'd like, but proceed at your own caution. Posted. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2011/02/give_me_the_green_light.html Air District Needs True Transparency, Collaboration. Regardless of recent claims by the air district that the air is cleaner, the health of San Joaquin Valley residents is indicative that more can be done. Polluted air is still responsible for 2,400 premature deaths in the region, and is linked to heart disease, diabetes, asthma and other serious acute and chronic health conditions. The valley also continues to have the highest childhood asthma prevalence in the state, almost double that of the state average. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/02/1539716/air-district-needs-true-transparency.html BLOGS Another Challenge to Greenhouse Gas Regulation. Three Republican lawmakers have joined the bandwagon of opponents of Environmental Protection Agency regulation of climate-altering gases. Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Representatives Fred Upton of Michigan and Ed Whitfield of Kentucky are circulating a draft of a bill dubbed the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 that takes aim squarely at the E.P.A.’s authority to impose limits on emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/another-challenge-to-greenhouse-gas-regulation/?pagemode=print Disputed Power Plant For San Joaquin Valley Clears Hurdle. Should all new power plants install the "best available technology" to control pollution? Not necessarily, the Obama administration said on Tuesday, reversing a long-held policy. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, battling an industry lawsuit, told a U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia that it would allow a controversial gas-fired plant to be built in the San Joaquin Valley, one of the nation's most polluted regions. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/02/avenal-power-plant-san-joaquin-valley-pollution.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 It's Baaaccck! Lawmakers To Try Again For 33 Percent Renewable Energy Standard. They say in Sacramento that no idea ever dies, it just returns the next year. That's the case for an ambitious clean energy proposal, which failed to get out of the Legislature in the wee hours at the end of the last legislative session because the clock ran out. Today, lawmakers announced they have reintroduced the bill, which mandates that utilities get 33 percent of their energy from renewable resources by 2020 -- the so-called "renewable portfolio standard." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=82321 US States Take Initiative On Cap-And-Trade. As Congress fights over whether or not to block the US Environmental Protection Agency from regulating carbon emissions, 23 states are moving ahead on one level or another to take climate legislation into their own hands and institute cap-and-trade schemes at the local level. California’s is by far the most comprehensive state system being instituted, and cap-and-trade is to begin in the state in 2012. Posted. http://blogs.ft.com/energy-source/2011/02/03/us-states-take-initiative-on-cap-and-trade/ Auto Industry Repeating Pattern of Overstating Cost to Comply with Pollution Standards. As I blogged about earlier, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM) recently sent letters to the new House leadership claiming the cost for meeting future fuel economy standards are twice as high as those recently estimated by three government agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the California Air Resources Board. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/rhwang/as_i_blogged_about_earlier.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 13:08:41 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 4, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 4, 2011. 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 S. Calif. Air Board Approves Pollution Program. Southern California's anti-smog agency overwhelmingly approved a controversial plan that would allow companies to pollute by purchasing emission credits. The South Coast Air Quality Management District voted 10-1 to approve trading credits, the third time they've voted on an issue that has sparked lawsuits in the past. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/04/AR2011020403853.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/04/2259856/s-calif-air-board-approves-pollution.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/04/1542481/s-calif-air-board-approves-pollution.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_145acf08-8a3c-5ff3-9ba7-0cd497015801.html http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/US_Pollution_Credits_553976C.shtml Pharma Giant Merck Faces Trial Over Merced Plant. A company once owned by pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. exposed residents near its now-shuttered Merced plant to cancer-causing chemicals, then covered up the contamination for years and downplayed its severity, a lawyer said Thursday. Fresno attorney Mick Marderosian made the allegations in opening statements in U.S. District Court in Fresno. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/03/2259355/merck-faces-trial-over-merced.html#storylink=misearch CLIMATE CHANGE Judge: More Review Needed To Finalize Ab32. San Francisco, ca (AP) -- state air quality regulators must conduct further analysis before fully implementing California’s landmark 2006 climate law, a trial court judge has said. In a tentative ruling last month, san Francisco superior court judge Ernest goldsmith said the California air resources board violated state environmental law by failing to properly study alternatives to plans it has adopted. A final ruling could come Tuesday, when the air board's response is due, and if it's upheld, it could delay implementation of the nation's most aggressive climate change laws. Posted. Http://Www.Sfgate.Com/Cgi-Bin/Article.Cgi?F=/N/A/2011/02/03/State/N182954s50.DTL&Type=Printable http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/04/MNOO1HIDT2.DTL&type=green http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/03/v-print/3376389/judge-more-review-needed-to-finalize.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-04/judge-more-review-needed-to-finalize-calif-law.html http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/CA_California_Greenhouse_Gases_553857C.shtml http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/03/1541630/judge-more-review-needed-to-finalize.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/03/judge-more-review-needed-to-finalize-ab32/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/article_c48ff08e-a448-52bc-9501-dcbacb73366a.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/03/2259151/judge-more-review-needed-to-finalize.html#storylink=misearch http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2011/02/03/court-ruling-could-pose-problems-for-ab-32/ http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/1226721/AB-32-Implementation-Stalls.html California Court Decision No Threat To ETS: Lawyers. A California court decision is unlikely to delay the start of the state’s cap-and-trade programme. Late last month, a San Francisco judge tentatively ruled that the California Air Resources Board (Carb) had failed to adequately examine alternative policy options to creating a carbon market when deciding how the state should reduce its GHG emissions. An attorney representing the challengers told Reuters Tuesday that the ruling, if finalised, could potentially delay implementation of the cap-and-trade carbon market due to start next year. Posted. Pointcarbon.com (this article is by subscription only). Thank you. Pacific Northwest Warned Of Climate Change Dangers. Washington state and the province of British Columbia launched a joint effort on Wednesday to warn residents of North America's Pacific Northwest about the danger that climate change poses to coastal communities. Officials say they hope that by increasing public awareness about issues such as rising sea levels they can revive flagging support for fighting global warming in the neighboring U.S. state and Canadian province. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/03/us-usa-climate-idUSTRE7119LX20110203 Record Droughts Could Make The Amazon A Source Of Carbon Emissions. A severe drought last year in the Amazon rainforest outpaced a 2005 dry spell thought to be a once-in-a-century event, a new study finds. Researchers from the United Kingdom and Brazil also said the pair of droughts have raised concerns that the forest could be approaching a point where it ceases to be a carbon "sink," absorbing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it produces, and flips to a carbon source. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/04/3 DIESEL EMISSIONS Oakland Port Grant To Cut Ships' Dirty Diesel Pollution. Half the ships at dock in California ports must plug into electrical power by 2014. By 2014, half the large container ships that dock at the Port of Oakland must shut down their dirty auxiliary diesel engines and plug in to clean electrical power. And the port's $90 million estimate for meeting that state deadline got a boost this week when the Air Quality Management District awarded a $5 million grant to help bring electrical shore power to three Oakland berths. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_17287930?source=rss http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17283748 FUELS Group Drops Lawsuit Over Colorado Oil, Gas Rules. The Colorado Oil and Gas Association said Thursday it is withdrawing its lawsuit challenging Colorado oil and gas rules that took effect in 2009. Industry officials had said the rules, aimed at balancing development with protections for human health and the environment, were among the country's most restrictive. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/03/group-drops-lawsuit-over-colorado-oil-gas-rules/ Report Backs Massive Canadian Oil Sands Pipeline. A proposed oil pipeline from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast could substantially reduce U.S. dependency on oil from the Middle East and other regions, according to a report commissioned by the Obama administration. The study suggests the 1,900-mile pipeline, coupled with a reduction in overall U.S. oil demand, "could essentially eliminate Middle East crude imports longer term.". Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/04/report-backs-massive-canadian-oil-sands-pipeline/ http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/04/2259477/report-backs-massive-canadian.html#storylink=misearch GREEN ENERGY The Root: Trying To Find The Rumored Green Jobs. Proclaiming it "Innovation Week" at the White House, President Obama has ramped up his clean-energy agenda recently. From the Monday launch of a program designed to spark entrepreneurship in high-growth industries, to Thursday's tour of labs at Penn State where researchers are developing more energy-efficient buildings, the president keeps talking the good talk on investing in new technologies to create jobs. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/02/04/133491234/the-root-trying-to-find-the-rumored-green-jobs Obama Sharpens Jobs Element Of Energy Pitch. President Barack Obama, turning briefly to his eclipsed domestic agenda, sharpened his sales pitch for clean energy technology Thursday by promising that the payoff would be a wave of jobs ---- the kind good enough to support families and long-term American prosperity. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/03/obama-to-promote-energy-ideas-at-penn-state/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_6d63a8f9-1c3b-59ce-9ae0-b0f7586233c2.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/03/2258032/obama-to-promote-energy-ideas.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sbsun.com/elections/ci_17285052 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110203/WIRE/110209813 Auditor Advises Lawmakers To Rethink Power Surcharge. An electricity surcharge in place on most California utility bills since 1996 to fund research and development has resulted in few payoffs and should be reformed drastically if it is to continue beyond its sunset date next year, according to the state's legislative auditor. The Legislative Analyst's Office in Sacramento examined the fee, which has raised $700 million to date, and determined that the so-called Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program has lacked focus and often spent funds in areas outside electricity. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/04/13 California Proposal Presents Four Strategies To Let The Sun Shine In. The solar sector in California stands to receive a potentially significant boost if a four-pronged renewable energy policy and business initiative introduced this week by state legislators is signed into law. Assembly Speaker John A. Perez and Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg have introduced the Clean Energy Jobs Initiative, which is designed to both accelerate renewable energy deployment in California and aid the budget-beleaguered state in resolving its persistent fiscal crisis. Posted. http://solarindustrymag.com/print.php?plugin:content.7214 VEHICLES Honda Fit beats Toyota Prius to top Japan sales. Honda's Fit subcompact overtook Toyota's Prius gasoline-electric hybrid as Japan's top-selling car in January, its first return to that spot in nearly two years. The figures released Friday by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association show how the end of government subsidies for green cars have hurt sales of the Prius after holding the top spot in Japan for 20 straight months. It remains the world's top-selling hybrid. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_0b78878c-1bd9-5f26-ac3c-ae265a1886c4.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/03/2259390/honda-fit-beats-toyota-prius-to.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/04/AR2011020400463.html MISCELLANEOUS Homes Go Ultra-Green. A Sacramento developer said it plans to roll out a new, ultra-efficient housing development in midtown this fall where energy bills will be as much as 70 percent lower than normal. The 34 houses planned for 25th and R streets will be net-zero energy – meaning they produce more energy than they use. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/04/1541833/homes-go-ultra-green.html China's Booming Economy May Produce The Majority Of World Coal Emissions By 2035 – EIA. China's growth kept churning through the 2009 global financial crisis that left the United States and Europe in economic shambles. That kept China's global carbon emissions on a steadily upward trajectory, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. EIA emissions data released last month add weight to a body of evidence suggesting that, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, slumping Western economies will be no match for growth in China and India. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/04/1 OPINION Gavin Newsom Focuses On Building Efficiency. In one of his first starring appearances as lieutenant governor, Gavin Newsom returned to one of his favorite stomping grounds this week - a green business conference. Keynoting a San Francisco confab put on by GreenBiz Group, Newsom, I'm told, was his usual excitable self, spinning off ideas left and right, from wave power and electric vehicles to Asia - especially China - being green's "godsend of opportunity." Besides talking about state-owned property being used for EV charging stations - … Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/04/BUVQ1HIDVV.DTL&type=printable Clean Air Act and Climate Change Control Business Efficiency Job Growth Engines. It is a fact the economy of Southern California, the most heavily and longest regulated air pollution control region in the world has one of the strongest export economies in the world. The Clean Air Act and now Climate Change Control are business efficiency improving, waste reducing and life saving job growth engines. The Congressional Budget Office must do a benefit assessment of the four decade history of the Clean Air Act. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/environmental-policy-in-national/clean-air-act-and-climate-change-control-business-efficiency-job-growth-engines Expanding California's Clean Economy. We all know there is one, and only one immediate challenge confronting California – and that is the state budget. As the Governor outlined in his State of the State message, the budget is and remains our top priority. We cannot recover the economic health of our state until we put our fiscal house in order as quickly as possible. But we also must continue taking leadership in our ongoing effort to strengthen California’s economy by supporting emerging industries and creating jobs for Californians. . Posted. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/print/8644 Accommodating Bikes Is Right Thing To Do. The most frustrating thing about the discussion about the "bike path to nowhere" is the city of Bakersfield's refusal to accept bicycling as a viable means of transportation and to adopt a Complete Streets philosophy as required by state legislation. The Complete Streets Act -- which was passed in 2008 and is now required to be a part of any new general plan adopted in the state -- requires that all road users be accommodated, including bicyclists. Therefore, every street improvement, including Rosedale Highway, should be designed to provide safe access to all users. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x1780156579/Accommodating-bikes-is-right-thing-to-do EPA Rules: Bad Policy, Bad Time. Since late last year, the Environmental Protection Agency has been rolling out new federal climate regulations that would have the same effects as the job-destroying cap-and-trade policy that Congress rejected last year.EPA has seized control over parts of several state air programs, empowering the agency to run them federally. EPA has also signaled that additional burdensome regulations are on the horizon. Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=3EC6C1CC-90A5-49F3-B332-A07D001E963E BLOGS L.A. Air Officials To Vote On Pollution Trading. A nine-year battle between Los Angeles regional air quality officials, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California public health groups over the integrity of the area's pollution trading system will be rejoined Friday, as air district officials vote on new rules governing pollution offsets. Environmentalists contend that a proposal by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), known as Rule 1315, will lock in a phony accounting system that will count years-old pollution reductions as offsets, thus allowing businesses to build new facilities that pollute. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/02/los-angeles-air-pollution-trading-system.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Government Backs $1 Billion Plan to Make Gasoline from Wood. The Energy Department has offered a Texas company a loan guarantee for a $1 billion project to build four small factories that would turn wood chips into an oil substitute. The loan guarantee, if finalized, would be about four times larger than any previous guarantee for biofuels. Its aim is to spur industrial-scale production of substitutes for gasoline and diesel from renewable sources beyond food crops like corn and sugar, a goal that many companies are chasing but none has yet achieved. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/government-backs-1-billion-plan-to-make-gas-from-wood-chips/?pagemode=print Rescuing the Earth’s Weather History. One of the most profound limitations of climate science arises from a simple fact. While humans have existed on this planet in more or less their present form for perhaps a quarter-million years, the historical record covers only a few thousand years, and the record of accurate weather and climate observations is much shorter than that. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/04/rescuing-the-earths-weather-history/ What If: On Uprisings, Oil Kingdoms and the Energy Gap. Gal Luft, an analyst of the intersection of energy and security policy, has posted a troubling portrait of what might unfold in the United States if the turmoil in Egypt spread to Saudi Arabia, along with the limited options to respond, given deep dependence on petroleum. [There's much, much more on the Saudi question.] It’s been clear for a long while that America remains hostage to oil shocks – and has yet to initiate the long-term and sustained effort that’d be required to limit the economic and strategic risks. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/what-if-on-uprisings-oil-kingdoms-and-the-energy-gap/?scp=5&sq=fuels&st=cse The Economy vs. Clean Energy: A False Choice. I represent an alliance of nearly 1,000 small, mainstream companies in California, who employ tens of thousands of people around the state, and who are committed to pursuing clean energy policies that help grow the economy and create jobs. Our network is made up of businesses from all geographic regions of the state and includes owners of print shops, restaurants, construction firms, and landscape companies; CEOs of and investors in solar and renewable companies; leaders of chambers of commerce and business associations; and more. Posted. http://foxandhoundsdaily.com/blog/susan-frank/8572-the-economy-vs-clean-energy-a-false-choice Green Jobs Or Tax Reform? A day of extremes at the state Capitol on Wednesday led to very different budget crisis resolution angles – green jobs or tax reform? From a press conference announcing a green jobs initiative to a panel discussion about how to implement tax reform, the extremes were arresting, and even comical. In one corner was the Democratic team, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John Perez, proclaiming their “Green Jobs Initiative,” which amounts to another group of bills that push even more state subsidized “green jobs” and “clean energy” subsidies …Posted. http://foxandhoundsdaily.com/blog/katy-grimes/8583-green-jobs-or-tax-reform ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 13:01:34 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 7, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 7, 2011. 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 Agency Oks Plan To Let Industry Expand In L.A. Region Using Pollution Credits. Environmentalists say the plan will add to the Southland's smog and soot problems and open the way for new gas-fired power plants. Southern California air quality officials adopted a plan Friday to allow industry to expand in the Los Angeles region by tapping into a public fund of free pollution credits. Environmentalists said the plan would add to the region's smog and soot problems and open the way for new gas-fired power plants to be built in an already overloaded air basin. "This vote reverses decades of steady progress we've made to combat chronic air pollution," said Adrian Martinez, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. Posted. http://articles.latimes.com/print/2011/feb/05/local/la-me-air-pollution-20110205 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-04/s-california-air-board-approves-pollution-program.html http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_aircredits05.26ae9fd.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/05/new-ozone-standards-on-the-horizon/ http://www.scpr.org/news/2011/02/04/court-orders-more-air-quality-control-southland/ CLIMATE CHANGE Judge Halts California Greenhouse Gas Plan. A California judge put rules on hold implementing the state's greenhouse gas laws including cap and trade rules adopted last year. Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith tentatively ruled Friday that the California Air Resources Board violated the state's environmental law in 2008 and again last year. The board approved adopted rules enforcing the state's emissions law AB32 without doing a full environmental review, he ruled. The board last year adopted cap and trade rules without adequately considering the alternatives. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/02/07/judge-halts-california-greenhouse-gas.html?s=print http://caivn.org/article/2011/02/07/californias-landmark-climate-law-tentatively-voided-san-francisco-judge Judge Delays California Global Warming Law Over Cap-And-Trade Provisions. A San Francisco Superior Court judge has temporarily halted the implementation of California's Global Warming Solutions Act over its "cap-and-trade" regulations. The Global Warming Solutions Act (officially known as Assembly Bill (AB) 32), signed into law by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, requires California to cap greenhouse gas emissions in the state at 1990 levels by the year 2020. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/la-county-political-buzz-in-los-angeles/judge-delays-california-global-warming-law-over-cap-and-trade-provisions Western Wolverines Threatened By Climate Change. Wolverines in the continental United States could be wiped out by the end of the century if temperatures continue to rise, according to a new study from a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Springtime snow cover helps protect wolverine dens from predators, and the animal is built to thrive in deep powder. But, Synte Peacock, a NCAR scientist, applied computer models projecting climate change to the wolverine habitat in the northern Rockies. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/07/v-print/3383269/western-wolverines-threatened.html NRCS Faces New Challenges Including Climate Change. Denver -- The Dust Bowl and preventing soil erosion were foremost in the minds of the early Natural Resources Conservation Service, formed in 1935 as a New Deal agency. Today NRCS, which falls under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is using science to help private landowners conserve all natural resources, not just soil, and prepare for challenges including climate change. After all, private farms and ranches will be vital for feeding a world that could by some estimates grow to nearly 9 billion people within a few decades. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/05/v-print/3380300/nrcs-faces-new-challenges-including.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/05/1544074/nrcs-faces-new-challenges-including.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/05/nrcs-faces-new-challenges-including-climate/ http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/05/2261252/nrcs-faces-new-challenges-including.html#storylink=misearch Willi Dansgaard, Paleoclimatologist Who Discerned Climate Record In Ice Core, Dies At 88. Los Angeles -- Willi Dansgaard, a Danish paleoclimatologist who was the first to recognize that the Earth's climatic history was stored in the Greenland ice cap, died Jan. 8 in Copenhagen, Denmark, according to the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen. He was 88. His research, together with that of Claude Lorius of France and Hans Oeschger of Switzerland, revolutionized scientific knowledge of how the temperature and composition of the atmosphere have changed over the last 150,000 years, demonstrating a clear link between carbon dioxide and methane concentrations and global temperatures. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/06/v-print/3382336/willi-dansgaard-paleoclimatologist.html Don Curlee: Climate Tweaks Affect California's Farming. The effects of reducing greenhouse gases produced in farming are far from clear. Some are expected to have detrimental results. Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions wherever they occur was the goal of Assembly Bill 32, passed by the California Legislature in 2006, as the Global Warming Solutions Act. Experts in several areas are wrestling with the measure's language and its intent. Posted. http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20110207/BUSINESS/102070304/Don-Curlee-Climate-tweaks-affect-California-s-farming Is Climate Change Causing Millions To Migrate? Two new studies paint contrasting views of whether climate change-induced weather will force millions of people to migrate to safer areas. One says yes, the other no. In an upcoming report, the Asian Development Bank (ABD) warns that the extreme weather of climate change -- floods, droughts and storms -- will prompt mass migration that no international organization is set up to handle. "In the past year alone, extreme weather in Malaysia, Pakistan, the People's Republic of China, the Philippines and Sri Lanka has caused temporary or longer term dislocation of millions," the Manila-based organization said Monday. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/02/climate-change-mass-migration/1 EPA Official Says Cap And Trade Won't Be Part Of Forthcoming CO2 Rules. U.S. EPA air Chief Gina McCarthy sought to ease concerns Friday that upcoming climate regulations affecting existing power plants and refineries would lead to a cap-and-trade system. "Our goal isn't to decide on a number for greenhouse gases that ought to be achieved," she said. "It's not a cap-and-trade program." Instead, the regulations, which are expected to be proposed later this year and finalized in 2012, would be designed to "set a floor" for what best available control technology would be both available and affordable to curb emissions, she said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/07/3 EDF's Take On Ab 32 Scoping Plan Lawsuit. The following information was released by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): A Superior Court in San Francisco issued a tentative ruling last week in a lawsuit filed in 2009 by environmental justice (EJ) groups. The groups are asserting that the state's Air Resources Board (CARB) failed to comply with statutory requirements of AB 32 and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) when it adopted the law's Scoping Plan-the blueprint for cutting pollution to 1990 levels by 2020-in late 2008. Posted. http://www.powergenworldwide.com/index/display/wire-news-display/1353856265.html FUELS Ethanol Blend Goes To The Races. Race cars at the Daytona 500 will be running on a 15 percent ethanol fuel blend this year, and corn farmers are hoping the event will raise the profile of biofuels. The National Corn Growers Association is sponsoring the effort. "For us it's an opportunity to tell our story. We'll be focusing on American farmers," said Rick Tolman, CEO of the association. NASCAR, the sanctioning body for auto racing, has been increasing its efforts to go green, which includes providing more recycling at events and converting one track to solar powerPosted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/07/11 GREEN ENERGY Schools' Energy Efficiency Lauded. 14 Turlock campuses get federal Energy Star label. Turlock — Folks throughout the Turlock Unified School District have been working on reducing energy consumption. In addition to helping the environment, the program saves money during these difficult budget times. Last week, the district announced that the federal government had awarded Turlock the "Energy Star" label on 14 of its school sites. To be recognized with an Energy Star label, school sites must rate in the top 25 percent nationwide for energy efficiency. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/06/v-print/3383613/schools-energy-efficiency-lauded.html Chesapeake Energy Plans To Sell $5B In Assets. New York -- Chesapeake Energy Corp. says it will sell all of its Fayetteville Shale assets and investments in two companies. Chesapeake says it hopes to bring in more than $5 billion from the sales and will use the proceeds to reduce its debt. Chesapeake Energy says it plans to reduce its debt by 25 percent by 2012. The Fayetteville shale is a natural gas field in central Arkansas, and Chesapeake Energy is the second largest producer of natural gas from the formation. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/07/v-print/3383126/chesapeake-energy-plans-to-sell.html Green Jobs Are Not Evergreen Jobs. After receiving at least $43 million in aid from the state of Massachusetts, Evergreen Solar announced last month that it would be closing its manufacturing plant in Devens, Mass., laying off its 800 workers and moving its manufacturing operations to China. Warning: These are the "green jobs" that President Obama has touted as part of his "winning the future" agenda. The problem isn't that Obama wants to direct federal dollars toward research for alternative energy. It is in the national interest to have affordable options when oil sources are depleted. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/06/INEI1H56L3.DTL&type=printable Republicans Out Front Of Obama On Regulations. When President Barack Obama asked businesses for advice on creating jobs, he might have anticipated that more than 200 responses would quickly be headed his way courtesy of Rep. Darrell Issa, a Republican who once called him corrupt. A month before Obama reached out to businesses, the new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee sent 171 letters to various businesses and their trade associations. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/07/republicans-out-front-of-obama-on-regulations/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_ef87a445-7446-5e95-9f1a-bb9d62374d5d.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/07/2262643/republicans-out-front-of-obama.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/07/AR2011020700976.html GOP Eyes Rules That Firms Say Hurt Jobs. House Republicans are scrutinizing a wide array of existing and proposed Obama administration regulations in areas as diverse as the environment and Wall Street, and they are taking guidance from industry groups that say the rules threaten jobs. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/07/AR2011020700022.html Green Energy Faces GOP Headwinds On Hill. The Obama administration lavished billions of stimulus dollars on wind-power producers and other renewable-energy interests, but the whirl of the turbines may slow dramatically as budget-cutting Republicans take their seats in the next Congress. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/5/green-energy-faces-stiff-gop-headwinds-on-hill/ 'Green Bonds' Seen Among Europe's Options For Paying Hefty, $3.93 Trillion Bill For Clean Energy – Study. With time ticking away for Europe to meet its targets for slashing greenhouse gas emissions, banks could end up securing massive amounts of debt to finance the transition to clean energy. Issuing "green bonds" is one mechanism they could use. European governments are staggering under the weight of public debt. That has injected some uncertainty into the European Union's plan to cut emissions 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/07/1 Amid Budget Freeze, White House Wants To Scale Up Funding For Clean Technologies. The White House wants to spend more on education, infrastructure and research even as it freezes the overall budget, administration officials said last week. Austan Goolsbee, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, said these investments -- all of which are relevant to clean energy -- are too essential to cut in a time of fiscal austerity. "I think all sides agree that we've got to cut and be fiscally responsible," he told reporters. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/07/2 Philippines Prepares Geothermal For Shift To Cleaner Energy. The Philippines will surpass the United States to become the world's top geothermal power producer by 2014, Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay predicted yesterday. Binay, in Washington this week meeting with World Bank officials and others, said his country hopes to leapfrog fossil fuels and move directly to clean energy. He called on the World Bank to "rapidly shift away" from lending for fossil fuels and help countries like his tap into their renewable energy potential. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/07/4 How Ocean Currents Once Warmed The Arctic. New research could explain why the Arctic was much warmer during a period millions of years go that scientists say most closely resembles Earth's climate today. The climate during the mid-Pliocene Epoch, roughly 3 million years ago, is a good overall match for conditions today with regard to average temperature and the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But there are some differences that scientists have had trouble explaining. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/07/5 VEHICLES Feds And California To Propose New Fuel Rules. The federal government and California say they will coordinate on new proposals to increase vehicle fuel efficiency for future cars and trucks by Sept. 1. The Transportation Department and the Environmental Protection Agency are working on new standards for vehicles that will be built during the 2017-2025 model years. Prior to Monday's announcement, the California Air Resources Board had planned to issue its own proposal for the same time period by March. Posted. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/wire/chi-ap-us-fuelefficiency,0,3690092,print.story Honda Fit Beats Toyota Prius To Top Japan Sales. TOKYO – Honda's Fit subcompact overtook Toyota's Prius gasoline-electric hybrid as Japan's top-selling car in January, its first return to that spot in nearly two years. The figures released Friday by the Japan Automobile Dealers Association show how the end of government subsidies for green cars have hurt sales of the Prius after holding the top spot in Japan for 20 straight months. Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110204/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_honda/print Volt Arrives For Rental Market. Enterprise Rent-A-Car's executives anticipate electric vehicles to be a growing part of their business, and they have begun to test the market for the new vehicles in the Inland Empire. Enterprise has two Chevrolet Volts available for rent for $69.99 per day at its Mark Christopher Auto Center branch. Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/business/ci_17305900 MISCELLANEOUS Germany Sells Vision For 'Green Toys' To World. The hottest "green" toy in Germany isn't made of organic or recycled materials. That's so 2010. This one has a solar panel and only runs if kids remember to insert bright red "energy stones" that power the rest of the space station. Germany, a pioneer in many renewable energy initiatives, is also at the forefront of creating environment-friendly toys aimed at making kids think about where energy comes from and how much of it they can use, raising awareness through play. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/05/1543494/germany-sells-vision-for-green.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_ed10fffb-2dcc-5e0c-9ba5-06e116a3d8b6.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/05/AR2011020501010.html SOCIAL SCENE: Green fundraiser no black-tie affair. All Green Electronics Recycling teamed up with the Boys & Girls Club of Oceanside to hold an electronics recycling event Jan. 8 at Oceanside High School. This fundraiser was a little different from the formal events mostly seen on this page, but its dual purpose was every bit as important for the environment and children of Oceanside. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/lifestyles/relationships-and-special-occasions/article_b9f6bfe5-ecc5-5047-899c-7ed74529e498.html OPINION Clean Air Under Siege. Shortly after he entered the Senate in 2007, John Barrasso told his Wyoming constituents that the country’s biggest need was an energy policy to deal with carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas. That was then. In lockstep with other Senate Republicans, he helped kill last year’s energy and climate bill. Now he has introduced a bill that would bar the Environmental Protection Agency and any other part of the federal government from regulating carbon pollution. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/opinion/06sun1.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Widening Battle Lines Between 'Clean,' 'Dirty' Energy. The following editorial appeared in the Dallas Morning News on Monday, Jan. 31: During the State of the Union address, President Barack Obama challenged the nation to invest in clean-energy technologies so the U.S. would "out-compete" and "out-innovate" the rest of the world. Indisputably, this country needs less polluting and more efficient energy sources to make the critical transition from fossil fuels to the 21st-century technologies needed to keep the nation economically strong and competitive. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/07/v-print/3383279/widening-battle-lines-between.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/07/2262838/widening-battle-lines-between.html#storylink=misearch Dirtying the Clean Air Act. Republicans are preparing their latest attack on the law. But it's worth remembering all their warnings of economic doom since the 1970 legislation — and just how wrong those predictions have been. Conservatives have been attacking the Clean Air Act since its passage in 1970, continually claiming that federal efforts to fight air pollution would wreak economic ruin. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-epa-20110205,0,2076601,print.story A Federal Role In The Energy Future. George F. Will's Jan. 30 op-ed, "Let Uncle Sam drive," left out important facts as he applied his rigid ideological rejection of public-private partnerships as a way to promote private-sector development. He failed to note basic economics: Any product's first units are expensive to produce; costs fall as the scale of production increases. The tax credit for electric vehicles is intended in part to help automakers reach that higher scale, which is why nearly half of the states have or are considering consumer incentives. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/05/AR2011020503454.html Eye On The Environment: New Ozone Standards On The Horizon. Last year we had the cleanest air since the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District began keeping records in the 1970s. Of course, we had a cool summer, which reduced ozone (smog) formation. In addition, lower economic activity due to the recession curtailed some emissions. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/05/new-ozone-standards-on-the-horizon/ Climate Change Of Opinion. San Joaquin County backtracked last week after sending state officials written comments strongly questioning the fundamentals of climate change science. In a Jan. 25 letter to the state's new Delta Stewardship Council, the county said it appears the "level of climate science currently available is unreliable and the ability of climate models to actually explain past temperatures is in serious doubt." Climate change was just one of many subjects in the letter, intended to help shape a new plan to govern the river estuary west of Stockton. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110206/A_NEWS/102060318&cid=sitesearch McINTOSH: Climate Change For Dummies. As North Americans shiver and shovel through the current mini ice age, members of the nonprofit, nonpartisan world organization Climate Renegades Against Paleomagnetists are upping the rhetoric against climate change deniers. During a recent secret meeting between United Nations officials, scientific academics and climate researchers …Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/mcintosh/article_9483caef-d97d-5750-99f8-a9f2bcd17998.html Opinion: California Clean Air Standards Help Auto Industry. Auto dealers from across the country are in San Francisco for the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Expo to discuss our industry and where it is headed. We share the association's mission to champion policies that benefit its members and the auto industry. However, we disagree with its position that California's landmark greenhouse gas standards for new cars and trucks will harm its members. Posted. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/wire/chi-ap-us-fuelefficiency,0,3690092,print.story BLOGS Climate Change to Force Mass Migration, Study Warns. That weather-related catastrophes cause a lot of destruction is well known. But the prospect that increasing floods, droughts and storms will prompt many millions of people to migrate to safer areas is still poorly understood and anticipated, according to a forthcoming report from the Asian Development Bank. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/climate-change-to-force-mass-migration-study-warns/ Renewable Energy: Labor Coalition's Tactics Draw Heat. Do California construction unions raise concerns about building massive solar plants in the Mojave Desert because they care about wildlife, water shortages and delicate vegetation? Or is it, as some fellow labor unions charge, a way to extort expensive contracts from renewable-energy builders? Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/02/solar-energy-labor-unions.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Judge's Ruling Could Force Air Resources Board to Look at Alternatives to Cap and Trade. Here's an irony: After last year's bruising battle to save California's comprehensive anti-global warming law from being suspended by an oil industry-backed initiative, it's a lawsuit by environmental groups that could end up throwing a monkeywrench into the state's plans. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2011/02/04/judges-ruling-could-force-air-resources-board-to-look-at-alternatives-to-cap-and-trade/ EJ Groups Say Suit is Not To Undo AB 32. Plaintiffs who won a tentative ruling in a suit over the state's climate law say they're not out to torpedo AB 32. The half-dozen environmental justice advocacy groups sued over state regulators' implementation plan and won a tentative ruling in their favor, from a state court in San Francisco. A lawyer for the Oakland-based Communities for a Better Environment called the ruling "very important and exciting," but the groups insist that they're looking to tweak the regulations under California's Global Warming Solutions Act, not blow it up. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/02/04/ej-groups-say-suit-is-not-to-undo-ab-32/ Morning Bell: California Cap and Trade Tripped Up By Pollution Rhetoric. The economic harms of carbon cap-and-trade policies [1] are so well established that even a state as reliably leftist as California has never been able to pass a plan through their legislature. Instead, environmentalists in the Golden State have relied on the California Air Resources Board (CARB), whose appointed governing board is democratically unaccountable [2], to develop and impose carbon regulations by bureaucratic fiat. Posted. http://blog.heritage.org/2011/02/07/morning-bell-california-cap-and-trade-tripped-up-by-pollution-rhetoric/print/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2011 12:37:40 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 8, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 8, 2011. 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. VEHICLES MARY NICHOLS LETTERS TO AUTOMOBILE CEO’S California Air Chief Blasts Auto Trade Group Over Clean Cars. California Air Resources Board Chairman Mary D. Nichols on Monday wrote to seven major automobile manufacturers, accusing their trade group, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, of misrepresenting the state's efforts to cooperate with federal officials on rules to curb greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. She asked the companies to "distance" themselves from the Washington-based group's efforts to "undermine ... standards that will provide American consumers with cleaner and more efficient vehicles." Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/02/global-warming-california-vehicle-fuel-efficiency-.html Calif. Hits Back At Auto Industry Over Complaints. The head of California's greenhouse gas regulatory agency lambasted auto manufacturers today over their support of Republican efforts to roll back regulations. Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, sent a letter to the CEOs of BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen arguing that California has worked very closely with the federal government to regulate vehicular emissions."[W]e are alarmed and disappointed that your trade association, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, has misrepresented that cooperative spirit in recent letters to Congress," she wrote. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/print/2011/02/07/2 CA Air Official Rebukes Auto Trade Group. In a strongly-worded letter [PDF] to the CEOs of seven major auto manufacturers, California Air Resources Board chair Mary Nichols defended California's efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks and accused the trade group, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, of misrepresenting California's cooperation with federal agencies in letters to Congress. At issue, wrote Nichols, are letters the Alliance sent to Congressmen Darryl Issa (R-Vista) and Fred Upton (R-MI) in January, calling "our commitment to a national program into question." Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/02/07/ca-air-official-rebukes-auto-trade-group/ California Air Board, Auto Industry Group at Odds on Vehicle Standards. The chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board is asking seven automakers to disavow claims made by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to two congressmen “or risk returning to the environmental battles of the Bush era.” Mary D. Nichols sent letters to the heads of General Motors Corp., Chrysler Group, Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., BMW Group, Volkswagen AG and Mercedes-Benz saying that California air regulators are “alarmed and disappointed” at communications sent by the automobile alliance to U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and Fred Upton, R-Mich. Posted. http://solarhbj.com/news/california-air-board-auto-industry-group-at-odds-on-vehicle-standards-01352 Calif., Auto Association In Emissions Tiff. Los Angeles -- The head of California's air quality agency says a trade group representing automobile manufacturers misrepresents the state's efforts to curb greenhouse gases. California Air Resources Board Chairman Mary D. Nichols wrote to seven major automobile manufacturers Monday, accusing their trade group, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, of attempting to "undermine ... standards that will provide American consumers with cleaner and more efficient vehicles," the Los Angeles Times reported. Posted. http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/02/07/Calif-auto-association-in-emissions-tiff/UPI-88201297135463/print/#ixzz1DO12SYN2 CLIMATE CHANGE January In America: Surprise, Drier Than Normal; No Surprise, Cold Too. Washington (AP) — January was colder than normal for the United States and, in a finding that will surprise many, also drier than usual. The average temperature for the month, across the country, was 30 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 Celsius), which is 0.8 degrees Fahrenheit (0.4 C) colder than usual for the month, the National Climatic Data Center reported Tuesday. And, despite several large winter storms, it was also the ninth driest January on record going back to 1895, the center reported. Rain and snowfall across the country averaged 1.48 inches (38 millimeters) for the month, 0.74 inch (19 mm) below normal. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/wire/sns-ap-us-sci-cold-and-dry,0,236161,print.story http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/08/1547504/report-january-us-climate-cold.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/08/2264173/report-january-us-climate-cold.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/08/AR2011020802864.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_adfcada2-2d72-50a1-b66a-c55b88821b86.html GREEN ENERGY Search For Wind-Related Grid Problems Finds A Bigger Concern. A national laboratory report targeted at wind power integration has found unexpected evidence of the electricity grid's vulnerability to potential blackouts due to the current operations of conventional -- not renewable -- generation. The study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, issued last month, reports that frequency levels are dropping further than realized on the nation's two largest grid systems, particularly at the start of the day when electricity demand ramps up and when it ramps down in the evening. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/02/08/08climatewire-search-for-wind-related-grid-problems-finds-88348.html?scp=10&sq=green%20energy&st=cse MISCELLANEOUS Sierra Club Wants To Join U.S. Suit In BP Spill. The Sierra Club asked to join the U.S. lawsuit seeking billions of dollars in fines and restoration costs from BP over damages from the worst offshore oil spill in the nation's history. "For too long, American taxpayers have footed the bill for polluters who destroy our water and air," Michael Brune, the Sierra Club executive director, said in a statement Monday. "We can't let that happen here. The oil industry must learn a lesson from this tragedy." The United States sued BP and units of four other companies in December, alleging violations of federal environmental law. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/08/BU6O1HK009.DTL&type=printable OPINION Editorial: Greens Sue Over Green Law. California government's appointed, unaccountable environmental stewards got a taste of their own medicine recently when a San Francisco Superior Court judge tentatively ruled that they failed to follow legally required environmental procedures in 2008 by adopting a plan to reduce greenhouse gases and last year when passing cap-and-trade regulations. The state, and plaintiffs who brought the lawsuit, have until today to submit further arguments, after which Judge Ernest Goldsmith will issue a final ruling. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/common/printer/view.php?db=ocregister&id=287354 Cleaning Our Air. I urge our elected officials to oppose any "dirty air act" proposals that would roll back the Clean Air Act's safeguards, allowing corporate polluters to fill our skies with dangerous toxics. For four decades, the Environmental Protection Agency has used the Clean Air Act to protect the health of millions of Americans including our children, our seniors, and the most vulnerable among us from dozens of dangerous air pollutants. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/08/2263454/cleaning-our-air.html#storylink=misearch Not To Worry - The Mall Can Absorb The Solar Decathlon. I respectfully disagree with the decision of the Interior and Energy departments to remove the Solar Decathlon from the Mall. The monument renovations are a good thing, but I disagree with the premise that the Mall is "overused." The multitude of sports leagues that play on the Mall - let alone the rallies and festivals there - help to enable a healthy democracy. Spotty grass is a sign of engagement, not shame. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/07/AR2011020705380.html CARB Before Horse. States: A court has tentatively reled against California’s cap-and-trade law because alternatives were not considered. But then, neither were climate facts or the economic impact. There’s a delicious irony in the ruling by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith barring the California Air Resources Board (CARB) from implementing AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Posted. http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/ArticlePrint.aspx?id=562348&p=1 Global Warming A Hard Sell. Former Vice President Al Gore said on his website recently that the reason for the particularly harsh and snowy winter we've been experiencing this season was because of "man-made global warming" ("Snow job," Comment & Analysis, Jan. 28). According to Mr. Gore, "scientists have been warning for at least two decades that global warming could make snowstorms more severe." So just to recap, whether there's a week-long heat wave or the exact opposite - a frigid winter - the cause is always the same: global warming. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/7/global-warming-a-hard-sell/print/ Is Severe Winter Weather Related To Global Warming? You may not remember exactly what you were doing one year ago, but odds are good you spent part of the day shoveling, buying an extra pair of gloves or replenishing your emergency stash of batteries. Odds are even better that you remember what happened just before and just after the anniversary we celebrate today. The first of a pair of major blizzards struck Washington on Feb. 5 and 6. The reprise landed on Feb. 9 and 10. Our region experienced record snowfall last winter, topping the charts dating at least as far back as the late 1800s. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/07/AR2011020704717_pf.html BLOGS Keep Courts Out of Climate Policy, G.O.P. Lawmakers Say. Three leading Republicans in Congress filed a brief with the Supreme Court late Monday asking the justices to overturn a lower court ruling that allowed several states and environmental groups to sue electric utilities over their global warming emissions. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/keep-courts-out-of-climate-policy-g-o-p-lawmakers-say/?scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Climate Scientist Sues Skeptic for Libel. A prominent Canadian climate scientist is suing a leading climate skeptic for libel, arguing that an article published online in January contained false and malicious claims. Andrew Weaver, a climate modeler at the University of Victoria, filed the lawsuit against Tim Ball, a former professor of climatology at the University of Winnipeg and a vocal critic of the science linking man-made emissions to global warming, over an article published by the Canada Free Press, a conservative Web site. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/climate-scientist-sues-skeptic-for-libel/ Washington Invests in Making Wind Pay. Associated Press Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, left, and Energy Secretary Steven Chu scanned a map of potential areas for offshore wind farms in mid-Atlantic states at a news conference in Norfolk, Va. The energy from ocean breezes is temptingly near, but the effort will require a lot of work, the energy and interior secretaries said Monday in announcing up to $50.5 million in federal spending over the next five years to try to make offshore wind farms viable. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/washington-invests-in-making-wind-pay/?pagemode=print Federal Offshore Wind Plan: $50.5 Million In Research Funding. The yachts and gulls might need to make some room off the mid-Atlantic coast for the offshore wind turbines that the government is hoping to soon install. Federal agencies are jumping on the goal that President Obama set in his State of the Union address last month, aiming to derive 80% of all electricity generation across the country from clean energy sources by 2035. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/02/offshore-wind-plan-from-energy-and-interior-departments-includes-505-million.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Saving Money Vs. Helping The Environment: It's About The Money. Americans are more inclined to make energy-efficient improvements when their actions help save money. They are less motivated by environmental concerns, according to a national poll released Monday by the Tennessee-based research firm Shelton Group. About a quarter of Americans polled said that they received a rebate or other financial incentive for making an energy-efficient improvement. Most rebates came from a utility or federal tax incentive. Of those who made improvements, 25% said they would not have acted without the incentive. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/02/saving-money-v-saving-the-environment.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 9 Feb 2011 12:42:00 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 9, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 9, 2011. 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 EPA's Power Plant Rules Would Spur Job Creation – Report. Despite claims that U.S. EPA's regulations are destroying jobs at a time of already high unemployment, two new sets of air pollution rules for power plants would create hundreds of thousands of jobs over the next five years, according to a report (pdf) released today. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/02/09/09greenwire-epas-power-plant-rules-would-spur-job-creation-48692.html?scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Professors Take Part in Anti-Pollution Initiative. Urban and Environmental Policy (UEP) professor Martha Matsuoka and professor of Environmental Science James Sadd have joined forces with the "Clean Up Green Up" organization, a grassroots movement that aims to transform the most polluted neighborhoods in Los Angeles into healthier residential spaces. The campaign focuses on helping to clean up the local air supply through on-the-ground research as well as collaboration with community members and city council members. Posted. http://www.oxyweekly.com/news/professors-take-part-in-anti-pollution-initiative-1.1968584 CLIMATE CHANGE Global Warming Fix Heats Up Hearing With EPA Chief. Washington (AP) — Congressional Republicans are vowing to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from using the Clean Air Act to control pollution that contributes to global warming, underscoring the threat with a proposed deep cut to the agency's budget. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., chair of a House subcommittee on energy and power, said that "Congress intends to reassert itself" in the regulatory process at EPA and the Clean Air Act. He spoke at the start of a hearing Wednesday on a bill that would curtail the EPA's powers. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/09/v-print/3388375/global-warming-fix-heats-up-hearing.html http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gLSlMBuUgf08F8pDqUa-65S_Besw?docId=9286e9cbb72445a4b5d19c0006790bae http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/02/09/national/w000910S34.DTL http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-bc-apfn-us--epaunderfire,0,1360570.story http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/09/1548623/global-warming-fix-heats-up-hearing.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/09/global-warming-fix-heats-up-hearing-with-epa/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_b26ee78c-725e-57fe-a77d-f0ce3522cf04.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/09/2265117/global-warming-fix-heats-up-hearing.html#storylink=misearch State AG Rejects Premise Of Tentative Court Ruling On A.B. 32. California Attorney General Kamala Harris yesterday rejected a state judge's tentative ruling that the state had failed to complete an environmental review of its broad greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan, charging that the court had in many respects ignored the facts. Harris, a Democrat, was responding to a ruling issued last month by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith that faulted the California Air Resources Board (ARB) for not completing environmental analyses or considering alternatives to a cap-and-trade market to regulate carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/09/8 Lawsuit By Low-Income Groups May Delay Climate Law. The latest legal challenge to California's landmark climate-change legislation isn't coming from big polluters faced with a series of new regulations. Instead, groups representing low-income residents are challenging the environmental law as unfairly burdening their beleaguered communities. A handful of community groups, represented by the San Francisco-based Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment have filed a motion that could delay the implementation of parts of the Global Warming Solutions Act, also known as AB 32. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/lawsuit-low-income-groups-may-delay-climate-law-8582 UK's Prince Charles Blasts Climate-Change Skeptics. Brussels (AP) — Prince Charles lashed out Wednesday at climate change skeptics, saying they are playing "a reckless game of roulette" with the planet's future. Skeptics are having a "corrosive effect" on public opinion, the British heir to the throne added. "Their suggestion, that hundreds of scientists around the world ... are somehow unconsciously biased, creates the implication that many of us are secretly conspiring to undermine and deliberately destroy the entire market-based capitalist system," he said. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/09/v-print/3389147/prince-charles-blasts-climate.html http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gUqY1JxD4ZFgGwJCcmFxS37sANBA?docId=80fc535f62e44817a9d414c91f0e79da http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/02/09/international/i064037S69.DTL http://www.latimes.com/news/science/wire/sns-ap-eu-climate-prince-charles,0,4327005.story http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/09/1548904/prince-charles-blasts-climate.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/article_8adc2fdc-977a-5180-9bc1-ff76a599f851.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/09/2265385/prince-charles-blasts-climate.html#storylink=misearch California Releases First State-Approved K-12 Environmental Curriculum In U.S. At Searles Elementary School in Union City, fifth-grade students last week eagerly shared what they learned during a pilot run of the nation's first state-approved K-12 environmental curriculum. The California Environmental Protection Agency, which developed the material, this month, released it to school districts statewide. Instead of generic chemistry lectures, students will learn how chlorine-containing molecules from products such as aerosol cans and refrigerators chew away -- through chemical reactions -- the protective ozone layer over the Earth's poles. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_17333357?nclick_check=1 Obama's Foreign Aid for Climate Change Bound for GOP Chopping Block. When Congress passes appropriations legislation this year, the short list of programs getting more money is unlikely to include international climate aid. The new Republican majority in the House and many members in the Senate have made cutting discretionary spending their flagship issue for the 112th Congress, a stance that doesn't bode well for international aid programs. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/02/09/09greenwire-obamas-foreign-aid-for-climate-change-bound-fo-61622.html?scp=1&sq=Obama%27s%20Foreign%20Aid%20for%20Climate%20Change%20Bound%20for%20GOP%20Chopping%20Block&st=cse EU Carbon Little Changed Ahead of U.K. Sale; Power Declines. European Union carbon-dioxide prices were little changed as the U.K. prepares to sell 4.4 million metric tons of allowances tomorrow, boosting supply. EU emission permits for December rose 2 cents to 14.73 euros ($20.09) a metric ton on London’s ICE Futures Europe exchange in London as of 12:51 p.m. The U.K., Europe’s second-biggest emitter, will sell 4.4 million tons of spot permits tomorrow at auction. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-09/eu-carbon-little-changed-ahead-of-u-k-sale-power-declines.html ArcelorMittal Made $140 Million Selling Carbon in 2010. (Corrects year in third, fourth paragraph.) ArcelorMittal, the world’s biggest steelmaker, made a net gain of $140 million from the sale of carbon-dioxide permits last year, according to company earnings published yesterday. Emissions from manufacturers in the European Union are capped under the bloc’s carbon-trading program. Companies are allocated free allowances and can trade them to ensure they have enough to cover their emissions each year. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-02-09/arcelormittal-made-140-million-selling-carbon-permits-last-year.html Bush EPA Chief Supported Greenhouse-Gas Regulation. Washington—An Environmental Protection Agency administrator under President George W. Bush told the former president in 2008 that his administration was obliged to declare that emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases linked to climate change endanger public health and welfare. Stephen Johnson, the EPA's administrator from 2005 until 2009, also suggested in a Jan. 31, 2008 letter that the agency propose regulations to limit greenhouse-gas emissions from automobiles and from other human sources—a stance that the Obama administration has taken. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704364004576132582012134122.html?mod=googlenews_wsj 23 States Back White House In Supreme Court Case. A group of states has announced support for the Obama administration in a case before the Supreme Court over whether federal common law can be invoked to regulate greenhouse gases. In total, 23 states have joined an amicus brief backing the administration's position in the case, American Electric Power v. Conn. that will be argued April 19. The move pits those states against eight others that want to use federal common law to force utilities operating fossil fuel-fired electric power plants to reduce emissions. The plaintiffs say the power companies are contributing to a "public nuisance" by releasing greenhouse gases into the air. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/print/2011/02/09/8 Around the State: Idaho Geothermal; Oregon Energy Efficiency; California Cap-Trade Setback. Idaho is working to encourage geothermal power development in the state, which ranks third in geothermal potential--behind only California and Nevada. Current state laws restrict development on state-owned lands, but four bills in the state legislature aim to create a more friendly environment for investment in new geothermal power wells. According to the New York Times, the proposed legislation would eliminate restrictions on the size of geothermal leases, reduce royalty fees and remove 10-year expiration clauses on leases. Posted. http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.printerfriendly/id/21850 FUELS Ethanol Gets Seat on California LCFS Panel. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) Vice President of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper has been selected to represent the ethanol industry on the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Low Carbon Fuels Standard (LCFS) Advisory Panel. Panel members will participate in periodic reviews of the LCFS program and provide input on issues related to implementation of the LCFS. The first panel meeting is scheduled for Feb. 16 in Sacramento. “California has always been an important market for biofuels like ethanol,” Cooper said. Posted. http://domesticfuel.com/2011/02/08/ethanol-gets-seat-on-california-lcfs-panel/ GREEN ENERGY Utilities, Cool to Obama's Clean Energy Standard, Are Redefining It. If President Obama's clean energy plan depends on the support of electric utilities, he has a lot of convincing to do. Leery industry officials are maneuvering for leverage in the opening lap of Obama's push for a clean energy standard, a plan that one official described as "DOA" if Democrats fail to make major concessions. The plan offers a complicated goal -- making cleaner fuels competitive with cheap coal -- but nearly no details. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/02/09/09climatewire-utilities-cool-to-obamas-clean-energy-standa-95295.html?pagewanted=print Grant Boosts Green Upgrades At Sacramento Schools. Plans for $100 million in green upgrades to Sacramento's school buildings received a boost from the national organization that certifies eco-friendly and energy-efficient buildings. The U.S. Green Building Council on Tuesday named the Sacramento City Unified School District as one of the first school systems in the nation for its $300,000 green schools fellowship program. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/09/v-print/3388033/grant-boosts-green-upgrades-at.html VEHICLES China's New Urban Plan -- Buy a Car, but Don't Use It. One aspect of this country's high-speed economic growth is that Chinese are getting richer and prefer to have their own cars. After decades of streets crowded with bicyclists pedaling their way to work, suddenly China has blossomed into the world's largest auto market. But that isn't something worth celebrating, at least not for Chinese mayors. In fact, cities here are trying hard to pry drivers out of their shiny new cars and lure them into mass transit. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/02/09/09climatewire-chinas-new-urban-plan-buy-a-car-but-dont-use-36267.html?scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Auto Program Passes With Flying Colors. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and Valley Clean Air Now hosted the free Tune In and Tune Up Car Clean-Up Event on Jan. 22 at the Shima parking lot at San Joaquin Delta College. Residents with 1995 model or older cars were provided free emissions tests. Those cars found to be repairable were signed up for a $500 voucher for repairs at a certified Gold Shield smog shop. More than 400 cars were tested. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110209/A_INTERACT/102090301&cid=sitesearch Toyota To Build New Hybrid Compact Vehicle. The car company has announced plans to assemble a new compact hybrid electric vehicle at its plant, its second model after the best-selling Prius. Central Motor Co., an assembly unit of Toyota, will produce the model at a plant in Ohira, Miyagi prefecture, according to a confidential source. The move to Ohira is a shift from the company's usual production center in Aichi prefecture. Sources cite lower labor costs and proximity to a port as reasons for the change. Toyota plans to begin selling a compact version of the Prius hybrid in the first half of 2012. The car was first revealed at the Detroit auto show last month. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/09/12 Oregon, Washington Mull Electric Car Fees. GREEN FEES: Both the Oregon and Washington legislatures are considering bills imposing fees on electric car owners, moves designed to make up for revenue that's lost when drivers don't pay gas taxes because they don't use gas. The bills have key legislators behind them. In Washington, the transportation committee chairs in both houses of the legislature support a $100-a-year fee, the Seattle Times reports. The Register Guard reports that Oregon's bill, which would charge electric car drivers six cents for every 10 miles they drive, is the product of a task force that has been studying alternatives to the gas tax for years. http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=548840 Car Buyers Care About CO2 Emissions By Default. Only 0.1 per cent of prospective car buyers consider the environmental impact of CO2 emissions more important than other factors when choosing a new vehicle. According to a poll carried out by car comparison site, car buzz, of the 1% of respondents who claimed CO2 emissions would be the first thing they looked at, two thirds said this was to save money through cheaper road. Only one in ten of those respondents were concerned about the impact on the environment. Posted. http://www.eta.co.uk/2011/02/09/car-buyers-care-about-co2-emissions-default OPINION Pollution. Air pollution is a matter of life and death. Right now there are no limits on the amount of carbon pollution companies are allowed to emit. We need Congress to stand up for our health and our future. It must stop caving in to corporate polluters and end attempts to undermine the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to limit dangerous greenhouse pollution. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/09/pollution/ BLOGS Teaming Tenants and Landlords for Energy Savings. Last week I wrote about how small businesses are going green by taking steps that reduce waste and energy use. While personal convictions may drive many business owners to reduce their environmental impact, most still make decisions based on a model that requires a quick return on such an investment. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/teaming-tenants-and-landlords-for-energy-savings/#more-90941 E.P.A. Chief Faces House Grilling. As Republican lawmakers move to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating emissions of greenhouse gases, Lisa P. Jackson, the E.P.A. administrator, has been called to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/e-p-a-chief-faces-house-grilling/ Attacks On EPA Misrepresent Regulations' Effects On Economy. Having successfully blocked the legislative branch from adopting carbon regulations, congressional Republicans and a few Democrats are now moving to cripple the EPA, whose mandate under the Clean Air Act, the Supreme Court found, includes addressing climate change. A bill co-authored by the new chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Fred Upton, and notorious climate denier James Inhofe, would block the agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=82644 The Dark Side Of Leds: Some Colored Lights Contain Lead. As the light from incandescent bulbs dims in the face of their impending phase-out, new concerns are being raised about the hazardous materials contained in some of their more energy-efficient replacements, such as light-emitting diodes or LEDs. While LEDs consume a fraction of the energy of incandescent and last exponentially longer, some colored LEDs may contain lead, according to Potential Environmental Impacts of Light-Emitting Diodes, a new study by UC Irvine. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/02/the-dark-side-of-leds-some-colored-lights-contain-lead.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 How the Carbon and Energy Software Market Grew 400% Without a Cap-and Trade Bill. Cap-and-trade legislation — back when Congress had an interest in limiting greenhouse gas emissions — promised to cultivate a slew of carbon-related markets, including one for companies that had developed software tools to track environmental data. Of course, we know what happened next. Congress punted on the issue and the economy continued its tailspin, which you’d think would erase any need for carbon accounting software. Posted. http://www.bnet.com/blog/clean-energy/how-the-carbon-and-energy-software-market-grew-400-without-a-cap-and-trade-bill/4166 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:31:26 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 10, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 10, 2011. 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 GOP Invites Business To Vent About Regulations. From large manufacturers to a small electric company, businesses are sounding off about costly government rules. Witnesses at a House hearing complained about regulations on endangered species, excessive paperwork, EPA anti-pollution standards and much more. The hearing of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee quickly became partisan Thursday. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/10/1550271/republican-hearing-focuses-on.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_716ada2d-9e86-545d-ac6f-a4720daa459e.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/10/2266621/republican-hearing-focuses-on.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/10/AR2011021000680.html CLIMATE CHANGE GOP Attacks EPA On Rules. Washington – Congressional Republicans on Wednesday opened a formal assault on the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gases, raising doubts about the legal, scientific and economic basis of rules proposed by the agency. The forum was a hearing convened by the energy and power subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to review the economic impact of pending limits on carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/10/v-print/3390715/gop-attacks-epa-on-rules.html House Republicans Take E.P.A. Chief to Task. Congressional Republicans on Wednesday opened a formal assault on the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gases, raising doubts about the legal, scientific and economic basis of rules proposed by the agency. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/science/earth/10emissions.html?scp=8&sq=climate%20change&st=cse House Panel Plans To Overturn EPA's Finding On Climate Change. Washington - Republicans on the House of Representatives energy committee on Wednesday aired their proposal to block the Environmental Protection Agency from reducing greenhouse gases and to reverse the agency's scientific finding that climate change is dangerous. While the plan might be blocked in the Senate or vetoed by President Barack Obama, the comments during Wednesday's hearing were a fresh indication of the depth of opposition in Congress to action on reducing U.S. carbon pollution. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/09/1549530/house-panel-plans-to-overturn.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/09/2266039/house-panel-plans-to-overturn.html#storylink=misearch http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/02/09/v-print/108383/house-panel-plans-to-overturn.html Low-Income Groups Could Delay California’s Pollution Legislation. As California officials get ready to implement their historic climate-change legislation they’re being met with expected challengers. Groups representing low-income residents have filed a motion that could possibly delay the effectuation of portions of the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) because they say the law violates the California Environmental Quality Act because the air board did not provide any alternatives, and have risked the welfare of many residents. Posted. http://www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com/notitas-de-noticias/details/low-income-groups-could-delay-californias-pollution-legislation/5141/ Heat’s On Cap And Trade. There’s a persistent myth out there that left-wing loonies are somehow trying to foist carbon cap-and-trade schemes on California business. In fact, lots of progressives and environmental groups aren’t all that crazy about cap and trade either—and believe that it’s a complicated game which lets polluters off the hook for their impacts on local communities. In fact, the state’s ambitious anti-global-warming law, Assembly Bill 32, is now stumbling in the courts, because several environmental-justice organizations sued over the controversial cap and trade plan that state regulators approved in December. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/PrintFriendly?oid=1920200 Enviro Groups Hit Lawmakers In Swing Districts On Emission Regs. Environmentalists today released polls that found a majority of independent voters in the swing districts of nine House Energy and Commerce Committee members oppose legislation that would halt U.S. EPA action on greenhouse gas emissions. The polling unveiled by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) marks the latest step in green groups' intensifying campaign to discredit lawmakers from both parties who seek to handcuff EPA. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/10/1 What’s New? Objections Filed in the AB 32 Lawsuit. The parties involved in the lawsuit “Association of Irritated Residents v. California Air Resources Board (CARB)” filed objections on Monday to the judge’s tentative ruling that could lead to a temporary suspension of the state’s landmark climate change plan. Given the breadth of the materials filed in this suit and the scope of the ruling, the arguments in the objections were both expected and appropriate. In fact, they shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Posted. http://www.favstocks.com/what%E2%80%99s-new-objections-filed-in-the-ab-32-lawsuit/0932662/ IID Continues Emissions Progress. The Imperial Irrigation District is on track to meet greenhouse gas emission standards as required by Assembly Bill 32. The bill makes the California Air Resources Board responsible for monitoring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to cut emissions by 25 percent, to 1990 levels, said David Kolk, IID assistant general manager, at the IID Board of Directors meeting Tuesday. Incremental reductions begin next year with 2 percent cuts per year until 2015. Then 3 percent cuts are required until 2020. Posted. http://articles.ivpressonline.com/2011-02-09/iid-assistant-general-manager_27739955 DIESEL EMISSIONS Workshop Set On Truck Clean Engine Rules And Funding. State and regional air pollution regulators will conduct free workshops for truckers Feb. 19 and March 19 on how to meet California's clean engine rules for diesel trucks and on obtaining government grants to comply. The free Saturday workshops will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 19 at the College of Alameda, 555 Ralph Appezzato Parkway, Alameda; and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 19 at the San Mateo County Events Center, 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/environment/ci_17342387?nclick_check=1 http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17342387?nclick_check=1 FUELS 2 Studies Target Sticking Points, Gaps In Life-Cycle Calculations. Conducting in-depth life-cycle assessments of the environmental impacts of biofuels is complicated, and new research suggests some questions in comparing biofuels to alternatives like petroleum-based fuels will never be answered. Furthermore, one study argues, consumer choices driven by price differences between bio-based and petroleum-based fuels will play into how biofuels affect the environment, adding another layer of complication that must considered. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/10/8 GREEN ENERGY San Francisco Mandates Energy Audits. San Francisco -- The San Francisco board of supervisors voted this week to require owners of all nonresidential buildings to disclose their energy use. Property owners will have to publish their buildings' energy footprints once a year and owners of commercial structures larger than 10,000 square feet will eventually be required to conduct in-depth efficiency audits every five years. Audits will start in October for commercial properties larger than 50,000 square feet, extending to buildings as small as 10,000 square feet starting in 2013. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/10/10 Renewable Energy Standards Survive GOP Offensive. Colorado Democrats slammed the door Wednesday on Republican plans to undo clean-energy policies adopted in recent years. A Democrat-controlled Senate committee narrowly rejected three Republican proposals to lower consumer utility bills. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/09/renewable-energy-standards-target-of-colo-gop/ Chicago Awards Contract For Car Charging Stations. Chicago officials have awarded a California company a $1.9 million contract for installing 280 electric vehicle charging stations in the city and some surrounding suburbs by the end of the year. The Chicago Tribune reports that under the contract, San Diego-based 350 Green LLC will set up 73 plazas where motorists driving electric cars will be able to plug in to either of two different types of charging stations. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/09/1549631/chicago-awards-contract-for-car.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/09/chicago-awards-contract-for-car-charging/ http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/09/2266131/chicago-awards-contract-for-car.html#storylink=misearch Settlement Fund To Pay For RI Wind Power. Rhode Island's attorney general says funds from a settlement agreement with a major U.S. power company over pollution allegations will finance wind energy projects in the state. In a statement Wednesday, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin says the state will spend a fifth of its $1.2 million portion of the settlement to construct wind turbines along its windy southern coast. The turbines will partly power a state beach facility and a state campground. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/09/settlement-fund-to-pay-for-ri-wind-power/ Groups Argue Against Proposed PNM Rate Increase. Several renewable energy and consumer advocacy groups have come out against a proposed rate increase for customers of New Mexico's largest electric utility. Western Resource Advocates, New Energy Economy, the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy and others have filed statements of opposition with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission over Public Service Company of New Mexico's revamped request for a rate increase that would average nearly 11 percent for residential and business customers around the state. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/09/groups-argue-against-proposed-pnm-rate-increase/ VEHICLES CARB Chairman Accuses Auto Trade Group Of Lying To Congress. Don’t mess with Mary Nichols, Chairman of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). In a letter to the CEOs of seven major automobile manufacturers (see CARB Press Release), she alleged that their trade association misrepresented CARB’s role in the regulatory process for development of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions regulations for motor vehicles. Specifically, Nichols accused the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM) of falsely complaining to Congress that CARB was not cooperating with industry, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA). Posted. http://www.examiner.com/environmental-news-in-bakersfield/carb-chairman-accuses-auto-trade-group-of-lying-to-congress All Aboard: California High-Speed Rail Planners Prepare To Put Out Billions In Contracts. California’s bullet train planners Wednesday cracked open the flood gates for bidders expected to rush in seeking billions of dollars in construction work projected to start next year. Requests for expressions of interest were sent to thousands of large and small contractors worldwide that may want a piece of the first phase of the $43-billion network that is supposed to connect the Bay Area and Southern California with trains running up to 220 mph. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/02/all-aboard-california-high-speed-rail-planners-put-billions-in-contracts-out-for-bid-worldwide.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lanowblog+%28L.A.+Now%29&utm_content=Google+Reader High-Speed Rail Group Surveys Industry's Interest. With $5.5 billion to spend on the first stretch of a statewide high-speed train network, the California High-Speed Rail Authority invited private industry Wednesday to help finance, build and operate the system. The agency announced that it has mailed out several thousand letters to businesses, chambers of commerce and other business organizations, asking for "expressions of interest" in building or designing the 120-mile initial stretch from north of Fresno to Bakersfield, or participating in future efforts to build, maintain, operate or fund the $43 billion first phase of the system from San Francisco to Southern California. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/10/BA6T1HL2AL.DTL&type=printable High-Speed Rail Authority Invites Input From Business. In the first formal step to figure out who's going to build and run California's high-speed rail system, officials Wednesday invited companies to speak up if they're interested -- and send in ideas. The California High-Speed Rail Authority's "request for expressions of interest" is 44 pages long, and it's going out to businesses around the world. Its release marks the start of a yearlong process to select firms to design and build the initial segment between Fresno and Bakersfield. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/09/v-print/2266551/calif-rail-authority-invites-input.html Fla. Lawmaker Questions Calif. High-Speed Rail. Washington -- The influential chairman of the House transportation committee voiced skepticism Wednesday about California's high-speed rail plans. While not ruling out eventual support for California, Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., said he's unimpressed by what he's seen so far. Mica specifically questioned the state's current plans to start with tracks connecting a rural stretch of the central San Joaquin Valley. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/09/v-print/2266539/fla-lawmaker-questions-calif-high.html Calif. Gauges Private-Sector Interest As Critics Question Cost, Ridership. California went fishing for private contractors and investors yesterday with the state's first open invitation to outside parties looking to participate in construction of an 800-mile high-speed rail line. The agency in charge of the project, the California High-Speed Rail Authority, gave interested parties a five-week window, until March 16, to express interest in design, construction, financing, operations and maintenance of the north-to-south line. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/10/4 Bill Blocks Tailpipe Emissions Limits. Legislation would bar states from imposing their own rules. Washington — The top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee wants to block the Environmental Protection Agency from setting tailpipe emissions limits. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, has introduced legislation that would have the effect of barring California and a dozen other states from also imposing their own emissions rules. The bill would overturn a 2007 Supreme Court decision that said the EPA can regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Posted. http://detnews.com/article/20110210/AUTO01/102100364&template=printart OPINION You Can’t Make It Up. Just how crazy is the assault on reason done in the name of combating “climate change”? Well, consider this scenario from — where else? — California. Not even the ultra-liberal Golden State can pass a cap-and-trade law through its legislature. Instead, it has long relied on its unelected air resources board (CARB) to implement any and all restrictions by fiat. But a funny thing happened recently on the way to de facto cap-and-trade in California. Posted. http://www.dailynews-record.com/opinion_details.php?AID=54568&CHID=36 BLOGS Yet Another Route to Cellulosic Ethanol. There are myriad routes to making car fuel from waste, using mix-and-match technologies assembled in novel ways, but none has worked yet on a commercial scale. On Wednesday, Ineos Bio, the subsidiary of a major international chemical firm, broke ground on a plant that aims to use yet another combination. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/yet-another-route-to-cellulosic-ethanol/ E.P.A. and Carbon Dioxide: The Prequel. As a committee of the Republican-controlled House settled in to interrogate the Environmental Protection Agency’s administrator, Lisa P. Jackson, about her agency’s efforts to regulate greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, a senior House Democrat released three-year old documents showing that the Bush administration’s E.P.A. sought to follow exactly the same course. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/e-p-a-and-carbon-dioxide-the-prequel/ On Edge-Pushing Statistics and Climate Basics. There’s a young field at the interface of science and mathematics called spatial statistics. It’s so new that its first international conference is taking place next month in the Netherlands. It’s an important line of work, with the potential to help clarify everything from the risk of disease outbreaks to the rate of warming across the vast and sparsely monitored Antarctic continent. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/on-edge-pushing-statistics-and-climate-basics/?scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Clorox Comes Clean: Company Discloses All Ingredients In All Products. The maker of bleach, Pine-Sol and other popular cleaning products announced Tuesday that it will disclose the specific preservatives, dyes and fragrances it uses in its cleaning, disinfecting and laundry products sold in the U.S. and Canada. The Clorox Co. announcement builds on the ingredient communications program the corporation launched in January 2008, which disclosed the active ingredients in its natural Green Works line on a dedicated Clorox website. In 2009, Clorox also began listing the active ingredients of its more traditional products. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/02/clorox-ingredients.html A Cool Reception: EPA Administator Experiences Climate Change In The House. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson got a cool reception Wednesday in her first appearance before a House energy subcommittee under Republican rule. Conservatives grilled Jackson on her agency's ability to regulate greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, saying it would burden manufacturers with expensive costs. Posted. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/post-carbon/2011/02/a_cool_reception_epa_secretary.html Air Board Defends EPA on Capitol Hill. A high-ranking California official appeared on Capitol Hill today to defend the right of the federal Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. James Goldstene, executive director of the state’s Air Resources Board, told members of a House subcommittee that the EPA's recently released regulations will not create a "regulatory train wreck." Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/02/09/ca-official-epa-climate-regs-would-cause-no-regulatory-train-wrecks/ Wind Farm Forecast: More & Bigger. How much wind energy do we need to make California's goal of 33% clean electricity by 2020? Whenever I put this question to one of the experts, the answer is always: "It depends." But under almost any scenario, thousands more windmills will dot the California landscape in years to come. Those who don't see them on a daily basis might be surprised to learn that there is already something on the order of 13,000 commercial wind turbines operating in California. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/02/09/wind-farm-forecast-more-bigger/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Supercomputer Helps Turn Big-Rigs Into Energy Efficient ‘Smarttrucks’. Energy efficient big-rig trucks might may hit the highways much sooner than anticipated — thanks to the nation’s fastest supercomputer. BMI Corporation and Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have teamed up to develop the SmartTruck UnderTray System, a set of finely-tuned wind deflectors that when installed make 18-wheeler... Posted. http://www.smartplanet.com/technology/blog/thinking-tech/supercomputer-helps-turn-trucks-into-energy-efficient-smarttrucks/6237/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:23:18 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 11, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 11, 2011. 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 NJ Sues PA. Coal Plant. Trenton, N.J. — New Jersey is joining in a lawsuit that seeks to shut down a western Pennsylvania coal-burning electricity generating plant over pollution. The lawsuit was initially filed by the federal government, New York and Pennsylvania. It wants the court to shut down the plant until it meets standards of the Clean Air Act, civil penalties and other relief. It calls the plant "one of the largest air pollution sources in the nation." Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/AP722b2cc148c343329572657b6044d071.html CLIMATE CHANGE More Companies Push Sustainability, but Usually Not for Climate Reasons – Study. Corporations will work harder on sustainability in 2011 even as the economy continues to limp and climate policy stumbles, according to a new report. Whether they'll apply that effort to cut carbon emissions, though, is a fuzzier question. In a broad survey of companies, 70 percent said they intend to devote more money, or more attention from management, to sustainability this year. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/02/11/11climatewire-more-companies-push-sustainability-but-usual-60576.html?scp=8&sq=climate%20change&st=cse GREEN ENERGY LED Light Bulbs Are The Green Alternative To Standard Halogen Light Bulbs, Right? Wrong, says a new study from UC Irvine and UC Davis that suggests those good-for-the-environment light bulbs contain lead, arsenic and a dozen other potentially toxic and hazardous substances. “LEDs are touted as the next generation of lighting,” said Oladele Ogunseitan, the study's author and chair of UC Irvine’s Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention. “But as we try to find better products that do not deplete energy resources or contribute to global warming, we have to be vigilant about the toxicity hazards of those marketed as replacements.” Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/uc-researchers-led-lights-contain-lead-arsenic-8634 VEHICLES Snyder At Start Of Electric Vehicle Charger Plant. Livonia, Mich. (AP) -- Gov. Rick Snyder says Michigan companies' production of charging stations for electric vehicles puts the state at the forefront of the growing industry. Snyder attended a news conference Friday at the headquarters of Livonia-based Roush Manufacturing for the start of mass production of the Blink Level 2 charging station. Roush received the contract from San Francisco-based ECOtality Inc.to make the charger at a retooled auto parts manufacturing facility in the Detroit suburb. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/02/11/state/n010159S27.DTL&type=printable http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/MI_Snyder_Electric_Vehicles_555134C.shtml Volvo’s Electric Car Collision A Big Hit. At the recent Detroit Auto Show, Volvo Cars spotlighted the important issue of electric car safety in an unusual but distinctive way. On the company’s stand there is a Volvo C30 Electric that has undergone a frontal collision test at 40 mph (64 km/h). Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/10/volvos-electric-car-collision-a-big-hit/ Officials Celebrate San Francisco's Charging Up To Handle Electric Cars. San Francisco -- The West Coast -- and San Francisco in particular -- is fulfilling federal dreams of a robust electric vehicle infrastructure and green jobs, top administration officials said yesterday. Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, spoke in front of a Tesla Roadster and a Chevy Volt, the latter of which was plugged into a Coulomb Technologies charging station. She invoked President Obama's State of the Union address, in which he called for infrastructure funding reform and investment in electric vehicles and high-speed rail (E&E Daily, Jan. 26). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/11/5 MISCELLANEOUS Kicking Our Fossil Fuels Habit. About 65 minutes into “Carbon Nation,” a peppy documentary about all sorts of technologies that might help us kick our fossil fuels habit, the film acknowledges its biggest shortcoming. “If all these solutions are such great ideas,” says the narrator, Bill Kurtis, “why haven’t they happened yet?” Unfortunately, the director, Peter Byck, doesn’t really tackle that question in the hard-nosed way that it needs to be attacked. Posted. http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/02/11/movies/11carbon.html?scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Climate Change Skeptics Out-Dramatize Believers in London. Two plays about climate change hit the London stage this month, one airing the views of the convinced and the other, those of the skeptical. Both treat their subject in completely different dramatic ways, but one succeeds, while the other fails dismally. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/02/11/11climatewire-climate-change-skeptics-out-dramatize-believ-85819.html?scp=4&sq=climate%20change&st=cse OPINION Republican Attack On EPA Will Deter Needed Action. A Supreme Court decision, overwhelming science and even record snowstorms don't matter to House Republicans. When it comes to climate change, the new majority is in full denial. A House panel excoriated Environmental Protection Agency head Lisa Jackson for the White House's intention to limit carbon dioxide, the heat-trapping culprit blamed for climate change. By treating her as a punching bag, the GOP team can keep anti-regulatory fervor alive for the next election and cut her budget. It's a dog-and-pony show. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/11/EDTG1HLGMU.DTL&type=printable Viewpoints: Changing Climate Will Make Coming Water Crisis Even Worse. Climate change often seems like something remote, perhaps affecting polar bears, or our great-great-grandchildren. The scarcity of water, on the other hand, is all too immediate, with the recent years of drought threatening present-day patterns of life throughout the Southwest. What happens when the groundwater is gone and the rivers run dry? If this sounds like a bad movie, we've all been forced to watch a preview of it in the last few years. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/11/v-print/3394092/changing-climate-will-make-coming.html 2011 Chevrolet Volt. I seldom agree with the Car of the Year awards given by magazines or panels of journalists, such as the one issued at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. But I have participated in many of those presentations and probably will do so again. This year, however, I enthusiastically agree with the car juries (none of which I was on), including the NAIAS panel. The popular choice is the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in electric hybrid hatchback sedan. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/11/AR2011021102741.html BLOGS Spill Commissioners Call for Review of Energy Policy. Two members of President Obama’s commission on the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill said at a congressional hearing on Friday that regulatory failures and industry overconfidence helped lead to the catastrophe and called for an overhaul of federal oversight of offshore drilling and a transition to safer, cleaner forms of energy. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/11/spill-commissioners-call-for-review-of-energy-policy/?pagemode=print For Oil Exec, an Electric Car Can Wait. There sure is a lot of excitement percolating around plug-in hybrid and electric cars these days. Chevrolet’s Volt and Nissan’s Leaf are the talk of the car world, city governments are installing battery chargers, and the Obama administration has promoted them. Even the TV commercials for the battery chargers are cool. Bloomberg News A Nissan employee installs a battery-charger component for a Leaf vehicle at a plant in Yokosuka City, Japan. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/10/for-oil-exec-an-electric-car-can-wait/?pagemode=print On Peer Review and (Climate) Progress. Louis A. Derry, a Cornell researcher and the editor of the journal Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, provides a valuable look inside the peer review process in a comment on my piece assessing the debate over Antarctic temperature trends. It merits space here as a “Your Dot” contribution (a feature aimed at encouraging constructive non-anonymous discussions). Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/11/on-peer-review-and-climate-progress/?scp=3&sq=Fuels&st=cse Of Birds, Bats and Blades. The wind energy industry faces multiple challenges in California. It's hard to find people who are just flat out against wind energy. As with real estate, attitudes seem to come down to location, location, location. That's why three of the thorniest issues with wind are project siting, transmission (lines for the power produced), and the industry's turbulent history with birds and bats. Some of those challenges are highlighted in this slide show, designed to accompany my two-part radio series. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/02/10/of-birds-bats-and-blades/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Who Wants to Cash in on Gutting the Clean Air Act? The latest attacks on the Clean Air Act are not about policy or even politics; they're about corruption, plain and simple. We see these attacks coming from both Republicans and Democrats, but nearly all of them are coming from lawmakers who have received large infusions of cash or pressure from big polluters like the coal industry. Most telling, the attacks are coming from elected officials who have previously acknowledged and discussed the dangers of climate change. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/liz-butler/who-wants-to-cash-in-on-t_b_821463.html We Need a Clean Energy Hiring Plan. Last week's job numbers confirmed for yet another month that in order to truly get our economy moving we need a national jobs strategy that unleashes the innovation and ingenuity of the American people to move our country forward and to get people back to work. President Obama two weeks ago in his State of the Union called this moment our generation's "Sputnik moment." He challenged Americans to win the jobs and industries of the future. The president declared, "We know what it takes to compete for the jobs and industries of our time. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-foster/david-foster-we-need-a-cl_b_819617.html?view=print ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:04:01 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 14, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 14, 2011. 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 Environmental Enforcement: Cement Maker to Pay $1.4 Million Penalty. Cemex, Inc., one of the largest cement producers in the United States, has agreed to pay a $1.4 million penalty for Clean Air Act violations at its cement plant in Fairborn, Ohio, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday. In addition to the penalty, Houston-based Cemex agreed to spend an estimated $2 million on pollution controls that will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), pollutants that can contribute to childhood asthma, acid rain, and smog. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/02/14/environmental-enforcement-cement-maker-to-pay-1-4-million-penalty/ EPA Says New Plan Would Cut Smog And Save Jobs. Federal officials unveiled a plan Friday to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions at a coal-fired power plant in New Mexico where the Arizona Public Service four months ago proposed installing strict pollution-control measures. Under the Environmental Protection Agency's latest proposal, smog-causing nitrogen oxides at the Four Corners Power Plant would be reduced from 45,000 tons per year to 5,800 tons per year, a reduction of 3,200 fewer tons from the federal agency's initial plan. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/11/epa-says-new-plan-would-cut-smog-and-save-jobs/ JOSHUA TREE: Smog Continues To Plague National Park. More than 1,200 square miles of open space, six mountain ranges, vast valleys, striking pink granite boulders and its namesake desert plant life make Joshua Tree National Park a paradise for visitors escaping suburbia. However, visitors often find they haven't escaped entirely. Every summer, smog cooked up in industrial zones and freeways 100 miles away blow into the park on sea breezes, sullying the air, ruining the views and encouraging the growth of fire-prone weeds. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_parkpollution14.2429e44.html CLIMATE CHANGE E.U. Climate Chief Has Work Cut Out for Her. Brussels — Connie Hedegaard embodies the way the European Commission would like to be perceived in the 21st century. Ms. Hedegaard, 50, leads the commission’s efforts on climate change, an issue with global resonance, and she is a confident and telegenic communicator, helping dislodge the commission’s image as a haven for graying politicians who settle fights over fish quotas. She sums up her job as keeping the European Union “in the front-running position when it comes to being the most energy-efficient, climate-friendly region in the world.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/14/business/energy-environment/14green.html?_r=1&src=busln&pagewanted=print Republicans Gut EPA Climate Rules, Slash Deeply Into Climate Research, Aid and Technology Programs. House Republicans introduced spending legislation Friday that would strip U.S. EPA of its ability to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, gut the State Department's climate aid programs and slash funding for energy and climate research across the federal government. The continuing resolution (CR), which would fund government operations through Sept. 30, seeks to trim $100 billion from the fiscal 2011 budget President Obama proposed last year. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/02/14/14climatewire-republicans-gut-epa-climate-rules-slash-deep-87716.html?pagewanted=print Making Climate Change Real At Oakland High School. The 200 engrossed students at Oakland Unity High School kept their eyes glued to the projector screen and hardly uttered a sound during the 45-minute presentation - the most striking exception coming at the part of the special school assembly that featured cow farts. It turns out bovine flatulence contributes to greenhouse gases. That was just one of several topics covered in the assembly, which was offered by the Alliance for Climate Education, an Oakland nonprofit that is trying to educate students about climate change one school at a time. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/14/BAB91HM37Q.DTL&type=printable House Republicans Open A Major Budget Battle, Proposing Deep Cuts Into Energy, Environment And Climate Spending. House Republicans are hurtling toward a collision with Obama Democrats as they prepare to launch a major defunding offensive tomorrow on energy programs, U.S. EPA and mass transportation projects -- cornerstones of the president's agenda. The effort to cut $100 billion from the budget for the remaining fiscal year marks the Republicans' first test at leading a majority energized by freshman conservatives elected, in many cases, after attacking climate policies and runaway government spending last year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/14/1 Budget Proposal Focuses On Air And Climate Rules, Cuts Water Grants. U.S. EPA would take a 12.6 percent funding cut under President Obama's budget request for fiscal 2012, which would shrink the amount of grants for state and local water projects while keeping money flowing toward enforcement and the new air pollution regulations that House Republicans are trying to starve of funding. The president's budget would include $9 billion for EPA, down from the fiscal 2010 funding level of $10.3 billion that has remained in place for the first five months of fiscal 2011. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/14/2 FUELS Valley Truckers Hit Hard By Rising Diesel Prices. Ten weeks of rising diesel fuel prices are the latest blow to the trucking industry, which has struggled to overcome a series of economic challenges recently. For trucking companies, the average $3.74 a gallon fuel -- a 70-cent increase from last year -- comes at a time when they would otherwise be gearing up for an economic turnaround. In addition, many still are recovering from pricey expenditures to meet clean-air rules. Many Valley companies pass on costs to customers with fuel surcharges, but for others that's not an optionPosted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/13/v-print/2271489/valley-truckers-hit-hard-by-rising.html Gas For $4 A Gallon? Are you ready for $4-a-gallon gas again? For the first time in three years, pump prices this year may reach the psychologically frightening $4 threshold, which is sure to change some drivers’ habits. Gas prices are already the highest they've been since 2008, and a growing number of energy analysts think they will keep rising until the current $3.45 a gallon in the South Bay seems cheap. "Gasoline prices will breach $4 a gallon in San Jose at some point in April or May," predicted Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst at gasbuddy.comPosted. http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_17379847?nclick_check=1 MIT Grad's Invention Turns Brewery Waste To Fuel. Before he started "saving the earth, one beer at a time," all inventor Eric Fitch knew about home brewing was that it could make quite a mess. Once, he accidentally backed up the plumbing in his apartment building by dumping into his garbage disposal the spent grain left over from his India Pale Ale home brew. The oatmeal-looking gunk choked the pipes in his Cambridge, Mass., building, flooding the basement. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/13/mit-grads-invention-turns-brewery-waste-to-fuel/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_fe9348f3-daf0-5ea0-bb98-1b9660e22694.html GREEN ENERGY In Holland, Land Of Windmills, Flap Over Wind Farm. Netherlands (AP) --On an outcrop near this town's lighthouse, a woman in stone perpetually scans the horizon for the fishing fleet returning home. To the dismay of townspeople, her view may soon be obscured by some of the world's tallest wind turbines. In this eco-friendly nation where windmills are embedded in the culture, it may seem strange that a spat over wind power threatens to land in the country's highest court. But these turbines are a far cry from the squat four-bladed mills used for centuries to drain the swamps and create new land from the sea. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/02/14/international/i023619S81.DTL&type=printable http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/14/1555914/in-holland-land-of-windmills-flap.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/article_3e62a2ef-5866-5811-9c36-98d19b49d0e7.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/14/2271605/in-holland-land-of-windmills-flap.html#storylink=misearch ENERGY: With Government Help, Solar's Cost Approaches Fossil Fuels'. Solar electricity costs slightly more than fossil fuel generation, but only because of built-in government subsidies, analysts and utility officials said. Federal and California public policies promote solar, wind and other renewable power sources because they release no carbon dioxide into the air, reducing the state's contribution to global warming. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_77c152d2-4a09-5efb-aac9-b2ffba913f47.html KB Home To Lure Buyers With Energy Bill Savings. Homebuilders say one of the biggest advantages of buying a newly built home is energy efficiency. However, some of the ways that builders make homes burn less cash might not be as recognizable to buyers as say, kitchen appliances, generous closets and bathroom amenities. So now some builders are boiling energy efficiency down to something every buyer understands: money. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/14/1555959/kb-home-to-lure-buyers-with-energy.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/14/kb-home-to-lure-buyers-with-energy-bill-savings/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_9e1d1c81-0b67-57da-b3e6-3411f768a04f.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/14/2271668/kb-home-to-lure-buyers-with-energy.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/14/AR2011021401054.html http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110214/WIRE/110219765 Alternative Energy Investors Not Seeing Green Yet. President Barack Obama laid out an ambitious goal in his latest State of the Union address: By 2035, America will get 80 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources. Achievable? Maybe, if you consider that Obama's expansive definition of clean energy includes nuclear and emerging clean coal technologies, which many environmentalists don't embrace as ways to combat greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/local/stories/PE_Biz_D_mutual13.f82fee.html RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Supervisors Begin Renewable Energy Lobbying Push. Riverside County supervisors want to begin flexing their muscles in the ongoing renewable energy rush. The county is proving to be a hotbed for solar, wind and geothermal energy, and supervisors don't want to disproportionately bear the cost of its production. They don't want to see transmission lines, for instance, crisscrossing the county to carry power to other population centers without seeing any financial benefit for local residents. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/politics/stories/PE_News_Local_D_energy11.1139331.html Eye On The Environment: Green Business Certification Provides Validation. Any business can claim to be "green," giving it marketing advantages and attracting customers, but the claim may not actually reflect exemplary environmental practices. Green business certification programs offer third-party validation — a neutral body, generally either a nonprofit organization or government agency, checks whether a business deserves certification using a list of minimum criteria. Certification programs exist for organic farming, sustainable architecture, low-energy appliances and other commercial ventures. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/12/green-business-certification-provides-validation/ Ontario Shuts Down All Offshore Wind Projects. In a surprise move Friday, Ontario halted all pending and proposed offshore wind projects. The action comes at a sensitive time for the offshore wind industry on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border. There are no operational offshore wind farms in North America, and the Canadian industry had been looking to Ontario as a potential first mover because of its access to the northern Great Lakes. The decision nullifies a contract for an offshore wind project awarded by the Ontario Power Authority and blocks approval and consideration of all other applications for offshore wind farms. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/02/14/5/ Obama Proposal Promotes Clean Tech, Slashes Fossil Energy. The White House continued efforts today to beef up investment in nuclear and renewable energy technologies in its $29.5 billion fiscal 2012 spending request for the Department of Energy. The clean-tech increases would come at the expense of fossil energy spending, including the perennial request to eliminate billions in tax incentives for the oil and gas industry. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/14/3 VEHICLES Emmerson Measure Would Slash Tire Pressure Fines. Sacramento - Car repair shops cited for failing to verify customers' tire pressure would face much smaller penalties under an Inland Southern California lawmaker's legislation introduced this week. The California Air Resources Board approved tire inflation rules in 2009 as a way to improve motorists' mileage and eliminate an estimated 700,000 tons of heat-trapping emissions linked to global warming. The regulations took effect last September. Violators face stiff penalties -- jail time and up to a $1,000 fine. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/politics/stories/PE_News_Local_D_tires12.2942d3f.html http://www.tirereview.com/Article/84231/calif_senator_wants_inflation_law_neutered.aspx What Will The Cars Of The Future Look Like? A vehicle big enough to comfortably carry six adults and get better than 40 miles per gallon? It’ll be on the road before 2020, predicted Henry Hansel, president of the Hansel Auto Group and a 38-year auto industry veteran. “I’m absolutely confident of that,” Hansel said. With $4 a gallon gasoline on the horizon — some analysts say later this year in California — the demand for powerful, economic cars and trucks is inescapable. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110213/BUSINESS/110219824 MISCELLANEOUS Read Me Green: Eco Book Awards. Mallory, a popular children's fiction heroine, has decided to make her home and school more eco-friendly. She wants to get her friends to join in, but can she convince them? Read all about it in "Mallory Goes Green" by Laurie B. Friedman, illustrated by Jennifer Kalis. The book, published by Darby Creek/Lerner Publishing Group, was just named one of the 2011 Green Earth Award Book Winners by the Newton Marasco Foundation. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/14/1556009/read-me-green-eco-book-awards.html Students' Solar-Energy Showcase Is Kicked Off Mall. At a coffee shop in Los Angeles, Elisabeth Neigert listened to some of the most memorable words in President Obama's State of the Union address. "Win the future," Obama said of the quest to develop alternative energy and wean the nation off fossil fuels. "This is our generation's Sputnik moment." Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/12/AR2011021203215.html OPINION The Global Food Crisis and Climate Change. To the Editor: Re “Droughts, Floods and Food” (column, Feb. 7): Paul Krugman makes a great point in connecting the global food crisis to the effects of climate change. The 2007 Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggests that this problem will only worsen: yields from rain-fed agriculture in some African countries may decrease by 50 percent by 2020 because of climate change. So what will we do? President Obama and other G-8 leaders have committed to mobilizing $100 billion a year by 2020 to help developing countries reduce emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/14/opinion/lweb14krugman.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Don't Weaken EPA. The following editorial appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Friday, Feb. 11: Temperatures in Wisconsin are expected to rise by midcentury by an annual average of 6 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists and others in state government. Last month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that 2010 tied with 2005 as the warmest year on record based on global surface temperature. It was also the wettest year on record worldwide, the NOAA reported. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/14/1556031/dont-weaken-epa.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/14/2271760/dont-weaken-epa.html#storylink=misearch EDITORIAL: Windmill Power: We'll Need More Than 13,000. California law requires that by 2020, a third of our energy production should come from clean sources such as wind. We seem to be well on our way: California already has some 13,000 commercial wind turbines. But if that sounds like a lot, consider that a Lawrence Berkeley National Lab researcher recently told Climate Watch he believes we'll need 5,000 more to hit that goal. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/editorials/x563852538/EDITORIAL-Windmill-power-Well-need-more-than-13-000 BLOGS Gingrich’s Energy Policies Rile Conservative Critics. In a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the annual gathering of conservative activists, Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, called last week for a radical shift in national energy and environmental policy, including the total dismantling of the Environmental Protection Agency, the relaxation of coal mining regulations and quick approval for offshore drilling projects in the Arctic. The reaction from some conservative commentators was swift and harsh. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/14/gingrichs-energy-policies-rile-conservative-critics/?pagemode=print Vanishing Cap And Trade In Obama's 2012 Budget. In President Obama's new budget plan, the idea of comprehensive climate legislation appears to have disappeared into thin air. The phrase cap and trade -- the touchstone of the climate legislation battles over the past two years -- does not appear in the 216-page budget summary. Nor is there any mention of climate legislation or its impact. In fiscal year 2011, the administration included a line in its revenue projections for climate change legislation, …Posted. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/post-carbon/2011/02/vanishing_cap_and_trade_in_oba.html Circular Reasoning. Just a difference of opinion, except for the dying part. People don't like being called stupid, but let's face it. One side or the other is sometimes being stupid. Let's see if we can decide which. On the climate change side we have: Plausible theory: -Carbon Dioxide, a long-acknowledged heat-trapping gas, is increasing in the atmosphere due to human activity. -Scientists measure this, and do their best with imperfect data to model and predict consequences. -The measuring of CO2 levels throughout history and the effect on climate is tabulated. Posted. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tomtoles/2011/02/circular_reasoning.html Climate Change Challenge Update #5 Earl Honsteder wrote, "Climate Change has done to LAZY COPY AND PASTE JOURNALITS AND NEWS EDITORS what abusive priests did for the Catholic Church. Meanwhile you threatend our children with DEATH BY CO2, caused needless and costly panic and wasted 25 years on climate control, instead of POPULATION control. I'm calling my D.A. You media fear mongers should be brought to court for this." Thanks for your post Earl! But again the challenge is to find some scientific support for your claims here. Posted. http://blogs.redding.com/dcraig/archives/2011/02/climate-change-6.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:35:00 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 15, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 15, 2011. 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 UN Climate Chief Urges Generals To Help Curb Global Warming To Avoid Conflict, 'Climate Chaos'. Global warming is a looming threat to stability and national security around the world, and militaries should spend some of their ever-expanding budgets on reducing carbon emissions to avoid "climate chaos," the U.N.'s top climate official said Tuesday. Christiana Figueres, head of the U.N. climate secretariat, warned of the destabilizing effects created by growing water stress, declining crop yields and damage from extreme storms in some of the world's poorest countries, which could set off mass international migration and regional conflicts. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-bc-eu--climate-defense,0,7266864,print.story Climate Change May Cause 'Massive' Food Disruptions. (Updates prices in eighth paragraph.) Feb. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Global food supplies will face "massive disruptions" from climate change, Olam International Ltd. predicted, as Agrocorp International Pte. said corn will gain to a record, stoking food inflation and increasing hunger. "The fact is that climate around the world is changing and that will cause massive disruptions," Sunny Verghese, chief executive officer at Olam, among the world's three biggest suppliers of rice and cotton, said in a Bloomberg Television interview today. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/02/15/bloomberg1376-LGMXDJ0YHQ0X01-165M84880SLMVEOTH3P6GRTE3K.DTL&type=printable Corn Advances as Adverse Weather Threatens Crops; Soybeans Gain. Corn futures advanced as adverse weather continued to threaten crops around the world, tightening global supply. Soybeans also gained. May-delivery corn climbed 0.5 percent to $7.1025 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade at 10:38 a.m. Singapore time. The price yesterday advanced to $7.21 a bushel, the highest level for the most-active contract since July 2008, before ending 1.5 percent lower. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/02/15/bloomberg1376-LGN0PU1A74E901-108PU0L8CN3350EHGG191JJS7O.DTL&type=printable President Tries To Keep Climate Change And Renewable Energy Programs Intact. The Obama administration offered a budget proposal yesterday that would tighten the purse strings for a nation mired in red, while shoring up climate change and energy efforts for environment, land management and natural resources programs. President Obama's blueprint for fiscal 2012 offers modest funding levels for many climate and energy initiatives, underscoring this area as an administration priority even during a tough budget year when trade-off decisions were par for the course. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/15/3 Group Teaches High Schools About Climate Change. In the last year and a half, the Alliance for Climate Education has hit 1,100 high schools and performed in front of 700,000 teens. The Oakland, Calif.-based nonprofit's mission is to convey a pro-green message that's friendly to teenage audiences. This consists of a free production of a video and a live presentation that can be described as an Al Gore-like climate sermon with a hip-hop twist. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/15/9 DIESEL EMISSIONS Changes To Diesel Rules Give Options To Truck Owners. Recent changes to state air-quality regulations governing diesel trucks have given farmers and ranchers more time to qualify trucks for the agricultural provisions of the rules, and more options for complying if their trucks don't meet the mileage limits for agricultural trucks. "If you've reported before, you'll be a step ahead. But if you did not report before, you can still do it," said Cynthia Cory, director of environmental affairs for the California Farm Bureau Federation, during a seminar on the truck rules at last week's World Ag Expo in Tulare. Posted. http://www.cfbf.com/agalert/AgAlertStory.cfm?ID=1680&ck=11D0E6287202FCED83F79975EC59A3A6 Salinas Trash Service Will Roll Out The First Of Natural Gas Trucks In April. Clean air and garbage trucks don't usually go together in people's minds, but that's just what Salinans can expect from their garbage service over the next three years. Starting in April, Republic Services, formerly Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI), will begin to replace its diesel-powered fleet with trucks fueled by compressed natural gas. Compressed natural gas vehicles, which run on a pressurized version of the same natural gas used in homes, produce significantly lower amounts of harmful emissions, officials say. Posted. http://www.thecalifornian.com/print/article/20110215/NEWS01/102150310/Salinas-trash-service-will-roll-out-first-natural-gas-trucks-April FUELS Biodiesel Boom Catches Drivers In Grease Trap. Fry-Oil Scavengers Lose Free Rides to Paying Rivals. Filling up his Ford Excursion is a headache for Eric Sobalvarro. So many choices: Taco joint or sandwich shop? Scent of banana peppers or of tempura? Mr. Sobalvarro is a greaser—one of a small but growing band of drivers who fuel their cars and trucks with used frying oil. It takes grit to be a greaser: Stalwarts must recruit restaurants as back-alley sources, filter the smelly liquid in the garage or backyard, and modify a vehicle with a diesel engine to burn it. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703960804576119871385049448.html?mod=WSJ_Energy_leftHeadlines Shell And Brazilian Sugar Company Form Joint Ethanol Venture. Royal Dutch Shell PLC and Brazilian sugar company Cosan have announced they plan to join forces to create one of the largest ethanol ventures in the world, an entity to be called Raizen. The two companies hope Raizen will employ 40,000 people and produce more than 580 million gallons of ethanol from 62 million tons of crushed sugar cane annually. "Due to the size of its operations, Raizen will help sugar cane ethanol, a sustainable, clean and renewable source of energy …Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/15/13 GREEN ENERGY Proposed $4 Billion Slash In Incentives For Fossil Fuels. The Department of Energy's budget proposal deals a blow to traditional fossil fuels, terminating incentives for oil, gas and coal while dramatically expanding low-carbon programs. The proposal makes good on President Obama's State of the Union pledge to trim fossil-fuel subsidies by $4 billion, on the grounds that these industries are healthy, while the government's books are in the red. And the argument will run headlong into congressional Republicans who don't buy it. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/15/4 VEHICLES Routes For High-Speed Rail Segment From Stockton To San Jose Stirs Debate. Pleasanton city leaders view a possible California high-speed rail line through their downtown as a party crasher that would upset their scenic city center popular with strollers and restaurant-goers. Tracy and Union City leaders say they would welcome the high-speed railroad as key to revitalizing their downtowns and making them more transit friendly. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_17387209?source=rss Going Green: Lodi Resident Richard Harty Purchases Nissan Leaf. Lodi resident Richard Harty is one of roughly 100 people in the country currently driving a zero-emission Nissan Leaf. The physical therapist was interested in buying an electric car for more than four years, but finally found one he liked in 2011. The Leaf is the first mass-marketed, battery-operated vehicle in the United States and became available in December. “I love how quiet the engine is,” he said Wednesday. http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_883c92f2-b396-55d6-ad23-73c84884e98b.html?mode=print OPINION Tom Elias: State alone in carbon battle? Far from it Because Republicans in Congress have steadfastly stymied attempts to get the federal government to act against global warming and climate change, critics of California's new carbon trading rules usually get little contradiction when they insist those regulations will see this state going it alone and putting itself at an economic disadvantage. But they're wrong, at least in large part. For California isn't going it alone at all. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2011/feb/15/elias_215/?print=1 BLOGS Climate Change Drives Instability, U.N. Official Warns. The United Nations’ top climate change official said on Tuesday that food shortages and rising prices caused by climate disruptions were among the chief contributors to the civil unrest coursing through North Africa and the Middle East. Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Christiana Figueres, in white blouse, met with children in Sehwan, Pakistan, who have been displaced by floods. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/climate-change-drives-instability-u-n-official-warns/?pagemode=print Obama’s Shout-Out for Energy. Agence France-Presse — Getty Images President Obama explained his budget priorities as Jack Lew, director of the Office of Management and Budget, listened during a visit to a middle school in Baltimore specializing in technology. Over all, the Obama administration has pledged to hold the line on “discretionary spending” in its budget for the 2012 fiscal year — that is, everything it can control, which leaves out areas like Medicare and Social Security. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/14/obamas-shout-out-for-energy/?pagemode=print Net Zero Energy, Transmuted Into Art. Patrick Andrade for The New York Times Photovoltaic panels soak up the first rays of sunrise on the roof of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s new hyperefficient office building in Golden, Colo. The relationship and, often as not, tension between hardheaded engineers and design-conscious architects is woven into the fabric of every great building. But a question kept coming back to me on a recent day I spent inside the National Renewable Energy Lab’s new hyper-efficient office building in Golden, Colo., to report this article: Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/net-zero-energy-transmuted-into-art/?pagemode=print President Obama To Hit Bay Area Thursday For Jobs Session With High Tech Leaders. President Barack Obama will visit the Bay Area Thursday to meet with high tech business leaders -- a session that will stress jobs, innovation, green tech and education themes, White House sources tell the Chronicle. So far, no information on where the meeting will be held -- or whether any part of it will be public -- but here's what we know from a White House official: the session is "a part of our ongoing dialogue with the business community on how we can work together to win the future, strengthen our economy, support entrepreneurship, and get the American people back to work.'' Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=83021#ixzz1E31v5TMm NASA Climate Funding Under Attack. The head of a major NASA research facility in California is downplaying efforts by a handful of House Republican members to strip the agency’s budget of its climate science funding. S. Pete Worden, the director of NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, expressed confidence that the agency’s 2012 budget would remain intact, despite a letter sent to committee heads from Congressmen from Florida and Utah, urging an end to climate science research at the agency. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/02/14/nasas-climate-science-funding-under-attack/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:53:53 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 16, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 16, 2011. 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 Enviro Groups Urge EPA To Limit Greenhouse Gases. Environmental activists urged the federal government Tuesday to set limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and oil refineries even as Republican opponents in Congress seek to restrict or stop those rules. The comments came during the second of five meetings that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is holding across the country ahead of its plan to issue proposed standards limiting two of the biggest industrial sources of the gases blamed for global warming: power plants and oil refineries. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-02-16/enviro-groups-urge-epa-to-limit-greenhouse-gases.html Congress’ Heated But Hollow Climate Debate. While campaigning to become chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Fred Upton, R-Mich., vowed that he would grill Lisa Jackson, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, in front of his committee so often that she would need her own parking space on Capitol Hill. On Wednesday, Jackson submitted to her first interrogation, about one of the Republican Party’s pet peeves: the EPA’s plan to restrict emissions of greenhouse gases from cars and factories by decree. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110215/WIRE/110219750/1042&Title=Congress-8217-heated-but-hollow-climate-debate&template=printart EPA Levies Major Fines Against Biomass Plants. wo biomass plants, intended to help the San Joaquin Valley clean up the air, have been tagged with one of the state's largest air-pollution fines in recent history. Global Ampersand of Boston was fined more than $800,000 for excess ozone-related emissions and other violations from biomass plants in Madera and Merced counties, federal authorities announced Tuesday. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/15/1558963/epa-levies-major-fines-against.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/15/2274110/valley-biomass-plants-face-steep.html#storylink=misearch Odor Sickens Residents, Bewilders Officials. Regional air pollution officials believe a toxic soils recycling plant is the source of strong, gassy odors that Mecca residents blame for illnesses in this small, low-income, predominantly Hispanic farming community in the Coachella Valley. The odor is emanating from the plant, which is on tribal land and is operated by Western Environmental Inc. Residents said they started smelling the odor about three years ago. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_smell15.2550ff0.html Chowchilla Biomass Plant Faces $328K Fine. A biomass power plant in Chowchilla has been slapped with a $328,000 fine in a settlement over alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act. The fine against Ampersand Chowchilla Biomass, LLC was announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which along with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District allege the power plant emitted nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide in excess of permitted limits. Posted. http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/energy/8380-chowchilla-biomass-plant-faces-328k-fine CLIMATE CHANGE Investments Worth Trillions At Risk From Climate Change: Study. Singapore (Reuters) - Climate change could put trillions of investment dollars at risk over the next 20 years, a global study released on Wednesday said, calling for pension funds and other investors to overhaul how they allocate funds. Risks from more extreme weather, continued delay in climate policy by governments and uncertainty over the shape of a new global climate pact were major concerns, while renewable energy, agriculture and infrastructure could be opportunities. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/16/us-climate-investment-risks-idUSTRE71F1CO20110216 EU May Cut Emissions by 25% as of 2020, Put Permits in Reserve. The European Union may cut carbon emissions 25 percent by 2020 and withhold permits in the next phase of its cap-and-trade program to curb excess supply and promote new technologies. The European Commission, the EU regulator, stopped short in a draft policy paper of proposing a binding 2020 target for cutting carbon dioxide more than the current goal of 20 percent below 1990 levels. Still, it said the 27-nation bloc may exceed 20 percent as long as it saves more energy, curbs emissions from transport and invests in low-carbon infrastructure. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-02-16/europe-may-cut-carbon-emissions-by-25-as-of-2020-put-permits-in-reserve.html Environmental Justice Groups Sue For Cap And Trade Alternatives. A final decision regarding a law on California greenhouse gas emission reduction will likely come in the next few weeks. The California Global Warming Solutions Act, also known as Assembly Bill 32, aims to reduce carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. To reach these goals, the California Air Resources Board adopted the Scoping Plan in 2008 to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through various methods, including cap and trade policy. Posted. http://www.dailybruin.com/index.php/article/2011/02/environmental_justice_groups_sue_for_cap_and_trade_alternatives#print Carbon Counters. California’s Air Resources Board defends and reconsiders its Low Carbon Fuel Standard. January marked the start of California’s controversial Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, a regulatory measure designed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the state’s transportation sector by 16 million metric tons in 2020. The specifics of the program are far from finalized, however. California’s Air Resources Board is currently defending its policy in lawsuits filed in both federal and civil courts while simultaneously convening its regular Expert Working Group hearings to attempt to settle contentious issues related to the policy. Posted. http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/7483/carbon-counters Grove Introduces Bill To Delay Environmental Regulations. Sacramento, Ca. — Assemblywoman Shannon Grove has introduced Assembly Bill 333, which calls for the delayed implementation of AB 32, otherwise known as the “Global Warming Solutions Act,” passed by the legislature in 2006, her staff announced Tuesday. Grove’s measure will relieve California businesses from "the costly and burdensome regulations associated with AB32 until the unemployment rate in the county where the business resides falls below 7% for six consecutive months," according to a statement. “Now is not the time to experiment with new, oppressive rules on businesses,” said Grove. Posted. http://www.taftmidwaydriller.com/news/x454338738/Grove-introduces-bill-to-delay-environmental-regulations FUELS Greens Sour On Natural Gas. Whatever happened to the romance between the environmental lobby and natural gas? After years of basking in a green glow as the cleanest fossil fuel and a favorite short-term choice to replace cheap-but-dirty coal, gas now finds itself under attack from environmentalists, filmmakers and congressional Democrats — and even from some scientists who raise doubts about whether its total emissions are as climate-friendly as commonly believed. Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=2AFBCD9F-9395-F63A-23394EAE9471416E GREEN ENERGY Obama Budget Looks To Boost Clean Energy. As promised in his State of the Union Address, President Obama's proposed 2012 budget continues his administration's commitment to funding alternative energy and transportation research and development. The president aims to pay for some of his investments by jettisoning tax breaks for fossil-fuel industries worth billions every year. Exactly what the president is able to get out of a split Congress, and in particular a Republican-led House bent on slashing spending, remains to be seen. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=US198342078320110216 Growing in Power, Natural Gas Attracts Enemies. Environmental groups want to extinguish the ardor many are feeling for natural gas. As the fuel grows in market share and political power, several green groups have launched campaigns highlighting potential problems. They raise questions about everything from how natural gas is extracted to how much of a climate benefit it offers over competitors. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/02/16/16greenwire-growing-in-power-natural-gas-attracts-enemies-92162.html?pagewanted=print VEHICLES Tesla Beats Expectations As Revenue — And Losses — Grow. Palo Alto-based Tesla Motors announced fourth-quarter revenue Tuesday of $36.3 million, a 16 percent increase from the $31.2 million reported in the previous quarter and double the $18.6 million in the fourth quarter a year ago. Wall Street analysts had expected revenue of $34.3 million. The electric-car maker's stock rose about 0.1 percent to $22.86 in after-hours trading after closing down 1 percent to $22.84. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/cars/ci_17395740?source=rss&nclick_check=1 E.U. Caps Commercial Van Emissions. The European Union has voted to cap carbon emissions from commercial vans, the latest move to curb transportation pollution contributing to climate change. The law will be imposed on "light commercial vehicles" made by auto manufacturers like Volkswagen AG, PSA Peugeot Citroën and Fiat SpA. It will reduce average CO2 emissions from new vans sold in the European Union by 14 percent compared with 2007. That level will equal to 175 grams (6.2 ounces) a kilometer (0.6 mile). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/16/8 OPINION Opinion: Now Is The Time To Invest In Ending California's Oil Addiction. Oil prices are spiking yet again, due in large part to the political unrest in the Middle East. We've seen this before, and we will see it again. Oil price volatility will take a toll on California until we diversify energy supplies and reduce oil demand. The time has come for us to end our addiction to imported oil. We depend on oil for 93 percent of our transportation needs in California. This is hardly the "diversified portfolio" approach that we, as an investor and an economist, would recommend as a risk management strategy. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_17396561?nclick_check=1 Congress Must Derail President Obama's Backdoor EPA Power Grab. In last year’s budget, President Obama called for Congress to enact cap-and-trade legislation, using a slush fund to disguise the cost of the program. But cap-and-trade was decisively rejected in the 2010 election, so this year President Obama’s budget simply funds the EPA to move forward with regulating greenhouse gases on its own – against the clear wishes of voters and without any legitimate legislative basis. Congress must take responsibility, step in, and stop this power grab. One day after the election, President Obama told us this was coming: “Cap and trade was just one way of skinning the cat; it was not the only way. Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/02/16/congress-derail-president-obamas-backdoor-epa-power-grab/print BLOGS Volt and Leaf Fail to Topple Honda Civic GX From Green Book List. The Honda Civic GX, which runs on compressed natural gas, topped The Green Book’s annual list for the eighth time. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a Washington-based nonprofit group financed by foundations, electric utilities and state and federal agencies, released its annual list of the 12 greenest vehicles of the model year on Tuesday. With five models having displaced 2010 honorees, this year’s list differs markedly from last year’s group. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/volt-and-leaf-fail-to-topple-honda-civic-gx-from-green-book-list/?pagemode=print Climate Change Drives Instability, U.N. Official Warns. The United Nations’ top climate change official said on Tuesday that food shortages and rising prices caused by climate disruptions were among the chief contributors to the civil unrest coursing through North Africa and the Middle East. In a speech to Spanish lawmakers and military leaders, Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the United Nations climate office, said that climate change-driven drought, falling crop yields and competition for water were fueling conflict throughout Africa and elsewhere in the developing world. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/climate-change-drives-instability-u-n-official-warns/?partner=rss&emc=rss The A, B, C’s of Limiting Climate Risk. There appears to be a breath of fresh air wafting through the environmental community, reflected in Degrees of Risk: Defining a Risk Management Framework for Climate Security, a new report from the Britain-based nonprofit group Third Generation Environmentalism, or E3G. The report is enthusiastically endorsed by Bill Becker, the head of the Presidential Climate Action Plan, in a guest post at Climateprogress. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/the-a-b-cs-of-limiting-climate-risk/?scp=3&sq=green%20energy&st=cse CERV: A New Kind of Army Green. Just beyond the stands of mainstream manufacturers during last week’s Chicago auto show press previews, stood an unusual, rugged-looking vehicle. Though its crude appearance might suggest otherwise, the Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle, or CERV, is an all-wheel-drive diesel hybrid that $14 billion in federal financing for dual-use advanced technology helped to build. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/cerv-a-new-kind-of-army-green/?scp=2&sq=fuels&st=cse Greenest Cars: Natural Gas Honda Civic GX, Nissan Leaf Electric And, Just Barely, Chevrolet Volt. For a list of the greenest 2011 model-year vehicles, there sure are a lot of traditional gasoline engines among the top 12 cars ranked by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The council's 14th annual ratings of the most eco-friendly cars on the market include internal combustion models such as the Smart Fortwo, the Ford Fiesta and the Hyundai Elantra. The natural gas-powered Honda Civic GX topped the list for an eighth straight year, with a score of 54, followed by the new all-electric Nissan Leaf. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/02/greenest-cars-list-include-natural-gas-honda-civic-gx-nissan-leaf-electric-and-just-barely-chevrolet.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Classifying Beliefs About Climate Change. Is Convinced Versus Unconvinced The Way To Go? In the climate change debate, commentators on the issue in the media and cocktail parties alike often use labels to put people into camps based on what they "believe" about the issue. The labels I've heard include: the mainstream, alarmists, progressives, deniers, delayers, skeptics, believers, hawks, contrarians, naysayers, doomsayers, chicken littles, non-skeptical heretics, and dissidents - to name a few off the top of my head (heard others? comment below). Posted. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2011/02/classifying_beliefs_about_clim.html Aerodynamic Add-Ons Reduce Fuel Consumption Of Semi Trucks By 7-12%. BMI Corporation, along with the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, have developed a set of aerodynamic fairings that are claimed to reduce fuel consumption of long-haul semi trucks by 7-12 percent. The aerodynamic add-ons, which BMI calls the SmartTruck UnderTray System, include five individual components that reduce the drag coefficient of tractor trailers. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/02/16/aerodynamic-add-ons-reduce-fuel-consumption-of-semi-trucks-by-7/ Why We Can Have One Million Electric Cars on the Road by 2015. When General Motors' EV1 rolled out in 1996, there was no infrastructure for it, gas was about ten cents a gallon, and cars were turning into military vehicles. And I still wanted one. But then it was gone. Flash forward to President Obama saying we'll have a million electric cars on the road by 2015. Pundits expressed immediate doubts about this number, but today we have two big reasons to believe we can get there. First, we have to look beyond the options we have today. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dar-williams/why-we-can-have-one-milli_b_823911.html Bad Air Politicians Want A Blast From The (Smog-Filled) Past. In October 1954, Los Angeles found itself swallowed up by a blanket of smog so thick that industry shut down and children stayed home from school for most of a month. Over 2000 auto accidents occurred in a single day, as drivers careened through the soot-filled air. Residents wore gas masks at community meetings, protesting the life-threatening pollution seeping into their lungs. There’s no doubt that our air has been made significantly safer and cleaner since then due to government standards and programs. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/vjaffee/bad_air_politicians_want_a_bla.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 13:03:28 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 17, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 17, 2011. 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 Grant Will Help Schools' Indoor Air Quality. An Inland environmental group has won a $1 million grant that will be used to improve indoor air quality at four schools and a community center in neighborhoods polluted by rail yards and diesel truck traffic. The Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice will use the money to upgrade heating and air condition systems with high-tech filters that keep cancer-causing diesel soot and other air pollutants out of the school buildings. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_schoolfilters17.2750338.html CLIMATE CHANGE Special Report - The California Carbon Rush. San Francisco (Reuters) - Under California's new carbon trading system, big polluters will be paying through the nose for the privilege. And so will everyone else in the state. The basic premise is "no pain, no gain" -- when the price starts to pinch, that will spur innovation and California will lead the world in green technology. Or at least that's the plan. The Carbon Rush officially gets underway next year. Power plants, factories and other companies will have to obtain an "allowance" permit for every ton of carbon dioxide they produce. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/17/us-california-carbon-idUSTRE71G3R220110217 Democrats Mount Rear-Guard Action Against Republican Assault on EPA Climate Rules. House Democrats ratcheted up their defense of U.S. EPA's climate regulations yesterday as lawmakers debated a GOP-crafted spending bill that would defund the agency's regulations on greenhouse gases and chip away at funding for other environment and climate initiatives. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/02/17/17climatewire-democrats-mount-rear-guard-action-against-re-29952.html?scp=8&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Heavy Rains Linked to Humans. An increase in heavy precipitation that has afflicted many countries is at least partly a consequence of human influence on the atmosphere, climate scientists reported in a new study. In the first major paper of its kind, the researchers used elaborate computer programs that simulate the climate to analyze whether the rise in severe rainstorms, heavy snowfalls and similar events could be explained by natural variability in the atmosphere. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/science/earth/17extreme.html?_r=1&scp=7&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Scientists Connect Global Warming To Extreme Rain. Extreme rainstorms and snowfalls have grown substantially stronger, two studies suggest, with scientists for the first time finding the telltale fingerprints of man-made global warming on downpours that often cause deadly flooding. Two studies in Wednesday's issue of the journal Nature link heavy rains to increases in greenhouse gases more than ever before. One group of researchers looked at the strongest rain and snow events of each year from 1951 to 1999 in the Northern Hemisphere and found that the more recent storms were 7 percent wetter. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/02/16/national/a100211S31.DTL&type=printable http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_a2626d9f-450f-5b00-8509-4be4e8920836.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/16/2274926/scientists-connect-global-warming.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/16/AR2011021603393.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/16/scientists-connect-global-warming-to-extreme-rain/ Munich Re Says Natural Disasters Tripled in Germany Since 1970. German insurers' losses from natural catastrophes are rising as global climate change causes more inundations and storms, Munich Re said. Weather-related events have more than tripled in the country over the past 40 years, Peter Hoeppe, who heads the Munich-based reinsurer's Geo Risks Research Department, told journalists in Dusseldorf today. A rising trend is also measurable worldwide, he said. Insurers' claims costs related to natural disasters rose last year. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/02/16/bloomberg1376-LGR9ZW07SXKX01-282VCFK01POEPBN16I1MGCTKH3.DTL&type=printable Greenhouse Gas Drop Tied To Technological Advances As Well As Slumping Economy. The period between 2008 and 2009 saw the largest decrease in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 20 years, according to U.S. EPA's Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report. While the 6 percent decrease correlates with the constriction of the global economy that followed the financial crisis in 2008, it was not the only reason for the drop, the report says. Advances in technology, efficiency and reuse of scrap industrial material also decreased energy use in key sectors. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/17/6 FUELS Report: Calif. Should Wean Itself Off Foreign Oil. A group of politicians, academics and business leaders are calling on California to take bold steps to reduce its dependence on foreign oil. Former Secretary of State George Shultz and other members of The California Secure Transportation Energy Partnership cite turmoil in the Middle East, threats to national security and climate change as reasons why the state needs new energy sources. They note that California has increased its oil imports by 10 times over the past decade. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/02/16/state/n135822S88.DTL&type=printable Obama Effort To Cut U.S. Fossil Fuel Subsidies May Be An Empty Pledge. With G-20 finance ministers meeting in Paris on Friday, the Obama administration will aim to prove it is upholding the United States' end of a global pledge to phase out subsidies for fossil fuels. But the elimination of $3.6 billion worth of tax breaks to the oil and gas industry Obama outlined in his proposed budget this week -- all of which were shot down by Congress for the past two years -- are again running up against a Republican political blockade backed by industry. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/17/7 RFA Supports CARB Changes To Land Use Penalty, Urges More Study. In comments submitted Wednesday to the California Air Resources Board, the Renewable Fuels Association continued to raise concerns regarding the indirect land use change (ILUC) analysis used for the state’s Low Carbon Fuels Standard. The comments were submitted in response to the release of final reports from the LCFS Expert Workgroup that was assembled to assist CARB in improving its ILUC analysis. “While we continue to have concerns with the selective application of indirect greenhouse gas emissions penalties only to crop-based biofuels… Posted. http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/7521/rfa-supports-carb-changes-to-land-use-penalty-urges-more-study GREEN ENERGY Solarcity Expansion Continues On East Coast. SolarCity, a San Mateo company that leases solar energy systems to homeowners, will announce today that it is buying the East Coast's largest residential solar installation business for an undisclosed amount. The deal is SolarCity's second East Coast purchase in two months and expands the company's business to 10 states. It also represents continuing consolidation in the fast-changing solar industry. SolarCity will buy the residential installation business of groSolar, based in Vermont. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/17/BUNA1HO2NR.DTL&type=printable UC Davis To Help Navy Reduce Its Energy Use. The University of California, Davis, said it will help develop a greener U.S. Navy. UC Davis officials and Jackalyne Pfannenstiel, the Navy's assistant secretary for energy, installations and environment, on Wednesday announced a new partnership to sharply reduce the amount of energy that the Navy uses for lighting at its military installations. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/17/1560732/uc-davis-to-help-navy-reduce-its.html Improved Efficiency Can Be Double-Edged Sword – Study. Increasing the efficiency of our power systems and gadgets will not necessarily yield great reductions in energy use and could lead to using even more juice, according to a study released today by the liberal Breakthrough Institute. In a new review of energy efficiency literature, researchers at the Oakland, Calif.-based think tank found that a "rebound effect" means that implementing low-cost efficiency improvements can increase overall energy consumption and can even lead to a higher net energy use in what they describe as a "backfire effect." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/17/4 VEHICLES California Hopes To Get High-Speed Rail Funds Florida Spurned. Washington – Florida on Wednesday spurned $2.4 billion in federal high-speed rail funds, giving California a chance to scoop up more for itself. Citing project costs and inefficiencies, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said he was turning down the federal dollars designed to help build a rapid route connecting Tampa to Orlando. The move means the Obama administration must now reallocate the funds. "Thank you, Florida," said Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/17/v-print/3409510/california-hopes-to-get-high-speed.html Air Resources Board Offers $19 Million in Grants for Hybrid Vehicle Technology. The Air Resources Board (ARB) this week announced its second year offering grants totaling $19 million for hybrid vehicle technology that significantly reduces smog-forming and greenhouse gas emissions. The Hybrid Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program will provide vouchers on a first-come, first-served basis to help California fleets purchase fuel-efficient hybrid medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. At least $2 million of these funds will be set aside for California public fleets to increase the number of hybrid vehicles, ARB says. Posted. http://www.aftermarketnews.com/Item/84474/air_resources_board_offers_19_million_in_grants_for_hybrid_vehicle_technology.aspx http://www.truckinginfo.com/clean-green/news-detail.asp?news_id=73016&news_category_id=63 MISCELLANEOUS LCV Releases Environmental Scorecard. Even as environmental groups face their toughest legislative challenges in years, the League of Conservation Voters today released its latest environmental scorecard, a look back on votes during the second half of the 111th Congress that revealed a lackluster end to a promising beginning. In a conference call with reporters to announce the group's ratings, LCV's Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Tiernan Sittenfeld said while the start of the 111th Congress began well, it was an "incredibly disappointing second session." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/17/7 OPINION Securing California’s Energy Future. For the first time since 2008, the price of oil recently increased to more than $100 per barrel amid concerns that protests in Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan could lead to supply disruptions from the oil-rich Middle East. The price has since dropped to about $84 a barrel, but it remains clear that our heavy dependence on imported oil makes the situation thousands of miles away in the Middle East today an issue of great concern to all of us here in California. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/17/securing-californias-energy-future/ Elias: Carbon-Trading Critics Are Wrong, State Is Far From Alone. Because Republicans in Congress have steadfastly stymied attempts to get the federal government to act against global warming and climate change, critics of California's new carbon trading rules usually get little contradiction when they insist those regulations will see this state going it alone and putting itself at an economic disadvantage. But they're wrong, at least in large part. For California isn't going it alone at all. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/16/elias-carbon-trading-critics-are-wrong-state-is/?print=1 KIRK: Green Jobs And Hot Air. President Obama's recent State of the Union Address reprised the "green jobs" theme that he constantly touted in his 2008 campaign as the key to America's economic future. Those stump speeches were regularly punctuated with references to the great job Spain was doing in this arena. At least candidate Obama's misguided economic assessment occurred before the release of a 2009 study by a research team from Madrid's King Juan Carlos University that concluded Spain's green energy programs destroyed twice as many private sector jobs as they created. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/kirk/article_4c428c5c-97c5-5f89-afe7-c652898db33c.html BRYCE: ‘Absolute Madness’ Of Biofuels. Last month, Peter Brabeck, the chairman of the Swiss food giant Nestle, declared that using food crops to make biofuels was “absolute madness.” The epicenter of that madness is the U.S. corn-ethanol sector. This year, it will consume 40 percent of all U.S. corn - that’s about 15 percent of global corn production or 5 percent of all global grain - in order to produce a volume of motor fuel with the energy equivalent of about 0.6 percent of global oil needs. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/16/obamas-green-power-builds-chinas-red-power/?page=1 BLOGS A Harder Rain’s Gonna Fall (and Already Is). Bursts of extreme precipitation have occurred through the ages. Just review this 2002 study for clear evidence going back several millenniums in the northeastern United States. But for the first time, a thorough analysis has concluded with nary a caveat that a rise in heavy precipitation episodes — rain and snow — across most of North America in the second half of the 20th century cannot be explained without a significant push from the human-driven buildup of greenhouse gases. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/a-harder-rains-gonna-fall-and-already-is/?scp=10&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Modifying California’s Petroleum Diet. We suggest you take the greenhouse-gas reduction framework enshrined in your landmark 2006 legislation and substitute the word “petroleum” wherever the original text made reference to “greenhouse gases.” We believe that policy will make the state stronger economically, improve national security by making us less dependent on the oil merchants of the increasingly unstable Middle East, create fertile ground for clean-tech investments and coin the phrase “patriot state” while making California the first to earn that title. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/modifying-californias-petroleum-diet/?scp=6&sq=Fuels&st=cse ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:19:46 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 18, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 18, 2011. California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 18, 2011. 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 CA Biomass Plants Fined for Air Violations. California, USA -- A pair of biomass power plants touted for the clean energy they would provide California's Central Valley will pay some hefty fines for polluting the region's air, regulators said this week. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District ordered Ampersand Chowchilla Biomass LLC and Merced Power LLC to pay a combined civil penalty of $835,000 to resolve alleged violations of local regulations and the federal Clean Air Act. Posted. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/02/ca-biomass-plants-fined-for-air-violations Renewable energy plants fined for Clean Air Act violations. San Joaquin Valley has some of the worst air quality in the United States. Two Central Valley biomass plants have agreed to pay more than $830,000 in fines for violating the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced yesterday. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/renewable-energy-plants-fined-clean-air-act-violations-8734 Hot Question: Why can farmers still burn in their fields? BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — As the San Joaquin Valley struggles to clean up serious air pollution, farmers are still allowed to burn in their fields. The sight of plumes of smoke raises questions for residents, but growers say they face lots of restrictions and do a lot less burning. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/116444679.html CLIMATE CHANGE SLO County officials meet with public on climate change. San Luis Obispo County is trying to do its part to eliminate emissions blamed for global warming. Leaders are putting together a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are held responsible for causing heat to build up in the atmosphere. County officials met with people in the community tonight for a brainstorming session, outlining their plan and asking for the public's input. Posted. http://www.ksby.com/news/slo-county-officials-meet-with-public-on-climate-change/ SCENARIOS-Risks, opportunities in the carbon markets. Several carbon dioxide (CO2) registries in the European Union have been the target of cyber attacks in recent weeks, with reported thefts of around 3.3 million CO2 permits. The criminal investigation into the thefts is drying up spot trade in the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) -- the bloc's chief mechanism to fight climate change -- as participants are wary of handling stolen permits. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/18/energy-carbon-risk-idUSLDE71H0UP20110218 'Carbon Nation': Exclusive Preview Featuring Van Jones (VIDEO). Environmental documentaries are beginning to flood theaters, but viewers frequently walk away with one question on their minds - what is the solution? Enter "Carbon Nation," a new documentary focused less on climate change problems, and more on solutions to fix our warming world. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/18/carbon-nation-video-preview_n_824544.html Movie review: 'Carbon Nation'. Although it contains its moments of doom and gloom about the potential effects of climate change, the excellent documentary "Carbon Nation" is an inspiring look at the many recent advances in clean energy and green technologies. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/reviews/la-et-carbon-nation-review-story,0,6885208.story DIESEL EMISSIONS CA trucking organization sues CARB over trucking reg. A California trucking organization filed suit this week against the California Air Resources Board in an effort to halt the most expensive trucking rule the agency has implemented on trucks. The California Dump Truck Owners Association says federal law pre-empts CARB’s Truck and Bus Regulation, and is asking a federal judge in Sacramento for an injunction on enforcement of the rule. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Feb11/021411/021711-01.shtml School Bus Industry Helps Save Clean Diesel Funding. After news got out of the proposed cut to funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA), industry partners rallied together to keep the program alive. A coalition of environmental, public health, industry, and state and local government groups formed to oppose the proposed amendment, which was defeated last evening in bipartisan House vote of 73 to 352. Posted. http://www.stnonline.com/home/top-stories/3142-school-bus-industry-helps-save-clean-diesel-funding GREEN ENERGY Obama Budget Counters Republican Measure; Long Budget Fight Expected. Dueling spending plans collided yesterday, with President Obama releasing a fiscal 2012 budget that Republicans mocked for increasing clean energy funding. Today, they prepare to launch their epic spending cuts in the House. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/02/15/15climatewire-obama-budget-counters-republican-measure-lon-77720.html?scp=4&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse ARRA “most important piece of clean energy legislation in our nation’s history”: analysts. In Washington, Bracken Hendricks and Jorge Madrid, of the Center for American Progress, published an essay in Grist arguing that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was “the single most important piece of clean energy legislation in our nation’s history”. Posted. http://biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2011/02/18/arra-most-important-piece-of-clean-energy-legislation-in-our-nation%E2%80%99s-history-analysts/ Berkeley's Inter-City Services Offers Green Job Training for California Job Markets. What job sector should people turn to in this rough economic time? A recent report from Next 10 and Collaborative Economics finds that the green job sector is growing at a rate three times than that of any other industry in California. The Bay Area leads the state for green job growth, expanding by 8 percent between January 2008 and 2009. For those ready to join the rapidly growing green sector, Berkeley's Inter-City Services, Inc. (ICS), a forward-looking vocational training facility, now offers progressive green technology and green job programs, including LEED certification training and solar installation programs. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/02/18/prweb8141312.DTL BLOGS GOP Budget Takes Aim at The Environmental Issue Country Thinks Is Most Important. The Republican budget proposal being debated in Congress right now would slash funding for many programs that safeguard public health and the environment. These cuts and other outright bans on certain EPA activities would stop the agency from doing its job in countless ways, chief among them: reducing water pollution. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dbeckman/gop_budget_attacks_americans_t.html When Pollution Becomes a Public Health Issue. Rosa Perea spends many days struggling to help her five-year old son, Yousef Abdallah, control his severe asthma. Her Chicago neighborhood is home to numerous polluting industries—most of which emit soot and smog pollution. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/02/when-pollution-becomes-a-public-health-issue.php Moran Amendment to kill diesel funding fails. I’m happy to report that Representative Jim Moran’s (D-VA) amendment to H.R. 1, which would have eliminated funding for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program, failed last night. In a roll call vote on the floor, 352 members voted against the amendment in a bi-partisan show of support for this program that has provided state and local governments with federal funds to help reduce diesel emissions from school buses, port trucks, construction equipment, farm engines and other dirty diesel vehicles in communities across the nation since 2005. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/rkassel/moran_amendment_to_kill_diesel.html Is Fashion Week Smoking? As I reported in Thursday’s Times, many residents of the neighborhood around Lincoln Center are less than thrilled with what Fashion Week has wrought: the noise and smell of diesel generators powering the tents for the runway shows. A video filmed on Jan. 31 by a helpful neighbor as the fashion village was being noisily erected at Damrosch Park before Fashion Week’s Feb. 10 start documented the scene as the generators were turned on. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/is-fashion-week-smoking/?scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse You Will Be Assimilated (if You Wish). In Thursday’s paper, I reported on two new studies linking increases in extreme precipitation to greenhouse gases released by humans. As I mentioned in the piece, one of those studies was based on analysis performed with computer time donated by the public. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/you-will-be-assimilated-if-you-wish/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:41:36 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 22, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 22, 2011. California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 22, 2011. 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 As Congress Debates EPA Regulation, New Report Shows Biggest One-Year Increase in C02 Pollution From U.S. Power Plants in 2010 Share. A new report from the Environmental Integrity Project shows that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from power plants in the U.S. rose 5.56 percent in 2010 over the year before, the biggest annual increase since the EPA began tracking emissions in 1995. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/18/3413511/as-congress-debates-epa-regulation.html#ixzz1Ehxgn9UK Groups sue over air pollution at national parks. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.—A group of environmentalists has sued the federal government in an effort to force a declaration on the source of air pollution over national parks and wilderness areas in the West. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17160195?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com CLIMATE CHANGE UN sees rising risks from climate, toxic chemicals. GENEVA -- Climate change is a major obstacle to a 2004 global treaty aimed at cutting exposure to 21 highly dangerous chemicals, says a new U.N.-commissioned report. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/21/1566281/un-sees-rising-risks-from-climate.html http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/21/3418871/un-sees-rising-risks-from-climate.html#ixzz1EhzafR00 http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/21/2280609/un-sees-rising-risks-from-climate.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/21/un-sees-rising-risks-from-climate-toxic-chemicals/ US has modest goals for S. Africa climate talks. JOHANNESBURG -- The U.S. does not expect this year's climate change conference in South Africa to yield a binding international agreement to stop global warming, the top U.S. negotiator said Monday. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/21/1566064/us-has-modest-goals-for-s-africa.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/21/AR2011022100894.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/21/2280368/us-has-modest-goals-for-s-africa.html#storylink=misearch Climate change said threat to food safety. EAST LANSING, Mich., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- The safety of the world's food supply is under threat from climate change and the damage is going to get worse unless action is taken, a U.S. researcher says. Posted. http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/02/21/Climate-change-said-threat-to-food-safety/UPI-16751298328966/#ixzz1Ei0dxIXj What are the main man-made greenhouse gases? The strength of the Earth's greenhouse effect is determined by the concentration in the atmosphere of a handful of greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/feb/04/man-made-greenhouse-gases Scott's Antarctic creatures may give climate clue. (Reuters) - Tiny Antarctic marine creatures first collected by British explorer Robert Falcon Scott in 1901 may help scientists understand future climate change, a study showed on Tuesday. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/22/us-climate-antarctica-idUSTRE71L3BE20110222 DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB announces second year of grants for hybrid trucks and buses. SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has initiated its second year of grants totaling $19 million for hybrid vehicle technology that significantly reduces smog-forming and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2011/2/22/CARBannouncessecondyearofgrantsforhybridtrucksandbuses.aspx FUELS In Europe, the Promise and Fears of a New Fuel. LONDON — Energy companies across Europe are probing the ground for natural gas trapped in shale rock, hoping to replicate an American boom that has given consumers in the United States a major new supply of affordable fuel. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/business/energy-environment/21iht-renoshale21.html?_r=1&scp=9&sq=climate%20change&st=cse 9 Easy Ways To Increase Your Gas Mileage. Improving fuel economy not only saves drivers money, it also benefits the environment by releasing fewer emissions into the air and reduces a nation's dependence on oil and oil imports. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/02/21/investopedia50889.DTL#ixzz1Ei90tRaA Is Natural Gas Good, or Just Less Bad? LONDON — Natural gas is billed by its supporters, including President Barack Obama, as a clean fuel that could play a big role in a low-carbon future. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/business/energy-environment/21iht-renogas21.html?scp=9&sq=green%20energy&st=cse GREEN ENERGY Green energy no 'gimmick,' London says. Unconventional gas resources and renewable energy will help the British economy meet its ambitions for a sustainable future, a British diplomat said in Japan. Posted. http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2011/02/22/Green-energy-no-gimmick-London-says/UPI-22441298385065/#ixzz1Ei2UH4vu Climate and Clean Energy Funds Could Be Casualties in Broader Budget War Ahead. Tea party fervor drove the House spending bill through a week of debate that finished with its pre-dawn passage on Saturday. But now that the bill moves to the Democratic-led Senate, it looms as a warm-up to more intense partisan bargaining to come. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/02/22/22climatewire-climate-and-clean-energy-funds-could-be-casu-64378.html Scientific groups call for new sources of rare earths. WASHINGTON -- Technologies for green or renewable-energy batteries, solar cells and advanced electric motors are dependent on critical chemical elements that are threatened by major supply shortages, two influential American scientific groups said in a report Friday. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_17445119?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com&nclick_check=1 Eye on the environment: County honors 12 companies for environmental efforts. In his book "The Truth About Green Business," author and business consultant Gil Friend explains why some businesses go beyond mere compliance with environmental mandates and implement exemplary programs benefitting the environment. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/19/county-honors-12-companies-for-environmental/ VEHICLES New BMW brand for line of electric vehicles. BMW is creating a new sub-brand -- "BMW i" -- for its coming upscale electric vehicles, or as BMW puts it: "premium sustainable mobility." The company also announced BMW i's first two production vehicles, both due in 2013. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/02/new-bmw-brand-for-line-of-electric-vehicles/1 Nissan Unable to Meet Leaf Demand; Delays to Continue. The Nissan Leaf is the first mass-market electric vehicle available for purchase. The only problem is that so far, delivery is taking a lot longer than expected, and it isn't expected to get better any time soon. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/22/idUS9649962320110222 California will see surge in electric vehicles, report says. California metropolitan areas, including Sacramento, will see significant increases in the number of plug-in electric vehicles on their roadways through 2017, according to a new report by Pike Research. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/18/v-print/3414000/california-will-see-surge-in-electric.html US opens investigation into Toyota hybrid SUVs. The government has opened a preliminary investigation into reports of stalling engines in more than 40,000 Toyota Highlander hybrids. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/02/22/national/w071006S22.DTL#ixzz1Ei8HrfrH MISCELLANEOUS NASA to launch newest Earth-observation satellite. LOS ANGELES -- NASA is set to launch its latest Earth-orbiting satellite on a $424 million mission to analyze airborne grit spewed by volcanoes, forest fires, smokestacks and tailpipes. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/21/1566485/nasa-to-launch-newest-earth-observation.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/21/2280816/nasa-to-launch-newest-earth-observation.html#storylink=misearch http://www.keyt.com/news/local/NASA-Climate-Change-Satellite-to-Launch-from-VAFB-116618728.html OPINION DAN MORAIN: Green firm finds gold in capital. In the world of alter-native power generation, Bloom Energy is golden. It certainly has figured out how to get some the public's green. Time magazine declared the Silicon Valley company's fuel cell technology, called Bloom Boxes, to be one of the top inventions of 2010. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/21/1566742/green-firm-finds-gold-in-capital.html http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/22/3421150/commentary-green-energy-firm-bloom.html#ixzz1Ei1wZmqm The Dirty Energy Party. President Obama has decided that the failure of last year’s comprehensive climate bill does not have to mean the death of climate policy. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/opinion/22tue1.html?scp=7&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Bottom-up energy innovation takes off in Marin. Most folks are gung-ho on the amazing power of wireless communications technology. Yet in my Marin County town, citizens are up in arms, blockading trucks and opposing the mandatory installation of SmartMeters - pulsing wireless signals about real-time energy usage so Pacific Gas and Electric Co. knows exactly how much power I consume, and when. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/21/EDUS1HQ736.DTL#ixzz1Ei7efWDM BLOGS ‘Dirty’ Energy Dwarfs Clean in China and India. Many experts agree that for the world to rein in rising greenhouse gas emissions, the galloping economies of China and India would have to figure out how to base their future economic expansion on technologies and fuels that are “cleaner” than the fossil fuels the United States and Europe used in their own industrial revolutions long ago. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/dirty-energy-dwarfs-clean-in-china-and-india/ A Stopgap for Global Warming. There are many signs that the world is heading into a period of warming -– one that could melt glaciers, flood small islands and coastal cities, threaten some animal species and make crops difficult to grow in previously productive agricultural regions. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/a-stopgap-for-global-warming/ U.P.S. Finds a Substitute for Diesel: Natural Gas, at 260 Degrees Below Zero. The final frontier for alternative motor fuels, powering big tractor-trailers, has been crossed. The alternative is natural gas, but not in the now-familiar form of compressed gas. Instead, a growing number of the biggest trucks are running on liquefied natural gas. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/u-p-s-finds-a-substitute-for-diesel-natural-gas-at-260-degrees-below-zero/ Why it’s a good idea to put sugar water in your gas tank. Wouldn't it be awesome if we could solve our waste problem and our fuel problem simultaneously, by turning one into the other? Okay, we're nowhere near the stage where you can just scrape your plate into your car, but there are an increasing number of procedures for turning useless crap into fuel. Most recently, students at Oklahoma State University devised a way to turn waste soda into ethanol. Posted. http://www.grist.org/article/2011-02-22-why-its-a-good-idea-to-put-sugar-water-in-your-gas-tank A Green Makeover for Planters Nutmobile. The Nutmobile, the peanut-shaped traveling ambassador for the Planters brand, is going green. Its newest iteration runs on biodiesel and sports a wind turbine, solar panels, LED interior lighting, recycled parts and wood floors reclaimed from a 19th century Pennsylvania barn. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/a-green-makeover-for-planters-nutmobile/?scp=1&sq=green%20vehicles&st=cse Get Out the Kleenex—Climate Change Lengthens Allergy Season. A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows a link between warming temperatures and a longer ragweed pollen season. Posted. http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2011/02/22/get-out-the-kleenex%e2%80%94climate-change-lengthens-allergy-season/#ixzz1Ei002wTx ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 08:22:19 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 23, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 23, 2011. 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 APNewsBreak: EPA to ease cost of regulation. WASHINGTON -- Faced with stiff opposition in Congress and a court-ordered deadline, the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday will make it much cheaper for companies to reduce toxic air pollution from industrial boilers and incinerators. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/23/1569089/apnewsbreak-epa-to-ease-cost-of.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_51bd4643-bca3-59d0-b649-e454d2fee1c6.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/23/2282977/apnewsbreak-epa-to-ease-cost-of.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/23/AR2011022301979.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/02/23/national/w082016S76.DTL http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/23/3424022/apnewsbreak-epa-to-ease-cost-of.html http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17460709 http://ww.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/23/apnewsbreak-epa-to-ease-cost-of-regulation/ Cannella introduces bill to ensure California companies get full benefit of air quality regs. SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres) said he introduced Senate Bill 358 to ensure California companies receive the full benefit of state grant funding designed to support efforts to meet and exceed California’s rigorous air quality regulations by exempting these grants from the state income tax. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/22/3423308/cannella-introduces-bill-to-ensure.html http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/02/22/1782195/cannella-introduces-bill-to-ensure.html Fouling the Clean Air Act. Largely hidden in its attack on the federal budget, the House of Representatives has approved a key Republican campaign promise to big business: Protecting it from what the new majority argues are the handcuffs of environmental safeguards. The Republicans would cuff the Environmental Protection Agency instead. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/23/3423719/fouling-the-clean-air-act.html EPA Overhauls Boiler Rules After Complaints About Cost. The Obama administration issued pollution rules for industrial boilers that it said are 50 percent less expensive than regulations proposed last year that drew industry opposition. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-23/epa-overhauls-u-s-boiler-rules-cuts-costs-50-after-industry-protests.html CLIMATE CHANGE UN 'climate vulnerability' list urged to guide aid. A climate "vulnerability index" to judge which developing countries are most at risk from global warming and in need of aid is among the proposals submitted to a U.N. body ahead of new climate talks in April. The proposal is among submissions to the United Nations that also show a deep split between rich and poor countries about how to oversee billions of dollars to help developing nations adapt to impacts such as droughts, heatwaves, floods or rising seas. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/sns-rt-climateadaptationlde71m139-20110223,0,3275616.story GREEN ENERGY US scrambles to dig out of a rare earths hole. In the Mojave Desert just off Interstate 15 on the way to Las Vegas, workers are digging for dirt that may be worth far more than a casino full of chips. The massive hole is about to get even bigger. Molycorp Inc., which owns the open mine, plans to dig out about 40,000 tons of dirt a year by 2014, up 1,200 percent from the current rate of about 3,000 tons. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/23/3423718/us-scrambles-to-dig-out-of-a-rare.html Ohio Is Best in the Midwest for Advanced Energy Manufacturing. It takes 8,000 components to construct a typical utility-sized wind turbine. Sourcing components can be a logistical challenge often involving many suppliers spread around the world. Complexity in the supply chain can lead to unwanted delivery delays and quality concerns. Supply chain complexity can destroy profitability. It leads to hidden costs such as longer cycle times, excess safety stock for critical parts and decreased flexibility in enacting design changes. One proven practice to decreasing supply chain complexity and the resultant cost is to co-locate manufacturing operations with critical suppliers. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/23/3423778/ohio-is-best-in-the-midwest-for.html RICS Releases Sustainability Report on the Financial Performance of Green Office Buildings in the USA. RICS has announced the release of a new report, "Sustainability and the Dynamics of Green Building": New Evidence on the Financial Performance of Green Office Buildings in the USA. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/23/3424441/rics-releases-sustainability-report.html MISCELLANEOUS NASA delays launch for Earth-orbiting satellite. Officials at a military base in central California have delayed the launch of a rocket carrying an Earth-observation satellite. Tech Sgt. Ben Rojek of the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base confirmed that the launch was scrubbed five minutes before its planned takeoff early Wednesday. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_2bdf7b22-4000-59bc-b895-19227264c5ab.html T. Coraghessan Boyle's 'When the Killing's Done,' an environmental novel. In his superbly marketed blockbuster "Freedom," Jonathan Franzen lectured at us for a long time about the dire plight of the environment. Readers who had been busy in another room during the past 50 years learned from his earnest hero that the population is exploding, pollution is poisoning rivers and industries such as coal mining are destroying forests. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/22/AR2011022206578.html OPINION Renewable energy 'on' switch. California is blessed with renewable energy resources that it has barely begun to harvest, an enlightened electorate that understands the importance of doing so and a venture-capital community eager to make green investments. In fact, the state has everything it needs to lead the world in clean energy development, except for one thing: a functional government. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-renewable-20110223,0,7081433.story BLOGS EPA Overhauls Controversial Regulation That Spurred Business Complaints. WASHINGTON – Faced with stiff opposition in Congress and a court-ordered deadline, the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday will make it much cheaper for companies to reduce toxic air pollution from industrial boilers and incinerators. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/23/the-watchdog-epa-regulation-overhaul_n_827023.html Striking PCB Levels Found at a New York School. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has found the highest levels of leaking PCBs to date in its inspections of New York City schools, at Public School 45 in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Agency officials said that an inspection of lighting ballasts at the school on Feb. 12 revealed PCB levels of up to 660,000 parts per million, far beyond the regulatory limit of 50 parts per million. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/striking-pcb-levels-found-at-new-york-school/ Global warming, extreme events and weird weather. I've never been a fan of absolutes. People who espouse rigid beliefs - be they about climate change, religion, or politics (or a mix of all three) - instinctively make me question their evidence. As a reporter, I tend to see things in varying shades of gray, rather than black and white, and I gravitate towards stories that are full of nuance and complexity, where absolutes are rarely, if ever, to be found. Posted. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2011/02/sifting_through_evidence_on_cl.html Money Pollution: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Darkens the Skies. In Beijing, they celebrate when they have a “blue sky day,” when, that is, the haze clears long enough so that you can actually see the sun. Many days, you can’t even make out the next block. Washington, by contrast, looks pretty clean: white marble monuments, broad, tree-lined avenues, the beautiful, green spread of the Mall. But its inhabitants -- at least those who vote in Congress -- can’t see any more clearly than the smoke-shrouded residents of Beijing. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-mckibben/chamber-of-commerce_b_826636.html Hybrids vs. Nonhybrids: The 5-Year Equation. A car buyer who lays out an extra $6,200 extra to buy the hybrid version of the Lexus RX will get the money back in gas savings within five years, according to Consumer Reports magazine, but only if gasoline averages $8.77 a gallon. Otherwise, the nonhybrid RX 350 is a better buy than the Hybrid 450h, the magazine says. The hybrid gets 26 miles per gallon, and the nonhybrid, 21, in the magazine’s calculation. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/23/hybrids-vs-nonhybrids-the-5-year-equation/ Smart Forspeed Concept EV Gets 85 Miles Per Charge, Recharges in 45 Minutes. Do you remember the Smart fortwo? That adorable tiny clown car that's perfect for electric car lovers? We haven't heard a whole lot about it lately, though it's no matter because now Daimler's minicar maker is unveiling out a concept car called Smart forspeed. And it is every bit as adorable. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/02/smart-forspeed-concept-electric-car-gets-85-miles-per-charge-recharges-in-45-minutes.php Renault introduces electric Kangoo Maxi ZE, its fifth electric model. Renault is adding a fifth model to its lineup of four electric vehicles (earlier post), the new Kangoo Maxi ZE; Renault will thus have two electric vehicles in the small van segment by the end of 2011, the other being the Kangoo Express ZE. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/02/maxize-20110223.html#more ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:46:10 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 24, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 24, 2011. 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 EPA Sets Pollution Controls For Boilers, Incinerators. Washington -- The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday said new pollution controls for boilers and incinerators will save thousands of lives every year but at half the cost of an earlier proposal that industry and lawmakers had strongly criticized. The boiler and incinerator rules, required under the Clean Air Act, will cut soot and toxic air emissions, such as mercury and lead. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/23/1569915/epa-sets-pollution-controls-for.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/23/2283798/epa-sets-pollution-controls-for.html#storylink=misearch E.P.A. Scales Back Emission Rules. Responding to a changed political climate and a court-ordered deadline, the Obama administration issued significantly revised new air pollution rules on Wednesday that will make it easier for operators of thousands of industrial boilers and incinerators to meet federal air quality standards. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/science/earth/24emissions.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Ventura County Air Pollution Control District Hopes To Use Coupons To Reduce Pollution. The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is hoping to make the sky a little bluer while helping people save greenbacks. The district is launching a program called Sky Savers, under which any local businesses selling eco-friendly products can post coupons on a district website to attract customers. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/23/Green_business_coupons/ CLIMATE CHANGE Environmental Bills Back For Another Go-Round. Arnold Schwarzenegger was often called the “Green Governor.” But lots of Democrats appear to think their environmental legislation has a lot better chance under the new guy — and they’re reviving several bills that Schwarzenegger killed in the past. In the seven weeks that have passed since Gov. Jerry Brown was sworn in, Democratic lawmakers have introduced numerous pieces of legislation that the previous governor either vetoed or opposed so strongly that he helped make sure they never made it to his desk. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=zikcdu3c4bx7vw# DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB Holds One-Stop Trucking Event On Diesel Regulations. The California Air Resources Board will hold a free daylong seminar in Fresno on March 26 to help truck owners meet new rules for diesel trucks and learn about available government grants and funding. Participants can learn about which regulations apply to their fleet, requirements for their equipment and funding opportunities available to them, says CARB. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=17722 FUELS Rising Fuel Prices Could Cramp Economic Recovery. Increases prompted by overseas turmoil have a ripple effect. Consumers are already seeing the fallout from turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa every time they fill their gas tanks. It's what they don't see that's the bigger worry for the U.S. economy. From the farm to the factory, businesses are facing higher costs to grow the nation's food, ship goods and manufacture products at a time when they're already cautious about hiring new employees or placing big orders. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-oil-econ-20110224,0,1608531,print.story GREEN ENERGY Solar Energy Faces Tests On Greenness. San Francisco — Just weeks after regulators approved the last of nine multibillion-dollar solar thermal power plants to be built in the Southern California desert, a storm of lawsuits and the resurgence of an older solar technology are clouding the future of the nascent industry. The litigation, which seeks to block construction of five of the solar thermal projects, underscores the growing risks of building large-scale renewable energy plants in environmentally delicate areas. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/business/energy-environment/24solar.html?_r=1&ref=politics&pagewanted=print Solar Power Helps Clean Up Davis Superfund Site. A Superfund site in Davis has become the first federal groundwater cleanup project powered by solar energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said. EPA officials on Wednesday unveiled the Frontier Fertilizer Superfund site's new solar photovoltaic system, which will help power the treatment of contaminated groundwater beneath the east Davis neighborhood. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/24/1570582/solar-power-helps-clean-up-davis.html EPA Looks To The Heavens To Help Clean Up Davis Brownfield Site. An electrical resistance heating system partially funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has gone online to help shave about 120 years off the time it will take to clean up a toxic waste site in Davis. The solar-powered equipment will reduce the projected timeline to clean up the Frontier Fertilizer Superfund Site from 150 years to 30 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says. “For the first time ever, solar will provide all of the power for a Superfund groundwater cleanup,” says Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=17716 VEHICLES Cars That Get 40 Mpg: What Buyers Need To Know. Washington - If you're worried about rising gasoline prices, you'll find plenty of options for fuel-efficient cars in 2011. Five years ago, few vehicles got better than 30 miles on a gallon of gas, but vehicles that can get 40 mpg on the highway or in city driving are becoming more common, prompted by new government rules and advances in technology. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/23/1569704/cars-that-get-40-mpg-what-buyers.html MISCELLANEOUS Straw-Bale House A Dream Come True For Homeowner. Boise, Idaho -- After a year in his straw-bale house on Boise Avenue, Mark Lung says the house has saved him money, conserved resources, provided a comfortable environment through four seasons and convinced its owners, and maybe a few visitors, that straw has life far beyond the fields. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/24/2284529/straw-bale-house-a-dream-come.html#storylink=misearch OPINION A Matter of Life and Death: Not Meeting AB 32’s Objectives Is Insanity. The importance of good air quality and the necessity of having clean air to breathe can‘t be overemphasized. Air, fundamental and necessary to sustaining life, one would think every effort to ensure what we breathe be maintained to a healthy standard, would be paramount. The harsh reality though is that, “Greenhouse gas emissions in California have been increasing steadily over the past several decades, with the fastest growth occurring in the transportation sector,” reports the Public Policy Institute of California in Driving Change: Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled in California. Posted. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/print/8708 BLOGS Reading Deep in Climate Science. After reporting a few months ago on the rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, I got e-mails from readers asking where they could find more information about the basics of climate science. My interlocutors even included climate-change contrarians who seemed open to the possibility that they might be wrong. I found myself struggling with the question of where to send them. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/reading-deep-in-climate-science/ Global warming: The United Nations courts Tinseltown. The United Nations has long courted celebrities for its peace-keeping and anti-poverty efforts, from Mia Farrow and Ricky Martin to George Clooney and Angelina Jolie. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement. Hollywood stars grasp at gravitas; the U.N. pushes for publicity. Now the beleaguered multi-national agency, fresh from a disappointing round of climate negotiations in Cancun, wants something more concrete: actual story lines in movies, television and social media drawing attention to the dangers of global warming. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/02/george-clooney-angelina-jolie-global-warming.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Rooftop Solar Can Make A Sizable Dent In The West's Renewable Energy Needs. This week representatives from the federal Department of Energy and Bureau of Land Management wrap up their California barnstorming swing, to gauge public opinion on the topic of siting solar projects. Throughout this often contentious debate, many have claimed that a potentially huge piece of the power solution is being overlooked; rooftop solar. Fly into Ontario airport in Southern California’s Inland Empire — or just zoom in on Google Earth -- and you’ll see hundreds of block-long warehouses. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/02/22/yes-in-our-backyard/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:44:02 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 25, 2011 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 25, 2011. 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 Pre-Emptive Attacks On Dust Rules Draw Rebuke From EPA. Farm groups and members of Congress are jumping the gun in their efforts to stop U.S. EPA from making its air pollution rules tougher on dusty rural areas, the agency's second-in-command said yesterday. The stopgap spending bill passed by the House last week included an amendment, sponsored by Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) that would prevent EPA from updating the national air quality standards for coarse particles. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/25/4 Enviro Groups Sue EPA For Texas Coal Plant Documents. Two environmental groups are suing U.S. EPA for access to documents about coal-fired power plants that they say may be contributing to pollution in Texas. The Sierra Club and the Environmental Integrity Project say the documents they have sued for under the Freedom of Information Act will reveal Clean Air Act violations by five coal plants belonging to Dallas-based energy company Luminant. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/02/25/18 CLIMATE CHANGE Scientists Are Cleared of Misuse of Data. An inquiry by a federal watchdog agency found no evidence that scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration manipulated climate data to buttress the evidence in support of global warming, officials said on Thursday. The inquiry, by the Commerce Department’s inspector general, focused on e-mail messages between climate scientists that were stolen and circulated on the Internet in late 2009 (NOAA is part of the Commerce Department). Some of the e-mails involved scientists from NOAA. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/science/earth/25noaa.html?_r=2&pagewanted=print http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/24/1571212/new-report-exonerates-climate.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/24/new-report-exonerates-climate-researchers/ Which Nations Are Most Vulnerable to Climate Change? The Daunting Politics of Choosing. Is it worse to be swallowed by the sea or racked by famine? As climate change tightens its grip on the world, institutions charged with protecting the most vulnerable nations could be faced with just such a question. Because there is no international consensus for ranking the possibilities of future devastation -- and because there are limited dollars lined up to help cope with climate change -- some countries already are battling over who will be considered most vulnerable. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/02/24/24climatewire-which-nations-are-most-vulnerable-to-climate-95690.html?scp=8&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Meeting Scheduled To Design The 'Green Climate Fund' Climate change negotiators will meet March 14 and 15 in Mexico City to begin building the multibillion-dollar Green Climate Fund. The meeting -- announced in a notice by the U.N. climate secretariat yesterday -- will be the first step in designing the fund, aimed at helping vulnerable nations cope with the impacts of climate change, protect forests and develop low-carbon economies. Officials have not spelled out the precise amount of money expected to flow through the Green Climate Fund. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/25/7 NASA Delays Launch Of Satellite Designed To Probe Causes Of Global Warming. NASA has delayed the launch of a new satellite designed to study aerosols' influence on Earth's climate and continue a long-standing record of solar energy. The space agency was set to launch the satellite, called "Glory," on Wednesday. But problems with the equipment NASA uses to relay commands to the satellite's launch vehicle caused the agency to scuttle the plans with 15 minutes to spare. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/25/9 DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB Hosts Meetings, Posts Online Calculator To Explain Truck Rules. The California Air Resources Board has posted an online calculator to help truck owners determine their compliance options for the state’s on road truck and bus regulation. The on-road truck and bus regulation requires all trucks to meet 2010 model year engine emissions standards by the year 2023, and for fleets to begin meeting other diesel emission standards by 2014 through a variety of compliance options. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Feb11/022211/022411-04.shtml GREEN ENERGY Calif. Senate Approves Rules For Renewable Energy. Sacramento, Calif. (AP) — The state Senate approved a law Thursday setting new rules for how California utilities can meet the most aggressive renewable energy standard in the nation, giving them 10 years to get a third of their power from wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable sources. California utilities already are required to meet the 33 percent goal through a 2009 executive order by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued after he vetoed a bill similar to the one passed Thursday. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-02-25/calif-senate-approves-rules-for-renewable-energy.html http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-green-energy-20110225,0,1434935,print.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/25/BAJQ1HUCR8.DTL&type=printablehttp://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/article_6a248854-46f3-557a-86d6-d22396a8a977.html Solar Oil Project Debuts In Kern. Kern County's international reputation as a leader in the field of enhanced oil recovery took a step into the solar age Thursday with the unveiling of a McKittrick demonstration project that could anchor certain costs associated with producing thick, hard-to-get crude considered key to the industry's future. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/economy/x130284466/Solar-oil-project-debuts-in-Kern Energy Commission Awards Nearly $3.5 Million for Research Projects. The California Energy Commission awarded $3,454,247 for research projects tackling issues including reducing energy use, improving grid reliability, and saving fuel in light-duty vehicles. Funds for the eight research projects come from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. "California's strength comes from the ability to invest in energy research across the board. Posted. http://yubanet.com/california/Energy-Commission-Awards-Nearly-3-5-Million-for-Research-Projects_printer.php Petroleum Company Uses Solar Power For Oil Extraction. A solar power company in California has found a way to use sunlight to extract fossil fuels. GlassPoint Solar has built a solar power array that will create steam to be pumped into underground rocks to push out stubborn oil in the state's San Joaquin Valley. The site's owner, Berry Petroleum, already uses steam to recover oil, boiling water with natural gas. The solar method has proved to be much cheaper. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/25/13 MISCELLANEOUS Green Scene: Some Ideas For An Environmentally Friendly Landscape. Now is the time to formulate your spring garden plans. Before you choose the plants you will install this year- or design the entire landscape-consider the ways you could make your gardens more productive and environmentally friendly. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/25/AR2011022502812.html Genetically Engineered Bacteria Turn Garbage Into Plastic. You could call it recycling at the molecular level. A local biotechnology company says it is working to develop microbes that can help convert garbage into plastics. Genomatica has already genetically engineered a bacteria to feed on sugar and make a chemical typically produced from oil and natural gas. Now it’s targeting stuff that would otherwise literally go to waste or up in smoke. “This is what we call industrial biotechnology,” said 37-year-old co-founder Christophe Schilling. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/24/genetically-engineered-bacteria-turn-garbage-plast/ BLOGS California Air Board's Final Cap and Trade Resolution Shows Public Input Did Not Fall on Deaf Ears. Yesterday, the California Air Resources Board finalized the Board Resolution accompanying the adoption of California’s landmark program to cap and steadily reduce carbon emissions across the economy. The final resolution reflects changes the Board made after hearing from various stakeholders at a public hearing last December when the Board approved the program. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ajackson/california_air_boards_final_ca.html PCB Removal, With Zero Upfront. As I reported in Thursday’s paper, New York City is allocating $708 million for an energy retrofit program in public schools over the next 10 years that is mostly spurred by the need to replace light fixtures containing the toxic chemicals known as PCBs. For some months, the cost issue was a major factor delaying this week’s decision to replace the lighting at nearly 800 schools. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/pcb-removal-with-zero-upfront/ Scientist’s View: In Climate Action, No Shortcuts Around CO2. There’s been much discussion recently of quick, cheap steps, with many benefits, that could slow warming driven by the atmospheric buildup of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. They all involve greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide, along with black carbon — the sooty emanations from diesel engines and guttering cooking fires that both heat and kill. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/scientists-view-in-climate-action-no-shortcuts-around-co2/?scp=2&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse Solar Projects Pit Green Against Green. As I wrote in Thursday’s Times, the fate of several multibillion-dollar solar thermal power plants to be built the Southern California desert is in question as conservationists and other groups sue to stop the projects largely on environmental grounds. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/solar-projects-pit-green-against-green/ Glasspoint Solar Uses The Sun's Heat To Extract Oil. The solar industry is usually on the oil industry’s case -- sniping about dirty energy and whatnot -- but the two sides came together Thursday in an unlikely alliance. Fremont-based company GlassPoint Solar unveiled a demonstration facility that uses solar technology to coax petroleum out of an old oil field in Kern County. In a process that usually involves heated natural gas; the sun will heat water to create 750-degree-Fahrenheit steam, which will seep into the underground rock. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/02/glasspoint-solar-uses-the-suns-heat-to-extract-oil.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Commerce Dept. Report Clears U.S. Scientists In 'Climategate'. An independent review of thousands of emails stolen from climate researchers has found that scientists at the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration did not manipulate data or otherwise engage in wrongdoing. Posted. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/post-carbon/2011/02/report_clears_us_scientists_in.html Renewables Standard One Step Closer to Law. Bill to require one-third renewable energy sails through state senate. That next gust of wind you hear may be a collective sigh of relief from the renewable energy industry. By a margin of more than two-to-one, state senators have approved a bill to cement California's requirement that utilities draw at least a third of their power from renewable sources by 2020. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/02/24/renewables-standard-one-step-closer-to-law/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:58:30 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 28, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for February 28, 2011. 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 Heart Attacks And Air Pollution: Worse Than Alcohol, Anger Or Cocaine. No, this doesn't mean you should run out and get some cocaine. But it does suggest yet another reason public health officials should be concerned about air pollution and go after polluters. Combining data from 36 separate studies, scientists at two universities in Belgium have calculated the heart attack risks for various "triggers." As you might expect, cocaine is a really bad one. It increases an individual's risk of heart attack by 23 times. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/28/v-print/3436311/heart-attacks-and-air-pollution.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=83834 SPIN METER: Industry Jobs Studies Are Imprecise. Washington -- Industry officials say with confidence that 7.3 million jobs will disappear if the Obama administration goes through with tighter rules to reduce smog. The industry-sponsored researcher who came up with that number isn't so sure. "There's uncertainty around that," economist Don Norman said of the "shockingly high" job loss number he extrapolated using a study sponsored by the oil and natural gas industry's American Petroleum Institute and covering just 11 states. "Even if the numbers are half of that, the number is huge," he said. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/28/v-print/3435915/spin-meter-industry-jobs-studies.html Earthtalk: How Effective Has The EPA Been? Dear EarthTalk: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had its 40th anniversary in 2010. How effective has the EPA been and what are its biggest challenges today? By most accounts the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which turned 40 in December 2009, has been very effective. The first dedicated national environmental agency of its kind, the EPA has been instrumental in setting policy priorities and writing and enforcing a wide range of laws that have literally changed the face of the Earth for the better. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/28/v-print/3436567/earthtalk-how-effective-has-the.html Gas Drilling Boom Sets Off Pollution Alarms. The American landscape is dotted with hundreds of thousands of new wells and thousands of drilling rigs, as the country scrambles to tap into this century's gold rush – for natural gas. The gas has always been there, of course, trapped deep underground in countless tiny bubbles between thin layers of shale rock. But drilling companies have only in recent years developed techniques to unlock the enormous reserves, thought to be enough to supply the country with gas for up to a hundred years. So energy companies are clamoring to drill. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/27/v-print/3433581/naturalgas.html UPDATE 1-China Warns Pollution, Waste Imperil Growth. * Official sees pollution, resource strains as "bottleneck". * Signals bigger role in fighting climate change. * China caught between maintaining growth, taming pollution. * "Green growth" a long way off-researcher. (Corrects projected scale of economic growth in paragraph 13. China faces acute environmental and resource strains that threaten to choke growth unless the world's second-biggest economy cleans up, the nation's environment minister said in an unusually blunt warning. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/sns-rt-china-environment-toe71r05d-20110228,0,6415708,print.story EPA Continues Its Important Work. Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency celebrated its 40th anniversary. The agency's work has led to cleaner air, cleaner water, and better health for many Californians. During the EPA's first 20 years alone, it prevented more than 200,000 premature deaths and almost 700,000 cases of chronic bronchitis by reducing dangerous air pollution. And gone are the days of rivers so polluted they catch on fire, and skies so polluted they block out the sun. Sadly however, the job is far from done. Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/pointofview/ci_17498985 Businesses Using Valley CAN To Help Clear Air. The idea of businesses trying to improve air quality in the San Joaquin Valley isn't so odd, said Douglass Wilhoit, chairman of Valley Clean Air Now. "It's the business of everybody to try to clear up the air," he said. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110227/A_SPECIAL13/102250322&cid=sitesearch 'Green' Merchants Get Free Promotion. The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is launching its new Sky Savers public awareness program this spring, and calling all county merchants and vendors who offer "green" products and services. The program will educate county residents on clean air actions they can take to help the environment by providing them with coupon discounts for local green services and products. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/26/Business_Briefs27/ CLIMATE CHANGE U.N. Leader Asks Hollywood For Help In Fight Against Global Climate Change. 'Together we can have a blockbuster impact on the world,' U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon tells Hollywood heavyweights at a forum on global climate change. Ban Ki-moon, the normally buttoned-up Secretary General of the United Nations, swept into Los Angeles during Oscar week playing the role of Hollywood pitchman. His message: Make global warming a hot issue. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-climate-hollywood-20110227,0,7308038,print.story FutureGen CO2 Site Decision To Be Announced Monday. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. The FutureGen Alliance is set to announce which of four Illinois counties will house the project's carbon dioxide storage site. The decision is expected Monday. The alliance is a group of coal companies and other firms working with the U.S. Department of Energy on FutureGen. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/28/futuregen-co2-site-decision-to-be-announced/ New 'Zero Carbon' U.K. Homes Will Still Emit Carbon. Newly built houses in the United Kingdom marked as "zero carbon" will still be able to emit tons of carbon dioxide under new rules being considered by ministers. All new homes built there were expected to be carbon neutral from using wind turbines, solar panels and ground-source heat pumps, among other green technologies. In 2006, then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown and then-Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said all new homes would be zero carbon by 2016. But they didn't explain how it could be done. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/28/4 GREEN ENERGY China Used Less Energy Per Unit Of GDP In 2010. Shanghai -- China's efforts to reduce energy consumption per unit of economic output were less successful in 2010 with the reduction far less than achieved in the previous year. The National Bureau of Statistics said Monday that energy intensity - energy use per unit of gross domestic product - fell 4 percent last year from 2009. The bureau released the figure in an annual report of economic statistics posted on its website. It said the percentage decline was measured in terms of energy use per 10,000 yuan ($1,520) of GDP, but gave no specific figure. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/27/v-print/3435553/china-used-less-energy-per-unit.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/27/1576101/china-used-less-energy-per-unit.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/27/2289342/china-used-less-energy-per-unit.html#storylink=misearch Seamicro's Green Computers Made In Silicon Valley. A break in the space-time continuum must have opened up in Santa Clara. For there sits the headquarters of Sea-Micro, a computer company that actually manufactures computers in Silicon Valley. How 1980 of them. SeaMicro seems like the brainchild of a public relations whiz in the White House. Its business is making "green" servers that run on power-sipping laptop chips rather than the high-octane, electricity-hungry chips that most data center computers rely on. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/28/BULE1HU5LU.DTL&type=printable Solar 'Gold Rush' in U.K. May Die With Fastest Price Roll-Back. Cornwall, the poorest county in England, said five months ago it expected a "gold rush" of $1.6 billion in solar energy investments. Now, the U.K. government may get in the way. The central government said this month it's considering cutting incentives and reducing the size of projects, concerned that the above-market rates it promised through April 2012 may lead to too many solar farms. Britain is moving faster than any other European country to contain a surge in solar power and prevent the boom-and-bust seen in Spain and predicted for the Czech Republic. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/02/28/bloomberg1376-LH66BL07SXKW01-69JH7TCM1KD065VPC5IGF34R49.DTL&type=printable Fees For Business Solar Power Units Vary Widely. Businesses that want to install solar panels pay vastly different permit fees in Contra Costa County depending on their location, according to a survey by the Sierra Club. A permit for solar panels on a commercial property range from $240 to nearly $20,000 for the same project, the survey found. High fees in some parts of the county may discourage businesses from going solar, said Kurt Newick, who did the survey. A similar survey of Alameda County found a much narrower range of charges. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/top-stories/ci_17491096?nclick_check=1 Mass. Company Making Diesel With Sun, Water, CO2. Cambridge, Mass. -- A Massachusetts biotechnology company says it can produce the fuel that runs Jaguars and jet engines using the same ingredients that make grass grow. Joule Unlimited has invented a genetically-engineered organism that it says simply secretes diesel fuel or ethanol wherever it finds sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/27/1575242/mass-company-making-diesel-with.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_06e6037b-c061-543e-943f-40bf032a8993.html D.C. Reneges On Aid To Install Solar Panels. It isn't easy going green, and it may also prove costly. Dozens of District residents who installed solar panels on their homes under a government grant program promoting renewable energy have been told they will not be reimbursed thousands of dollars as promised because the funds were diverted to help close a citywide budget gap. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/27/AR2011022702910.html REXPO Will Put On A Green Show. REXPO VII: Sustainable Collaboration, a March 9 conference presented by Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce's Green Team San Joaquin and Valley CAN (Clean Air Now), is built to highlight practices, programs and products that can serve both purposes. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110227/A_SPECIAL13/102250321&cid=sitesearch Green Team Aims To Leave Children A Clean Stockton. Stockton - The desire to have cleaner air and water are mere dreams to most people, but Frank Ferral is part of a Stockton group working to make this dream a reality. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110227/A_SPECIAL13/102250320&cid=sitesearch VEHICLES Court Won't Hear Appeal Over Blocked Taxicab Rule. Washington -- The Supreme Court won't let New York City force taxi operators to go green. The high court refused Monday to hear an appeal by city officials who want to make cab companies buy more fuel efficient vehicles. Federal judges had blocked the city's new taxicab fuel regulations. City officials first wanted new taxicabs in 2008 to get at least 25 miles per gallon and 2009 taxicabs to achieve 30 miles a gallon. They then tried to force taxicab companies to go to hybrid cars by making it more expensive for them to buy fuel. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/28/v-print/3436870/court-wont-hear-appeal-over-blocked.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/28/1576780/court-wont-hear-appeal-over-blocked.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_b327dbca-7c04-57f8-8735-4392839765cd.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/28/2289987/court-wont-hear-appeal-over-blocked.html#storylink=misearch Eco Boom Ahead? There are a lot more hybrids on the market and a lot more people seem to be driving them. Are we finally reaching the point that as a nation we’re poised to be much more green, at least when it comes to our personal transportation? Posted. http://www.pe.com/cars/content/cars/stories/pe_cars_0228_peters.18c74610c.html Whoosh -- Can You Capture Energy From Passing Cars? Calif. Lawmaker Wants To Try. A California assemblyman has floated legislation in Sacramento that would authorize a state agency to explore whether the excess mechanical energy created by cars on the road might be captured and pumped back into the power grid. Assemblyman Mike Gatto, a Democrat, introduced a bill earlier this month that seeks to investigate piezoelectricity on California roadways. In the case of automobiles, the term refers to the charge or vibration from vehicles as they travel that is transferred into the pavement. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/02/28/7 French Give and Take. France was facing a delicate balancing act in 2007. The government needed to find a way to reduce carbon emissions from transportation 20% by 2020, partly to meet goals proposed by the European Commission. But it didn't want to hurt the country's auto sector, which employed 10% of the labor force and already was battling slumping sales. The solution? A fee-and-rebate, or "feebate," program that gave new-car buyers a refund of as much as €5,000—about $6,700—for purchasing a low-emissions vehicle and imposed an extra tax on gas-guzzlers. Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/story/print?guid=f4b0b858-32e9-11e0-acbe-012128040cf6 MISCELLANEOUS REDLANDS: La-Z-Boy Wins Green Action Award. The trash trucks have no reason to stop at Redlands' La-Z-Boy manufacturing plant anymore. The plant this year achieved nearly 100 percent recycling of the waste it produces, earning it a Green Action award from the city. The company celebrated Thursday with lunch for its employees and a ceremony during which Mayor Pete Aguilar presented the award. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_D_nlazy27.26afc7f.html Do Your Part: Going Green Adds Up To Savings. We've all heard that going green is too expensive, not cost-effective, or that it just isn't financially responsible in these tough economic times. That's just not the case. There are ways to Do Your Part to be easier on the planet and our wallets. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/28/2289816/do-your-part-going-green-adds.html#storylink=misearch Are Fireplaces Going Out Of Style? There are few things more quintessentially American than gathering around a crackling fire blazing in the home hearth. The word "hearth" itself not only means fireplace, it also denotes family, and carries with it traditional images of home, warmth and a direct connection to the values and rugged individualism of America's pioneer past. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1284224923/Are-fireplaces-going-out-of-style ENVIRONMENT: Rain-Delayed 'Green' Home Nears Completion. Editor's Note: Rhonda and Nigel Farrar are building a home near Escondido incorporating a host of environmentally friendly technologies. This is the latest installment in an occasional series about the Farrars' construction of their "green" home. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_69d16363-01ea-5b6f-b786-92ce2a95c190.html OPINION A Climate-Change Activist Prepares For The Worst. Ten years ago, I put solar panels on my roof and began eating locally grown food. I bought an energy-efficient refrigerator that uses the power equivalent of a single light bulb. I started heating my home with a stove that burns organically fertilized corn kernels. I even restored a gas-free lawn mower for manual yardwork. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/25/AR2011022503176.html Not A Carbon Copy Of The U.S. Hong Kong, Singapore and other cities that are providing Asia with a path from poverty to prosperity also provide an urban approach to reduced energy use. If per capita carbon emissions in China and India rose to car-happy U.S. levels, global emissions would increase by 127%, according to the International Energy Agency. If their emissions stopped at the levels found in hyper-dense Hong Kong, world emissions would go up less than 24%. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-glaeser-emissions-20110228,0,7363164,print.story Why We're Condemned To A Warming Planet. We like clean air; we just don't want to work for it. Some people are global-warming skeptics. I'm more of a global- warming fatalist. I think we're cooking the planet all right. I just doubt we'll ever do much to stop, which is why we'll need to put more effort into coping with climate change. Several factors can explain my outlook, but recently I came across one that is especially telling. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/25/v-print/3432289/why-were-condemned-to-a-warming.html CARB Unaccountable. Jean Fuller's Feb. 17 article "Discussion of regulatory reform is welcome in Sacramento" is right on target. But one issue is that the suspension of AB 32, the state's greenhouse gas bill, was denied by the voters in the last election. One of the worst things about AB 32 is that it gives the power to the California Air Resources Board to regulate just about everything we use, including food. This agency accounts to no one except the governor, so it can fine and impose fees at its whim. Believe me, it will and is doing this now. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x1284224875/CARB-unaccountable BLOGS U.N. Unveils Tool for Tracking Progress of Climate Talks. We’ll always have Cancún. Online, at least. The United Nations office in charge of international climate change negotiations introduced a new online tool on Monday to track progress toward meeting the goals agreed to last December at an international climate conference in Cancún, Mexico. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/u-n-unveils-tool-for-tracking-progress-of-climate-talks/?scp=4&sq=climate%20change&st=cse A Defense of Acting on Ephemeral Sources of Heat. Last week I posted a “Your Dot” contribution from Raymond T. Pierrehumbert, a University of Chicago climate scientist concerned that policy makers and the public keep in mind the primacy of carbon dioxide emissions if they are serious about limiting the chances of propelling disruptive human-driven global warming. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/a-defense-of-acting-on-ephemeral-sources-of-heat/?scp=6&sq=climate%20change&st=cse What if: Standing in Line for Climate Aid. Lisa Friedman of Climatewire has an excellent story on The Times Web site digging in on an issue I’ve touched on periodically here — the prospect of intensifying fights over whatever money might flow someday to poor countries exposed to risks thought to be amplified by human-driven global warming. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/what-if-standing-in-line-for-climate-aid/?scp=10&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Climate Change, How Does Agriculture Adapt? Everybody knows that some kind of climate change is occurring. The question is, can agriculture use climate change to its advantage? Studies show that some crops, like cotton, can handle higher temperatures more efficiently, while others, like corn and grain sorghum, are very responsive to elevated levels of carbon dioxide. Some physiologists have attributed the increase in cotton yields over the past 20 years to the slow, upward trend in carbon dioxide. A week ago, a giant snowstorm passed through the Mid-South. Posted. http://deltafarmpress.com/government/climate-change-how-does-agriculture-adapt ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 12:08:23 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 1, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 1, 2011. 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 Levels Of Soot In Valley Air Reach New Low. The San Joaquin Valley has concluded its cleanest winter wood-burning season since monitoring began a little more than a decade ago. The Valley recorded fewer than 50 violations of the federal health standard for dangerous soot -- half as many as its worst season nearly a decade ago. But the region still had more violations for this particle pollution than any other place in California, state records show. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/28/v-print/2291004/valley-soot-violations-hit-new.html Kern Again Posts Fewer No-Burn Days. The eighth annual "Check Before You Burn" wood-burning season ended Monday in Kern County with 40 no-burn days -- one fewer than last year and 14 fewer than the year before. Officials from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District credit the program for continued improvement in the valley's winter air quality. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x722101476/Kern-again-posts-fewer-no-burn-days?utm_source=widget_56&utm_medium=photo_entries_teaser_widget&utm_campaign=synapse Update To Carbon Monoxide Rules Draws Scant Attention. At a time when the Obama administration's expansion of air pollution rules has become a topic of fierce debate, one of U.S. EPA's standards has gotten an unusually mild reaction from public health advocates and industry groups alike. At issue is EPA's update to the existing rules for carbon monoxide, which is listed in the Clean Air Act as one of six pollutants of particular concern. Though the agency has tightened the standards for several other "criteria" pollutants over the past three years -- and is headed toward doing so for the rest of them, including smog and soot – Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/01/21 Wood-Burning Season Ends with Cleaner Air. Another "Check Before You Burn" winter season has come to an end with the program once again proving successful. Officials with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District say adherence to the "Check Before You Burn" policy has resulted in even cleaner air across the eight-county region. The program, which runs from November through February, encourages residents to hold off on striking up their fireplaces when air quality deteriorates. Posted. http://www.kmjnow.com/pages/print_landing?Wood-Burning-Season-Ends-with-Cleaner-Ai=1&blockID=430250&feedID=806& CLIMATE CHANGE Study: Lodgepole Pine Gone From NW by 2080. Grants Pass, Ore. -- Scientists predict that lodgepole pine - one of the most common trees at higher elevations in the Cascades and Rockies - will be largely gone from the Northwest by 2080 due to the warming climate. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/28/1577103/study-lodgepole-pine-gone-from.html UN Says Shorter Lived GHG Key To Slowing Global Warming. According to a new UN study, the pace of climate change could be cut in half if immediate measures are taken toward shorter lived greenhouse gases. By increasing emphasis on shorter lived climate forcers like black carbon, methane and ground level ozone, we may be able to reverse the dangerous acceleration levels of global warming and give the earth enough time to get back into balance. The study, released by the UN Environment Programme, states that mitigation strategies for these threats should be equally emphasized along with carbon dioxide. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/green-business-in-seattle/un-says-global-warming-could-be-halved-with-focus-on-shorter-lived-greenhouse-ga DIESEL EMISSIONS Port Of Hueneme To Curb Ships' Diesel Pollution. A $9 million utility power system is being developed at the Port of Hueneme to comply with new regulations requiring that ships anchored at California ports turn off their engines to limit emissions. The vessels carry bananas and fruit from Central and South America and, to stay refrigerated, they run diesel auxiliary engines while docked at the port. Their engines have also powered shipboard cranes used to unload cargo, as the Port of Hueneme doesn't have overhead cranes. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/feb/28/port-of-hueneme-to-curb-ships-diesel-pollution/?print=1 Port Truckers Seek Emissions Rule Delay. Drayage trucking companies that serve the Port of Oakland, which use primarily owner-operators, are seeking support to delay a California Air Resources Board mandate that requires trucks to be retrofitted with nitrogen oxide-reduction equipment by 2014. A trade group representing port truck operators estimates that without a postponement in the NOx requirement 4,400 trucks of 1994-2006 model years would have to be replaced with 2007 or newer models by January 2014. Posted. http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=86301 GREEN ENERGY Rush to Renewable Energy Generates 'Enormous' Financial Questions in Europe. LONDON -- The spectacular growth in recent years in the number and size of renewable energy sources across the European Union -- particularly wind and solar power -- driven by high subsidies and government rhetoric on climate change has left the national electricity grids scrambling to cope. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/03/01/01climatewire-rush-to-renewable-energy-generates-enormous-64885.html?scp=10&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Going Green With Exchange-Traded Funds. Exchange traded funds, or ETFs as they are commonly known, are investment funds that are traded on a stock exchange. Investors have a wide variety of ETFs from which to choose, from those that track a major market Index to ETFs that track a basket of foreign currencies. Another type of exchange traded funds are green ETFs, or those that focus on companies that support or are directly involved with environmentally responsible technologies, such as the development of alternative energy or the manufacturing of green technology equipment and devices. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/02/28/investopedia6194.DTL&type=printable The Governator Goes Green. Arnold Schwarzenegger told you he’d be back. Just months removed from a raucous seven years as California governor, the global warming gladiator is about to hopscotch around the planet in his new role as a green technology cheerleader. Schwarzenegger will kick off his world tour Tuesday at an Energy Department-sponsored conference in suburban Washington, where he will try to connect the dots between energy policy and Hollywood stars who once doubted the benefits of weightlifting. Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=6EFD25DB-9593-644D-B85F41B37FDA080F House Dem Leaders Push For End To Oil Subsidies, Promote Clean Energy. House Democrats reaffirmed President Obama's call to end oil industry subsidies yesterday during a hearing that party leaders called as part of their effort to present an alternative to the GOP's economic agenda. "There are no more critical challenges facing this Congress than these two: creating jobs and reducing the deficit," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), calling for "smart investments in clean energy industries that will create new jobs for America's workers." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/print/2011/03/01/5 Calif. Prods Local Government To End Snarl Of Rules Delaying Renewables Permits. California is looking to local governments to deliver the latest salvo in the fight against labyrinthine permitting processes. A patchwork of regulations that are unevenly enforced even within individual cities is adding weeks and months to solar installers' schedules. The California Energy Commission called Feb. 1 for suggestions on how to encourage local governments to improve their oversight of renewable projects in their jurisdictions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/01/5 Schwarzenegger Delivers Muscular Pitch For Clean Energy In DOE Stemwinder. U.S. energy policy should move beyond the debate over global warming to sell a clean energy policy based on the economic, health and other benefits it can offer, former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told a Department of Energy gathering today. "Let's face it: If we haven't convinced the skeptics yet, we are not going to," the Republican told an annual meeting of scientists and innovation funders linked with the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/01/1 VEHICLES Carmakers Focus On Green Power As Fuel Costs Rise. Geneva (AP) — Just when carmakers thought it safe to roll out new models in the wake of the economic crisis — 170 premiers are advertised for the Geneva Auto Show opening this week — a spike in fuel prices has cast a new shadow over the industry and redoubled attention on green technologies. Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday it is boosting its offering of low-emissions technologies and will have five alternative powertrains to market in Europe by 2013. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iV6b3IHDT8Nzl40G6L4u7FL6tT0A?docId=7056dac59e4b4a4aafff35e226e96dd4 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/01/AR2011030101993.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/02/28/2289794/rising-fuel-price-casts-shadow.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/02/28/1576600/rising-fuel-price-casts-shadow.html City’s Lengthy Push for Hybrid-Engine Taxicabs Hits a Legal Dead End. The Bloomberg administration has banned cars from parts of Broadway, prohibited smoking in public parks and cracked down on fats and salts in restaurants. But City Hall’s march toward better living, whether its citizens want it or not, may have finally met a yellow-hued Waterloo. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/nyregion/01taxi.html?scp=8&sq=climate%20change&st=cse OPINION TOMEKA POWELL: Crying wolf about over-regulation. Residents of the San Joaquin Valley continue to suffer the health effects of poor air quality, yet some industry groups are calling for the elimination of regulations that protect the public. Over the past 40 years, industry representatives have made claims about the adverse impacts from environmental regulations -- from phasing out chlorofluorocarbons to putting catalytic converters on vehicles to appliance efficiency standards -- that failed to materialize. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/community/x722101470/TOMEKA-POWELL-Crying-wolf-about-over-regulation BLOGS A Home for Captured Carbon Dioxide. FutureGen, the Energy Department’s on-again, off-again pilot project for capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants, has chosen a place to put this greenhouse gas: in Morgan County, Ill., about 32 miles from a power plant in Meredosia, Ill., that was chosen for the project. Ameren the FutureGen project would ship carbon dioxide by pipeline from this power plant in Meredosia, Ill., and inject it into a porous layer of rock. The site must still pass an environmental review and, perhaps more important, the government’s policy must be maintained long enough to get the project done. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/choosing-a-home-for-captured-carbon-dioxide/?pagemode=print The East Anglia Climate Snatch – Not (Yet) a ‘Crime’. David Roberts at Grist has posted a deconstruct of the machinations of professional climate deniers, the failures of the press and the staining of climate scientists’ reputations in the wake of “ Climategate.” There’s plenty worth exploring in his analysis, but one specific point needs to be rebutted right off the bat — his contention that the media, including yours truly, were wrong not to call a crime a crime. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/the-east-anglia-climate-snatch-not-yet-a-crime/ Rolls-Royce Reveals Electric Phantom. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars released a photo of the 102EX, an electric-powered version of its Phantom ultra-luxury sedan that the company plans to unveil during the Geneva Motor Show today at 10 a.m. ET. The car, also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric or EE, is meant to test not only the feasibility of battery power for an outsize luxury car, but to help gauge potential acceptance of electric cars among longtime customers and potential new buyers. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/02/28/rolls-royce-reveals-electric-phantom/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2011 12:21:32 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 2, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 2, 2011. 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 Study: Cleaner Air Could Add Years To Your Life. Reducing air pollution in major European cities could add 22 months to local life expectancy and save 31.5 billion euros ($43.4 billion) in health costs and work absenteeism, concludes a European Commission-funded study released Wednesday. The nearly three-year study found such health and economic savings could result if fine particulate pollution was reduced to the level recommended by the World Health Organization, which is 10 micrograms per cubic meter. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/03/air-pollution-life-expectancy/1 CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Change To Drive Up Food Prices – Expert. Canberra - Global food prices are likely to keep rising as production struggles to match demand and extreme weather events become more frequent, a climate-change advisor to the Australian government said on Wednesday. Ross Garnaut told an agricultural outlook conference that more severe weather events were inevitable; given climate change was "already in the system". "There is going to be a growing intensity of adverse weather events so there is a need to respond to this," he said. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/sns-rt-farm-weatherl3e7e204v-20110302,0,3548180,print.story Japan Wants New CO2 Offset Scheme To Complement U.N. * Japan wants bilateral deals to offset emissions* Existing U.N. offset scheme needs improvement -envoy* U.N. climate official wary of bilateral schemes. Japan's idea for a new carbon offset scheme would complement an existing U.N. mechanism and make it easier for developing countries to access clean-energy technology from Japan, a senior climate envoy said on Wednesday. Japan has pressed ahead with plans for bilateral deals in which it invests in clean energy projects in developing countries, in exchange for credits to meet part of targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at home. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/sns-rt-climatejapantoe72103t-20110302,0,4008105,print.story Reuters Science News Summary. Following is a summary of current science news briefs. Extreme winter weather linked to climate change. Washington (Reuters) - This winter's heavy snowfalls and other extreme storms could well be related to increased moisture in the air due to global climate change, a panel of scientists said on Tuesday. This extra moisture is likely to bring on extraordinary flooding with the onset of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, as deep snowpack melts and expected heavy rains add to seasonal run-off, the scientists said in a telephone briefing. Astronauts install last U.S. room on space station. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/sns-rt-sciencen02207054-20110302,0,7158176,print.story INTERVIEW-CO2 Farming Could Help Australia Brake Emissions * Tree planting, better farm practices key to climate fight * Carbon offsets set to be new source of cash for farmers * Government hopes to launch farm CO2 market in July. Australia's farms and vast outback could help cut or offset up to a fifth of the economy's greenhouse gas emissions, a senior scientist says, as the government struggles to put a price on carbon pollution. The country is a major coal exporter and consumer and is among the highest per-capita producers of planet-warming carbon emissions in the rich world. And those emissions are rising from an economy fuelled by a resources boom and soaring wealth. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/sns-rt-australia-carbonlanl3e7e20ad-20110302,0,1134887,print.story Survey: Pollution Down Because Of Cap And Trade. Amsterdam, Netherlands. The European system for putting a price on carbon emissions is gaining wider acceptance and is making a small dent in the amount big energy companies are polluting, according to a survey of more than 2,500 companies released Tuesday. But the reductions were only marginal, and the cap and trade program adopted six years ago will only begin to bite when it enters its next period in 2013, analysts said. Under the cap-and-trade system, about 12,000 companies are allocated permits that limit how much greenhouse gases they can emit. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/03/01/international/i110345S16.DTL&type=printable House Revisits Battle Over GHG Regulations. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY.) yesterday boiled down the highly polarized energy debate to six words: "fossil fuels bad, clean energy good." In reality, the landscape is more complex, he said. Coal will still be needed in the future, even as green energy solutions, natural gas and nuclear power become part of the mix. Despite the intricacies of the debate before the House Energy and Commerce Committee yesterday, Republicans and Democrats struck familiar notes. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/02/2 Understanding Future Climate -- Between A Rock And A Hot Place. The keys to understanding future climate change may be locked in rocks and sediments that act as records of conditions millions or billions of years ago, the National Academy of Sciences said yesterday. Without steep cuts to the world's greenhouse gas output, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could soar by the end of the century to a level not seen for 34 million years. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/02/3 Carbon Traders See Europe's Emissions Trading System Making Progress, Despite Thefts. Amsterdam -- A majority of carbon market participants say the European Union's Emissions Trading System (ETS) has already reduced carbon pollution. The perception of the market's maturity and efficiency has improved since last year, they say, despite well-publicized instances of thefts of carbon permits, according to a yearly survey conducted by Thomson Reuters Point Carbon. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/02/6 FUELS Ethanol Law Reform Could Save $5.7 Billion Per Year: GAO. Washington (Reuters) - Reform of U.S. ethanol incentives could save up to $5.7 billion a year, a congressional watchdog said on Tuesday as ethanol critics called on Congress to let the tax breaks expire at the end of this year. In an examination of federal spending, the Government Accountability Office said the ethanol tax credit and a federal law requiring use of biofuels "can be duplicative ... and can result in substantial loss of revenue." Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/01/us-usa-ethanol-idUSTRE7207XV20110301 SOFTS-Sugar Jumps On Ethanol Outlook, Cocoa Consolidates. New York/London. Sugar futures shot up Wednesday due to strong oil prices which could prompt top producer Brazil to funnel more cane into ethanol and further exacerbating already tight supplies in the market. Brent crude edged closer to 2-1/2-year highs on as Libyanleader Muammar Gaddafi vowed to resist to the end a rebellion against his regime and his top oil official warned of higher oil prices. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/sns-rt-markets-softs-updatlde7211dp-20110302,0,737078,print.story Industry Foes Push To End Subsidies As Trade Group Decries EPA Report. An odd-bedfellows coalition of ethanol opponents yesterday called on lawmakers to drop the most expensive subsidies for corn ethanol, by letting a multibillion-dollar tax credit expire and turning away industry calls for new infrastructure spending that would support expanded use of existing biofuels. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/02/15 GREEN ENERGY Terra Firma Capital May Invest Almost $700 Million in Clean Energy in 2011. Guy Hands’s Terra Firma Capital Partners Ltd. may invest as much as 500 million euros ($692 million) in clean energy this year as low interest rates and rising oil prices make the industry more attractive. The British private equity firm’s founder said he earmarked 300 million euros to 500 million euros for renewable energy in his TFCP III fund, which raised 5.4 billion euros in 2007. Hands, 51, is looking at onshore wind projects and anaerobic digestion technology, which converts waste to energy. “Clean energy was bubble-like in the U.S. about five years ago,” Hands said in an interview in the Channel Islands. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-02/guy-hands-earmarks-692-million-for-clean-energy-investments-as-oil-jumps.html VEHICLES Coda Automative Reaffirms Goal of Selling Electric Cars From Second Half. Coda Automotive Inc., the electric carmaker backed by billionaire Philip Falcone, reaffirmed its on schedule to starting sales of its electric car in the second half of this year in California. The cars will be sold at an “unbelievable value,” Chief Executive Officer Philip Murtaugh said at a briefing in Beijing today. “We only have one car to worry about. It will keep us completely focused on the electric-vehicle business.” Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-02/coda-automative-reaffirms-goal-of-selling-electric-cars-from-second-half.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703559604576175862051307644.html http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hgHbM4L7NJcQg8Ufias8YEMCUpEQ?docId=6e946ae6149d453b9ec3802e3b9eaf15 http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/03/02/business-as-china-us-electric-cars_8333719.html California Firm To Sell China-Made Electric Cars. Beijing -- A startup California developer of electric cars said Wednesday its first model will be manufactured in China and go on sale in the United States this year. CODA Automotive Inc.'s four-door sedan will be produced by a Chinese partner based on one of its models that has been adapted for electric drive and to meet U.S. safety standards, said CODA's CEO, Philip F. Murtaugh. He said CODA will produce batteries in China with another partner and supply technology and engineering skills. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/02/v-print/3442510/california-firm-to-sell-china.html Ford Recalls Vehicles Over Fuel Leaks. Washington -- Ford Motor Co. on Wednesday recalled about 35,000 pickup trucks and crossover vehicles in the U.S. and Canada because of possible fuel leaks and electrical shorts that could lead to fires. Ford said the recall includes about 25,000 2010 Ranger pickups and involves fixing potential problems with the fuel line that could lead to a fuel leak and a fire. Separately, Ford is recalling more than 9,000 trucks and crossovers to fix a software problem that could lead to an electrical short and overheating, potentially causing a fire. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/02/v-print/3443075/ford-recalls-vehicles-over-fuel.html Calif.’s Global Warming Targets May Cut Light Truck Sales. Automakers may forego as much as $4 billion a year in light truck sales to prevent states led by California from setting their own mileage standards, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing that automakers boost the average fuel economy of their fleets to 47 to 62 mpg by 2025. Last fall, EPA announced the first-ever standards to improve fuel efficiency of heavy-duty trucks and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are scheduled to take effect in the 2014 model year, with a second round of targets in place in 2018. Posted. http://www.ttnews.com/articles/printnews.aspx?storyid=26214 With Calif. Likely To Set U.S. Sales Pace, Questions Arise About Grid Capacity. Californians are poised to buy more electric cars over the next four years than the next three state markets combined, according to a study from the Center for Automotive Research. By 2015, California should be selling close to 35,000 pure electrics and plug-in electrics each year, with more than 110,000 such vehicles registered and on the road. That compares to fewer than 26,000 total registrations by 2015 in Texas, New York and Florida combined. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/02/2 MISCELLANEOUS GAO Audit Hits Agencies for Uncoordinated, Inefficient Programs. Despite U.S. EPA and six other federal agencies spending more than $1.4 billion to provide clean drinking water in the U.S.-Mexico border region, the effort remains ineffective. That is just one finding in a new report today from the Government Accountability Office, which released the first of what will be an annual list of duplicative government programs. The report (pdf), which GAO said is not meant to be a comprehensive list, identifies 34 areas where federal agencies have overlapping objectives or provide similar services to the same populations. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/03/01/01greenwire-gao-audit-hits-agencies-for-uncoordinated-ineff-2671.html?pagewanted=print BLOGS Cal. Climate Zombies On Mars. The media has largely lost interest in the so-called "controversy" over climate science, probably because there more stories about unusual weather, failed crops and Pacific islanders decamping for terra firma. But denial persists — particularly in the House of Representatives, where "climate zombies" abound. California's own Dana Rohrabacher (R-Riverside) decided yesterday to hash (tag) it out with the Union of Concerned Scientists. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=84095 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 13:00:54 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 3, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 3, 2011. 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 Obama Administration Defends Clean Air Act. Washington - The Obama administration lashed back Wednesday at GOP efforts to curb federal air pollution regulations, arguing that clear skies laws save lives and help the nation's struggling economy. Touting new estimates of the fiscal and public health benefits of the Clean Air Act, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson vowed to press forward with new regulations being sought in accordance with the landmark bill. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_air03.27d37c5.html Marin Again Leads Bay Area In Smoke Complaints. Marin once again led Bay Area counties in the number of complaints about wood smoke on Spare the Air winter days, according to data released Wednesday by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. This was the third year the district cracked down on people who burn wood on days when weather conditions make it likely smoke will hang in the air and cause particulate pollution, making it hard for some people to breathe. Posted. http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_17522236?source=most_viewed CLIMATE CHANGE California Cap-and-Trade Faces Potential Hurdle. San Francisco—California's cap-and-trade program is being threatened by groups of local residents, even after the ambitious climate plan survived an electoral challenge in November. Communities For A Better Environment, California Communities Against Toxics, Society For Positive Action and other groups and individuals have sued state regulators, claiming the climate plan won't reduce pollution. The plaintiffs argue that industrial facilities should cut their actual emissions, rather than trade rights to pollute. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703300904576178431416877032.html U.N.: Work On Climate Pacts To Start Next Month. Tokyo - Work on implementing recent climate agreements, including a new green fund, will start next month despite wrangling over the future of the Kyoto Protocol, a top U.N. official said on Thursday. Christiana Figueres, head of the U.N. climate change secretariat, said the Green Climate Fund as well as the work agenda for this year's U.N. climate talks will be discussed at a ministerial meeting hosted by Mexico in March. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/03/us-climate-un-idUSTRE7221WN20110303 EPA Carbon Rules Would Be Blocked Under U.S. Bill Readied by Republicans. Legislation that would bar the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases will be introduced as early as today by Republicans in Congress with the support of some Democrats. Matching bills by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton of Michigan and Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma, both Republicans, would bar the EPA from mandating emission limits from factories and power plants, while allowing a previous agreement the Obama administration reached with automakers to cut vehicle tailpipe emissions. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-02/epa-chief-jackson-urges-u-s-lawmaker-not-to-slash-her-agency-s-funding.html 3 Dems Join GOP Fight To Block EPA Climate Rules. Washington -- Three Democrats are joining a Republican effort in the House to block the Environmental Protection Agency from reducing the gases blamed for global warming. Rep. Nick Rahall of West Virginia, Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota, and Rep. Dan Boren of Oklahoma will sponsor a bill drafted by Republicans that bars the EPA from using federal law to control greenhouse gases from power plants, refineries and other industrial facilities. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/03/AR2011030302312.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/03/1581894/dems-join-gop-in-fight-to-block.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_8d6e07c0-eb7e-591e-84ef-66c8b70ff921.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/03/2294461/dems-join-gop-in-fight-to-block.html#storylink=misearch REGION: Worry Over Jet Contrails' Environmental Consequences. Wispy white jet contrails are a familiar sight, a sign of today's considerable air traffic and, to some people, a visible reminder of the environmental threat that comes with it. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_contrails03.278a4da.html Survey Reveals Fluctuating Carbon Market Confidence. Confidence in the global carbon market remains decidedly mixed, with continued optimism about the future of the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) undermined by concerns about the global offsetting market and skepticism that the US will deliver a national carbon market. That is the conclusion of the annual carbon market survey undertaken by analyst Thomson Reuters Point Carbon, which yesterday confirmed that despite recent cyber attacks, confidence in the flagship EU ETS remains relatively high. Posted. http://www.businessgreen.com/print_article/bg/news/2029816/survey-reveals-fluctuating-carbon-market-confidence DIESEL EMISSIONS New Law Requires CARB To Spell Out Fines For Truck, Other Citations. The California Air Resources Board increased air quality violation citations from 1,535 in 2002 to more than 4,000 and $16 million in fines in 2009 – the last full year of data posted by CARB. The state air quality agency’s enforcement activities have drawn the attention of many in the state, leading CARB to recently publish a plan detailing how it will comply with a new law that requires “all relevant circumstances” to be taken into consideration when CARB issues fines. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Mar11/030411/030211-04.shtml GREEN ENERGY Santander Says Clean Energy Mergers May Exceed $55 Billion on New Markets. The pace of clean energy industry mergers may accelerate this year as smaller operators seek buyers that can fund work in developing markets such as Brazil, said Banco Santander SA (SAN), last year’s top takeover adviser. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-03/santander-says-clean-energy-mergers-may-exceed-55-billion-on-new-markets.html Chinese Solar Producers Bid For African Business. Johannesburg (AP) - In a show of commercial muscle that highlights China's growing investment in Africa, Chinese solar power producers dominated exhibits Thursday at an energy conference on a continent where nearly two-thirds of the population lives off the electric grid. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/03/chinese-solar-producers-bid-for-african-business/ City Pushing For Green Home Ordinance. Stockton - City officials hope to improve the energy efficiency of 8,500 homes - nearly 10 percent of Stockton's housing stock - over the next three years, under a draft ordinance set to go before the City Council this month. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110303/A_NEWS/103030324&cid=sitesearch Elias: Is California Getting The Wrong Kind Of Solar? Wrong kind of solar for state? Ex-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made his way to a remote desert location last October, not far from the Interstate 15 freeway that runs between Southern California and Las Vegas. So did U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and bunches of utility executives. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/02/elias-is-california-getting-the-wrong-kind-of/ VEHICLES Supercars and Special Editions Send Mixed Message. Geneva — The 81st Geneva Motor Show, which is billed as a window into the future of a more environmentally responsible and sustainable auto industry, is sending something of a mixed message to the consumer. Is a greener future just around the corner for the automobile? Or is it last call — and while you’re pouring, let’s make it a double — at the horsepower party? Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/03/automobiles/autoshow/03geneva-auto-show-supercars.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=green%20vehicles&st=cse OPINION Opinion: New Year, New Problems In California. The New Year is signaling new economic troubles for Californians, from a source many may not have expected. After the failure of Proposition 23 last November, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Assembly Bill 32) is scheduled to take effect this year. Its implementation is sure to make matters worse for a state economy already brought to its knees by overzealous government. Championed as a “green jobs” creator, AB 32 requires a 30-percent cut in carbon emissions by 2020. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=zj6e1lzgz31wr0&xid=zj5w9jqlqptgz2&done=.zj6e1lzgz3mwr0# SUVs Leased While D.C. Solar-Panel Users Are Left In The Lurch. The District government's decision to kill a program to help residents like me install solar-energy systems and shift the money to cover a tiny portion of its budget debt is deplorable ["In the red, D.C. backs out on aid for green energy," Metro, Feb. 28]. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/02/AR2011030206047.html BLOGS EPA: Proposed House Budget Cuts Would Harm Public Health. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson told a Senate committee Wednesday that a proposal to cut a third of the agency's budget would gut a plan to reduce carbon pollution under the Clean Air Act and undermine efforts to limit water pollution in areas such as the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Posted. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/post-carbon/2011/03/epa_proposed_budget_cuts_would.html Harmonizing” California’s Trecs With AB 32 Cap-And-Trade. Now that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has lifted its moratorium on the use of renewable energy credits (RECs or TRECs) by investor owned electric utilities (IOUs) for compliance with the State’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS), observers may ask themselves this logical question: what is the future of RECs under Assembly Bill 32? Posted. http://www.cleantechblog.com/2011/03/%E2%80%9Charmonizing%E2%80%9D-california%E2%80%99s-trecs-with-ab-32-cap-and-trade.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 11:46:21 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 4, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 4, 2011. 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 Boiler Room Politics. Fake restraint from the EPA as it issues a damaging new rule. Amid an Environmental Protection Agency regulatory spree unprecedented in U.S. history, nothing cleared the benches last year like the so-called boiler rule. Some 62 Senators, 177 House Members and 21 Governors publicly objected, business staged a collective revolt, and the EPA itself was forced to retreat and junk the original rule. No matter how ruinous a regulation, this almost never happens. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703408604576164471769032958.html Foul Odor Sickens Calif Desert Community Of Mecca. Coachella, Calif. -- It's the Mecca everyone wants to make a pilgrimage away from. Complaints of foul odors sickening residents of the California desert community of Mecca have prompted a smog control agency to step up an air monitoring effort on Thursday. The South Coast Air Quality Management District said it has concluded that a waste recycling facility just north of Mecca is the source of the stinky fumes. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/03/AR2011030306884_pf.html Daily Routine Poisons Family With Carbon Monoxide. Sacramento, CA - A buildup of carbon monoxide gas at a South Sacramento house sent an entire family to the hospital Thursday. A grandmother, a 3-year-old child, and an infant who lived at the house on the 2200 block of Pierre Avenue were taken to the hospital with severe poisoning after a carbon monoxide detector went off in the house. The carbon monoxide gas didn't appear to be coming from a household appliance. Posted. http://www.news10.net/news/article.aspx?storyid=126271&provider=top&catid=188 http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/03/1583269/carbon-monoxide-in-home-sends.html http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700115356/Carbon-monoxide-leak-sends-3-to-hospital.html CLIMATE CHANGE U.K. Should Remove EU CO2 Permits to Fix Overlap, Offsetter Says. The U.K. should remove European Union carbon permits from its allocation to factories and power stations to match emission cuts under its proposed Carbon Reduction Commitment program, said an offset company. The so-called CRC program may create 90 million metric tons of reductions in the period from 2011 through 2020, according to a report by London-based Carbon Retirement Ltd. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-04/u-k-should-remove-eu-co2-permits-to-fix-overlap-offsetter-says.html New Anti-EPA Bill Aims to 'Rein in' Agency's Climate Rules Permanently. House Republicans kept up their steady drumbeat against U.S. EPA's greenhouse gas regulations on stationary sources yesterday with legislation that would permanently block the agency from implementing such measures. A bill crafted by House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) was introduced in the House yesterday after it had been floated in draft form last month. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/03/04/04climatewire-new-anti-epa-bill-aims-to-rein-in-agencys-cl-37816.html?pagewanted=print Greenpeace Looks Ahead To S. Africa Climate Talks. Johannesburg -- The South African who heads Greenpeace's international office says his homeland will bring moral authority to its role hosting this year's climate change conference. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/04/AR2011030402070.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/04/1583564/greenpeace-looks-ahead-to-s-africa.html GOP Budget Could Hobble Obama Environment Policy. The Environmental Protection Agency and global warming programs government-wide stand to lose big in the battle over the federal budget. The House already passed its bill to fund the federal government for the rest of this year, and it doesn't just cut EPA programs — it also steamrolls the Obama administration's environmental policy. I can attest to you that this greenhouse gas registry will destroy jobs in Kansas. - Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS). The House bill would slash the EPA budget by nearly a third — more than any other agency. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/03/03/134237203/gop-budget-plans-quash-obama-environment-policy Environmental Regulation As A 'Job Killer' Does Not Hold True, Historically. As congressional legislators spar over U.S. EPA's regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, a common argument arises: It will have a devastating effect on industry and jobs, especially in the aftermath of the financial crisis. However, a group of economists are saying that historical precedents have shown to have little effect on the economy. In fact, environmental regulation can have a positive impact. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/03/04/10 Carbon Traders Press Case For CDM Credits For Carbon Capture Technology. An international business group pushing for the development of greenhouse gas emissions trading programs is hoping to reignite U.S. interest in tackling climate change through the use of global markets. The Geneva-based International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) also wants the United Nations to offer credits for carbon capture and storage projects under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/04/8 More Republicans Believe In 'Climate Change' Over 'Global Warming' Climate change and global warming, two terms often used interchangeably, provoke different responses from people who identify as Republicans, research shows. Republicans are far more skeptical of "global warming" than they are of "climate change," according to a research team led by University of Michigan psychologist Jonathon Schuldt. His team found that 44 percent of Republicans agreed that "global warming" is real, while 60.3 percent of the same sample believed the same about "climate change." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/04/11 FUELS Overfertilizing Corn Undermines Ethanol. Researchers find that when growing corn crops for ethanol, more means less. Rice University scientists and their colleagues have found that when growing corn crops for ethanol, more means less. A new paper in today's online edition of the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science and Technology shows how farmers can save money on fertilizer while they improve their production of feedstock for ethanol and alleviate damage to the environment. Posted. http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/03/04/overfertilizing-corn-undermines-ethanol_print.html USDA Mulls Insurance Program For Biofuel Crop Producers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will soon explore the feasibility of offering crop insurance to producers of biofuel feedstocks ranging from straw to corn stover to woody biomass. This feasibility evaluation, to be funded by the Risk Management Agency, builds upon the USDA's ongoing effort to insure growers of switchgrass, energy cane and camelina. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/03/04/usda-mulls-insurance-program-for-biofuel-crop-producers/print/ GREEN ENERGY The Top 10 Clean-Tech Companies. Companies that make everything from solar panels to renewable-crude oil continue to be big draws for funding from the venture-capital community. But a company that rewards consumers for recycling led The Wall Street Journal's second-annual ranking of venture-backed clean-tech companies. Recyclebank, which provides recycling-rewards programs in 29 states and the U.K., has had a growth spurt since its 2004 launch. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703559604576176473635179098.html Genomatica Bags $45M to Bring Green Chemical to Market. Less than a month after announcing a joint development agreement with Waste Management, Genomatica said Tuesday it has raised $45 million from the trash king and other investors. Genomatica plans to use the funding to complete a demonstration project to prove its green chemistry technology can work on a commercial-scale. The company plans to build and start operating a commercial plant by late 2013. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/01/idUS2250779620110301 Alcoa Says Contested NC Dams Generated $8M Profit. Raleigh, N.C. -- Alcoa Inc. said a series of North Carolina hydroelectric dams the company is fighting to continue operating generated $8 million in profit from electricity sales last year. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/04/1583362/alcoa-says-contested-nc-dams-generated.html Clean-Tech Companies Face Post-Stimulus Scramble For Cash. Santa Barbara, Calif. -- Clean-tech companies looking for cash in the wake of the stimulus will have to go back to their traditional hunting grounds, according to the former Obama administration official who tracked stimulus grants to energy projects. Matt Rogers, who recently stepped down as the Energy Department's stimulus adviser, said at a Wall Street Journal conference here yesterday that the next few years would mark a return to pre-recession funding models for fledgling companies. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/04/16 U.S. Military Links Alternative Energy Research to Lives--and Dollars--Saved. Inventing the future of energy may be the key to improving U.S. national security, economic prosperity and health. National Harbor, Md.—Flexible solar cells now power communications equipment used by Marines fighting in Afghanistan's Helmand Province, enabling them to shed 700 pounds worth of batteries while on foot patrol. But an F-16 fighter jet flying over Miramar training base in Calif. burns 28 gallons of jet fuel a minute with its afterburners engaged while the C-17 cargo consumes 3,000 gallons an hour. Posted. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=alternative-energy-research-saves-lives&print=true VEHICLES Surging Oil Prices Alone Unlikely To Give Needed Jolt To EV Market. The Obama administration has worked hard to drum up interest in electric vehicles through tax credits, research investments and frequent shout-outs from the bully pulpit. But interest in electric cars and other green vehicles may be helped most by events beyond U.S. control. Violence in Libya and unrest throughout the oil-rich Middle East have driven oil prices to the $100-a-barrel range, creating an opportunity for promoters of electric cars and other forms of green transportation to get their message across. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/04/12 MISCELLANEOUS Sacramento Area Shares In Target Environmental Settlement. Several counties in the Sacramento region are among those sharing in a $22.5 million settlement to be paid by Target Corp. for environmental violations at stores statewide. The district attorneys of 21 counties announced Thursday that a California judge has ordered Minnesota-based Target to pay the sum as part of a civil environmental prosecution settlement. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/04/v-print/3448206/sacramento-area-shares-in-target.html OPINION Latest Congressional Attacks on Clean Air Endanger Our Health and Our Economy. On Thursday Representative Fred Upton and Senator Inhofe introduced legislation to block the Environmental Protection Agency's from limiting emissions of carbon dioxide. This is the latest attack in the war against standards that protect Americans from dangerous air pollution. The GOP leadership in the House of Representatives is also trying to use the budget process and policy riders to prevent the EPA from updating safeguards for a list of toxic pollutants. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frances-beinecke/latest-congressional-atta_b_831363.html?view=print BLOGS Electric Utilities Close To Meeting Renewables Goals. The state's three biggest investor-owned utilities, led by Southern California Edison Co., are edging closer to meeting their mandated goal of producing 20% of their electric power from renewable energy sources. Edison at the end of 2010 generated 19.4% of its electricity from wind, solar and geothermal sources, up from 17.4% in 2009, according to a report issued Thursday by the California Public Utilities Commission. Pacific Gas & Electric Co., based in San Francisco, produced 17.7% of its electricity from renewable sources … Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/03/electric-utilities-close-to-meeting-renewable-goals.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 12:39:09 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 7, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 7, 2011. 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 Airlines to Be Second-Biggest Sector in EU CO2-Trading System. Airlines will be the second-largest sector in the European Union’s emissions-trading system, after power generators, when aviation joins next year with a carbon- dioxide limit of 213 million metric tons. The industry-wide cap on airlines aimed at fighting global warming will fall to 208.5 million tons of CO2 a year in 2013 under the decision today by the European Commission, the EU’s regulatory arm in Brussels. The inclusion of aviation in the cap-and-trade system may push up fares. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-07/airline-co2-cap-in-europe-to-start-at-213-million-tons-eu-says.html http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110307-703751.html Blowouts Onshore: Fear, Pollution, Uncertainty. Line Creek Valley, Wyo. -- A gas well blowout in the shadow of Yellowstone National Park spewed a cloud of explosive natural gas, forced evacuations for miles around and polluted the drinking water - and the people who live in Wyoming's Line Creek Valley still wonder four years later if their lives will return to normal. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/05/1585099/blowouts-onshore-fear-pollution.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_036b87e9-0c38-55ea-b425-eb7bdfcae695.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/05/2297470/blowouts-onshore-fear-pollution.html#storylink=misearch More People Getting No-Burn Message. Wood burning restrictions ended this week. But in Stockton, at least, they barely started. Air quality officials outlawed residential fireplace burning in San Joaquin County just seven days this winter, compared with 21 days last year and 24 days the year before that. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110305/A_NEWS/103050330&cid=sitesearch CLIMATE CHANGE Democrats Provide a Counteroffer to GOP Cuts on Energy and Climate. Senate Democrats are seeking to protect energy and climate programs targeted by the House's aggressive budget cuts, a move that accelerates the chambers toward a clash over President Obama's key priorities and a possible government shutdown. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/03/07/07climatewire-democrats-provide-a-counteroffer-to-gop-cuts-23869.html?scp=6&sq=climate%20change&st=cse House GOP Budget Bill Aims To Slash Environmental Regulation. The plan to cut $60 billion from the federal budget targets environmental programs so widely it appears to be as much an ideological gambit as a budgetary one. 'The sheer scope of it is overwhelming,' a UCLA environmental law expert says. The House spending bill passed last month wouldn't just chop $60 billion from the federal budget — it seeks to cut a broad swath through environmental regulation. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-environment-cuts-20110307,0,1706429,print.story Coastal Cities Prepare For Rising Sea Levels. Newport Beach and other communities on California's coast are planning to build up wetlands, construct levees and seawalls or move structures inland as climate change raises sea levels. Cities along California's coastline that for years have dismissed reports of climate change or lagged in preparing for rising sea levels are now making plans to fortify their beaches, harbors and waterfronts. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-newport-sea-levels-20110306,0,3772522,print.story EU Won't Seek New CO2 Goal, Permit Set-Aside, Draft Shows. (Adds carbon prices in fifth paragraph.) -- The European Union will recommend that the bloc focus on achieving its existing emission-reduction targets and won't propose setting aside any carbon allowances in 2013, according to a draft document. The European Commission, the EU regulator, will present a policy paper tomorrow to map the bloc's goal for saving energy and cutting greenhouse gases through 2050. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/03/07/bloomberg1376-LHOK5S0D9L3501-103PHUQLCQSLFD1U3U7ROPG3HP.DTL REDLANDS: Council Adopts Green Practices Plan. A plan that will guide Redlands' decision-makers toward policies that will reduce the community's contribution to climate change has been unanimously adopted by the City Council. The plan focuses on 10 sustainability themes, with goals and recommended actions to achieve them, that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote growth based on sustainable business practices and use of energy-efficient and clean technologies and products. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_D_nsustain06.27e2bc8.html DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB Reefer Grace Period Expires April 1. Reefer haulers going into the Golden State with 2003 model year reefers must meet new emissions standards by the end of this month. A 90-day grace period for reefer owners is set to expire in California, the state’s air quality agency announced this week. By March 31, all model year 2003 reefer engines must meet new emission control standards under the California Air Resources Board’s Transportation Refrigeration Unit regulation. The grace period was approved during CARB’s November 2010 board hearing after some reefer owners asked for more time to bring 2003 reefers into compliance. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Mar11/030411/030411-03.shtml FUELS Corn Stocks To Rise If Ethanol Tax Credit Cut: FAPRI. Stockpiles of U.S. corn would begin to rebuild if Congress allows tax credits for ethanol expire at the end of the year, a key group of economists at the University of Missouri said on Monday. The university's Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, or FAPRI, forecast corn stocks at the end of the 2011/12 marketing year of 1.247 billion bushels, 44 percent above the 865 million bushels forecast by the U.S. Agriculture Department, which assumed the subsidy will continue. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/07/businesspro-us-crops-usa-fapri-idUSTRE7264JO20110307 Bill To Handcuff EPA Regs A Mixed Bag For Biofuels Industry. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) negotiated some concessions for his home state's corn ethanol industry before he signed on to a bill last week that would bar U.S. EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions -- but not as many as he won two years ago before agreeing to support a climate change bill. In 2009, the then-chairman of the House Agriculture Committee was instrumental in adding language to a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade bill that would have allowed corn ethanol to qualify for a larger share of the renewable fuel standard by tweaking the way the carbon footprint of various fuels is calculated. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/print/2011/03/07/1 Industry Feels Squeeze As Congress Tightens Belt. It's been a rough season for corn ethanol on Capitol Hill. A winter that began with a tougher-than-expected battle to win congressional approval for a one-year extension of the ethanol blenders' tax credit is delivering more harsh doses of reality to an industry that benefits from notable government support. With a House Republican majority newly emboldened to trim ethanol mandates and a bipartisan Senate majority eyeing subsidy reform, the political obstacles facing conventional biofuels appear steeper than ever. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/07/1 U.C.L.A. Research Uses Proteins For Biofuel Production. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles studied the feasibility of using proteins for biofuel production, creating a new alternative for biomass materials. The research done by the university’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science regarding proteins is the first to demonstrate the feasibility of using protein as a carbon source for energy production, explained Kwang Myung Cho, co-author of the study and a U.C.L.A. engineering research scientist. Posted. http://www.ecoseed.org/en/biomass/article/11-biomass/9210-u-c-l-a-research-uses-proteins-for-biofuel-production GREEN ENERGY Wind Project Creates Many Jobs. A recent guest column from Mr. Lou Desmond ("The green-energy jobs hoax," Feb. 24) that was critical of renewable energy made statements about its ability to create local jobs that was both misleading to your readers and simply not accurate. The guest column stated as a fact that the Hatchet Ridge wind project in Shasta County has created only two permanent jobs and utilized a construction crew from out of state. Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/pointofview/ci_17546249 VEHICLES Honda Recalling Civic Hybrids Over Engine Stalling. Washington -- Honda Motor is recalling more than 35,000 Civic hybrids in the United States to fix a problem with the electrical system that could cause the headlights to turn off or the engine to stall. Honda says the recall covers 2006-2007 model year Civic hybrids. The company says the voltage converter that relays power from the motor assist system to the vehicle's electrical components could fail. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/cars/ci_17555759?nclick_check=1 AUTOS: Electric-Charging-Station Firms Plug Into Public Money. Chicago ---- When politicians tout the benefits of public subsidies for electric vehicles, the argument inevitably comes down to two words: Chicken. Egg. It works like this: Consumers won't buy electric vehicles without somewhere to charge them. But no one will build charging stations without electric vehicles to use them. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_5347919e-fb56-5029-9174-5a51b36000e1.html Amid Budget Crisis, Brown Wants $63M For Cleaner Caltrans Vehicles. Nestled within Gov. Jerry Brown's program-slashing budget proposal lies a $63 million request to update and replace the Caltrans car fleet with vehicles that comply with California's clean air regulations, an expenditure [PDF] that the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office thinks is imprudent. Brown has cut state employee car usage, taxpayer-funded cell phones and official trinkets to address a $25 billion budget gap. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/amid-budget-crisis-brown-wants-63m-cleaner-caltrans-vehicles-9049 MISCELLANEOUS True Cost Of Clothing - On The Environment. Bay Area residents pride themselves on eating organically grown food, driving hybrid cars, choosing reusable bags over paper or plastic, and drying their clothes on a line outside when the weather turns warm. But many may not consider the clothes themselves, and the energy and natural resources involved to make that shirt or favorite pair of jeans. The new exhibition "Eco Chic: Towards Sustainable Swedish Fashion" at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art makes visitors ponder those questions and more. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/06/LVL41HS7BU.DTL&type=printable Hearing To Begin In Conocophillips Complaints. It was one of Contra Costa's most notorious industrial chemical releases. In August 1994, a refinery tower leak developed and for 16 days a toxic mist sprayed over Crockett and Rodeo while managers kept pushing to meet gasoline production goals. Up to 225 tons of a sticky substance called Catacarb spewed out, settling on cars, gardens and property in Rodeo and Crockett. Six thousand people said they were sickened, and the company that owned the refinery then, Unocal, eventually agreed to pay them $80 million. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/environment/ci_17547211?nclick_check=1 Alpha Buys Stake In 'Green' Cement Company. Abingdon, Va. (AP) - Mine operator Alpha Natural Resources says it's buying a stake in a company that makes environmentally friendly cement from fly ash left over from burning coal. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/07/alpha-buys-stake-in-green-cement-company/ Eye On The Environment: Termite Control Doesn't Have To Be Toxic. What can environmentalists do when their house is infested with termites? Some people refuse to be pestered by pests and choose to live with the slow destruction of their home's wood until they move. A typical dry-wood termite colony consumes one pound of wood per year and often travels more than 12 inches a year, so ignoring termites for too long is not really a green option. At some point, the house must be saved, and a lot of demolition and reconstruction will be required to make up for years of neglect. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/05/termite-control-doesnt-have-to-be-toxic/ OPINION Stopping Coal At The Coast. Plans to export more coal to China will only hurt efforts to combat climate change. This year an epic fight is brewing along the West Coast, one that may make as much difference to the future of our climate as anything that happens in Washington, D.C., and one that may also serve as a decisive battle in defining the U.S. relationship with China. Nature left a lot of coal in the Powder River Basin of southeast Montana and northeast Wyoming. The region produces as much coal as all of Appalachia; its Black Thunder Mine is the nation's largest. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-mckibben-coal-20110305,0,5200441,print.story Making Green Green. Green Collar Movers and Shakers Gather for Conference on the South Coast. The Wall Street Journal last week wrapped up its ECO:nomics conference which brought together players in a burgeoning green collar sector at the swanky Bacara Resort in Goleta. The title of the event plays on the shared Greek etymology of “ecology” and “economy,” (which means “dwelling” or “house”), and if there was one overarching threat to our collective household that the event’s participants had in mind, it was global warming. Posted. http://www.independent.com/news/2011/mar/07/making-green-green/?print BLOGS For Electric Car Owners, a Way to Share Juice. First there was music sharing and then car sharing. Now get ready for plug sharing. Xatori, a Silicon Valley software start-up, aims to create a network of electric car enthusiasts who make their household power outlets and home chargers available for drivers who need to top off their battery or who find themselves out of range of the few public-charging stations currently available. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/07/for-electric-car-owners-a-way-to-share-juice/ Is Inhofe "Cool"? Catching up on items that should not have gone unnoticed.… On March 2, the Competitive Enterprise Institute and Freedom Action honored Sen. James M. Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican, with what they called the “Coolest Head Award,” for keeping his wits and his cool amidst all the hot air coming from global warming alarmists. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2011/mar/6/inhofe-cool/ Got An Outlet? An I-Phone App Connects Electric Car Owners With Plugs. Electrical outlets are everywhere. Finding and accessing them to recharge electric vehicles, however, is another issue. While the U.S. government has invested $115 million to build 15,000 public chargers across the country, they are only starting to be installed. Even then, there could be a shortage of available public plugs for EV drivers, the ranks of whom are expected to swell to 1 million by 2015. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/03/plugshare-electric-cars-outlets.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Last Coal Plant In Pacific Northwest To Shut Down Starting In 2020. The last coal-fired power plant in the Pacific Northwest will shut down completely by 2025 under an agreement announced Saturday by Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire. The first boiler of TransAlta's 1,460-megawatt plant in Centralia, Wash., is set to go offline in 2020 and the second in 2025. “This agreement is sending a message that states are getting serious about combating global-warming pollution and are taking steps to open up markets for home-grown clean energy,” said Bruce Nilles … Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/03/last-coal-plant-in-pacific-northwest-to-shut-beginning-2020.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 State May Scale Back Climate Change Effort. The state Senate's utilities committee plans to vote today on a bill that backpedals on state legislation to fight global warming, but continues allowing utilities to charge customers for federal climate change rules. The legislation, SB 762, and its House version, HB 4117, would repeal a part of state law requiring the state's Department of Environmental Protection to create new "cap and trade" rules to reduce air pollution. Posted. http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/business/realestate/housekeys/blog/2011/03/utility_customers_could_pay_to.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2011 13:23:49 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 8, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 8, 2011. California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 8, 2011. 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 EPA Tells Oklahoma Utilities To Clean Coal Plants. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants OG&E Corp and American Electric Power Co Inc (AEP) to reduce air pollution at three coal-fired power plants in Oklahoma or convert the facilities to natural gas. The EPA acted because the state's plan did not adequately reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions enough to meet the regional haze requirements under the Clean Air ActPosted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/08/us-utilities-epa-oklahoma-coal-idUSTRE72742J20110308 Report: U.S. Coal Power Plants Emit Toxic Air Pollutants. Coal-burning power plants release more toxic air pollutants such as arsenic and lead than any other U.S. industrial pollution source, says a report Tuesday by the American Lung Association. The report comes as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gets ready to propose rules to address this pollution, which it's required to do by March 16. Environmental and health-care groups, including the ALA, are pushing for strict limits on pollutants. The industry seeks more flexibility. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/03/coal-power-plants-air-pollution/1 EPA Gives OK To California Ban On Dry Cleaning Chemical. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has given the green light to California’s ban on a chemical many dry cleaners use. Twenty years ago, California’s Air Resources Board identified perchloroethylene, or PERC, as a toxic air contaminant. For decades, though, dry cleaners relied on that solvent. Scientists say it’s a possible carcinogen that can cause neurological problems in humans and liver and kidney damage in rodents. California has ordered dry cleaners to phase out the use of PERC by a dozen years from now. Posted. http://www.scpr.org/news/2011/03/07/epa-gives-ok-california-ban-perc/ Wyoming Plagued By Big-City Problem: Smog. Wyoming, famous for its crisp mountain air and breathtaking, far-as-the-eye-can-see vistas, is looking a lot like smoggy Los Angeles these days because of a boom in natural gas drilling. Folks who live near the gas fields in the western part of this outdoorsy state are complaining of watery eyes, shortness of breath and bloody noses because of ozone levels that have exceeded what people in L.A. and other major cities wheeze through on their worst pollution days. Posted. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=134364421 CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Capture Projects Up In 2010, Despite Costs. OSLO, March 8 (Reuters) - The number of projects for capturing greenhouse gases from power plants and factories edged up in 2010 despite soaring costs and slow progress in U.N.-led efforts to slow climate change, a study showed on Tuesday. The focus of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects also shifted more to the United States from Europe even though U.S. President Barack Obama has failed to persuade the Senate to legislate caps on U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, it said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/08/climate-carbon-idUSLDE7271AK20110308 EU Urges Energy Savings to Top Carbon Target, Offers to Set Aside Permits. The European Union urged governments and businesses to make energy efficiency a higher priority to help the bloc exceed its goal of cutting carbon by 20 percent, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and boost security of supplies. The EU may cut greenhouse gases 25 percent by 2020 compared with 1990, as long as it steps up energy-saving measures, the European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, said in a policy paper published today in Strasbourg, France. The document maps a path for an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gases in 2050. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-08/eu-urges-energy-savings-to-top-carbon-target-offers-to-set-aside-permits.htmlhttp://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gjtQmofh0BIw3ZiYQo7a6IC6FqvA?docId=a300fdf6329e4e2fa8b9a76350005161 Snubbing Skeptics Threatens to Intensify Climate War, Study Says. Listening to climate change doubters, and not dismissing them, might avert a "logic schism" similar to the political stalemate on abortion, according to a new paper involving research on skeptics. The paper (pdf) portrays doubters as being at a disadvantage. The majority of climate research comes from the fields of physical science, engineering and economics -- largely depicting rational outcomes in a world dominated by the view that the Earth is warming, and that something needs to be done about it. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/03/08/08climatewire-snubbing-skeptics-threatens-to-intensify-cli-27853.html?pagewanted=print CO2 Scrubber Could Recycle Carbon Into Multiple Uses. American company Skyonic Corp. has launched a proposal to build a system that would attach to a British power plant, trap carbon dioxide, and use it to make paper, windows and even shrimp food. The scrubber would trap carbon dioxide and use it to make minerals -- sodium bicarbonates or calcium carbonates. These can be made into as a base to grow algae that shrimp eat, or produce glass and paper. Selling these carbon byproducts could offset the cost of operating the project. "Let capitalism work," said Joe Jones, CEO of Skyonic. "We can recycle the carbon dioxide and displace mining of minerals." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/08/8 'Climate Change' Rings Truer Than 'Global Warming'. American skepticism about whether the world's weather is changing depends partly on wording. More believe in "climate change" than "global warming," a new study by the University of Michigan shows.Three of four people, or 74%, thought the problem was real when it was referred to as climate change, while 68% thought it was real when it was called global warming, according to questions posed by U-M psychologists on a RAND-conducted survey of 2,267 U.S. adults.. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/03/americans-climate-change-global-warming/1 Greens Slam EPA Over Exemption For Emissions Data. U.S. EPA's plan to give businesses another three years to show how they calculate their greenhouse gas emissions will weaken the agency's new reporting requirements and could be illegal, environmental groups said before yesterday's deadline to comment on the proposal. Under the new reporting program, which was ordered by Congress in 2007, the largest pollution sources now have to gather data on their greenhouse gas emissions and make it available to the public. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/08/3 Calif. Will Launch Emissions Trades With At Least One Partner. California's greenhouse gas trading program for industrial emitters could start with even fewer trading partners than expected, the state's air pollution chief said last week. "I predict in January 2012 we will be starting a program and will have at least one other trading partner with whom we are fully linked by the time we start the program," California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols told an audience of business executives at The Wall Street Journal's ECO:nomics conference in Santa Barbara. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/08/6 FUELS Monsanto Backs Algae Startup Sapphire Energy. Agriculture and genetics giant Monsanto has made its bet on algae. On Tuesday Monsanto announced that it has made an equity investment in, and developed a partnership with, algae startup Sapphire Energy. Founded in 2007, Sapphire Energy uses synthetic biology to make a green crude out of algae that can be turned into gas, diesel or jet fuel. Monsanto wants access to Sapphire’s genetic research technology to use it for its own agricultural development. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/08/idUS83048293820110308 CORRECT: German Economy Minister: No Halt To Introduction Of E10 Fuel. ("German Economy Minister: No Halt To Introduction Of E10 Fuel," at 1207 GMT, misstated the ethanol content in E5 fuel in the third paragraph. The correct version follows:) -German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said Tuesday that he doesn't expect a halt to the introduction of E10 gasoline in Germany, a gasoline fuel containing a 10% ethanol blend to meet European Union biofuel targets. Bruederle later Tuesday will meet Germany's ministers for the environment and agriculture, as well as representatives from the fuel and automotive industries, to discuss problems with the introduction of the fuel. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110308-708993.html Bill to Handcuff EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regs a Mixed Bag for Biofuels Industry. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) negotiated some concessions for his home state's corn ethanol industry before he signed on to a bill last week that would bar U.S. EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions -- but not as many as he won two years ago before agreeing to support a climate change bill. In 2009, the then-chairman of the House Agriculture Committee was instrumental in adding language to a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade bill that would have allowed corn ethanol to qualify for a larger share of the renewable fuel standard by tweaking the way the carbon footprint of various fuels is calculated. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/03/07/07greenwire-bill-to-handcuff-epas-greenhouse-gas-regs-a-mixe-693.html?pagewanted=print Ethanol Industry Feels Squeeze as Congress Tightens Belt. It's been a rough season for corn ethanol on Capitol Hill. A winter that began with a tougher-than-expected battle to win congressional approval for a one-year extension of the ethanol blenders' tax credit is delivering more harsh doses of reality to an industry that benefits from notable government support. With a House Republican majority newly emboldened to trim ethanol mandates and a bipartisan Senate majority eyeing subsidy reform, the political obstacles facing conventional biofuels appear steeper than ever. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/03/07/07greenwire-ethanol-industry-feels-squeeze-as-congress-tig-30519.html?pagewanted=print Scientists Get Isobutanol From Plants For First Time. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory may have come across two breakthroughs in biofuels production that could open doors to the commercialization of cleaner-burning substitutes for gasoline and diesel. A team led by James Liao, of UCLA, has published a study that describes how researchers, armed with grants from the U.S. Energy Department, may have discovered the means to circumvent many of the problems encountered in biofuels processing. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/08/5 Breakthrough In Biofuels Reported. Bacteria are being used to convert plant material – including typical farm waste -- directly into isobutanol, which can be burned in regular car engines with a heat value higher than ethanol and similar to gasoline, the U.S. Department of Energy says. "Today's announcement is yet another sign of the rapid progress we are making in developing the next generation of biofuels that can help reduce our oil dependence," says U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/templates/print.cfm?ID=17824 U.S. Department of Energy Announces New Biofuel to Replace Gasoline. Things are moving along at a nice clip in the world of biofuel research, so it seems like news of another “breakthrough” is barely enough to provoke a yawn. Well, this latest piece of news sure stands out from the crowd. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has just announced that a research team headed up by the Department’s BioEnergy Science Center has developed a cost effective method for converting woody plants straight into isobutanol, which can be used in conventional car engines just as gasoline. Biofuel and Green Jobs, Too. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2011/03/08/u-s-department-of-energy-announces-new-biofuel-to-replace-gasoline/ GREEN ENERGY Procter & Gamble Commits to 100 Percent Green Building. Procter & Gamble announced that all new company facilities will be designed to meet green building standards as certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) LEED program. LEED is a widespread program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. P&G's Taicang plant in China, which broke ground last week, is the first P&G manufacturing site to pursue LEED certification, with several additional new P&G sites currently working toward the same distinction globally. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=US226161240120110308 Which U.S. Cities, States LEED In Green Building? The nation's capital isn't just the epicenter of the U.S. government, it also leads U.S. cities and states in green building, new data show. The Obama administration requires new federal buildings meet higher energy-efficiency standards, and one result is that Washington now has far more green-building space per capita -- 25 square feet -- than any of the 50 states, according to the private U.S. Green Building Council. The 2010 data refer to commercial and institutional space (not residential) certified by its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/03/us-cities-states-leed-green-building/1 SDG&E Falls Far Short Of Green-Energy Goal. Electricity accounts for nearly half of greenhouse-gas emissions in the United States. California required power companies to produce 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2010. San Diego Gas & Electric fell far short.The utility blames factors outside of its control for part of its failure to meet the 20-percent deadline at the end of December. The company says a bad wind year across the Western U.S. and poor power production by hydroelectric plants contributed to the failure to meet the target. Posted. http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/mar/08/sdge-falls-far-short-green-energy-goal/ Green Building, Renewable Energy Directories Launched. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) have launched a global library of building energy rating policies. BuildingRating.org aims to create a standard way of comparing the energy performance of buildings, by providing a searchable library of rating and disclosure information. Users of the website can search the energy performance policies of more than 100 countries and jurisdictions to learn how they are being implemented, what types of rating systems they are using to evaluate energy performance, and how policies are impacting markets, the two organizations said. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/03/08/green-building-renewable-energy-directories-launched/ MISCELLANEOUS Calif Tribe Files Lawsuit To Protect Ancient Maze. A Native American tribe has filed a lawsuit against a California agency over a groundwater cleanup plan near Needles, claiming it is harming an ancient maze that members believe is critical for spirits to get to the afterlife. The lawsuit filed in Sacramento on Wednesday is part of a years-long dispute between the Fort Mojave Indian tribe, the Department of Toxic Substances Control and Pacific Gas & Electric. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/03/03/state/n144228S08.DTL&type=printable Are Califonia Firms Closing Or Leaving? More than one in five (21%) of California small-business owners do not expect to be in business in California in three years, according to a recent survey by Small Business California, an advocacy group in San Francisco. It's a number Small Business California President Scott Hague calls "scary." Yes, if California lost a fifth of its small businesses it would be scary. About 83% of California's businesses (78% of Orange County's) have fewer than 10 employees. But here's the question: Are they closing their businesses forever or moving away? Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/common/printer/view.php?db=ocregister&id=291073 BLOGS The Elusive Dream of American Energy Plans. Why does “same as it ever was” keep coming to mind when examining the responses of America’s elected “leaders” to durable challenges — whether confronting deficits and the debt, the glaring lack of alternatives to oil and the risks posed by unabated emissions of greenhouse gases. Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee should be holding a hearing on advancing America’s, and the world’s, energy future by initiating a sustained …Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/the-elusive-dream-of-american-energy-plans/?pagemode=print NASA Launch Failure Is A Blow To Climate Science. The crash of a NASA rocket bearing a sophisticated observation satellite has dealt a major setback to scientific efforts aimed at understanding how humans are affecting Earth’s climate. A nine-story Taurus XL rocket carrying the agency’s Glory satellite was launched early Friday from Vandenburg Air Force base. But it crashed into the Pacific Ocean without reaching orbit, after the satellite’s protective casing failed to open. The satellite carried equipment to help scientists understand how the sun and particles of matter in the atmosphere called aerosols affect Earth’s climate. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/03/nasa-glory-satellite-climate-change-science.html Waxman Angrily Assails G.O.P. ‘Science Deniers’. There are few more powerful forces in nature than Henry Waxman in righteous fury. The California Democrat, scourge of the tobacco industry, the pharmaceutical business, the oil lobby and other malefactors of great wealth, is trying to adjust to his new role in the minority in the House. It is not going well. Mr. Waxman, the erstwhile chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and now the ranking Democrat under its new Republican leadership, is fighting a rearguard action on behalf of health, telecommunications, energy and environmental legislation passed in the last Congress, when Democrats held the majority and he wielded the gavel of arguably the most powerful committee in Congress. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/07/waxman-angrily-assails-g-o-p-science-deniers/?partner=rss&emc=rss Wind Energy’s Overblown Prospects. Unfortunately, wind doesn’t afford the benefits marketers promise. It isn’t an abundant, reliable power source; doesn’t appreciably reduce fossil dependence or CO2 emissions; isn’t free, or even cheap; doesn’t produce net job gains; nor does it cool brows of feverish environmental critics. Many green energy advocates have exaggerated the capacity of wind power to make a significant impact on U.S. electrical needs. Posted. http://blogs.forbes.com/larrybell/2011/03/08/wind-energys-overblown-prospects/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2011 12:18:11 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 9, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 9, 2011. 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 Air Pollution Levels Cut on Power Station Cleanup, CLP Says. CLP Holdings Ltd. (2), Hong Kong’s biggest electricity producer, said it reduced levels of air pollutants last year after introducing emission-cleaning equipment at its Castle Peak power station. Sulfur dioxide emissions fell 58 percent from 2009 levels, while nitrogen oxides and respirable suspended particulates in the atmosphere both declined 32 percent, according to a CLP statement released at a media briefing in Hong Kong today. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-09/air-pollution-levels-cut-on-power-station-cleanup-clp-says-1-.html GRAY: Clean Air Act’s Past Successes, Potential Pitfalls. The Environmental Protection Agency last week released the second prospective analysis of the costs and benefits of the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act (“1990 CAAA”), ordered by Congress as part of those amendments. The benefits are nothing short of extraordinary, and deserve serious attention at a time of equally serious questions about existing EPA authority with respect to both carbon dioxide, or CO2, and health-related, traditional pollution. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/8/gray-clean-air-act-past-success-potential-pitfalls/ TEMECULA: City Approves Resolution Opposing Liberty Quarry. The Temecula City Council took a formal stand Tuesday night against Granite Construction's Liberty Quarry project. After hearing from area residents who fear the project could bring air pollution and sap Southwest County's economic vitality, the council voted 5-0 to approve a resolution opposing the quarry. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/temecula/article_c21a79b6-2645-5d8a-aaac-9524cadba312.html CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Capture Projects Gain. The race to deploy carbon capture and storage projects shifted to North America and away from Europe last year, according to an annual report on the sector, but industry watchers are keeping a close eye on China as well. Carbon-capture technology pulls carbon dioxide from the smokestacks of coal and other fossil-fuel plants, pressurizes the gas and pumps it underground from permanent storage. The technology is seen by many governments and energy companies as a key weapon in the battle against climate change. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704132204576190361206681144.html Loss Of Satellite Is 'Serious Setback' For Earth Climate Research. NASA's Glory satellite carried advanced equipment to help scientists understand how solar irradiation, clouds and other particles of matter in the atmosphere called aerosols affect the climate. The loss of a sophisticated observation satellite in the wake of a NASA rocket launch failure has dealt a major blow to scientific efforts aimed at understanding how humans may be affecting Earth's climate. A nine-story Taurus XL rocket carrying the space agency's Glory satellite was launched early Friday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-climate-satellite-20110309,0,5481056,print.story DIESEL EMISSIONS TRU Rule Takes Effect; Enforcement On March 31. California’s Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has approved the transport refrigeration unit (TRU) rulemaking that was adopted November 18, 2010 by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). This rulemaking was filed with California Secretary of State, and due to the request for an early effective date, the regulatory action took effect March 7, 2011. Enforcement of in-use performance standards for model year 2003 TRU engines begins March 31, 2011. Posted. http://refrigeratedtrans.com/refrigeration/equipment/tru_rulemaking_takes_effect_0309/ FUELS AAA Survey Shows California Has Highest U.S. Gas Prices. The steep increases in the monthly gas price survey released today by AAA Northern California resembled year-end summaries of years past. Statewide, the average price of unleaded regular was $3.91 a gallon, up 50 cents from the Feb. 8 AAA survey. In Northern California, the month-to-month increase was 48 cents for an average of 3.90 a gallon. Bay Area motorists were enduring an average of $3.96 a gallon, also up 48 cents from last month. AAA said California now has the highest average gas price among all 50 states. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/08/v-print/3459127/sacramento-area-gas-prices-jump.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/09/BUJI1I6OF0.DTL http://www.contracostatimes.com/top-stories/ci_17567472?nclick_check=1 Save Fuel, Save Lives With These Proven Gas-Saving Tips. As fuel prices zoom, the advice-givers emerge, unbidden, to tell us ways to save fuel. The average price of unleaded gasoline is $3.517 a gallon, AAA reported Tuesday, and that's up a stiff 39.3 cents in a month and a heftier 76.4 cents the past year. That's an average, so don't be surprised to find $4-plus gasoline some places. A woman gets gas at a Shell station in San Francisco on March 7, 2011. On thinks a lot of the fuel-saving suggestions that make the rounds are half-baked and all-but-worthless. But some are OK, and others wind up being good safety tips, never mind whether they'd save much fuel. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/03/save-fuel-save-lives-try-these-two-fer-gas-saving-tips/1 GREEN ENERGY When Energy Efficiency Sullies the Environment. For the sake of a cleaner planet, should Americans wear dirtier clothes? This is not a simple question, but then, nothing about dirty laundry is simple anymore. We’ve come far since the carefree days of 1996, when Consumer Reports tested some midpriced top-loaders and reported that “any washing machine will get clothes clean.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/science/08tier.html?scp=5&sq=fuels&st=cse Snyder Signs Farm Environmental Program Bills. LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday signed his first two bills into law, measures to expand a voluntary program to help farmers be better environmental stewards and reward those that meet certain standards with less state oversight and protection from some legal liabilities. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/08/snyder-to-sign-farm-environmental-program/ Wash. Passes Calif. In Luring Private Renewable Energy Investment. Washington state surpassed California last year as the top state for venture capital and private equity flowing to renewable power, according to a new report from a renewable advocacy group. The Evergreen State was the home of nine renewable deals from 2009-2010 worth $7.514 billion invested, says the report from the American Council on Renewable Energy. The group compiled existing data on renewables in every state in the country. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/09/8 VEHICLES Valley Congressman Rips High-Speed Rail Plan. Washington – House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday denounced California's current high-speed rail plans, further clouding the political future of an ambitious project running through his own Central Valley hometown. The fourth-generation Bakersfield native said California and the federal government would both be wise to avoid spending billions of dollars on a train he predicted would become a money sink. "In today's world, is that the best place to put the money? The answer is no," McCarthy told reporters. "I don't think it's a smart investment." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/09/v-print/3460420/valley-congressman-rips-high-speed.html Aerovironment's Profit Soars 76%. Monrovia-based AeroVironment's earnings rise to $11.5 million, helped by an increase in sales of drones to the U.S. military. Bolstered by an increase in sales of drones to the U.S. military, Monrovia-based AeroVironment Inc. posted a 76% profit gain in its fiscal third quarter. Earnings for the quarter that ended Jan. 29 rose to $11.5 million, or 52 cents a share, compared with $6.5 million, or 30 cents, a year earlier. Analysts on average had forecast a profit of 38 cents a share. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-aerovironment-earnings-20110309,0,6652742,print.story Ford Has Another Car With 40 Mpg. Just in time for $4-a-gallon gasoline prices, the 2012 Ford Focus compact arrives as a handsome new model with head-turning fuel mileage, comfortable ride and luxury options not usually found in small cars. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/09/1590680/ford-has-another-car-with-40-mpg.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/09/2302457/ford-has-another-car-with-40-mpg.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/09/AR2011030901965.html OPINION Help Keep Our Air Clean. Keeping your readers abreast of factors that affect the health of young and old is commendable and appreciated. Mark Grossi's March 1 front-page article warns us, yet again, that we are not "out of the woods" in attaining consistently healthy levels of air quality. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/09/2301529/help-keep-our-air-clean.html#storylink=misearch Keep Harmful Liberty Quarry Out Of Region. With all due respect to Cindy Roth, there is absolutely no shortage of aggregate resources ("OK quarry; it will bring jobs, tax revenue," Feb. 26). Southern California is full of aggregate, though it may not be permitted to be mined as of yet. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/localviews/stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_D_op_quarry_loc_09.1d04dd0.html BLOGS On Our Radar: $2 Billion Carbon Bill for European Airlines. European airlines will spend nearly $2 billion on carbon dioxide emissions permits next year as European Union rules on emissions take effect, financial analysts estimate. Under the rules, the number of free carbon permits allocated to airlines will shrink considerably beginning in 2012. By 2020, the cost of permits to the industry could climb to almost $10 billion annually. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/on-our-radar-2-billion-carbon-bill-for-european-airlines/ (Video) NPR Officers Compare Deniers Of Climate Change To Birthers And Flat Earth Believers. Senior Vice President of NPR Ron Schiller met with individuals he believed to be potential donors. However, undercover video was running during this meeting. In the following clip, Mr. Schiller and his co-worker Betsy Liley describe how NPR covers those who deny climate change is happening. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2011/mar/8/video-npr-sr-vp-climate-change-deniers-wont-be-cov/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:08:19 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 10, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 10, 2011. 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 In Pinedale, Wyo., Residents Adjust to Air Pollution. Pinedale, Wyo. — Strong sun, not too much wind, a good thick snow pack: sounds like a perfect late winter’s day in a remote rural Western valley rimmed by snaggle-topped mountains. But that has also been the stage set for the worst ozone pollution event here in three years — in one of the places people might least expect. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/us/10smog.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse As Ozone Decision Looms, EPA Finds Stronger Science. Recent studies suggest that smog-filled air kills more people and causes more breathing problems than previously thought, U.S. EPA scientists say in a new draft paper, but due to a procedural twist, the findings can't be taken into account as Administrator Lisa Jackson decides whether to set stricter limits than the George W. Bush administration chose in 2008. The new research provides stronger evidence that short-term spikes in ground-level ozone can cause premature death, according to the 996-page scientific assessment, which was released late Friday. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/03/09/09greenwire-as-ozone-decision-looms-epa-finds-stronger-sci-32416.html?pagewanted=print Health Groups Gird For Fight Over EPA's Power-Plant Toxics Rules. With the Obama administration required to put its plan for reducing toxic air pollution from coal-fired power plants on the table a week from today, the American Lung Association and other public health groups have started an early push to explain why U.S. EPA shouldn't flinch on the long-delayed rules. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/03/09/09greenwire-health-groups-gird-for-fight-over-epas-power-p-48491.html?scp=3&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse COACHELLA VALLEY: Environmental Tour Takes In Smelly Problems. >From sewage-plagued backyards to a sludge mountain to fuel-contaminated soil piles, government officials got repeated environmental reality checks Wednesday during a bus tour of Mecca and nearby communities in the Coachella Valley. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_mecca10.2198281.html The Midas Touch, The Midas Effect. If politics make for great live theater, then a Feb. 22 hearing held in Sacramento about the controversial strawberry fumigant methyl iodide might have been scripted by Franz Kafka. And much like a Kafka tale, there are stories behind stories. The characters include a state pesticide department that ignored its own scientists’ warnings; the department’s hired expert and his band of scientific brothers whom methyl iodide’s manufacturer claims went rogue and exceeded the scope of their established mission; a produce industry worth billions of dollars to the state economy; and the private-equity backed maker of the product they call MIDAS, whose company tagline reads “Bold, Agile and Customer Driven.” Posted. http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/2011/mar/10/midas-touch-midas-effect/ CLIMATE CHANGE More Americans Believe In Climate Change Than In Global Warming. A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan, show that more Americans believe in "climate change" than in "global warming." The study, which will see its results published in an upcoming issue of the journal Public Opinion Quarterly, surveyed 2,267 adult Americans asking them a simple question regarding the issue of climate change/global warming. Fifty percent of those surveyed were given the term "global warming" while the other fifty percent were given the term "climate change." Posted. http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=US337086819720110310 Climate Researchers: Russian Heat Wave Was Natural. Washington (AP) — Global warming isn't directly to blame for last summer's deadly — and extraordinary — heat wave in Russia, researchers said in a report Wednesday that came with a climate warning. "We may be on the cusp of a period in which the probability of such events increases rapidly, due primarily to the influence of projected increases in greenhouse gas concentrations," said the team led by Randall Dole and Martin Hoerling of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hZPKwaQBlcnsy6-pDkSwQByMVnfA?docId=1760476bb7e64a81aa13f7025a3d9dc5 New Planning Process Starts For National Forests. A new national forest planning process will be unveiled at meetings in Sacramento County and Redding. For generations, forest planning has been largely focused on logging and resource management. But growing concern about recreation, wildlife and climate change have added new imperatives. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/10/1592167/new-planning-process-starts-for.html Global Carbon Capture Projects, Part Of A $40 Billion Effort, Increased In 2010. The number of global carbon capture projects surged 10 percent last year with financial help from the U.S. government and other industrialized countries, a new study finds. A ripple effect from President Obama's 2009 stimulus package, combined with similar economic jolt packages in other countries, helped boost the number of active or planned projects last year to 234, a net increase of 21 initiatives, according to the sweeping study from the Global CCS Institute. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/10/7 GOP Bill Handcuffing EPA To Win First Victory Today. While the House approved sweeping cap-and-trade climate legislation last Congress, a key House subcommittee today is expected to approve by a wide margin a bill to permanently strip U.S. EPA of its authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, oil refineries and other major stationary sources. It is unclear whether the Energy and Power Subcommittee vote will break down strictly along party lines or whether one or more Democrats will vote for H.R. 910 from Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/print/2011/03/10/2 House Panel Approves Bill Stripping EPA Regulatory Power. A bill to strip U.S. EPA of its authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions cleared its first hurdle today on the road to likely House passage. The House Energy and Power Subcommittee approved a bill by Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), which would prevent EPA from moving ahead with current and planned climate regulations for electric utilities, oil refineries and other large stationary emitters. The measure passed on a voice vote, apparently along party lines. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/10/1 Waxman Holds Out Hope To Craft Bipartisan Emissions Bill. Even as Republicans plan to push a bill through a House subcommittee tomorrow to limit U.S. EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, Energy and Commerce ranking member Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) continues to float the idea of the GOP and Democrats working together on a bipartisan measure that would reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Waxman has said repeatedly in recent days that he is willing to meet with Republicans "without preconditions" to craft a bill that both sides could agree on that would include incentives for low-carbon energy projects and other initiatives. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/print/2011/03/09/1 FUELS Corn Ethanol Tax Credit Under Attack. Ethanol is once again in the hot seat. Dueling bills that would trim government support for the ethanol industry were introduced in the Senate yesterday. Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) offered a bipartisan bill yesterday morning that would eliminate the 45-cent tax credit paid to blenders for each gallon of fuel mixed with gasoline. Last night, however, California Democrat Dianne Feinstein introduced competing legislation that would similarly slash the 45-cent tax credit for corn-based ethanol, but would carve out an exemption for ethanol made from substances like plant waste or sugar cane. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/10/4 Monsanto Invests In Sapphire; Goes Hunting For Yield Traits In The Wild, Wild Wet. The news crossed the wires early enough yesterday to have spilled over a considerable portion of the twitterverse. Items like “Monsanto Backs Algae Startup Sapphire Energy,” and “Sapphire Energy Anticipates “Significant” Revenue Stream From Monsanto Alliance.” The New York Times led with “Agriculture and genetics giant Monsanto has made its bet on algae. On Tuesday Monsanto announced that it has made an equity investment in, and developed a partnership with, algae startup Sapphire Energy.” All of which bemused Sapphire Energy CEO Jason Pyle, who remarked “that’s not really what the collaboration is about.” Posted. http://biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2011/03/09/monsanto-invests-in-sapphire-goes-hunting-for-yield-traits-in-the-wild-wild-wet/ GREEN ENERGY U.K. Plans Incentives to Spur $7.2 Billion in Renewable Heat Programs. The U.K. government set out incentives aimed at spurring 4.5 billion pounds ($7.2 billion) of investment in renewable heating systems by 2020, the first program of its kind in the world. The Department of Energy and Climate Change said it would grant subsidies worth 860 million pounds for geothermal heat pumps, solar thermal plants and biomass boilers. The measures first will be targeted at 25,000 households by July, and the full program will be in place by October 2012. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-10/u-k-plans-incentives-to-spur-7-2-billion-in-renewable-heat-programs.html Solar Industry Has Strong Year. A new report by the Solar Energy Industries Association found that 2010 was a banner year for solar in the United States. The total size of the U.S. solar market -- which includes rooftop installations, hot water heating and utility scale projects -- grew from $3.6 billion in 2009 to $6 billion, a 67 percent increase. "Solar is growing quickly across the U.S. at the residential, commercial, and utility scale levels. It is powering and heating buildings in all 50 states, and using a variety of technologies to do so," states the executive summary of the report, which is scheduled to be released Thursday. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_17580783 Offshore Wind Farms Can Generate High Costs And Maintenance Problems, Vestas CEO Warns. Houston -- The chief of Europe's largest wind power company advised that project developers in the United States should be cautious as they move to establish the nation's first offshore wind farms in the Northeast. Speaking to an audience of energy executives at this year's IHS CERA Week energy conference, Vestas Wind Systems CEO Ditlev Engel said he estimated offshore wind power can cost about twice as much as to build as compared to land-based systems. But what companies really have to fear is the weather. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/10/6 Utilities, Growers Experimenting With 'Woody Grass' Coal Alternative. An Oregon utility company is working with growers in Morrow County to produce giant cane, a woody grass that it hopes can replace coal at a nearby coal power plant. Portland General Electric is contracting with growers in the area to produce between 100 and 250 acres of it, which would be used in a test burn at the Boardman Power Plant next year. But much still remains unknown about the fast-growing giant cane, including questions over its safety and whether enough can be grown to keep the power plant running. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/10/10 With Spending Bills Dead, Clean Energy Supporters Brace Against Deeper Cuts. Competing plans to fund the government through September both flopped yesterday, ensuring that deeper cuts to existing programs, including perhaps clean energy portfolios, will be proposed to avoid a federal shutdown. The dueling Senate votes appear to show that lawmakers are unwilling to make large cuts totaling $61 billion as proposed by the House. It also reveals that the Democrats' target of $10 billion in reductions is too low. The yardage between those numbers will decrease, but it's unclear at what point agreement can be found. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/10/1 Light Bulb Law Stokes Fury In Senate Hearing. Light bulbs sparked heated discussions this morning during a Senate legislative hearing on two energy efficiency bills. Republicans used the hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to blast congressionally approved lighting efficiency standards and the Energy Department's implementation of them. At issue is a provision in a 2007 energy law that would phase out the sale of the most energy-hungry light bulbs over the next few years, starting at the end of this year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/10/5 VEHICLES Bulli For You!! World’s First Van Returns. The Volkswagen bus, like no other car, stands for the spirit of freedom. It debuted over 60 years ago in 1950 with a contagiously simple design. Its internal Volkswagen code name was T1 for Transporter 1. The Germans called it the Bulli, and to Americans it was the Microbus. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/10/bulli-for-you-worlds-first-van-returns/ 20 Electric Cars Will Hit The Road Today As Part Of Test Project. Los Angeles - A fleet of 20 electric cars will hit the roads today as part of a project to test how alternative fuel vehicles handle commuting and to locate possible benefits for Southland drivers. The research project -- sponsored by the Automobile Club of Southern California and Smart USA -- may determine roadside services for alternative- fuel and electric vehicles, Auto Club CEO Thomas McKenna was quoted as saying in a release. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/fdcp?1299776796852 MISCELLANEOUS UC Davis Domes' Days Numbered As West Village Housing Takes Shape. At the University of California, Davis, a funky 1970s experiment in communal living is closing this year while a 21st century eco-friendly neighborhood is rising nearby. The student housing projects – one homegrown by hippies, the other built by developers – bookend the environmental movement's journey from counterculture to mainstream. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/10/1592125/uc-davis-domes-days-numbered-as.html OPINION Australia's Carbon Warning for Obama. It turns out emissions restrictions do not grow more popular the more you try to pitch them. President Obama's Environmental Protection Agency is fighting a rear-guard action to accomplish via regulation what voters rejected via Congress: ruinously expensive restrictions on carbon emissions in the name of fighting "global warming." This is perhaps partly out of the administration's own convictions, but also because Mr. Obama knows that a large slice of his left-wing base is clamoring for such measures. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703453804576191712500363464.html GRAY: Clean Air Act’s Past Successes, Potential Pitfalls. The Environmental Protection Agency last week released the second prospective analysis of the costs and benefits of the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act ("1990 CAAA"), ordered by Congress as part of those amendments. The benefits are nothing short of extraordinary, and deserve serious attention at a time of equally serious questions about existing EPA authority with respect to both carbon dioxide, or CO2, and health-related, traditional pollution. The headline numbers are $2 trillion in benefits (against $65 billion in costs) as of 2020 and 230,000 lives saved annually as of that date, with the majority of the benefits already realized. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/8/gray-clean-air-act-past-success-potential-pitfalls/ In Defense of LEED. You may have already heard, but there's a lawsuit pending against the USGBC. The plaintiffs claim that they are "losing customers because USGBC's false advertisements mislead the consumer into believing that obtaining LEED certification incorporates construction techniques that achieve energy-efficiency." If you're looking for an article that jumps on that train, you're in the wrong place. I think this lawsuit is seriously misguided, and draws attention away from all of the positive consequences of the USGBC's work. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/09/idUS297849435320110309 Viewpoints: Clear-Cutting Forests Is Wrong Way For State To Lead On Climate Policy. California trees have changed my life. I first came to know them as a little girl hiking with my family, then as a seasonal waitress in Yosemite, and finally, as a ranger in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. Nowhere else in the world will you find dry, soothing afternoon winds, regular 80-degree days, loamy soft soil, abundant rivers, pristine alpine lakes and big, beautiful trees – sugar pines, firs, cedars, hemlocks, redwoods, sequoias and more. To walk among these giants is to walk into a living cathedral. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/10/v-print/3463428/viewpoints-clear-cutting-forests.html Crazy Weather: How It's Linked To Global Warming. The story leading up to the Super Bowl was whether it would happen at all. For the previous week, Dallas, along with the rest of the Midwest and Northeast, had been buried in a blizzard that dumped record amounts of snow, closing airports, clogging highways and causing rolling power blackouts. Commentators wondered sarcastically about what had happened to global warming. Actually, even if counter-intuitively, this major weather event was a confirmation that global warming is here, and it’s getting more serious all the time. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/mar/10/crazy-weathers-link-to-global-warming/ Go Green And Save Some Green With Solar Panels. Electricity is increasingly expensive. The primary reason is that the state has decreed that 33 percent of electrical power in California by the year 2020 will come from renewable sources. Unfortunately for those of us in Modesto and Turlock, hydroelectric power from large dams such as Don Pedro does not count toward this renewable requirement. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/09/1591597/go-green-and-save-some-green-with.html BLOGS On Our Radar: E.P.A. Calls Foul Over Republican Gas Price Claims. In statements circulating on Capitol Hill, senior Republican leaders cast legislation blocking the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing climate change regulations as action that would help slow the rise of gasoline prices. The E.P.A. calls the tactic deceptive. “Under the Clean Air Act, E.P.A. is developing a standard for currently unchecked carbon pollution from the largest polluting smokestacks,” an agency aide says. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/on-our-radar-e-p-a-calls-foul-over-republican-gas-price-claims/ Ethanol Plant Is Switching to Butanol. High oil prices are generally bad news for American companies, but one, Gevo of Englewood, Colo., says that $100-a-barrel oil is opening up a niche. The company bought a factory in Luverne, Minn., that makes ethanol from corn. Ethanol replaces some petroleum but has only one main use, vehicle fuel, and it yields less energy per gallon than gasoline. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/ethanol-plant-is-switching-to-butanol/ Climate Change Threatens Great Lakes. In its latest report on Great Lakes water quality, the International Joint Commission — a collaboration between the U.S. and Canadian governments — identifies the re-emergence of eutrophication in the lakes as its chief concern. Eutrophication is unchecked plant growth caused by the presence of excessive nutrients, such as nitrates and phosphorous, in the water. Because that growth can deplete the amount of oxygen in the water, eutrophication poses a major threat to the quality and viability of the Great Lakes' massive water store. So what causes it? Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=84644 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:06:29 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 11, 2011 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 11, 2011. 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 Smog Eating Tiles Combat Valley's Poor Air Quality. Bakersfield, Calif. — Just look out, or look up, and you'll see one of the biggest problems for the San Joaquin Valley: poor air quality. "We have consistently ranked behind Los Angeles for ozone. (It's) our summertime problem, and particulate matter, which is our wintertime problem," said Brenda Turner with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution District. Turner said one of the biggest pollution problems is smog that is made up of oxygen, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nitrogen oxides. There have been efforts to reduce smog, but it's easier said than done. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/health/117707503.html San Jose Puts Support Behind California Air Resource Board. The City of San Jose put forth a resolution expressing support to the California Air Resources Board in promoting clean and energy efficient motor vehicles, energy independence, zero emission technology for improved quality of life. A resolution states that over 90-percent of Californians are faced with public health risks due to particulate matter, pollution and areas that exceed federal health-based ozone levels. Hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks, hospitalizations and pre mature deaths due to heart and lung disease are attributed to these conditions. Posted. http://www.publicceo.com/index.php/local-governments/151-local-governments-publicceo-exclusive/2674-staff-report-of-the-week-san-jose-puts-support-behind-california-air-resource-board Why Particulate Matter Matters To Mesa Residents. Welcome to On the Air, an occasional column to keep readers updated on an issue facing Mesa residents: our air quality. Some years ago, the county Air Pollution Control District determined that the air we breathe does not meet state standards too often throughout the year. This first column lays the foundation; future columns will keep readers abreast of actions being taken and what they can do to protect themselves. Most of us who live on the Nipomo Mesa now know that the air we breathe frequently fails to meet state air-quality standards. Posted. http://www.theadobepress.com/articles/2011/03/11/news/southcounty/news13.txt CLIMATE CHANGE Global Warming 'Destroying Relics' Climate change is damaging archaeological treasures which have been frozen for thousands of years, scientists have warned. Remains in some of the coldest places on earth are becoming exposed as warmer temperatures cause ice and hardened ground to thaw, according to research by experts at the University of Edinburgh's Business School. Ancient relics at risk include tombs, artifacts and human remains. The scientists, who studied cases of damage at three sites across the world, are calling for a global organization to be set up to maintain a record of vulnerable sites and to co-ordinate efforts to conserve items that are at risk, particularly indigenous remains. Dr. Dave Reay, who supervised the study, said: Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gC3K8bZOlEFD_fnonoZZbK6aIOZw?docId=N0405181299756883462A Climate Change Poses a Major Challenge for the U.S. Navy in the Arctic. Climate change will pose major new hurdles for U.S. naval forces, forcing the military to grapple with an emerging Arctic frontier, increasing demand for humanitarian aid and creating rising seas that could threaten low-lying bases, the National Academy of Sciences said yesterday. "Even the most moderate current trends in climate, if continued, will present new national security challenges for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard," concludes a new academy report. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/03/11/11climatewire-climate-change-poses-a-major-challenge-for-t-13451.html?pagewanted=print http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/10/1593173/study-navy-needs-to-prepare-for.html http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/study-says-navy-must-adapt-to-climate-change/?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/10/study-navy-needs-to-prepare-for-climate-change/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/military/article_c6ece191-7378-5782-95bd-ee4b561c24f9.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/10/2304681/study-navy-needs-to-prepare-for.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/10/AR2011031004857.html House Panel Votes to Strip E.P.A. of Power to Regulate Greenhouse Gases. Washington — A House subcommittee voted on Thursday to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its power to regulate greenhouse gases, chipping away at a central pillar of the Obama administration’s evolving climate and energy strategy. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/science/earth/11climate.html?scp=5&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Sacramento County Limits On Development Criticized. Developers and some Sacramento County supervisors on Wednesday criticized as too restrictive rules proposed for the county general plan to limit suburban sprawl. They said rules proposed by county planners could hurt the economy and make development too expensive. They made their arguments against the backdrop of a subtle threat from the state attorney general's office that roughly translated to: Weaken the proposed rules and we'll sue. These "recommendations or some variation on them should be viewed as a minimum," said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Trankley, addressing the board Wednesday afternoon. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/10/v-print/3463535/sacramento-county-limits-on-development.html 'Carbon Nation' Offers Odd, Upbeat Take On Global Warming. Real-life solutions: Texas wind farmer Cliff Etheredge is among those featured in the uneven “Carbon Nation” who are providing clean energy and working to curtail global warming. Piecing together a patchwork in which resourceful rustics and high-rise sophisticates alike take action to create clean energy, “Carbon Nation” might be the most upbeat documentary ever to navigate the generally bleak terrain of global warming. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/print/entertainment/movies/2011/03/carbon-nation-offers-odd-upbeat-take-global-warming Gas Prices Change Energy Politics. Democratic leaders insist that voters won’t punish their party for high gas prices — but the pain at the pump could make it even harder for them to pass the president’s energy agenda. Republicans have shown no fear in tying the oil price spikes to anything on the Democratic energy agenda, from President Barack Obama’s stance on offshore drilling permits to long dead cap-and-trade legislation and pending climate change rules for power plants. The GOP attacks may have no basis in fact when it comes to changing short-term prices at the pump. Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=171C5394-E450-447B-A9D7-F4CDE74D656F DIESEL EMISSIONS Central Valley Air District Program Tries To Improve Emissions >From Diesel Trucks. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is accepting applications for $60 million in heavy-duty diesel truck funds. The money is an incentive to replace, repower and retrofit heavy-duty, diesel-powered trucks to reduce air pollution from freight movement through the San Joaquin Valley, according to a news release. More truck owners are eligible for the money, and the district is holding free regional workshops to assist owners in completing their applications. Spanish-language translators will be available. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/03/11/v-print/1806216/air-brief-tries-to-improve-emissions.html FUELS Propel Continues CA E85 Build-Out, Awaits USDA Blender Pump Plan. California-based Propel Fuels, a renewable fuels retailer that owns and operates approximately 21 E85 and biodiesel-blend filling stations in California and Washington, is moving ahead with plans to build out an additional 75 stations in California this year and expand its retail offerings to include other West Coast states. Posted. http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/7561/propel-continues-ca-e85-build-out-awaits-usda-blender-pump-plan Why Is Gas So Expensive On The Central Coast? Gas prices continue to climb and people on the Central Coast are taking some of the biggest hits to their budgets. The latest numbers from AAA show the national average for unleaded gas is $3.52 a gallon. California's average is 40 cents higher, at $3.92. Compare that with $3.97 in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. So why do people on the Central Coast pay some of the highest prices in the state and country? Experts say there are a variety of reasons. Patrick DeHaan is a senior petroleum analyst with GasBuddy.com. He says the prices are higher here because the cost of doing business is higher, so gas station owners pass the cost onto their customers. Posted. http://www.ksby.com/news/why-is-gas-so-expensive-on-the-central-coast-/ GREEN ENERGY UPDATE 2-Sempra Unit To Build Solar Plant In California. - Regulated utility San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), a unit of Sempra Energy , signed a contract with renewable energy company Tenaska Solar Ventures for a 150-megawatt solar power plant in southern California. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/10/sempraenergy-idUSL3E7EA2GJ20110310 Interest In Renewable Energy May Stick As Oil Prices Surge. The latest surge in oil prices may help the renewable energy industry reach a turning point after years of boom-and-bust cycles long dictated by the rise and fall in gas prices. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-oil-alternate-20110311,0,5837265.story Clean-Coal Debate Focuses On Gasification Plant. A bill now on Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk to build a plant on the far Southeast Side that would supply Chicago customers with substitute natural gas made from Illinois coal has turned up the heat on the “clean coal” debate. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/us/11cnctar.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Green Groups See Red Over Brown's Proposals. The governor says he would consider altering some key environmental laws to please business groups. A coalition of environmental groups is asking state lawmakers not to weaken California's landmark environmental laws during closed-door meetings on the state budget. "The legislature and the governor should listen to the voters: get together to and solve the deficit," Bill Magavern, director of Sierra Club California said in a morning conference call with reporters. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/budget-crisis/story/green-groups-see-red-browns-proposals/print/ OPINION Let There Be More Efficient Light. LAST week Michele Bachmann, a Republican representative from Minnesota, introduced a bill to roll back efficiency standards for light bulbs, which include a phasing out of incandescent bulbs in favor of more energy-efficient bulbs. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/opinion/11pielke.html?_r=2&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212 Cooler Heads Needed In Debate As Global Warming Takes Hold. Modesto -- What do the following topics have in common: Incivility. Global warming as fraud. Carbon dioxide as a beneficial "life-sustaining system." The global-warming conspiracy. All have appeared in The Bee recently in letters to the editor and an editorial about the need for civility in social discourse. Of all the heated debates on the Opinions pages, it seems global warming elicits the most vehement responses, locally and nationally. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/10/1593370/cooler-heads-needed-in-debate.html Columnist's Source Undermines Public Health. Once again, I'm dumbfounded and, I admit, angered by a Lois Henry column. Henry continues to make a case against the science that clearly illustrates the negative impacts of particulate matter pollution on the health of valley residents ("Politics, air rules make for a smelly situation," Feb. 20). She makes her arguments by holding up Pacific Legal Foundation as a truth-speaking entity. That is either extreme naivete or blatant dishonesty. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x529879046/Columnists-source-undermines-public-health BLOGS Report: "Stalled" Energy Projects Costing Us. Business group says delays are costing thousands of jobs, billions in lost economic benefits. The US Chamber of Commerce says it's taking too long to green-light energy projects -- not just in California but across the US -- and that it's putting a drag on economic recovery. The pro-business group issued a report that attempts to quantify the opportunity cost of projects that were in permitting or litigation limbo during March of 2010. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/03/10/report-stalled-energy-projects-costing-us/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:43:41 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 14, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 14, 2011. 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 Damaged Nuclear-Power Plants Could Spew Range of Emissions. A damaged nuclear-power plant can release a range of radioactive materials: some relatively harmless, others more dangerous. The process that splits uranium using high heat creates more than 100 new chemical substances, said Joseph Mangano, executive director of nonprofit Radiation and Public Health Project, which researches the effects of radiation on public health. In a total meltdown, several radioactive gases are released on the less-toxic end of the spectrum, including nitrogen-16, tritium and krypton. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704893604576199022182617758.html?mod=googlenews_wsj EPA Tangles With New Critic: Labor. Washington—The Obama administration's environmental agenda, long a target of American business, is beginning to take fire from some of the Democratic Party's most reliable supporters: Labor unions. Several unions with strong influence in key states are demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency soften new regulations aimed at pollution associated with coal-fired power plants. Their contention: Roughly half a dozen rules expected to roll out within the next two years could put thousands of jobs in jeopardy and damage the party's 2012 election prospects. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704076804576180384094409812.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Get Rid Of Indoor Pollution In Your House. Pop quiz: Which environment is more polluted? A. The air inside your home. B. The air in your back yard. If you guessed B, outdoor air, you failed. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there is more pollution inside your home than there is outside. You can even smell your indoor pollution – the scent of new cabinets, new carpet, pressed wood, leather furniture, new paint, spray paint, car emissions from attached garages, plastics, pet dander, gas leaks, household cleaners and scented air fresheners and plug-ins. Posted. http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-03-11/news/28684490_1_indoor-air-pollution-air-fresheners-carbon-monoxide White House Gets An Earful On Power Plant Rules. High-level Obama administration officials have gotten involved as U.S. EPA has prepared to unveil a plan to crack down on toxic air pollution from coal- and oil-fired power plants, suggesting the White House is keeping a close eye on rules that could have the greatest impact of any environmental regulations issued under President Obama, experts say. The Office of Management and Budget has held at least 10 meetings with stakeholders as it has reviewed the proposed rules, which have to be released by Wednesday under a legal deadline. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/14/12 CLIMATE CHANGE EPA Chief Lisa Jackson Perpetually On Capitol Hill Hot Seat. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson maintained a poker face as she spoke at a congressional budget hearing last week. As the Obama administration's point person for environmental regulations, Jackson received her seventh grilling on Capitol Hill this month, more than any other federal agency director has faced, according to committee and agency staffs. At Friday's joint hearing of two House Energy and Commerce Committee subcommittees, Jackson addressed familiar questions, most of them from Republican lawmakers. How would you describe carbon? "As black carbon soot," Jackson answered in part. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/13/AR2011031303813_pf.html House GOP Targets State's Tough Emission Standards. Washington - -- Taking advantage of a spike in gasoline prices, House Republicans are moving rapidly to gut California's landmark controls on greenhouse-gas emissions from cars as a way to prevent the tougher state standards from spreading nationwide. The legislation, HR910, the Energy Tax Prevention Act, would revoke the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to grant California the federal waivers it needs to impose tougher fuel-efficiency requirements based on carbon emissions Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/14/MNM11I9C7N.DTL&type=printable California May Start Carbon Trade Without Allies, Chief Says. By Simon Lomax - Mar 14, 2011 California, which is seeking to build a regional carbon market for the U.S. West and parts of Canada, may start its cap-and-trade program next year even if other jurisdictions aren’t ready, a state official said. “We could do the program on our own, but we’d rather not,” California Air Resources Board Chairman Mary Nichols told reporters today after speaking at an International Emissions Trading Association conference in Washington. The air resources board last year identified New Mexico and Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia in Canada as governments that may be ready to join a regional carbon market in 2012. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-14/california-may-start-carbon-trade-without-allies-chief-says-1-.html Corn May Be More Vulnerable to Warming, Stanford Study Shows. Corn, the world’s second-most- widely grown grain, may be more vulnerable to global warming than previously thought, based on a study led by Stanford University that examined data from field trials. The study found that a gain of 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in temperatures would lower yields for 65 percent of Africa’s corn fields assuming optimal rainfall, Stanford said in an online statement. The same warming under drought conditions would cut corn yields for all of Africa, with declines of 20 percent or more in 75 percent of growing areas, the study showed. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-14/corn-may-be-more-vulnerable-to-warming-stanford-study-shows.html Earth's Ancient Trees Cloned To Save Climate. Copemish, Mich. – Redwoods and sequoias towering majestically over California's northern coast. Oaks up to 1,000 years old nestled in a secluded corner of Ireland. The legendary cedars of Lebanon. They are among the most venerable trees on Earth, remnants of once-vast populations decimated by logging, development, pollution and disease. A nonprofit organization called Archangel Ancient Tree Archive is rushing to collect their genetic material and replant clones in an audacious plan to restore the world's ancient forests and put them to work cleansing the environment and absorbing carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas largely responsible for global warming. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/14/v-print/3472925/earth-ancient-trees.html Climate-Change Law: Why CA Environmentalists Are Fighting Each Other. San Francisco—Last November, mainstream environmental groups and environmental justice groups joined forces to defeat a ballot measure that would have suspended California’s climate-change law. Now, the two sides are at odds—over the very same legislation they helped to save. The rift was brought into sharp relief in January, when a San Francisco County Superior Court judge issued a tentative decision in a 2009 lawsuit by environmental justice groups that challenged how state regulators drew up their blueprint for carrying out the climate law. Posted. http://newamericamedia.org/2011/03/cap-and-trade-story-here.php# FUELS Placer County renewable energy firm suing over rights to methane gas from landfill. These are boom times for the green energy sector, but Laura Rasmussen's tiny renewable energy company is fighting for its life. Rasmussen's company, Energy 2001, makes electricity from gas at the Placer County landfill near Roseville. The company should be well-positioned to capitalize on today's rising energy prices and abundant green subsidies. Instead, the past 18 months have been filled with conflict. Rasmussen has sued the government agency that owns the landfill, alleging that it failed to adequately maintain pipelines. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/13/v-print/3469761/placerville-renewable-energy-firm.html GREEN ENERGY Natural Gas, Scrutinized, Pushes for Growth. KENEDY — At a packed meeting here one evening last week, natural gas industry boosters told long tables of ranchers and townspeople about anticipated jobs and economic opportunities. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/us/11ttgas.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Done With the Wind. By unleashing human ingenuity, the world can solve its energy woes. Wind power won't do it. To power the future, many commentators today exhort us to buy lots of “green energy”—chiefly solar panels and wind turbines. They claim this is a way to avoid running out of fossil fuel, to create “green jobs” and greater energy security, and to respond to global warming. However, these arguments mostly fail on closer inspection. We have long been fearful of our energy supply running out. In 1865, popular opinion—led by some of the world’s most esteemed scientists—held that Britain’s coal reserves would soon become exhausted. Posted. http://www.newsweek.com/2011/03/13/done-with-the-wind.html Close To Home: Wind Energy And Lost Wallets. In the debate over the costs of his offshore wind energy proposal [“Questions of costs, jobs and influence surround O’Malley’s offshore wind proposal,” March 3], Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) has scored some points. But he has missed the elephant in the room. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/close-to-home-wind-energy-and-lost-wallets/2011/03/10/ABsfNVR_story.html Google, Microsoft Execs Tout Benefits Of Soaring Information Technology Energy Use. San Francisco -- Top environmental executives at Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. found themselves on the same stage last week in an eye-opening forum here on energy use by the information technology industry. And they even managed to agree on a few things. The corporate rivals sent Rob Bernard, Microsoft's top environmental strategist, and Bill Weihl, Google's green energy czar, to the Commonwealth Club to record a radio program on how the Internet giants are coping with growing energy appetites connected to the IT sector. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/14/3 European Wind Energy Industry Calls For Binding 2030 Renewables Target. The European wind energy industry has today called upon the EU to adopt a binding renewable energy target for 2030 in order to help secure long-term investment in the low carbon energy market. The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) released a new report, titled EU Energy Policy to 2050, at its annual conference in Brussels calling on the EU to drive investment in the sector by setting renewable energy targets for the period after 2020, moving forward with proposals for Emissions Performance Standards, and tightening the bloc's Emissions Trading System. Posted. http://www.businessgreen.com/print_article/bg/news/2033882/european-wind-energy-industry-calls-binding-2030-renewables-target VEHICLES With Gas Prices Rising, First Electric Vehicle Owners Are Charged Up. Early adopters of battery powered cars say they are satisfied with their purchases, despite some hassles. Gas prices are rising, and drivers are fretting. But not Roy Olson. The Rancho Mirage retiree drives a plug-in hybrid electric Chevrolet Volt, which he said runs for about 40 miles on battery before switching to traditional fuel. Because he charges the car nightly, Olson has yet to visit a gas station. "Having our future in our own hands is really important," he said. Posted. http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/12/business/la-fi-ev-owners-20110312 New Business To Build Mobile EV Charging Units. In anticipation of a growing electric vehicle market, two Phoenix entrepreneurs are developing a business that would help stranded motorists who are stuck with dead batteries and want to avoid being towed. The company plans to use mobile chargers to recharge empty batteries. This all, of course, comes as automakers are making serious efforts to produce reliable electric cars. Nissan, Ford Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. all have models set to hit or already on the market. Eric Edberg, co-founder of EV Mobile Charging Services, created the mobile car charger with his business partner. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/14/11 OPINION EDITORIAL: Sound Steps Toward Long-Term Energy Policy. Gasoline prices are approaching $4 a gallon, and could hit $5 this summer. But as long as this country uses so much energy and depends so heavily on foreign oil, we are at the mercy of a manipulated market. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/14/2309382/editorial-sound-steps-toward-long.html#storylink=misearch Gasoline Additives Probably Don’t Affect Fuel’s Environmental Impact Very Much. Gasoline is a complex mixture of, well . . . stuff. The thick crude oil that comes out of the earth bears little resemblance to the gasoline powering your Porsche. To make crude safe and useful for cars, refiners must add, alter and remove hundreds of chemicals. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/gasoline-additives-probably-dont-affect-fuels-environmental-impact-very-much/2011/03/02/ABA0mxO_story.html Calif. Legislature Expected To Replace RPS Order With Law This Week. A renewable power mandate poised to clear the California Legislature this week differs significantly from a sister version of the standard that went into effect under an executive order signed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) in 2008. The California Assembly this week is expected to take up and approve a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requiring utilities to generate 33 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020, taking up where the state's 20-percent-by-2010 version left off. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/14/14 SHANNON GROVE: We Need To Roll Back, For Now, Greenhouse Gas Law. After three months in Sacramento, my focus remains the same -- put Kern County residents back to work through private sector job creation by reducing state government intervention, taxation and regulation. To that end, I have authored AB 333, a pivotal bill that confronts one of the many roadblocks standing in the way of significant economic recovery. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x233128506/SHANNON-GROVE-We-need-to-roll-back-for-now-greenhouse-gas-law Can Electric Vehicles Take Off? A Roadmap to Find the Answer. Electric cars are finally coming to market in the U.S., but what is the future potential for this much-touted technology? A good way to find out would be to launch demonstration projects in selected U.S. cities to determine if, given incentives and the proper infrastructure, the public will truly embrace plug-in vehicles. As instability in the Middle East pushes oil prices past $100 per barrel and gasoline prices toward $4 a gallon in the U.S., the need to find better ways to fuel our vehicles has never been more urgent. Posted. http://e360.yale.edu/content/print.msp?id=2380 Ban Blowers. EDITOR: I support the Sebastopol City Council resolution to restrict the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. Exceptions should be allowed where no practical alternative exists, such as cleaning out rain gutters. Otherwise, for the sake of the environment and our health, there are better, non-polluting alternatives, such as rakes and brooms. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110312/OPINION/110319940 BLOGS ‘Republicans for Environmental Protection’ – Endangered Species? After watching Republican leaders in Congress last week stick with “same old” approaches to rising energy prices (extract, baby, extract ) and climate science (what, me worry? ), I began to wonder whether the group Republicans for Environmental Protection should be put forward as a candidate for the Endangered Species Act. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/14/republicans-for-environmental-protection-endangered-species/ Hearing Is Set in Climate Fraud Case. A nearly yearlong effort by Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II of Virginia to force the University of Virginia to turn over the documents of a prominent climatologist is headed to the state’s Supreme Court. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/hearing-is-set-in-climate-fraud-case/ Clean-Tech: A Decade Of Explosive Growth With More To Come. What a difference a decade makes. Once shunned as an industry only a tree-hugger could love, clean-tech has blossomed into an economic heavyweight, according to a report from research firm Clean Edge Inc. Companies working on green construction and the smart grid are proliferating, the study said. From less than 10,000 hybrid electric vehicles in 2000, now more than 1.4 million are speeding around U.S. roads. The solar photovoltaics market grew an average of 40% each year over the past decade to $71.2 billion in 2010 from $2.5 billion in 2000. The average cost of installing a photovoltaic system back then was $9 per peak watt; it’s now $4.82. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/03/clean-tech-renewable-energy-electric-cars.html Green Building: Solar Panels And Earthquake Faults Don't Mix. The Los Angeles Community College System, blessed with $5.7 billion in voter-approved bonds, had a grand plan to be a national model of green energy: its nine colleges would be self-sufficient in electricity thanks to solar, wind and geothermal power. But major blunders and miscalculations over the last six years cost the program $10 million, including $4 million for designs of solar and wind installations that would never move to construction. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/03/green-building-solar-panels-earthquake-faults.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Solar, Wind And Biomass Worth $188 Billion In 2010. The main renewable energy industries grew 35% last year, and revenues should double again this decade, according to the Clean Energy Trends 2011 report issued today by Clean Edge Inc., the Portland-based research company. This boom has been going on for a decade and shows no signs of stopping, the report said. Since 2000 the market for solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind has grown 20-fold, with the price to install solar panels falling by nearly half, and the percentage of the country's venture capital invested in the space growing from less than 1% to last year's 23%. Posted. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2011/03/solar-wind-and-biomass-worth-188-billion-in-2010 Moray Firth Rocks 'Could Store 15 Years Of Carbon Emissions'. Scientists estimate the Captain sandstone could hold emissions from power stations in Scotland using carbon capture and storage. Sandstone rocks under the North Sea could store at least 15 years of all Scotland's CO2 emissions from power stations and create tens of thousands of new jobs, an industry-sponsored report has claimed. The study has estimated that the rock formation, known as Captain sandstone, east of the Moray Firth, could eventually hold up to 100 years' worth of CO2 emissions from power stations in Scotland, using carbon-capture and storage (CCS) technologies which might be worth £10bn by 2025. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/mar/14/moray-firth-carbon-capture-storage ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:53:40 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 16, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 16, 2011. 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 EPA Issues New Proposal To Regulate Mercury, Other Air Emissions >From Coal-Fired Power Plants. HOUSTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a proposal to regulate emissions from coal-fired power plants, including rules limiting mercury pollution for the first time. The proposal is being praised by environmental and medical groups who say it will clean the air and preserve health. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/epa-issues-new-proposal-to-regulate-mercury-other-air-emissions-from-coal-fired-power-plants/2011/03/16/ABX0pMe_story.html http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/16/1 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-16/epa-proposes-first-u-s-standard-for-coal-plant-mercury-1-.html Japan Radiation Risk To California Is Downplayed. Health officials say there is no threat at this time because of the distance nuclear radiation would have to travel. But that is not stopping some from taking their own precautions. Within days, nuclear radiation released from Japan's damaged Fukushima reactors could reach California, but experts say the amount that makes its way across the ocean should pose no danger. "What we're being told is that there is no threat to California at this time," said Mike Sicilia, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health. "It's a matter of distance. Dangerous radioactivity could not cross the 5,000 miles of the Pacific without petering out." Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0316-california-radiation-20110316,0,3363153,print.story Q&A Radiation Exposure And The Effects On Human Health. A look at what could happen to people who are exposed to radiation in the Japanese nuclear crisis. As engineers have fought to avert a meltdown at the earthquake- and tsunami-crippled Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) power plant, nuclear authorities have reported that spikes of radiation have escaped from the facility at levels that can be dangerous to human health. Authorities have evacuated more than 170,000 people within 12 miles of the plant and have warned those within 20 miles to stay indoors and close off ventilation systems. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-he-japan-quake-radiation-20110316,0,4993430,print.story EPA Deploys More Radiation Monitors To The West Coast. As public concern grows about radiation from Japan possibly drifting to the West Coast of the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday announced that it will deploy more electronic monitors that measure radiation levels in the air. The monitors, which detect gamma radiation and radioactive particles, will be set up in "parts of the Western U.S. and U.S. territories," the agency said in a statement. EPA officials, however, refused to answer questions or make staff members available to explain the exact location and number of monitors, or the levels of radiation, if any, being recorded at existing monitors in California. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_17621522?source=rss Tuolumne County Leaders Delay Action On Open-Pit Mining. Sonora — The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors had out-of-town visitors Tuesday — about a dozen Stanislaus County, Riverbank and Oakdale officials who have objections to a proposed open-pit mine that would border Stanislaus County. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/15/v-print/1601007/county-leaders-delay-action-on.html Cement Industry Is Set Against EPA Climate Rule. The cement industry warned yesterday that U.S. EPA regulations will cripple its business and send shocks through the economy. The Portland Cement Association (PCA), the Illinois-based group representing cement makers in the United States, detailed in a report yesterday how seven EPA policies would squander up to 4,000 jobs in the industry, stifle the construction sector that depends on it, and fail to cut emissions as production goes to countries such as China. Of the seven policies, only two directly deal with climate; several of the policies haven't been approved or effected yet. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/16/7 CLIMATE CHANGE GOP Lawmakers Threaten To Withhold Votes Unless Environmental Rules Are Rewritten. Five Republicans whose votes are crucial to passage of Gov. Jerry Brown's spending proposal demand sweeping changes in the California Environmental Quality Act. Environmentalists are outraged. The handful of Republican lawmakers most likely to provide crucial votes for Gov. Jerry Brown's budget plan are threatening to withhold their support without a dramatic rewriting of state environmental law. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budget-environment-20110316,0,4929214,print.story http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/16/3478753/gop-lawmakers-threaten-to-withhold.html Panel Oks Bill Blocking EPA Greenhouse Gas Rules. Washington -- The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 34-19 Tuesday to approve legislation that would block the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases and gut California's landmark limits on those emissions from cars. The legislation is a broadside against the EPA, which has become a lightning rod for anti-regulation Republicans now in charge of the House. The House is set to consider the EPA-blocking bill before its Easter recess next month. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/16/MNVA1IC4EB.DTL&type=printable House Committee Votes To Strip EPA Of CO2 Regulatory Authority. A bill designed to revoke U.S. EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases from smokestacks and the tailpipes of future vehicles passed a key House committee yesterday, remaining largely unchanged despite efforts by House Democrats to offer a bevy of amendments. The "Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011" passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee 34-19. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/16/4 Regulators Embrace Voluntary Carbon. The global carbon markets began quietly in the late 1980s as part of a voluntary effort to save rainforests, but these small, voluntary efforts were quickly eclipsed – and often dismissed – when the Kyoto Protocol ushered in compliance markets a decade later. Now, however, it’s the compliance markets that are turning to the voluntary markets for guidance as regulators and voluntary market players rush to meet halfway. Posted. http://www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/pages/dynamic/article.page.php?page_id=8100§ion=news_articles&eod=1 DIESEL EMISSIONS City of Compton Fined $48,000 for Fleet Violations. The California Air Resources Board has fined the City of Compton $48,800 for a variety of infractions pertaining to its diesel fleet vehicles, including failing to properly maintain and self-inspect its diesel trucks and register construction equipment, as required by state law. ARB investigators cited the city for failing to test and maintain records of smoke levels from its fleet of heavy-duty diesel vehicles for 2008 and 2009. The city was also faulted for not updating its trash trucks with diesel particulate filters and affixing proper labels according to a pre-set schedule. Posted. http://www.constructionequipment.com/print/89420 FUELS Ethanol Output in U.S. Increases 1.4%, Energy Department Says. U.S. ethanol production jumped 1.4 percent to 895,000 barrels a day last week, the biggest advance in two months, according to the Energy Department. Output rose to the highest level since the week ended Feb. 4 and the gain was the largest since Jan. 14, the department said in a report released in Washington. Stockpiles grew to 19.91 million barrels, the highest level since July 2. Production of conventional gasoline blended with ethanol climbed 0.9 percent to 4.91 million barrels a day. Refiners receive a 45-cent tax credit for every gallon of ethanol blended into the motor fuel. Denatured ethanol for March delivery advanced 3 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $2.375 a gallon at 10:45 a.m. New York time on the Chicago Board of Trade. Futures have climbed 54 percent in the past year. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-16/ethanol-output-in-u-s-increases-1-4-energy-department-says.html E.U. Taxes Will Penalize Carbon-Heavy Energy Sources. A proposed overhaul of European fuel taxes will narrow the price gap between gasoline and diesel and make biofuels and biomass more competitive with traditional energy sources. The continent's €240 billion ($334.4 billion) annual taxation of energy offers the lowest taxes to the most polluting sources, countering the European Union's goal of lowering carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020. Taxation commissioner Algirdas Semeta has proposed a carbon tax of €20 per tonne of CO2 and a minimum energy tax on motor fuels and heating fuels, according to a draft document. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/16/8 GREEN ENERGY Climate Corps Interns Help Businesses Save Energy. Cisco Systems is installing energy-saving devices throughout its R&D labs. EBay upgraded its lights to LED, installed power-management software and replaced most of its desktop computers with laptops. Shorenstein Properties adjusted the heating and cooling systems for its buildings. Now it plans a road show to educate its thousands of tenants about sustainability. The three companies are among 50 firms participating in Climate Corps, a project of the Environmental Defense Fund. Climate Corps (www.edfclimatecorps.org) "embeds" MBA students as summer interns at corporations nationwide to develop action plans to cut their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/16/BUS91I3IJD.DTL&type=printable Renewable Energy Is Now An Economic Gold Mine. In the past decade, renewables have jumped from being a niche industry to a mainstream economic powerhouse, states a recent report. The report, published by Clean Edge Inc., says that the number of hybrid vehicles has increased more than a hundredfold, and that the solar energy market has grown by 40 percent per year from 2000 to 2010. Wind saw a comparable increase, growing 30 percent each year, from $4.5 billion to $60.5 billion. Almost one-quarter of venture capital in the United States goes to clean-tech projects -- the amount was less than 1 percent in 2000. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/16/10 OPINION 5 Myths About Nuclear Energy. Explosions. Radiation. Evacuations. More than 30 years after Three Mile Island, the unfolding crisis in Japan has brought back some of the worst nightmares surrounding nuclear power — and restarted a major debate about the merits and the drawbacks of this energy source. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/5-myths-about-nuclear-energy/2011/03/15/AB9P3Oe_story.html Scripps: Global Warming More Common That Scientists Thought. Earth has undergone periods of rapid and intense global warming far more often than scientists once believed, possibly with limited biological impact, says a new study from a team led by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla. The findings are based on an analysis of sea floor sediments that are being used to figure out how such change affected marine ecosystems in the past and what could happen when the planet warms in the future, says the study, to be published March 17 in the journal Nature. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/mar/16/scripps-earth-use-dealing-abrupt-climate-change/ New Republic: Japan Holds A Lesson For US Politics. The earthquake and potential nuclear catastrophe in Japan have brought home a set of questions that have haunted philosophers for hundreds of years — and have played an important role in American politics for over a century. They have to do with the relationship between humanity and nature — not nature as "the outdoors," but as the obdurate bio-geo-physiochemical reality in which human beings and other animals dwell. To what extent does nature set limits on human possibilities? And to what extent can human beings overcome these limits? Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/03/16/134590970/new-republic-japan-holds-a-lesson-for-us-politics BLOGS House Panel to Question Nuclear Regulatory and Energy Chiefs. The House Energy and Commerce committee opens a hearing at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday in which it will hear from two witnesses who are suddenly much more prominent because of events in Japan: Steven Chu, the secretary of energy, the chief administration official addressing the crisis involving the Japanese reactors, and Gregory B. Jaczko, the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has sent personnel to Japan and is charged with preventing accidents here in the United States. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/house-panel-to-question-nuclear-regulatory-and-energy-chiefs-face/?scp=7&sq=fuels&st=cse On Climate Change, It Didn’t Have To Be This Way. As a follow-up to my comments in today’s Wonkbook, it’s easy to forget that as recently as three years ago, the Republican presidential nominee was an avowed believer in not just global warming, but efforts to combat it. “We stand warned by serious and credible scientists across the world that time is short and the dangers are great,” John McCain said in May of 2008. “The most relevant question now is whether our own government is equal to the challenge.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/on-climate-change-it-didnt-have-to-be-this-way/2011/03/10/ABrgond_blog.html Global Warming Alarmism Continues To Backfire. A new Gallup poll is delivering bad news to global warming alarmists, showing Americans are becoming more and more skeptical of hysterical global warming claims. The alarmists are bemoaning these results and saying they need to be more forceful and creative in delivering their message of doom and gloom. But the global-warming religionists are losing credibility with the American public precisely because they are too forceful and creative in delivering speculative global warming claims, not because they are too conservative and demure. Posted. http://blogs.forbes.com/jamestaylor/2011/03/16/global-warming-alarmism-continues-to-backfire/ New Study Sheds Light on Air Quality Impacts of the BP Oil Spill. According to a new study, the chemicals that spewed into the Gulf of Mexico from the BP Oil Spill set off a complex chain of chemical reactions forming air pollution aerosols. Unfortunately these aerosols weren’t adequately monitored for at the time of the spill. While this study did not look at the impacts of this pollution on the clean-up workers or onshore communities, it raises important questions about what Gulf communities were exposed to during the oil spill and shows the need for improved air quality monitoring. During the oil spill, clean-up workers and coastal communities reported odors and respiratory symptoms linked to winds coming off the oil slick. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/mrotkinellman/new_study_sheds_light_on_air_q.html Removing Mercury and Other Toxics From the Air We Breathe. This week, the EPA proposed Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, a Clean Air Act protection that sets the first-ever national safeguards to limit power plant releases of mercury, arsenic, chromium, nickel and acid gases into the air we breathe. America’s power plants are the source of half of the mercury emissions, half of the acid gases, and a quarter of all toxic metal pollution in the U.S, and almost half of America’s coal plants lack advanced pollution controls. Posted. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/03/16/removing-mercury-and-other-toxics-air-we-breathe ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:41:37 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 17, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 17, 2011. 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 Small Amounts Of Radiation Headed For California, But No Health Risk Seen. Very low levels of radioactive isotopes from the damaged Japanese nuclear plant are expected to reach California as soon as Friday, but experts say the amount will be well within safe limits. A network of radiation monitors is keeping close watch. Small amounts of radioactive isotopes from the crippled Japanese nuclear power plant are being blown toward North America high in the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean and will reach California as soon as Friday, according to experts. A network of sensors in the U.S. and around the world is watching for the first signs of that fallout, though experts said they were confident that the amount of radiation would be well within safe limits. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/la-sci-japan-nuclear-usa-20110317,0,3148195,print.story EPA Proposal Aims At Pollutants From Coal-Fired Plants. Washington – Toxic air pollutants such as mercury, which can lower the IQ of children who get high doses early in life, would be reduced from coal-fired power plants under a major air pollution regulation that the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday. The proposed rule also would reduce other forms of air pollution that cause heart attacks, asthma attacks and other serious health conditions. The EPA estimates that 17,000 lives would be saved by the new rule every year, and thousands of people would avoid missing work and visiting an emergency room. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/17/v-print/3481819/epa-proposal-aims-at-pollutants.html CLIMATE CHANGE Driving Climate Change. The fate of the planet rests to some small extent on whether Sacramento County supervisors decide to approve more sprawl. It depends, too, on how close office buildings are to light-rail stations, and how many bike lanes are built in new subdivisions. These don’t seem like such big choices when it comes to climate change. But it all adds up. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=1939271 Scripps Study: 50 Million Years Ago, A Warming Planet. Intense bouts of global warming lasting tens of thousands of years gripped the planet some 50 million years ago, a new study shows, offering insights into the potential environmental effects of the present warming episode. The most powerful of these bouts, called the "thermal maximum," was already known to scientists. But the new findings by researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography show it was just the biggest in a chain of temperature spikes. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/warming-292420-years-million.html Senate Dems Push Back Vote On EPA Amendments Again. Efforts to pre-empt U.S. EPA's authorities to regulate greenhouse gas emissions were always expected to be an easier sell in the Republican-controlled House than in the Democratic Senate, but they are causing plenty of havoc in the upper chamber too. Senate Democratic leaders have been delaying a vote since Tuesday on a measure that would pre-empt EPA's climate change rules, but they have now acknowledged that it is unlikely to receive a vote until after next week's recess. "We don't have any comment about why this is being moved back," said Adam Jentleson, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/17/13 Congress Emits Half-Truths In Spin War Over Mass. V. EPA. In the continuing political battle over the Obama administration's efforts to regulate greenhouse gases, Democrats and Republicans rarely take aim at the most deserving target: the Supreme Court. As Democrats are fond of noting, it wasn't the Obama administration but the Supreme Court that decided in its 2007 Massachusetts v. EPA ruling that greenhouse gases could be regulated under the Clean Air Act. The court told U.S. EPA to conduct the analysis that led to the so-called endangerment finding -- in which EPA concluded that greenhouse gases were harmful -- that triggered rules that Republicans in particular are now railing against. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/17/1 DIESEL EMISSIONS EPA Toxics Report Sparks Fight Over Diesel Emissions. A U.S. EPA report suggesting that Americans have significantly higher cancer risks because of toxic emissions from motor vehicles has reopened the debate over dangers posed by outdated diesel engines. At issue is the National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA). Released Friday, the report draws on 2005 data to examine potential health risks from airborne toxics (Greenwire, March 11) and concludes that vehicle emissions -- including diesel exhaust -- pose significant health risks. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/17/15 FUELS As GOP Ratchets Up Attacks On EPA, Dems Blast Oil Speculators. As Republicans aim to unite two incendiary energy issues by warning that U.S. EPA could drive up gas prices, Democrats are turning to their own dual argument -- one that links oil-futures markets to fuel costs and attacks the GOP for proposing to cut the regulation of "speculators." Pinning an increase in gas prices on oil speculation is not a new maneuver for Democrats, who made similar calls for stricter regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) when gasoline hit $4 per gallon in the summer of 2008. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/print/2011/03/17/3 Governors Urge Change in Corn for Ethanol Reporting. U.S. governors from Washington to New York to Texas are asking Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to change the way USDA reports the use of corn for ethanol production. In a letter sent to Vilsack this week, the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition urged the change to reflect the fact that corn for ethanol usage produces livestock feed in the form of distillers grains in addition to ethanol. They argue that USDA’s current reporting methods distort the actual picture and provide ammunition for food versus fuel attacks on ethanol. Posted. http://domesticfuel.com/2011/03/17/governors-urge-change-in-corn-for-ethanol-reporting/ GREEN ENERGY Dublin Considers, Puts Off, Mandatory Recycling For Businesses. Dublin -- City leaders briefly considered making Dublin the first city in Alameda County with mandatory business recycling, but has opted to wait for a new state law. The City Council spent more than an hour Tuesday discussing whether to develop a mandatory recycling program for businesses and multifamily housing complexes or to continue to have its solid waste contractor, Amador Valley Industries, work with businesses to recycle voluntarily. Council members opted to have city staff members develop an ordinance to require multifamily complexes without recycling to begin providing it, and to wait for state lawmakers' proposal for a commercial recycling lawPosted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17628895?nclick_check=1 Report Says Green Economy Producing Jobs, But Urges Work Quality Improvement. Berkeley — To achieve the state’s energy efficiency goals and provide better career opportunities for Californians, the state should modify its clean energy programs and its extensive but fragmented training and education programs, according to a report led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, released today (Thursday, March 17). Posted. http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2011/03/17/report-on-green-economy-jobs/ VEHICLES Google Maps Adds Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. If electric cars are going to ever capture anything more than a tiny sliver of the U.S. auto market, not only does a robust EV charging infrastructure need to be developed, there has to be an easy way to find those stations. Until recently, there has only been a fragmented collection of maps, usually based on charging networks or business and association partnerships. But as of last week, you can now get the location of EV charging stations on the Google Maps platform. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=US249289118020110317 Honda Recalling New Models Of Civics To Prevent Fuel From Leaking >From Car’s Fuel Tank. Washington — Honda Motor Co. is recalling new models of the Honda Civic to prevent fuel from leaking from the car’s fuel tank. The recall covers about 18,000 Civics from the 2011 model year. Honda says a plastic case that covers a valve in the fuel pump module could break or crack. That, in turn, could lead to a fuel leak in a roll-over crash, and the leaking fuel could lead to a fire. Honda dealers will inspect the fuel pump module and replace it if necessary at no cost to the owner. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/honda-recalling-new-models-of-civics-to-prevent-fuel-from-leaking-from-cars-fuel-tank/2011/03/17/ABCcVLk_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/17/1602942/honda-recalling-new-civics-due.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_4ae78b94-2c52-54e1-a5dc-3975d6231c4e.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/17/honda-recalling-new-civics-due-to-fuel-leakage/ Prices Of Vehicles From Japan Likely To Climb. Earthquake-related production shutdowns in Japan are reducing the supply of popular hybrid and fuel-efficient cars amid rising demand for the imports. New-car shoppers could see prices for some of the more popular hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles such as the Toyota Prius and the Honda Fit rise in the coming weeks. The cost of the imports is likely to go up because earthquake-related production shutdowns in Japan are reducing supply of the autos at a time when consumers are increasingly shopping for gas-sipping models Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-quake-autos-20110317,0,5791536,print.story Infrastructure is Challenge for Electric Vehicle Owners. Auto experts say electric vehicles are a practical alternative to gasoline-powered cars, at least for some drivers. The biggest challenge for the auto industry is expanding the infrastructure for recharging the vehicles. With last year's release of the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf, some say the day of the electric vehicle has arrived. The Volt uses a rechargeable battery, and for additional range, can switch to a small gasoline engine to recharge the battery. The Leaf is an all-electric vehicle that is designed for short commutes. Posted. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/science-technology/Infrastructure-is-Challenge-for-Electric-Vehicle-Owners-118107949.html MISCELLANEOUS NYC Charity Auction Pledges To Benefit Environment. New York -- A day of golfing and lunch with former president Bill Clinton, flying with Harrison Ford on his private aircraft and sailing off the coast of Maine with the Rockefellers are just a few of the celebrity and luxury items being offered at an auction to benefit four leading environmental organizations. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/16/2313013/nyc-charity-auction-pledges-to.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/16/nyc-charity-auction-pledges-to-benefit/ OPINION FORUM: There's an Encinitas Environmental Commission? On Feb. 16, the Encinitas City Council failed to agree on the Environmental Action Plan presented by the city's Environmental Commission. It instead voted to shelve the plan and revisit it in small doses in the coming months. Council members blamed the plan's lack of focus and attainability, but if we are to point fingers, a lack of public awareness, and consequently, support, were the real perpetrators. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/article_bb28e17c-2088-50d2-a939-b0ab81e29d8d.html BLOGS U.S. Official Affirms Nuclear Loan Guarantees. European Pressphoto Agency Construction vehicles and workers excavate a site for a nuclear reactor at Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, Ga., that is to be built with help from a federal loan guarantee. With many riveted on Japan’s reactor crisis, the head of the Department of Energy’s loan guarantee program has affirmed that it will continue to finance nuclear projects in the United States. “Assuming there is a desire in the Capitol to move forward, nuclear remains an important part of the energy mix,” Jonathan Silver, executive director of the Energy Department’s loan programs office, said on Wednesday in a presentation at the Cleantech Forum conference in San Francisco. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/u-s-official-affirms-nuclear-loan-guarantees/?pagemode=print U.K. Ponders Nuclear Option in Carbon Price Floor Move. The U.K. government could be asking for trouble in next Wednesday’s budget if it goes ahead with plans to set a carbon price floor, which could result in a £3.4 billion windfall for the country’s nuclear industry. As footage from Japan depicts helicopters dousing reactors at the Fukushima complex in a last ditch attempt to prevent a full meltdown and large release of radioactivity, it’s hardly the time to be seen to be rewarding existing nuclear generators for simply producing power. The Treasury wants to put a floor under the carbon price to stimulate investment in low-carbon electricity such as new nuclear power stations and offshore wind farms. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2011/03/17/u-k-ponders-nuclear-option-in-carbon-price-floor-move/?mod=google_news_blog Audi Rolls Out 333 Limited-Edition R8 GTs (Slideshow). Audi of America released details about its coming 2012 R8 GT, which has 560 horsepower and a starting price of $196,800. That’s a big premium over the basic R8′s $114,200 sticker, but well below the cost of other carbon-heavy exotic cars like the $379,700 Lamborghini Aventador and $1.6 million Pagani Huayra. Audi, a luxury unit of German auto giant Volkswagen AG, says it will build 333 R8 GTs, including 90 for the U.S. market. The 2012 R8 GT’s lightweight structure includes a lot of carbon fiber that helps cut the car’s weight by about 180 pounds compared with the Audi R8 Coupe 5.2 quattro. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/03/17/audi-rolls-out-333-limited-edition-r8-gts-slideshow/ What Would You Ask California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols? On Friday, Climate Watch Senior Editor Craig Miller will sit down with Mary Nichols for a one-on-one interview, which will later be broadcast on This Week in Northern California. As chair of the California Air Resources Board under both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown, Nichols has presided over the nation’s most ambitious assault on the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. She’s charged with implementation of the state’s 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), which has survived well-funded attacks from industry and is now fending off a lawsuit from environmentalists. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2011/03/16/what-would-you-ask-california-air-resources-board-chair-mary-nichols/ Hydrogen Is Down, But Not Out. For all the love battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids get these days, you’d think hydrogen is dead. It isn’t. Oh sure, the Obama administration, smitten by cars with cords, wants to cut funding for hydrogen by 40 percent. California’s hydrogen highway has gone nowhere. We have no fueling infrastructure to speak of. And critics argue it could take decades for hydrogen to have an appreciable impact on gasoline consumption or CO2 emissions. Posted. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/03/hydrogen/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:40:36 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 18, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov Newsclips for March 18, 2011. California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 18, 2011. 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 For Radiation, the Alarm Bells Are Boxes. Anaheim, Calif. — The radiation monitor works unobtrusively here on a tiny strip of fenced-off land just behind a schoolyard on a dead-end street. The machine that regularly sniffs the air, measuring whether radioactive fallout from Japan has reached Southern California, is a gray box, about three feet high and two feet wide. The most remarkable thing is how unremarkable it is. A few other machines are perched atop black metal grates, constantly measuring the air pollution that is a fact of life here. The black dots on the filter are a reminder that the Southern California air is never quite pure. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/us/18california.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=print Bakersfield Station Monitors Radiation. As many Americans brace for the first measurable radiation expected to arrive in U.S. air space from Japan on Friday, more than 120 radiation measurement stations across the United States will monitor the strength of the invisible invasion. One of those stations is located on a rooftop right here in Bakersfield -- though the exact location cannot be disclosed in the interest of security. There are a total of 11 stations in California, including in places such as Fresno and Anaheim. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x233128907/Bakersfield-station-monitors-radiation Radioactive Particles Arriving In The Bay Area, But Pose No Risk, Say Scientists And Health Officials. While public health officials anxiously downplayed fears Thursday that a plume from Japan's crippled nuclear reactors was descending on California, scientists at UC Berkeley declared they were already detecting radioactive particles from 5,000 miles across the ocean. The differing accounts illustrated the confusion on the fallout from Japan's crisis as contamination continued to spew from the damaged power plants, but scientists and public health experts were united on one front: Whatever radiation may drift to California and the West Coast will be too minuscule to pose any health risks here. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_17637607?nclick_check=1 A Pollution Concern from Heating Oils. Last month’s anti-smoking legislation may have irritated some Local readers, but environmentalists say that another pollutant continues to fill the air. An interactive map of New York City’s “dirty buildings” on the Environmental Defense Fund Web site shows over 9,000 red and yellow dots spanning Manhattan, charting real locations of the city’s sludge-burning buildings. Posted. http://eastvillage.thelocal.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/a-pollution-concern-from-heating-oils/?scp=3&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse CLIMATE CHANGE Crises In Japan, Gulf, Thwart US Energy Accord. Washington (AP) - On the road to a national energy policy, President Barack Obama just can't catch a break. First, worries over coal-burning plants' role in global warming prompted Obama and other Democrats to look more favorably on offshore oil and gas exploration. Last year's BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico ended that abruptly. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/18/crises-in-japan-gulf-thwart-us-energy-accord/ http://www.fresnobee.com/search_results?q=climate+change&sort=pubsys_pubobj_publish_dt+desc IPCC, EPA Overestimate Greenhouse Gas Levels From Septic Tanks, Says Study. At the bottom of layers of household scum and sludge, a biological process in septic tanks releases about 0.1 metric tons of greenhouse gases per year, according to a recent study. The good news is that this figure is about half the amount estimated by both the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and U.S. EPA. This means that septic tanks, receptacles that collect sewage from households not connected to a municipal systems -- 20 percent of the households in the United States -- are responsible for less greenhouse gas emissions than previously accounted. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/18/8 'Mega' Heat Waves To Become More Frequent -- A deadly heat wave that struck Europe last summer was the most severe scorcher to hit the region in the past 500 years, according to a new study that suggests such "mega-heat waves" will become more common by the end of the century. The heat wave, which began in July 2010 and endured through mid-August, broke longstanding temperature records across almost half of Europe. Average weekly temperatures were 18 degrees Fahrenheit above normal in a 772,000-square-mile swatch of Eastern Europe and western Russia, according to research published yesterday in the journal Science. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/18/10 Cutbacks On Nuclear Could Spike Global Warming Levels. If major countries with ambitious nuclear development plans abandon them amid the turmoil in Japan, their efforts may have an unintended consequence. Global warming will intensify if China, a leading carbon emitter, drops the world's most ambitious nuclear power building program and Germany shuts down its nuclear power plants. Before the tsunami hit Japan last Friday, the country ranked as world's fifth biggest carbon emitter. Now it does not have much choice but to burn more gas and coal to replace its low-carbon reactors. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/18/11 A New Kind Of Currency. A professional forester who died 25 years ago would not recognize the words and concepts that are the new currency in the woods. In addition to selling timber from their lands, foresters now can be rewarded for being better stewards of the land and for adding carbon inventory to their forests. Carbon credits appear to be the Next Big Thing. For the North American Temperate Rainforest – which includes the entire Oregon and Washington coastal forest – carbon credits represent a new income stream that’s based on plant biology and is prodded by global warming and climate change. Posted. http://www.eastoregonian.com/news/northwest/fate_of_our_forest/a-new-kind-of-currency/article_174f3024-50e0-11e0-a9df-001cc4c03286.html?mode=print FUELS Google Backs Biofuels, via CoolPlanetBiofuels. Google Ventures has made its first biofuels investment. On Thursday afternoon, the venture arm of the search giant announced it has invested in a startup called CoolPlanetBioFuels, which makes what the company calls “negative carbon fuels.” CoolPlanetBiofuels has also raised funding from another group of well-known strategic investors recently: Energy Technology Ventures, which is made up of GE, NRG Energy and ConocoPhillips. Out of all Google Venture’s investments, biofuels seem like the farthest from the company’s core business. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/17/idUS370391007820110317 Most Japanese Airports Have Fuel Supplies For 10 Days – IATA. Airlines Friday were urged to use fuel supplies in Japan efficiently as stocks at some airports fell to 10 days' worth of supply. The International Air Transport Association said it was too early to assess the long-term impact of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami on the global air transport industry, but it was coordinating actions among airlines to maximize fuel supplies in Japan and briefing carriers and officials on rationing if shortages arise. IATA, which represents 93% of scheduled international traffic and 230 airlines, suggested planes carry sufficient fuel for both legs of journeys, avoiding the need to refuel in Japan. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110318-705072.html Greater Danger Lies in Spent Fuel Than in Reactors. Years of procrastination in deciding on long-term disposal of highly radioactive fuel rods from nuclear reactors are now coming back to haunt Japanese authorities as they try to control fires and explosions at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Some countries have tried to limit the number of spent fuel rods that accumulate at nuclear power plants: Germany stores them in costly casks, for example, while China sends them to a desert storage compound in the western province of Gansu. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/world/asia/18spent.html?_r=1&src=twrhp&pagewanted=print U.S. Nuclear Plants Store More Spent Fuel Than Japan's, Experts Say. Washington -- U.S. nuclear plants use the same sort of pools to cool spent nuclear-fuel rods as the ones now in danger of spewing radiation at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant, only the U.S. pools hold much more nuclear material. That's raising the question of whether more spent fuel should be taken out of the pools at U.S. power plants to reduce risks. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/17/1603769/us-nuclear-plants-store-more-spent.html GREEN ENERGY Report Urges Calif. To Go Slow On New Worker Training Programs For Green Jobs. California's market for jobs in the energy efficiency sector will remain tight through 2020 despite carbon-cutting regulations and a projected $11 billion in investments, according to a new state-backed report from the University of California, Berkeley. Rather than funding training programs for new workers, California should spend its funds on getting existing workers up to par for installing distributed generation systems, home energy retrofits and other demand-reducing technologies. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/18/9 First-Ever Major Tidal Power Station To Be Installed Off Scottish Coast. An array of 10 underwater turbines will be installed in a channel between two Scottish islands to provide 10 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 10,000 homes. The two islands, Islay and Jura, are well-known for their malt whiskey production. The station will provide electricity for the distilleries, plus more than enough power for all the homes on the islands. The installations, which resemble traditional wind turbines, will be placed in an area with one of the strongest and most reliable currents in U.K. waters. The flow of the water runs at almost 6.7 mph. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/18/13 VEHICLES Those Yellow Car-Pool Stickers Are Going Bye-Bye. Dear Honk: I am wondering if the yellow car-pool stickers for hybrid cars are really going to be useless after July 1? It seems counterproductive to put 85,000 cars back into the regular lanes and increase congestion and pollution. Is there any chance of an extension? – Sandy Flanagan, Huntington Beach. A. About as much chance as Honk retiring before he hits 80. Not much (kids' college expenses, Mrs. Honk's "dream house,'' etc). Unless state Legislators quickly extend the deadline – and Honk sniffed around and didn't see any signs of that – then, yes, the solo drivers in those stickered hybrids must move into the regular lanes with the rest of us. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/common/printer/view.php?db=ocregister&id=292613 OPINION EDITORIAL: Ending The Global-Warming Argument. Leftist Resort To The Courts Is Sign Of Desperation. Leftists are rushing to the judiciary as a refuge against efforts to undermine their global-warming tax schemes. In the current economic environment, the idea of massive hikes in the price of gasoline and other sources of energy has become radioactive. In response, the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Iowa, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont are hoping activist judges will enact policies that elected, accountable representatives are increasingly afraid to touch. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/17/ending-the-global-warming-argument/print/ There's No Such Thing As Truly Safe Nuclear Power. Nuclear power was beginning to look like a panacea - a way to lessen our dependence on oil, make our energy supply more self-sufficient and significantly mitigate global warming, all at the same time. Now it looks more like a bargain with the devil. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110317/A_OPINION0608/103170315&cid=sitesearch BLOGS Delay in Coal Pollution Rules Took Toll in Lives. A tough new pollution standard for power plants proposed this week by the Environmental Protection Agency will cost utilities at least $10 billion, and several companies have already signaled that they will close aging coal plants rather than upgrade to meet the new standards. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/delay-in-coal-pollution-rules-took-toll-in-lives/ Oil Industry to Form Safety Group. American companies involved in offshore oil drilling are moving to set up a safety institute modeled on those established by foreign oil companies and the nuclear power and chemical industries, the American Petroleum Institute said on Thursday. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/oil-industry-to-form-safety-group/ House Republicans: More Spending On Coal, Oil, Gas. On what planet are House Republicans living? The one on which NASA is telling us that the polar ice caps are melting at a much faster rate that we thought, or the one on which it makes sense for the GOP point-man on energy, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), to say this, as he did Wednesday: Spending, even for laudable goals like energy efficiency or developing affordable alternative energy sources and technologies, needs to be scrutinized for effectiveness....In other areas, I believe the budget is inappropriately cheap, and this is especially the case with regard to fossil fuels. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/house-republicans-more-money-for-coal-oil-gas/2011/03/04/AB9D2dm_blog.html California Gas Prices Stall Below $4, But For How Long? In California, the seemingly endless rise of the most expensive gasoline in the U.S. outside of Hawaii finally came to an end overnight. The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the state dropped 0.1 cent to $3.96, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. But some Californians may well be wondering this: Where isn't it $4 a gallon? In Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and Lompoc, the state's most expensive gasoline is selling for an average of $4.02 a gallon, up 0.2 cent overnight and 1.9 cent higher than a week ago, said the AAA. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/03/california-gas-prices-finally-stall-below-4-but-for-how-long.html Clean Air Act Phobia. It’s a sad state of affairs when members on both sides of the aisle in Congress seem to think it is a good idea to attack the Clean Air Act – the landmark law that Richard Nixon signed and George H. W. Bush strengthened. Yet the hits on the Clean Air Act just keep on coming in this Congress in spite of the Act’s incredible record of cutting deaths and illness caused by air pollution – a record that has earned the strong support of the American people and the admiration of others around the world. Clean Air Act phobia appears to be a strangely contagious disease that keeps showing up in members’ pronouncements and draft bills – a disease impervious to information and common sense. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dhawkins/clean_air_act_phobia.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2011 13:07:52 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 21, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 21, 2011. 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 At Radiation Sensor In Anaheim, It's Business As Usual. In the face of rising concern over the possibility of radiation from Japan’s damaged nuclear reactors reaching the West coast, air quality officials Friday visited a radiation sensor site to show the public that there is currently no such threat — and there’s not likely to be. In Anaheim, Philip Fine, atmospheric measurements manager for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, checked his watch by a truck-sized shipping container surrounded by instruments the district uses to test the air. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-anaheim-radiation-20110319,0,7363162,print.story EPA Deploys More Radiation Monitors To The West Coast. As public concern grows about radiation from Japan possibly drifting to the West Coast of the United States, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday announced that it will deploy more electronic monitors that measure radiation levels in the air. The monitors, which detect gamma radiation and radioactive particles, will be set up in "parts of the Western U.S. and U.S. territories," the agency said in a statement. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/21/3491797/epa-deploys-more-radiation-monitors.html Federal Agency Says Testing Finds No Health Threat From Radioactivity Along West Coast Of US. San Francisco — Minuscule amounts of radiation from Japan’s stricken nuclear plant have reached the west coast but federal and state officials say it poses no health risk. They said Friday that the doses of radiation that a person normally receives from rocks, bricks, and the sun are 100,000 times the dose rates detected at a monitoring station in California and another in Washington State. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/federal-agency-says-testing-finds-no-health-threat-from-radioactivity-along-west-coast-of-us/2011/03/19/ABBNfCu_story.html http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110319/WIRE/110319415 SAN BERNARDINO: Grant Will Boost Clean-Air Efforts. Regional air quality officials on Saturday will distribute 500 electric lawn mowers to San Bernardino residents, the first of several initiatives to reduce air pollution in the city. In the coming months, the South Coast Air Quality Management District will offer city residents natural-gas-burning "logs" for their fireplaces at big discounts. Subsidies for quieter, lower-emission leaf blowers also will be available. District spokesman Sam Atwood said the lawn mowers sold out fast, because the agency charged as little as $40 for a machine that retails for about $300. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_berdooair18.2140579.html What Affect Does Smog Really Have On Your Children? Ever wonder what affect the smog in Los Angeles has on your children's health? Or the impact of San Pedro's oil refineries? Or the Port of Long Beach? Well, the National Children's Study is launching a pilot program to research the impact of these and other environmental factors in children, through 37 study centers across the United States. One of those hubs is the Los Angeles-Ventura Study Center, which is looking for residents of 14 Los Angeles County neighborhoods to participate in the pilot study. Posted. http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_17652702 CLIMATE CHANGE China, India, Brazil Pledge Emission Limits to United Nations Climate Body. China, India and Brazil pledged to limit their greenhouse gas emissions in documents submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, formalizing commitments made in Copenhagen in December 2009. China said it will try to lower carbon-dioxide emissions per dollar of economic output at least 40 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels, according to a document dated March 18 and e-mailed today by the UN body, which stewards global climate treaty talks. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-21/china-india-brazil-pledge-emission-limits-to-united-nations-climate-body.html USDA Funds Research On Crops And Climate Change. The federal government is investing $60 million in three major studies on the effects of climate change on crops and forests to help ensure farmers and foresters can continue producing food and timber while trying to limit the impact of a changing environment. The three studies take a new approach to crop and climate research by bringing together researchers from a wide variety of fields and encouraging them to find solutions appropriate to specific geographic areas. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/03/21/state/n002442D25.DTL&type=printable http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/21/3491422/usda-funds-research-on-crops-and.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/21/1608746/usda-funds-research-on-crops-and.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_d456d6dd-7910-5f70-95d1-74e7e47a3980.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/21/2318310/usda-funds-research-on-crops-and.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/usda-invests-60m-in-3-new-research-projects-on-effects-of-climate-change-on-crops-and-forests/2011/03/21/ABszW04_story.html http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_17662861 Experience In Floods Makes More Climate Change Believers – Study. People who have directly experienced flooding are more likely to be worried about climate change and willing to adopt energy-saving behavior, according to a new study. Researchers at two British universities based their findings on a 2010 survey of 1,822 individuals across the United Kingdom. "We show that those who report experience of flooding express more concern over climate change, see it as less uncertain and feel more confident that their actions will have an effect on climate change," the authors write. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/21/5 FUELS Ethanol Creates Schism Within Agriculture. The drive to fill the gas tanks of America's cars with corn-based ethanol is creating a division within the ranks of the country's agricultural producers. The most recent acceleration of the trend has been the approval to nudge the percentage of ethanol at the gas pump from 10 to 15 percent. Livestock and dairy producers rely heavily on corn for the rations they feed beef and dairy animals, hogs and poultry. The increased demand on the automotive side is causing prices for corn to increase beyond the level that animal feeders can pay. Posted. http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/corn-104982-ethanol-country.html GREEN ENERGY Ofgem Pushes for Competition in Energy Market . London—The U.K.'s six biggest gas and electricity suppliers will be required to auction up to 20% of their electricity-generation output under new proposals to increase competition in the energy market, Britain's energy regulator Ofgem said Monday. The energy companies have eight weeks to "engage constructively" with Ofgem's proposed changes to the market or risk being referred to the U.K.'s Competition Commission, the regulator said in a statement. Ofgem said a review of the retail energy market found that competition is being stifled by complex tariffs, poor supplier behavior and a lack of transparency. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703858404576214321215335098.html Whatever Nuclear Power’s Threat, No Easy Alternatives. The three-pronged disaster in Japan — earthquake, tsunami and radiation leakage — has stirred a global outpouring of sympathy and good will. But the nuclear catastrophe is what really has the world on edge. People as far afield as Texas, fearing that a noxious plume will come their way, are raiding drugstores for potassium iodide to protect against radiation, despite experts’ assurances that the plumes will disperse over the Pacific Ocean. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/business/energy-environment/21green.html?scp=3&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Solar Industry Has A Strong Year. A recent report by the Solar Energy Industries Association found that 2010 was a banner year for solar in the United States. The total size of the U.S. solar market - which includes rooftop installations, hot water heating and utility scale projects - grew from $3.6 billion in 2009 to $6 billion, a 67 percent increase. "Solar is growing quickly across the U.S. at the residential, commercial, and utility scale levels. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/21/3492169/solar-industry-has-a-strong-year.html E.U. Climate Chief Says Wind Power Will Be Cheaper Than Nuclear. Producing energy from wind turbines at sea would be a cheaper alternative to building new nuclear power plants, said Europe's climate chief. "Some people tend to believe that nuclear is very, very cheap, but offshore wind is cheaper than nuclear," said Connie Hedegaard, the E.U. climate change commissioner. "People should believe that this is very, very cheap." Although offshore wind energy has long been looked at as costly, the expense is likely to come down, according to an analysis by the European commission. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/21/10 ENERGY: Electric Car Owners Prone To Going Solar. Electric car buyers said they're purchasing solar panels to support their new, electricity-intensive driving habits. The first in the most recent wave of plug-in electric cars rolled out last year in San Diego County, an all-electric vehicle from Nissan, followed a month later by Chevy's mostly electric Volt. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_8789b5a2-83d2-513c-86c5-9663330e2a4e.html MISCELLANEOUS Do Your Part: Are Plastics Polluting Your Home? It's virtually impossible to go through a day without coming into contact with plastic. Take a second to think about everything plastic you touch each day. It could be your toothbrush, remote control, food containers, toys, pens, debit card, cell phone, laptop and I could go on and on. While we all enjoy the benefits of plastic, some plastics are a whole lot safer than others. And, there's one type that actually releases harmful chemicals that accumulate in our bodies, homes, and the environment. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/21/v-print/3491796/do-your-part-are-plastics-polluting.html Group Seeks Forest Restoration To Cleanse Planet. Copemish, Mich. -- Redwoods and sequoias towering majestically over California's northern coast. Oaks up to 1,000 years old nestled in a secluded corner of Ireland. The legendary cedars of Lebanon. They are among the most iconic trees on Earth, remnants of once-vast populations decimated by logging, development, pollution and disease. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_b7d0a545-5ef9-5538-b899-cb64a07f4435.html New Highgrove Library Opens Its Doors. Riverside County unveiled its latest library on Saturday with a grand opening of the new Highgrove branch, a 7,500-square-foot, environmentally efficient building. The new facility replaced a 1,600-square-foot library nearby and was funded by Redevelopment dollars from the County of Riverside Redevelopment Agency, according to officials. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_wlibrary20.27602cd.html Charity Auction Pledges To Benefit Environment. New York ---- A day with former president Bill Clinton, flying with Harrison Ford on his private aircraft and sailing off the coast of Maine with the Rockefellers are just a few of the celebrity and luxury items being offered at an auction to benefit four leading environmental organizations. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_b9d524d9-f2dd-5268-b395-e7f66484b114.html OPINION EPA Is Following the Supreme Court. Your March 15 editorial "Carbon and Democracy" accuses the Environmental Protection Agency of ignoring democratic principles and the rule of law in its efforts to protect the public from the harm caused by changes in our climate. Let's review the facts. It was the Supreme Court, not the EPA, that decided in 2007 that carbon dioxide meets the definition of pollutant under the Clean Air Act—a law enacted by a democratically elected Congress and signed by a democratically elected President, George H.W. Bush. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704164204576203011908468304.html?KEYWORDS=climate+change The Truth Abouth AB 32. As executive officer of the agency charged with enforcing AB 32, California's Global Warming Solutions Act, I wish to assure The Californian's readers that the claims made in an article by Assemblywoman Shannon Grove are completely groundless and bear no relationship to any requirements of this legislation ("Roll back greenhouse gas law," Local, March 13). The article states that an unnamed local company "is required to track the daily use of 400 pieces of its equipment, from diesel engines to weed-eaters. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x233129009/The-truth-abouth-AB-32 Gregory Rodriguez: Getting The Upper Hand On Nature. Maybe we need to stop trying to protect nature from humans, and focus on taming it to protect humans from nature. Maybe John Muir was a fool. Muir, the godfather of contemporary environmentalism, was among the first activists to proclaim the "oneness" of humans and the natural world and to insist that we seek to live in harmony with our surroundings. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rodriguez-engineers-20110321,0,2874499,print.column Another View: California Has Made Clear-Cutting A Model Of Sustainability. Re "Clear-cutting forests is wrong way for state to lead on climate policy" (Viewpoints, March 10): Does anyone really believe California's forests are being wiped out by clear-cutting? Or that the state with the toughest environmental laws in the nation would make deforestation legal? Clear-cutting is by definition a regenerative technique; any college textbook on the subject will tell you that. In California, clear-cutting creates small openings in forests that support abundant biodiversity. In California, clear-cuts may be no larger than 20 acres, a size that mimics natural disturbances such as wind, fire and insect attacks. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/20/3487144/california-has-made-clear-cutting.html Viewpoints: Japan Crisis Reminds Us Plutonium, CO2 Not The Only Choices. The energy policy debate in America was woefully incomplete until the nuclear disaster occurred in Japan. The public wasn't informed that nuclear power plants hold awesome radioactive threats that cause cancer, threats that are here and now, and very real. The federal government and the nuclear lobby are advancing these radioactive factories as a clean and safe solution to climate change. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/20/3487158/viewpoints-japan-crisis-reminds.html EPA Rules Disrupt The Economy. Not satisfied with its efforts to regulate carbon, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is beginning a two-month comment period on new proposed rules that would tighten emissions restrictions on power plants that burn coal and oil. If adopted, these new rules will raise power production costs, perhaps forcing the closure of the oldest plants, and making new ones more expensive. The proposed rules would affect power plants’ emissions of “heavy metals,” including mercury, arsenic, chromium, and nickel, as well as acid gases like hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/print/opinion/op-eds/2011/03/epa-rules-disrupt-economy Commentary: Vehicle For Change. It's a complicated premise: establishing a public-private partnership by which insurance companies bid on tax credits to generate a $100 million investment in start-up and early stage companies -- but one with incredible promise. For Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), InvestMaryland's goal is simple -- it's about the continued cultivation of biotech, clean/green tech, cybersecurity, life sciences and information technology jobs for long-term economic gain. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/capital_business/2011/03/18/ABq4I7r_story.html Long-Delayed Rules for Cleaner Air. After 20 years of delays and interminable litigation, the Obama administration has proposed a new rule requiring power plants to reduce emissions of mercury and other airborne toxics by 91 percent within the next five years. Some environmental groups saw the rule as the most important step forward for healthier air since the Clean Air Act was last updated in 1990. It is unquestionably a victory for the public: when fully effective, the rule could save as many as 17,000 lives a year. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/opinion/21mon2.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse ELIAS: Is California Getting The Wrong Kind Of Solar? Then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made his way to a remote desert location last October, not far from the stretch of Interstate 15 that runs between Southern California and Las Vegas. So did U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and bunches of utility executives. All pronounced themselves thrilled to mark what they called a landmark advance in energy, the start of work on a huge solar power farm that will help meet the state's goal of producing one-third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/elias/article_75279ef8-1052-55f4-8adc-390426283757.html BLOGS Senate Ally Defends Obama on Gas Prices. In recent weeks, President Obama’s foes in Congress and industry have sought to pin the blame for rising gasoline prices — now averaging above $3.50 a gallon — on his administration’s energy policies. Associated Press Senator Jeff Bingaman. Specifically, his adversaries’ claim that the administration’s move to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, combined with the slow pace of permitting deep-sea drilling in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, are responsible for Americans’ pain at the pumpPosted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/senate-ally-defends-obama-on-gas-prices/ Do You Trust Corporate Emission Reduction Claims? No One in Britain Does. The pace of publicity for corporate carbon emission reductions may have slowed in the past year but that doesn't mean people believe the hype any more, at least in the UK. Based on a survey by Carbon Trust, a mere 7% of people there believe the claims made by companies that they are taking tough action to do their part to blunt the impact of climate change. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/03/do-you-trust-corporate-emission-reduction-claims.php ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 13:21:41 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 22, 2011 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 22, 2011. 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 EU Climate Chief: Don't Jump To Conclusions On Nuclear. The European Union isn't running away from nuclear energy, climate change commissioner Connie Hedegaard said Tuesday. "There are 143 nuclear plants in Europe and we aren't going to shut down anything soon," she said, in response to a question about the consequences of the Japan crisis. "We shouldn't jump to a lot of conclusions." The European Union's 27 members have agreed to reduce carbon emissions 20% from 1990 levels by 2020. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110322-707773.html Out-Of-State Air Pollution Battle Led By New York And N. Carolina Could Help Clean Chesapeake. Baltimore — A court battle by New York and North Carolina over out-of-state air pollution could help clean the Chesapeake Bay. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Monday that he has asked the federal Environmental Protection Agency to promptly implement rules on how much air pollution can cross state lines. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/out-of-state-air-pollution-battle-led-by-new-york-and-n-carolina-could-help-clean-chesapeake/2011/03/21/ABFB477_story.html Controlling PM. Today’s emission control devices are capable of keeping particulate matter emissions at reasonable levels and in line with regulations, but the best option may vary with each project. Biomass power plant project opponents commonly claim that particulate matter (PM) emissions cause lung ailments and other health detriments and use that information to block the building of new facilities in their communities. What the developers of these plants, and authorities who permit them know, however, is that there are strict PM and other emissions limitations in place, and a number of options to help achieve these limits. Posted. http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/5380/controlling-pm/ CLIMATE CHANGE LAWSUIT Judge Halts California Emissions Plan. San Francisco (Reuters) —California did not adequately consider alternatives to its plan to create a cap-and-trade market for carbon emissions, a judge ruled on Monday, a setback for the most aggressive effort by a state to combat climate change. The state’s regulator on climate change matters, the Air Resources Board, will need to consider other possibilities to meet state environmental law, said Judge Ernest Goldsmith of San Francisco Superior Court. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/science/earth/22emissions.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Judge Places California's Global Warming Program On Hold. A San Francisco superior court judge has put California's sweeping plan to curb greenhouse gas pollution on hold, saying the state did not adequately evaluate alternatives to its cap-and-trade program. In a 35-page decision, Judge Ernest H. Goldsmith said the Air Resources Board had failed to consider public comments on the proposed measures before adopting the plan, which affects a broad swath of the state's economy. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-climate-law-blocked-m,0,7401316,print.story Calif. Cap-And-Trade Plan Suffers Legal Setback. California's attempt to implement its landmark global warming law with a market-oriented "cap-and-trade" system of pollution credits hit a snag Monday with a judge's ruling that the state had not looked hard enough at alternatives. The ruling by Judge Ernest Goldsmith of San Francisco Superior Court does not prohibit the state Air Resources Board from adopting cap and trade or explicitly require that officials delay its scheduled implementation next year. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/22/MNUF1IGAAT.DTL&type=printable California's Global Warming Law Takes A Hit. In a setback that could stall the rollout of California's landmark climate change law, a court in San Francisco has ruled that the state must spend more time studying alternatives to the measure's key feature -- a cap-and-trade program on greenhouse gas emissions -- before it goes into effect Jan. 1. San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith blocked the California Air Resources Board from moving forward with its rules under the law, known as AB 32, until it completes a more thorough environmental analysis. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_17669148?nclick_check=1 California Judge Orders Delay of Carbon-Market Rules to Study Alternatives. A California judge ordered state environmental officials to stop work on carbon cap-and-trade regulations until alternative approaches, such as a carbon tax, are fully studied. The California Air Resources Board violated state law when it approved a December 2008 plan that laid the groundwork for the trading program, Judge Ernest Goldsmith said in a March 18 ruling obtained today. The plan failed to analyze alternatives that might be better than a cap-and-trade program, he said. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-21/california-judge-orders-delay-of-carbon-market-rules-to-study-alternatives.html UPDATE 2-California Cap-And-Trade Plan Faces Setback. San Francisco/Washington - California did not adequately consider alternatives to its plan to create a cap-and-trade market for carbon emissions, a judge ruled on Monday, throwing a wrench into the most aggressive U.S. effort to combat climate change. The state's regulator on climate change matters, the Air Resources Board (ARB), will need to consider other possibilities to meet state environmental law, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith wrote in an opinion. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USN219838420110321 Legal Setback For California's Climate Change Law. California did not properly look at complete alternatives to its cap-and-trade plan for carbon emissions, a judge ruled Monday. Reuters reported that San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith ruled that the state's Air Resources Board needs to consider other possibilities to satisfy the state's environmental law. Quoting the judge's ruling, Reuters said Goldsmith said the board "seeks to create a 'fait accompli' by premature establishment of a cap-and-trade program before alternatives can be exposed to public comment and properly evaluated. ..." Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2011/03/22/legal-setback-for-climate-change-law.html Setback For Calif. Climate Change Law. California did not properly look at complete alternatives to its cap-and-trade plan for carbon emissions, a judge ruled. Reuters reported that San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith ruled that the state's Air Resources Board needs to consider other possibilities to satisfy the state's environmental law. Quoting the judge's ruling, Reuters said Goldsmith said the board "seeks to create a 'fait accompli' by premature establishment of a cap-and-trade program before alternatives can be exposed to public comment and properly evaluated. ..." Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/morning_call/2011/03/setback-for-calif-climate-change-law.html?s=print Judge Blocks State's Global Warming Law, Putting 2012 Start Date In Doubt. San Francisco -- A California Superior Court judge has suspended implementation of the state's climate change law on the grounds that a state agency failed to conduct a proper environmental analysis or consider alternatives to a cap-and-trade system for carbon. The ruling from San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith amounts to a serious setback for the state and officials at the California Air Resources Board, which is in the process of putting the final touches on its scoping plan to enact the law starting in less than a year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/22/2 Argus: California Judge Suspends Climate Law Programs. A California state judge has ordered the state's air regulators to stop implementing policies adopted to meet the requirements of the state's climate law, including the greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program, low carbon fuel standard (LCFS), renewable electricity standard (RES) and a host of other regulations. The decision casts more uncertainty on the state's greenhouse gas (GHG) trading program, which is set to begin in January 2012. Concerns over the case, Association of Irritated Residents et al. v. Air Resources Board (ARB), had already nearly erased speculative interest in GHG offset credits or forward trades of state-issued allowances for the program. Posted. This article is by subscription only. Court Deals Setback For California Cap And Trade. San Francisco -(Dow Jones)- A California court has ordered state regulators to revise their environmental review for the state's cap and trade plan and other greenhouse-gas reduction programs, dealing a setback to the state's plan to combat climate change. In a decision issued Friday, Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith said the state Air Resources Board, which is tasked with lowering air pollution, hadn't conducted an adequate environmental review before it approved a plan to establish the cap and trade program. Posted. http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stockmarketnewsstoryprint.aspx?storyid=201103212027dowjonesdjonline000402 CLIMATE CHANGE Poor Countries Pledge To Help Curb Climate Change. Amsterdam—Mongolia says it will erect solar power plants in the frigid Gobi desert. The Central African Republic says it will expand its forests to cover a quarter of its territory. Mexico promises to slash carbon emissions by 30 percent by the end of the decade. Costa Rica and the Maldives aim to become carbon neutral and even chaotic Afghanistan is promising to take action on climate change. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_17665779 General Plan Gets Thorough Exam. As Yuba County moves closer to finalizing its General Plan update, the process has gone from being emotional to technical. At a lengthy board of supervisors hearing on the plan Monday night, supervisors used a mighty fine tooth comb to tweak language within the update, which will be revised again before final adoption. "No page was left unturned, so to speak," said Kevin Mallen, the county's director of development and community services, at the beginning of his presentation of revisions to date. Posted. http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/plan-105050-board-county.html Carbon Capture And Storage: Carbon Dioxide Pressure Dissipates In Underground Reservoirs. The debate surrounding carbon capture and storage intensifies as scientists from the Earth Sciences Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) examine the capacity for storing carbon dioxide underground, in a study published today in the new journal Greenhouse Gases: Science & Technology. The study debates some of the conclusions drawn in an earlier study by Ehlig-Economides and Economides1; countering their claims that carbon dioxide cannot feasibly be stored underground. Posted. http://www.physorg.com/print220012063.html GREEN ENERGY East Contra Costa Welcomes Power Plants In Their Backyard. While much of the Bay Area has fiercely opposed new power plants proposed in their backyards, communities in eastern Contra Costa have welcomed them with open arms. Over the past 15 years, regulators have approved three power plants that are now operating in the area. Three more planned for East County are working their way through the regulatory pipeline. Local leaders say the newer natural gas-fired plants will run cleaner and more efficiently than older plants, generating permanent jobs and much-needed property tax revenue. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_17656302?source=rss&nclick_check=1 Marines Going Green To Save Lives On Battlefield. Camp Pendleton, Calif. -- The Marine Corps is going green to save lives rather than to save the planet. In a renewable energy strategy revealed to troops Monday, the service said it plans to equip thousands of Marines in Afghanistan with solar-powered gadgets over the next year in an effort to decrease the need to make risky runs for fuel through enemy territory. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/21/1609397/marines-going-green-to-save-lives.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_22ad6863-1264-5182-b014-5bc751eb5fde.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/21/2318973/marines-going-green-to-save-lives.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/marines-going-green-to-save-lives-on-battlefield-avert-attacks-on-fuel-convoys-in-afghanistan/2011/03/21/ABmYww7_story.html http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110321/WIRE/110329935 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/21/marines-use-solar-devices-to-save-lives/ Clovis Oks $3.4m Public Solar Project. A solar project for Clovis police and fire headquarters and two fire stations could get under way next month after City Council members Monday night approved a financing plan. The city expects to spend about $3.4 million but will save about 47% in electricity costs -- or about $128,205 annually -- for the three buildings. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/21/2319552/clovis-oks-34m-solar-project.html Natural Gas Now Viewed as Safer Bet. Natural gas may be having its day, as its rival energy sources come under a cloud. The serious problems at the nuclear power plant in Japan have raised new doubts about the safety of nuclear energy. New exploration has yet to resume in the Gulf of Mexico after last year’s blowout of a BP oil well. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/business/global/22gas.html?scp=5&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Green Jobs Take Root In Tennessee. Nashville, Tenn. -- Twenty years ago, Ty Koelker moved from Maryland to Kentucky to work in the South's burgeoning automotive industry. Working mostly for supplier companies, the manufacturing engineer eventually worked his way up to plant manager at a fabrication and stamping facility near Nashville. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/22/1610379/green-jobs-take-root-in-tennessee.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/22/2319744/green-jobs-take-root-in-tennessee.html#storylink=misearch RCAC's West Sac Offices Add Solar. The Rural Community Assistance Corp. has installed a $384,000 solar-power system at its West Sacramento offices. The RCAC, which provides loans for rural and disadvantaged communities in 13 western states, said its rooftop solar photovoltaic system will provide more than 60 percent of its energy needs over 25 years while sharply reducing its carbon dioxide footprint. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/22/1610552/rcacs-west-sac-offices-add-solar.html The Wood Stove Excels at Reducing Fossil Fuels—But Can it Get Clean Enough? Wood and pellet stoves are the only residential renewable energy system at scale in America today. According to the U.S. EPA, there are more than 10 million stoves in the U.S. compared to only about 300,000 residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. But one of the largest benefits of the wood and pellet stove is ignored: A $2,500 wood or pellet stove can reduce as much fossil fuel usage in the winter months as a $25,000 solar PV system does in a year. Posted. http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/5364/the-wood-stove-excels-at-reducing-fossil-fuelsundefinedbut-can-it-get-clean-enough/ Decentralized Renewable Energy Is Goal Of Bay Area Coalition. The Local Clean Energy Alliance, a Bay Area coalition focused on climate protection and green job creation, has released Community Power. Decentralized Renewable Energy in California, a comprehensive 64 page report (PDF) by Al Weinrub which advocates using small-scale, locally-based, decentralized renewable energy in California. They view this as the best way to meet the state-mandated goal of one-third renewable energy by 2020, as well as providing new jobs. Posted. http://caivn.org/article/2011/03/22/decentralized-renewable-energy-goal-bay-area-coalition VEHICLES Google Trials Plug-Free Electric Vehicle Charging; Invests in “Carbon Negative” Biofuels. Google is trialing the Plugless Power electric vehicle charging station at its Mountain View, Calif., headquarters. The search company will host the first public release of the charging station developed and manufactured by Evatran LLC. The station is based on inductive technology, and charges electric vehicles and extended-range hybrids without the need for a cord or plug. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/03/22/google-trials-plug-free-electric-vehicle-charging-invests-in-carbon-negative-biofuels/ MISCELLANEOUS Do you look good in green? Agency seeks next 'Eco-Girl'. For women who want to make a difference -- and look good doing it -- Project Greenbees is looking for you. Eco-friendly company Greenbees, in conjunction with Optimal Wellness Center, will host a model casting Sunday looking for the next "Eco-Girl." Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/entertainment/local/x529879438/Do-you-look-good-in-green-Agency-seeks-next-Eco-Girl Rising Sun Saves Energy, Trains Teens. As a community that takes its “greenness” very seriously, Ross Valley residents should be embracing a program that trains teens to help the entire community conserve energy. Posted. http://sananselmofairfax.patch.com/articles/rising-sun-saves-energy-trains-teens OPINION Nuclear Energy Isn't Needed. Twelve days are not nearly enough to comprehend the magnitude of the catastrophes that hit Japan starting March 11. From the children who lost parents in the crush of the earthquake, to those whose loved ones are still missing after the tsunami, to the scores of workers risking their health by heroically attempting to stabilize the Fukushima nuclear complex — there is no end to the tragic stories. Yet in addition to the grief and empathy I feel for the Japanese people, I am beginning to develop another emotion, and that is anger. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/opinion/23iht-ednaidoo23.html?pagewanted=print California vs the EPA: One-Size-Fits-None. An impending battle between state lawmakers in California and the U.S. Congress over the state’s tough vehicle emission standards illustrates the absurdity of one-size-fits all policies emanating from D.C. Over the past 40 years, the fed granted California waivers under the Clean Air Act, allowing the state to impose tougher emission standards than those mandated for the rest of the nation – kind of a state right by federal fiat. A Republican backed House bill would strip the EPA’s authority to grant the waiver. Posted. http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2011/03/22/california-vs-the-epa-one-size-fits-none/ BLOGS Greening the Team: Will Fans Follow Suit? With the current political climate in Washington tending toward the anti-environmental (especially among Republicans in the House of Representatives), some campaigners are seeking new ways to rally public support. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/greening-the-team-will-fans-follow-suit/ Bee Maven Wins Big Environmental Prize. May Berenbaum, a brilliant entomologist and voice of reason amid all the heat over troubles with bee colonies in recent years, has won the $200,000 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. It’s well deserved. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/bee-maven-wins-big-environmental-prize Hot Air Slowly Escaping From Global Warming Issue. Americans’ concern about global warming has dropped a dramatic 15 points in the last three years, according to Gallup’s most recent annual Environment poll. Eighty percent of Americans now say they understand the issue “very well” or “fairly well,” but only 51 percent “worry a great deal or fair amount” about it -- down from 66 percent just three years ago. That 15 percent represents a substantial drop in public support for what was supposedly “settled science” and not open to further debate. Posted. http://washingtonexaminer.com/print/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/03/hot-air-slowly-escaping-global-warming-issue Another Wrench in AB 32. Air board will appeal ruling on implementation of AB 32. Environmental justice advocates will tell you they never intended to shut down the state's whole climate law, when they filed suit against it. But a broadly-worded court decision could put some or all implementation of AB 32 on hold. Waste gases are burned off at the ConocoPhillips refinery in Rodeo. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/03/21/another-wrench-in-ab-32/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader California Cap-and-Trade Put On Hold -- At Least for Now. Back in 2006, during flusher times, the California legislature passed and then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act. That Act requires the state by 2020 to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels. Last year, California residents voted down a referendum which would have delayed implementation of the Act until unemployment rate in the Bear Republic state had fallen below 5.5 percent. Posted. http://reason.com/blog/2011/03/22/california-cap-and-trade-put-o EDF’s Take on Friday’s Ruling in California’s Cap-and-trade Lawsuit. •The court’s decision confirms that CARB has the legal authority to implement AB 32 Scoping Plan measures, including cap-and-trade, which is the cornerstone of the program and key to reducing pollution. •EDF is confident that any further actions by the Petitioners and the State will be consistent with their goal of keeping AB 32 moving forward and achieving its goals. Posted. http://www.favstocks.com/edf%E2%80%99s-take-on-fridays-ruling-in-california%E2%80%99s-cap-and-trade-lawsuit/2138035/ Green Energy Subsidies Fade As Austerity Kicks In. Many have lauded various nations for subsidizing alternative energy production as part of a concerted world-wide effort to wean humans of destructive carbon-based energy. But they forget that governments, especially when pressed by finances or fear, can change their minds rapidly. For example, much of the world is currently seeing a pull-back of government support for alternative energy, largely because governments are struggling with financial problems and are instituting austerity programs. Posted. http://blogs.forbes.com/terrywaghorn/2011/03/22/green-energy-subsidies-fade-as-austerity-kicks-in/ Human Health V. Economic Health. Twenty years after amendments to the Clean Air Act authorized the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate additional toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants, the agency is finally flexing its muscle. New rules proposed this month would cut mercury emissions along with other dangerous metals like arsenic, chromium and nickel and particulate matter from oil- and coal-fired power plants. The EPA cites tremendous health benefits -- …Posted. http://www.hcn.org/hcn/blogs/goat/human-health-v.-economic-health ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:30:02 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 23, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 23, 2011. 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 Philadelphia is America’s Most Toxic City. Recently, Forbes looked at the 80 largest metropolitan areas in the country and ranked them based on their toxicity. And the city with the WORST air and water quality is… Philadelphia. Philadelphia claimed the top spot because it has more than 50 former industrial sites that contain hazardous waste. But even though Philly took top “honors”, the real winner, er, loser here is California. California metro areas claimed four of the 10 spots on the list, mostly due to their smog problem. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/23/idUS129381714720110323 U.K. Sets Minimum Carbon Costs for 2013 at 16 Pounds a Ton. U.K. power generators will have to pay at least 16 pounds ($26) for every metric ton of carbon dioxide they emit starting in 2013 under a government plan to discourage fossil fuels and raise revenue. “Today we become the first country in the world to introduce a carbon-price floor for the power sector,” Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said today in his annual budget presentation in London. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-23/britain-sets-minimum-emission-costs-at-16-pound-a-ton-starting-in-2013.html http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110323-710203.html Kettleman Group To Appeal Landfill Court Ruling. The legal battle over a controversial landfill project near Kettleman City, a community marked by a spike in birth defects, looks set to continue for months. Community advocates and environmental justice activists say they are appealing the lower court's unfavorable ruling in a lawsuit over Kings County's approval of Waste Management's toxic-waste facility expansion. Posted. http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/article_1411f5fe-54af-11e0-8435-001cc4c03286.html Court Sets Schedule For Litigation Over EPA Emission Rules. A federal appeals court has set the briefing schedule for the three cases it is handling concerning the legality of U.S. EPA's greenhouse gas regulations. There are four rules under the legal microscope before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, but two have been consolidated into one case (Greenwire, Dec. 14, 2010). In all three cases, no arguments have been scheduled yet. The briefing, with opening briefs due in May and June, will go on until the end of this year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/23/18 CLIMATE CHANGE California's Bid To Curb Global Warming Could Soon Get Back On Track. California air regulators must conduct a new environmental review before a judge will green-light its cap-and-trade pollution program, attorneys say. A final order is expected in about a week. California's effort to curb global warming, which was put on hold by a court decision, will be able to proceed on schedule once officials conduct a new environmental review, according to attorneys analyzing the case. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-climate-court-20110323,0,1684518,print.story Calif.'s Plan To Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions Halted. California's plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by giving incentives to the state's largest polluters has been temporarily halted by a court ruling. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith ruled Friday that the state violated its own environmental law by failing to consider alternatives to its so-called cap-and-trade program. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/03/judge-califs-greenhouse-gas-plan-/1 EU Goal Of Global Carbon Market 'Stalled By US Failure'. EU hopes of establishing a global emissions trading system have been dashed because of a lack of progress in the US, Jos Delbeke, director general of the Climate Action division of the European Commission, said Tuesday. "The development of an OECD-wide global carbon market has stalled due the failure of climate legislation in the US," he said at a parliamentary briefing on the ETS in Brussels. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/Coal/8697834 Judge Orders Review Of Calif. Air Law. San Francisco -- A judge has ordered a review of the impact of California's air pollution law before the state's cap-and-trade system takes effect Jan. 1. The law was challenged by Communities for a Better Environment, a group based in Oakland, and other environmental organizations, the San Jose Mercury News reported. Posted. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/03/23/Judge-orders-review-of-Calif-air-law/UPI-69821300853417/ California Judge Rules Against California Cap-And-Trade Program. California's cap-and-trade initiative, scheduled to be implemented next year by the state's Air Resources Board (ARB) as part of the state's A.B.32 climate-change law, has encountered a legal obstacle. Judge Ernest Goldsmith of the San Francisco Superior Court has ruled that the ARB must first consider alternatives to the program. This ruling does not necessarily mean that the ARB must delay or cancel its rollout of the program, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Posted. http://solarindustrymag.com/print.php?plugin:content.7539 California's Global Warming Law Halts Temporarily. Air Regulators Need To Consider Alternatives. Shafter, Calif. -- On Thursday, San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith ruled that the California Air Resources Board must spend more time looking at alternatives to a cap-and-trade program in its plan to implement AB 32. AB 32 greenhouse gases to be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020. Posted. http://www.turnto23.com/news/27286914/detail.html As Climate Changes, Coffee Farmers Struggle To Protect Crops. Shifting weather patterns have led to lower bean yields and higher prices at coffee shops. A mile above this rural mountain town, coffee trees have produced some of the world's best arabica beans for more than a century. Now, farmers are planting even higher — at nearly 7,000 feet — thanks to warmer temperatures. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-coffee-20110323,0,2370775,print.story FUELS Corona Alternative-Fuel Rebate Program A Success. John Sinacore is the conservation-minded type of resident that Corona officials like seeing come through their doors at City Hall. Sinacore, a retired insurance company manager, installed an electricity-saving pump for his swimming pool, switched to energy-saving windows and, when he turned in his 17-mpg SUV for a 50-mpg Toyota Prius hybrid, became the first person to take advantage of the city's alternative-fuel vehicle rebate program. Sinacore received $2,000 for buying from a Corona dealer, Quality Toyota. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/corona/stories/PE_News_Local_D_wgreen23.27150c4.html Neb. Ethanol Labeling Bill Clears First Vote. Lincoln, Neb. — Nebraska gas pumps that dispense less than 1 percent ethanol would need to say so under a proposal unveiled Tuesday as a compromise to the state's current labeling law. Lawmakers granted first-round approval to a measure (LB698) that would lift sticker requirements on gas that contains less than 11 percent ethanol. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/23/neb-ethanol-labeling-bill-clears-first-vote/ Small-Engine Groups Ask EPA To Continue Sales Of 10% Fuel Blends. Several trade groups representing nonroad engines and foreign automakers are petitioning U.S. EPA to require the continued sale of gasoline with no more than 10 percent ethanol content, in a parry of new regulations that would allow blends of up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) for some vehicles. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/23/12 VEHICLES Big BMW Sedan Adds Hybrid. Gasoline-electric hybrid versions of BMW's big, 2011 BMW 7-Series sedans come with the federal government's lowest fuel economy rating of all regular-production hybrids. But the 750i and 750iL ActiveHybrids are the quickest hybrid luxury sedans in showrooms, jetting from 0 to 60 miles an hour in a sports car-like 4.7 seconds. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_11b39f3b-a391-5605-a66a-e7a9b89f2e81.html GREEN ENERGY A Nuclear Renaissance In U.S. Was Unlikely Even Before Japan Disaster. Economics, not fears of a meltdown or radiation poisoning, prevented a resurgence in nuclear energy. Natural gas power plants are much cheaper to build and operate. To all those who may be concerned that the catastrophic events at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant will derail the heralded renaissance of nuclear power in the U.S., you can relax. The reason is simple: There is no renaissance. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20110323,0,1718932,print.column O’Malley Proposes Amendments To Revive Offshore Wind Bill. Annapolis, Md. — Gov. Martin O’Malley will propose amendments to revive a bill to develop offshore wind energy in Maryland. O’Malley spokesman Shaun Adamec told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the governor will propose a threshold test in which state regulators would kick out proposals projected to raise an average family’s electricity bill by more than $2 a month in the first year. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/omalley-proposes-amendments-to-revive-offshore-wind-bill/2011/03/23/ABJ9WpGB_story.html Energy Economists Looking For Signs That Americans Have Cut Back On Fuel Purchases. New York - Oil prices are higher as investors anticipate a government report on U.S. petroleum demand. Benchmark crude added 73 cents at $105.70 per barrel Wednesday morning on the New York Mercantile Exchange. After a sharp increase recently in oil and gasoline prices, economists are looking for signs that Americans are pushing back. A drop in consumption would suggest that motorists are starting to drive less. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/energy-economists-looking-for-signs-that-americans-have-cut-back-on-fuel-purchases/2011/03/23/ABP3JqIB_story.html MISCELLANEOUS UC Merced Connect: Hall Of Fame For Going Green. UC Merced will be the host for the inaugural International Green Industry Hall of Fame induction ceremony and conference Friday. The all-day event will be highlighted by the announcement of the first six inductees to the new Hall of Fame, which is designed to recognize individuals and organizations for outstanding achievements in the green industry and provide an educational forum for the international public. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/23/3497046/uc-merced-connect-hall-of-fame.html Mass. Officials Pick Route For New Commuter Line. Boston - State transportation officials hoping to build a new commuter rail line have decided on a preferred route to connect Boston to New Bedford and Fall River. Transportation Secretary Jeffrey Mullan said Monday that a route that would take trains through Stoughton is the best option to meet the state's transportation, economic and environmental goals. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/22/mass-officials-pick-route-for-new-commuter-line/ OPINION Everyone Into The Carpool Lane. Re "If freeways aren't free," Editorial, March 18.Are you serious? Have you tried a carpool lane at peak time? It sometimes is as busy as all the other lanes. Where are the rich people who pay to use them at those times going to go? When are we going to see that we just have too many cars using the freeways at the same time? When are we going to try something else, like alternating work schedules or making deliveries at night to minimize trucks? Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0322-tuesday-20110322,0,1554408.story Mercury News Editorial: Lawsuit Must Not Derail California's Global Warming Law. California's first-in-the-nation global warming law, AB32, is in jeopardy following a San Francisco Superior Court ruling last week. The setback can't be allowed to derail the legislation aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and making California more energy efficient. Judge Ernest Goldsmith told the California Air Resources Board to more thoroughly analyze alternatives to the cap-and-trade program it adopted last year to reach the goals of AB32. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_17675867 LISA JACKSON: Addressing State's Environmental Concerns. On my visit to California this week, many people have offered thoughts and prayers for Japan and the earthquake and tsunami victims now facing threats from radiation. Many have also voiced concerns about radiation reaching the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and our federal partners are closely monitoring radiation levels and ensuring that all steps are taken to safeguard health, and we will continue to work closely with state and local officials and regularly update the public. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/22/2320562/lisa-jackson-addressing-states.html ED DUGGAN: Clean Energy A Powerful Job Generator. Like Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, I, too, share a deep commitment for creating jobs and removing roadblocks to economic recovery, all while protecting the unique natural resources that exist here in Kern County. Ms. Grove, in her March 13 article "Roll back greenhouse gas law," is absolutely right on one count: We can have both a clean environment and a strong economy. The two do not have to be mutually exclusive. In fact, my company is a perfect example of this. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/community/x529879889/ED-DUGGAN-Clean-energy-a-powerful-job-generator Is Cap-and-Trade Kaput? What's in a name? Everything when it comes to a carbon dioxide cap-and-trade programme in the US. Energy industry prognosticators saw US adoption as almost inevitable just two years ago following the election of President Obama. Then opponents dubbed the initiative 'cap-and-tax', a moniker that became a death knell in a political climate wary of raising taxes. Cap-and-trade legislation died with neither a bang nor a whimper; but with a slammed door. Posted. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/03/is-the-cap-kaput Let The EPA Do Its Job. The House of Representatives recently passed legislation that could severely cripple the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to protect people’s health and the environment. The EPA is doing its job, and a story in the CDT on Thursday proposed stronger protections against mercury and arsenic pollution. Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that can harm the nervous systems of people and animals. Posted. http://www.centredaily.com/2011/03/23/v-print/2600834/let-the-epa-do-its-job.html BLOGS California Judge Calls Time Out for Climate Change Law. Steam rising from a refinery in Wilmington, Calif. In analyzing how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, state regulators examined the potential impact on this industrial suburb of Los Angeles. Irony usually speaks for itself, so I’ll tread lightly here. But what is one to make of a climate-change law that withstands a $35 million campaign supported by conservative oil interests only to be thrown off course by a legal challenge from the leftier edges of the environmental movement, particularly its environmental justice wing? Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/california-judge-calls-time-out-for-climate-change-law/?partner=rss&emc=rss California's Climate Bill Remains on Track. Last Friday, the San Francisco County Superior Court issued its decision in a lawsuit challenging the California Air Resources Board’s adoption of the AB 32 Scoping Plan (the Scoping Plan is the state’s comprehensive blueprint for achieving AB 32’s goal of reducing global warming pollution statewide). Environmental justice groups contended that CARB did not comply with the mandatory statutory requirements of AB 32 and the procedural requirements set out in the California Environmental Quality Act. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ajackson/californias_climate_bill_remai.html The Politics Of Healthier Power Plants. A new EPA proposal attempts to limit toxic emissions of air pollutants from coal and oil-fired power plants. Nuclear power plant safety has dominated the headlines in the past week for obvious reasons. But there has also been plenty of talk about the more conventional types of power plants in the United States. This means coal, oil and natural gas. Posted. http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/politics/blogs/the-politics-of-healthier-power-plants ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:35:41 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 24, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 24, 2011. 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 Head Of EPA Met With Protest In Central Calif. Fresno, Calif.—Environmental groups are urging the federal Environmental Protection Agency to better protect the health of residents in California's San Joaquin Valley, which is one the most polluted regions in the nation. With EPA administrator Lisa Jackson making her first trip to the state's farming regions, activists gathered in Fresno on Wednesday to protest her visit. Environmentalists are hoping Jackson will reconsider some of her agency's recent decisions, such as granting a draft permit to a proposed fossil fuel power plant near Kettleman City and exempting it from national air quality standards. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_17685255?nclick_check=1 Tipped By News Story, EPA Sues Mich. Utility Over Pollution As Part Of Broader Clean-Air Sweep. MONROE, Mich. – A Michigan utility spent $65 million last year replacing key parts at the state's largest coal-fired power plant. When regulators found out, they hauled the company into court for what it didn't do: Spend millions more at the same time to greatly eliminate air pollution. The fight with DTE Energy isn't an isolated one. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/tipped-by-news-story-epa-sues-mich-utility-over-pollution-as-part-of-broader-clean-air-sweep/2011/03/24/ABz57qMB_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/24/1613205/epa-pursues-michigans-largest.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/24/epa-pursues-michigans-largest-coal-fired-plant/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_8dc9c1bf-7f40-59f0-bea5-804e5bac5f2c.html http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=134813317 Air Quality Testing At Oceano Dunes To Begin When The Rain Quits. As soon as the weather dries out, three weeks of testing and monitoring will begin at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area that may reveal a way to stop unhealthy amounts of sand particles from blowing onto the Nipomo Mesa. Larry Allen, county air pollution control officer, said at least five days without rain are needed to sufficiently dry out the sand at the park to begin testing. The most likely start date is April 11, he said. The testing will consist of placing devices that measure sand movement in various places in the park. Posted. http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/03/23/1533789/air-quality-testing-at-oceano.html Brown Will Take A ‘Fresh Look' At Methyl Iodide Decision. Sacramento — In his first public comments on the issue, Gov. Jerry Brown said today that his administration will take "a fresh look" at state pesticide regulators' controversial decision to permit the use of the soil fumigant methyl iodide in California, but he has "no immediate strategy" on how to proceed. His comments came a week after Department of Pesticide Regulation Director Mary-Ann Warmerdam, who issued the decision last year, announced her intention to resign, effective next week. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/23/brown-will-take-a-145fresh-look-at-methyl-iodide/ EPA To Tell Congress Cutting Black Carbon Is A 'Win-Win'. There is strong evidence that soot from cars, cookstoves and factories is warming the planet as well as causing widespread health problems, making it an attractive way to tackle climate change, U.S. EPA scientists say in the first draft of a report due to Congress next month. So far, most efforts to slow global warming have been aimed at carbon dioxide, one of the long-lasting gases that can trap heat in the atmosphere. But the 386-page draft report, dated March 18, says lawmakers could also focus on "black carbon," an ingredient of the soot that is released into the air when wood and fuel are burned. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/24/11 EPA Science Advisers Repeat Call For Stricter Smog Standard. Several years after they first warned U.S. EPA that its current air pollution standards aren't strong enough to protect Americans from smog, the agency's scientific advisers are sticking to their guns. Yesterday, the members of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) put the final touches on another letter urging EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to lower the nationwide limit on ground-level ozone, the main ingredient in smog. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/24/24 EPA To Phase Out Potent Refrigerant. U.S. EPA plans to ban the use of a potent heat-trapping chemical used in car air conditioners. The industrial refrigerant, HFC-134a -- which is a type of hydrofluorocarbon -- carries a carbon footprint 1,400 times greater than that of carbon dioxide. A coalition of environmental groups was pushing to make it illegal to use the substance, contending there are a host of more climate-friendly alternatives now available. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/24/7 Pimp My Riders. House Assault on Environment Unrelated to Reducing Deficit. This January, the newly-elected Republican majority of the House of Representatives voted to approve H.R. 1, described by the League of Conservation Voters as “the most anti-environmental piece of legislation in decades.” H.R. 1 is the “continuing resolution” budget bill that would precipitously cut $63 billion dollars of federal spending in a mere five months, primarily through deep cuts in domestic spending. Posted. http://www.independent.com/news/2011/mar/24/pimp-my-riders/ High Smog Levels Might Threaten Lung Transplant Success. Study found exposure doubled risk of rejection, death in patients. Exposure to high levels of traffic pollution doubles the risk of organ rejection and death in lung transplant patients, a new study suggests. Belgian researchers tracked the health of 281 lung transplant patients over a five-year period, and found that 117 (41 percent) developed a serious inflammatory condition called bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Posted. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/respiratory-disorders/articles/2011/03/24/high-smog-levels-might-threaten-lung-transplant-success CLIMATE CHANGE Judge's Ruling Puts Global Warming Law On Hold. Activists are celebrating a victory in their lawsuit against the state's Air Resources Board, halting the start of the landmark climate change law, at least momentarily. In San Francisco Superior Court last week, Judge Ernest Goldsmith ruled that the board violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by not fully evaluating alternatives to the cap-and-trade system, which is part of the 2006 law. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/judges-ruling-puts-global-warming-law-hold-9395 Calif. Regulators Scramble In Wake Of Court Ruling On Emissions Law. California's climate change law is not in danger of outright reversal following a court decision this week that suspended it, but the deadline for approving a cap-and-trade carbon market later this year is in doubt, according to state government and legal experts following the process. If that deadline, which requires the state's Air Resources Board to vote on cap and trade in October, slips even one day into November, a ripple effect could delay greenhouse gas regulations set to go live on Jan. 1, 2012. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/24/1 VEHICLES Europeans Ahead Of U.S. On Diesel Cars. Question: Some years ago I traveled to England and saw many small, diesel-powered cars. I have read that most of the new cars sold in Europe are diesel. Considering that diesels get significantly better fuel mileage than gasoline-powered cars, why haven't the car manufacturers offered the diesel option over here? Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/23/europeans-ahead-us-diesel-cars/ Volvo's Ethanol-Powered Electric Car. Volvo has always had an alternative image in the United States market, catering to a certain segment of the upper middle class and above that is attracted to its once-quirky, always safety-minded cars. But alternative fuels have never been a big part of the appeal. Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/03/24/volvos-ethanol-powered-electric-car/ Long-Term Nissan Leaf Update: Hey, Buddy, Can You Spare A Plug? In the first two weeks of conservatorship of the AutoWeek semi-long-term Nissan Leaf electric car, colleague Barry Winfield and I have put 287 miles on it. What does everybody want to know? The range. How far will it go on a charge? So far it has returned between 62 miles and 98 miles of range from its 24-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. Those are extrapolated figures, gleaned from taking the range achieved on a given mileage and comparing that with how far it would have gone had we driven at the same rate until we completely drained the battery. Posted. http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110324/GREEN/110329945 Production Of Hybrids, Electric Vehicles Hurt By Japan Disaster. As Japan continues to recover from its devastating earthquake and tsunami, the country's profitable automakers are still reeling from factory shutdowns that have cost the production of more than 300,000 vehicles. And analysts say the disaster may strike a longer-term blow to the fuel-saving hybrid and electric vehicles that Japanese companies produce. Toyota Motor Corp. yesterday announced it was delaying the Japanese launch of the Prius V, the larger version of its popular hybrid, and a second Prius model planned for next month. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/24/9 GREEN ENERGY The Towbes Group Installs Commercial Electric Vehicle Charging Stations at its Ralston Courtyards in Ventura. Ventura, CA – The Ralston Courtyards, has become one of the first residential communities in California to offer electric vehicle charging with the installation today of six commercial charging stations at its 108-unit luxury residential development in Ventura. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/23/the-towbes-group-installs-commercial-electric-vehi/ Clean Energy Training Program In Southern Humboldt. Southern Humboldt youth between the ages of 18 and 24 have the opportunity for paid training and work experience in one of the fastest growing industries. The Clean Energy Program is a partnership with the County of Humboldt and College of the Redwoods. Eligible youth in our community will receive six exciting weeks of classroom and hands on training with industry professionals. Recruitment begins immediately and classes are scheduled to begin in late April. Posted. http://www.redwoodtimes.com/schools/ci_17682959 We’re No. 8! (Hey, Not Bad.) Sactown deserves gold stars for its green buildings. Earlier this month, the Environmental Protection Agency released its annual list of cities with the most Energy Star-labeled buildings. For the first time ever, Sacramento cracked the top 10, ranking No. 8 with 168 total Energy Star buildings. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/content?oid=1942925 MISCELLANEOUS Be a Part of Earth Hour - the Largest Voluntary Action in History. During Earth Hour the lights go off at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Buckingham Palace in London, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and the Forbidden City in China. Will they be off at your house? Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/23/be-a-part-of-earth-hour---the-largest-voluntary-ac/ Clean Air Topic Of San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Video Contest. Students and teachers have a chance to help clean the air with 30-second videos promoting bicycle riding, car-pooling and other practices. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is holding its third annual For Reel Video Contest for elementary through college entrants. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/23/1613034/clean-air-topic-of-video-contest.html Solano, Yolo County Residents Eligible For Mower Exchange Program. Gas-powered mowers can be turned in to purchase a zero emission, rechargeable mower at a reduced rate. Mowers for the Yolo-Solano Mower Exchange program are on display at Vacaville's City Hall, residents are encouraged to stop to see both models that are offered. Only residents of Solano and Yolo counties are eligible for this program which begins with online registration at 6 a.m. on April 5 at www.neutonpower.com/YS. Registering reserves a rechargeable mower, a voucher and provides instructions on how to turn in the gas-powered mower. Posted. http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_17688601 OPINION It Could Happen Here. IT will be years before we know the full consequences of the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. But the public attention raised by the problems there provides an opportunity to rethink nuclear-power policy in the United States and the rest of the world — and reduce the dangers of a similar disaster happening elsewhere. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/opinion/24Von-Hippel.html?_r=1&scp=6&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse EDITORIAL: Obama Greens Turn Yellow. EPA blinks in the face of GOP challenge. Environmentalists are backpedaling in their long march toward deindustrialization. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has offered to delay some of its plans to regulate so-called greenhouse gases. Republicans in Congress shouldn't hesitate to press their advantage. The agency's advance faltered last week with the announcement that it was willing to put off for three years new rules requiring biomass-fired boilers to obtain permits to emit carbon dioxide. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/23/obama-greens-turn-yellow/ BLOGS On Our Radar: Climate Questions Follow 2012 Presidential Contender. A video created by a Democratic state legislator in Minnesota captures Tim Pawlenty, the former Republican governor and a 2012 presidential candidate, repeatedly calling for a cap-and-trade program for carbon dioxide emissions to fight climate change. The video was aired during a hearing on a Republican bill to lift restrictions on coal-fired power plants. Mr. Pawlenty now describes his past support for cap-and-trade as “stupid.” [MinnPost]. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/on-our-radar-climate-questions-dog-2012-presidential-contender/ EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards: Cleaner Air AND Reliable Electricity. Last week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed Clean Air Act mercury and air toxics standards to curb harmful emissions from the nation’s fleet of aging and dirty power plants fueled by coal and oil. The rule is part of a package of EPA rules that strive to make electricity generation a cleaner process, so that power plants do not continue to pollute the air and endanger people’s health. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/syeh/epas_mercury_and_air_toxics_st.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:58:56 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 25, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 25, 2011. 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 Glitches Hamper Radiation Warning System In California. Half of the 12 EPA detectors in California have problems that could delay alerts.The federal government's radiation alert network in California is not fully functional, leaving the stretch of coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco without the crucial real-time warning system in the event of a nuclear emergency. Six of the Environmental Protection Agency's 12 California sensors — including the three closest to the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant near San Luis Obispo — are sending data with "anomalies" to the agency's laboratory in Montgomery, Ala., said Mike Bandrowski, manager of the EPA's radiation program. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/health/la-me-radiation-california-20110325,0,3184995,print.story EPA Officials Say U.S. Radiation Levels Remain Safe. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reiterated Thursday that the agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission don’t expect to see harmful radiation levels reach the U.S. from Japan. As part of the government’s efforts to “make our activities and science transparent and available to the public,” EPA officials said data from the nationwide RadNet radiation monitoring system will continue to be available online. The EPA has added more monitors to Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, the agency said. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/mar/24/epa-officials-say-us-radiation-levels-remain-safe/ CLIMATE CHANGE USGS: Climate Change Could Limit Yucca's Range. Flagstaff, Ariz.—Researchers say a giant yucca known for its distinctive shape could disappear from 90 percent of its current range by the end of the century. Joshua trees are found in the desert grasslands of the Mojave Desert in Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. In a new study, U.S. Geological Survey researchers say that climate change in the Southwest could restrict the yucca to the northernmost portion of its habitat in 60 to 90 years. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17698307 Joshua Trees: Wiped Out By Warming? Global warming could erase the iconic Joshua tree of the California desert from 90 percent of its range within 90 years, and perhaps as few as 60, a new study by U.S. Geological Survey researchers shows. Using climate models as well as fossilized sloth dung and packrat debris piles called middens, ecologist Ken Cole and his team found that the giant yucca plants, which form forests in Joshua Tree National Park, are sharply limited in their ability to recover from sudden warming spikes. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/joshua-293645-trees-tree.html Arnold Schwarzenegger Air Pollution Law Under Review. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s air pollution law is under review a few years after it was passed in California. A San Francisco superior court judge has put California's sweeping plan to curb greenhouse gas pollution on hold, saying the state did not adequately evaluate alternatives to its cap-and-trade program. The law, signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, previously survived industry challenges, and, most recently, an attempt by Texas oil companies to halt it when voters rejected Proposition 23 in November. Posted. http://www.thirdage.com/news/arnold-schwarzenegger-air-pollution-law-under-review_3-25-2011 DIESEL EMISSIONS Fresno Workshop To Explain Truck Emission Rules. New emissions rules applying to diesel truck owners can be perplexing as well as costly. Getting them funded and up to speed will be the focus of a Fresno workshop on March 26. The One-Stop Trucking Event, put on by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and the California Air Resources Board, will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fresno City Council Chambers. Posted. http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/environment/8907-fresno-workshop-to-explain-truck-emission-rules VEHICLES Volkswagen Lab Being Built In Oxnard. The Oxnard facility is to house auto emissions testing and powertrain development for VW, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley and Bugatti. It will replace a facility in Westlake Village. Construction has begun on a $25-million laboratory in Oxnard that its owners hope will be one of the most advanced auto emissions testing and powertrain development facilities in the country. Engineers for Volkswagen Group of America Inc. will work there on the company's signature VWs as well as other brands it owns: Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley and Bugatti. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-volkswagen-lab-20110325,0,561274,print.story Microsoft’s MURS Will Help Plug-In Vehicle Drivers Find The Cheapest Charging Stations. Can Microsoft become the go-to source for locating the cheapest charging stations in the U.S.? The computer giant will try, starting with the launch of a national database of plug-in vehicle charging rate plans called the Microsoft Utility Rate Service (MURS). MURS will be available via subscriptions to government agencies, power providers, auto makers and electric vehicle charging equipment companies. Posted. http://autogreenmag.com/2011/03/24/microsofts-murs-will-help-plug-in-vehicle-drivers-find-the-cheapest-charging-stations/ Tesla CEO Elon Musk: Batteries Aren’t the Future. Tesla Motors has based their whole business model on batteries. They kind of have to since, after all, they sell electric cars. Tesla’s Roadster contains 6,831 lithium ion laptop-style batteries and the company’s up and coming 2012 Model S will have around 8,000 lithium ion laptop-style batteries. This is why it’s such a surprise to hear Tesla CEO Elon Musk say that he doesn’t think batteries will be part of the breakthrough that really pushes electric vehicle transportation into the mainstream. Posted. http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-batteries-aren-t-the-future-ar106935.html GREEN ENERGY Grants Are More Effective And Cheaper Than Tax Credits For Spurring Clean Energy – Report. Treasury grants promote renewable energy projects at about half the public cost of tax credits, according to an analysis being released today that focuses on streamlining energy subsidies as federal spending declines. The grants, a product of recovery funding known for their section number, 1603, could have encouraged the construction of 19 gigawatts of wind power at a cost of about $5 billion to taxpayers -- half as much as the government spent using the investment tax credit to spark that amount of construction between 2005 and 2008, the analysis finds. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/25/3 East Contra Costa Sanitation District Awarded $1 Million For Energy Project Research. Sacramento -- A Bay Area coalition led by a local sanitation district was awarded nearly $1 million this week by the California Energy Commission to research a regional project that would convert wastewater residue to energy. Delta Diablo Sanitation District, which serves Antioch, Pittsburg and Bay Point, will use the $999,924 to develop, demonstrate and implement the system. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17693240?nclick_check=1 Planners Put Off Decision On Simi Valley Area Landfill Expansion. The Ventura County Planning Commission on Thursday heard more than eight hours worth of arguments for and against the proposed expansion of the Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center. Still, it wasn't enough time to make a decision on the project. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/24/planners-put-off-decision-on-simi-valley-area/ MISCELLANEOUS Rechargeable Mowers On Display In Yolo. Mowers for the Yolo-Solano Mower Exchange program are now on display at Yolo County's Administration Building, 625 Court St., Woodland. Those interested in turning in their gas mower to purchase a zero emission, rechargeable mower at a reduced rate are encouraged to stop by to see both models that are being offered. Only residents of Yolo and Solano counties are eligible for this program which begins with on-line registration on April 5. There are a limited number of mowers so it is on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants can choose between two sizes. Posted. http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_17698253 OPINION Californians for Clean Energy and Jobs Launches Effort to Boost Renewable Energy Jobs. With turmoil and upheaval in the Middle East and with forces in Washington bent on turning back the energy clock, never has there been a more urgent need for California to provide leadership to the world on clean energy policies and technology -- especially as it relates to job creation and national security. Posted. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/node/8812 A Siege Against The EPA And Environmental Progress. How soon we forget. In 1970, speaking from badly polluted Los Angeles, Bob Hope cracked, “I don’t trust air I can’t see.” Most Americans could see too much of their air. So they demanded that Congress and the president do something about it. Today the agency President Richard Nixon created in response to the public outcry over visible air pollution and flammable rivers is under siege. The Senate is poised to vote on a bill that would, for the first time, “disapprove” of a scientifically based finding, in this case that greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-siege-against-the-epa-and-environmental-progress/2011/03/23/ABsuyeRB_story.html California Ruling Puts NM Cap And Trade Program Into A Haze. Will a judge’s ruling in California put cap and trade regulations in New Mexico on hold? That’s what supporters and critics of the New Mexico’s recently-adopted restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions are wondering — and nobody is quite sure of an answer. Back on Monday (March 21) a judge in San Francisco ordered a delay in implementing California’s cap and trade system of pollution credits. Why does that matter to New Mexico? Because, due to its sheer size, California is a crucial piece of the cap and trade puzzle. Posted. http://watchdog.org/8758/california-ruling-puts-nm-cap-and-trade-program-into-a-haze/ BLOGS Traffic Pollution Doubles Lung Transplant Death Rate, Study Finds. Air pollution from car traffic may double the risk of organ rejection and death in lung transplant patients, Belgian researchers report in a new study. The study, which tracked nearly 300 lung transplant recipients over more than a decade, found that patients living less than 600 feet from a main road were twice as likely to develop a severe lung inflammation associated with organ rejection within several years of surgery. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/traffic-pollution-doubles-lung-transplant-death-rate-study-finds/ Now, Starter Homes Boast Solar Arrays. Among the standard features offered for new homes at Manzanita at Paseo del Sol, a KB Home development in a desert suburb southeast of Los Angeles, are nine-foot ceilings, six-panel doors and a 1.4-kilowatt solar array. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/now-starter-homes-boast-solar-arrays/ How Air Pollution Affects Your Heart. You know air pollution hurts your lungs. But what about your heart? Dirty Indoor Air Bad for Heart. It turns out that air pollution is another factor that contributes to cardiovascular disease. According to a new study, air pollution can increase inflammation, which leads to many chronic diseases. This study looked at the effect of air pollution that occurs inside the home, and a step that may reduce that pollution. Indoor air pollution poses a particular problem to overall health because we spend most of our time inside. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-galland-md/air-pollution-heart_b_839143.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:04:29 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 28, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 28, 2011. 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 Coal Plants Face New Scrutiny. MONROE, Mich. —A Michigan utility spent $65 million last year replacing key parts at the state's largest coal-fired power plant. When regulators found out, they hauled the company into court for what it didn't do: Spend millions more at the same time to greatly eliminate air pollution. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/26/coal-plants-face-new-scrutiny/ Eye On The Environment: March 27, 2011. The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District's new public information program, Sky Savers, is an exciting way to help air quality and your pocketbook at the same time. Ventura County consumers can make smart environmental choices by selecting "green" products and services from local merchants. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/26/eye_on_the_environment/ Safeguards In Place For When Air Quality Diminishes. Safeguards were in place to assure that children, especially those afflicted with asthma, were protected from air emissions from a recent haystack fire east of Seeley, officials said. Imperial County’s Air Pollution Control District and the Public Health Department jointly reported Friday that while the second arson-related fire on Silsbee Road raged overnight, monitoring data did “not show elevated readings in local air quality.” Posted. http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-news-safeguards-in-place-for-when-air-quality-diminishes-20110328,0,2178169,print.story CLIMATE CHANGE Enviro Lawyers Tied In Knots Over Calif. Emissions Ruling. A California court ruling suspending the implementation of the state's landmark climate change law came with a large dose of irony. That's because San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith found that the state had failed to comply with another landmark law, one that is beloved by some of the same environmental groups that are critical of the ruling, the California Environmental Quality Act. Essentially, a major environmental initiative is under threat because the state failed to correctly carry out the appropriate environmental analysis. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/28/1 Rust Belt Voters Support EPA Carbon Rules -- With the Senate poised to vote this week on as many as three amendments that would limit U.S. EPA's power to curb greenhouse gas emissions, a leading environmental advocacy group hopes a new poll will convince Rust Belt senators to oppose the proposals. The League of Conservation Voters-sponsored poll, conducted in late February by Hart Research Associates, a Democratic firm, showed that 63 percent of voters in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan say they "trust" EPA to decide whether to set carbon dioxide emissions limits more than they trust Congress to do so. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/28/11 Suspension Of Cap-And-Trade Expected To Have Limited Effects. California's landmark cap-and-trade program for curbing greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions faces new uncertainty due to a recent California Superior Court decision. It is very likely that cap and trade ultimately will be implemented in a form similar to its current design, but implementation could be delayed. A program delay would harm the wind industry economically by deferring anticipated program benefits Posted. http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.7557 DIESEL EMISSIONS Catalina Flyer Is To Resume Daily Service Friday. The 600-seat passenger boat, which runs between the Balboa Pavilion and Avalon, was removed from service in mid-September to have its engines replaced. The Catalina Flyer is to resume daily service from Newport Beach to Catalina Island on Friday with machinery that should give passengers a quieter and smoother ride, the catamaran's owner announced. The 600-seat passenger boat, which runs between the Balboa Pavilion and Avalon, was removed from service in mid-September to have its engines replaced. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-adv-catalina-flyer-20110328,0,6135244,print.story FUELS Project Would Turn Horse Manure Into Power. With its rolling hills and wide-open fields, the Ojai Valley is the perfect place for riding horses. As many as 2,000 horses trot about the valley, eating lots of hay and making lots of poop — as much as 30 tons a day. While some of that is used for compost, much of it gets thrown into landfills or left on the ground, where it eventually ends up in streams that lead to the Ventura River. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/26/project-would-turn-horse-manure-into-power/ VEHICLES Conventional Cars in Cities Should Be Halved by 2030, EU Says. The European Union should halve the use of conventional cars in cities by 2030 to reduce pollution and lessen dependence on oil from a politically unstable Middle East, according to an EU policy paper. The shift away from the 150-year-old combustion engine in urban transport should be completed by 2050, when all vehicles used in EU cities ought to be powered by low-emission technologies, the European Commission said. This would lower discharges blamed for climate change and smog, ease noise and cut an EU oil-import bill that totaled around 210 billion euros ($295 billion) last year, according to the commission. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-28/conventional-cars-in-cities-should-be-halved-by-2030-eu-says.html High-Speed Rail: First Phase Could Run To Merced After All. Authority plan to apply for money Florida rejected would expand construction project's 'backbone.' High-speed rail may come to Merced sooner than expected, as the California High Speed Rail Authority will announce today it's asking for $1.2 billion in funding that was rejected by Florida. If the request is approved, it would mean the first phase of track will run from Merced to Bakersfield. Also, instead of building a station just in downtown Fresno, stations will be built in Merced and Bakersfield. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/03/28/1828719/high-speed-rail-first-phase-could.html Question: Is It Wise To Invest In A Car? Los Angeles -- To buy or not to buy? That is the question facing many car shoppers these days. That's because rising gas expenses and a looming shortage of Japanese-built hybrid and fuel-efficient vehicles are starting to pump up prices for gas-sipping autos. But analysts at auto information company Kelley Blue Book say that with all this turmoil in the marketplace, consumers should think twice about jumping to buy a new car. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/26/1615839/questionis-it-wise-to-invest-in.html EV Standardisation Efforts In The U.S. The Japanese have surged ahead with the industry standard CHAdeMO for DC fast charging. The European Union has mandated the European standardisation bodies to work out recommendations for EV standards, which are expected to be presented by the end of this month. But what is the third major market for electric mobility, namely the U.S., doing in terms of EV related standardisation? Both government and industry calling for standards. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/54420110328.php?AlertDate=2011-03-25 Lithium Battery Roadmap. Focus on Lithium ion batteries. Green MotorSport started researching lithium ion cells several years ago and produced the world’s first lithium ion 12V monoblock long before anyone else had a commercial and reliable product. Over the last 5 years we have been looking very closely at the battery industry, seeking the best solution and we can now say that we have found a suitable candidate where cost, quality and energy density are concerned. Posted. http://www.fuelcellmarkets.com/green_motorsport/news_and_information/3,1,388,1,28940.html GREEN ENERGY Top Ten Cleantech Cities in the United States. There are numerous cities across the United States which can be considered "cleantech capitals." With a large array of renewable resources, a dedication by businesses and homeowners to become more energy efficient, and a large hub for research and development, a lot can be accomplished when it comes to creating new, efficient and sustainable clean technologies. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/28/idUS317857292020110328 At U.S. Nuclear Sites, Preparing for the Unlikely. Washington — American nuclear safety regulators, using a complex mathematical technique, determined that the simultaneous failure of both emergency shutdown systems to prevent a core meltdown was so unlikely that it would happen once every 17,000 years. It happened twice in four days at a pair of nuclear reactors in southern New Jersey. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/science/29threat.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Plan For Fresno Co. Nuclear Plant Faces Obstacles. Several hurdles remain for proposed site in western Fresno Co. Local investors hoping to build a nuclear power plant in western Fresno County have scoped out locations, planned a water supply, lined up support and signed a development agreement with a French energy conglomerate. The real hard work, however, lies ahead. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/27/v-print/2326850/investors-face-down-fresno-county.html 'Solar Group Buy' Program Launched In San Jose. For the past few years, Dennis Korabiak had been considering installing a solar panel system on his 2,300-square-foot San Jose home. But the cost never penciled out. All that changed last year when the city of San Jose developed a pilot program with a $100,000 grant from the federal government that encouraged city workers to band together to increase their buying power and simplify the sometimes confusing process of going solar. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/green-energy/ci_17707523?nclick_check=1 State’s Authority Over Diablo Canyon Plant Is Limited. Utility overseers could use control of fee increases to get closer look at seismic issues. The California Public Utilities Commission has joined a chorus of agencies and elected officials who are calling for a closer look at the seismic safety of Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant after the nuclear emergency in Japan. But the commission is different than other state and local government agencies. It wields indirect authority over Diablo Canyon because it controls PG&E’s purse strings. Posted. http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/03/26/1537594/states-authority-over-diablo-canyon.html How Green is Biomass Energy? California is hungry for renewable energy. Solar and wind power have taken off thanks to the state's ambitious clean energy goals. But there's another way to generate electricity -- by using organic material like agricultural and tree waste. It's known as biomass power. But some say it's not as green as it seems. Posted. http://www.kqed.org/a/quest/R201103280633 A Win-Win for Clean Energy. The nuclear tragedy in Japan and the disturbing upheaval in Libya and the Middle East have dominated the headlines, but it also serves as a haunting reminder that America's own energy security may be in peril unless we accelerate efforts to more fully develop energy alternatives that are reliable, safe and sufficient to meet our future needs. Achieving energy independence has been a laudable but daunting goal since the first energy crisis in 1979. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/uwe-t-schmidt/post_1875_b_841420.html MISCELLANEOUS Reno Site Offers Comparison Shopping for Home Wind Turbines. Small turbine sales are increasing every year, but useful data on the amount of electricity the turbines generate is still hard to come by. In a push to promote urban wind power, city officials in Reno, Nevada, are helping consumers take the guesswork out of buying home turbines. The city has launched an online consumer guide called the Green Energy Dashboard that allows potential buyers to track performance of nine different turbines at four sites throughout Reno, including the city hall and a water treatment plant. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/28/idUS342978024620110328 Three Valley Sites In Disease Cluster Report. Kettleman City, two other Valley locations on state list. Kettleman City and two other Valley communities are among dozens of places nationally where people have died in mysterious disease clusters, environmentalists say in a report being released today. Nine California locations are discussed in a report being released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Disease Clusters Alliance. The groups say federal authorities need to study these clusters quickly and help local officials. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/27/v-print/2326842/three-valley-sites-in-disease.html U2 Malibu Project Raises Questions About LEED. Los Angeles -- When U2 guitarist The Edge announced plans to build mansions overlooking the Pacific, he promised the homes would look like scattered leaves on the ridgeline and boast the country's most sought-after green building seal. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/26/1616485/u2-malibu-project-raises-questions.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/26/u2-malibu-project-raises-questions-about-02/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_c9a1d589-7ed8-5e23-84bf-22ceab446fea.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/26/2325283/u2-malibu-project-raises-questions.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/u2-guitarists-proposal-for-green-mansions-in-malibu-raises-questions-about-leed-certification/2011/03/26/AFgQxNcB_story.html A Green City Rises Up in Sydney. Sydney — The most famous Central Park is in New York, but Sydney is planning its own version that is less like a park in the city and more like a city in the park, with the urban parts aspiring to be as green as their surroundings. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/business/energy-environment/28green.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Supreme Court Stays Out Of Joshua Tree Landfill Dispute. The Supreme Court decided today not to take up a dispute over a land transfer involving the federal government that could lead to the construction in California of the nation's largest landfill. The proposed transfer, involving land near Joshua Tree National Park, is between Kaiser Ventures LLC and its subsidiary, Mine Reclamation Corp., on one side and the Bureau of Land Management on the other. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/28/2 MN Ethanol Plant To Be Converted To Nation's First Corn-Based Isobutanol Facility. A Minnesota ethanol plant is being converted into the nation's first facility to make isobutanol from renewable resources, Minnesota Public Radio reported Monday. Englewood, Colo.-based Gevo Inc. hopes to begin producing isobutanol at its Luverne plant in about a year. The conversion is another indicator of the weakness of the ethanol industry, analysts told MPR. Like ethanol, isobutanol is made from a process that ferments corn into alcohol. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2011/03/28/mn-ethanol-plant-being-convereted.html?s=print OPINION The Senate's EPA Showdown. Democrats face a moment of truth on regulatory cap and trade. The Environmental Protection Agency debate lands in the Senate this week, amid the makings of a left-right coalition to mitigate the agency's abuses. Few other votes this year could do more to help the private economy—but only if enough Democrats are willing to buck the White House. This moment arrived unexpectedly, with Majority Leader Harry Reid opening a small business bill to amendments. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704517404576222581494405442.html?KEYWORDS=climate+change Probe Carbifornia And Weed Out Credential Fakery. In early April, UCLA will decide whether to fire epidemiologist James Enstrom, a fixture in the UCLA Department of Public Health since the 1970s. If UCLA does give him the boot, Assemblyman Dan Logue has threatened to hold hearings. Whatever happens to Enstrom, legislators have good reason to investigate. Enstrom is the author of a 2005 study that found no evidence that PM2.5, dust and soot from diesel exhaust, causes premature deaths. That’s the contention of the California Air Resources Board. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/print/opinion/op-eds/2011/03/probe-carbifornia-and-weed-out-credential-fakery Nuclear power: Seismic data first, then make key decisions. As a freshman lawmaker and former geophysicist, I raised eyebrows when I authored a 2005 viewpoint cautioning that significant seismic uncertainty exists around Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. I questioned, “Is the facility safe from tsunami and earthquake damage that could be generated by large offshore faults?” I called for rigorous independent study and analysis of the seismic zone around the facility. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/mar/27/seismic-data-first-then-make-key-decisions/ Farmers and the EPA. The March 24 article, "EPA official tours farms," discussed a visit to the Valley by our government's highest ranking EPA administrator. Lisa Jackson, a Cabinet-level member of the Obama administration, got a glimpse at how farmers in the Valley are doing their part to reduce air emissions and conserve precious water. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/27/2324650/farmers-and-the-epa.html#storylink=misearch BLOGS On Our Radar: Don’t Tear Down E.P.A., Former Agency Chiefs Urge. The Republican assault on the Environmental Protection Agency, including a proposed bill to repeal the agency’s recent finding that carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases pose a threat to human health and welfare, goes too far, write two former E.P.A. chiefs, both appointed by Republican presidents. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/on-our-radar-dont-tear-down-e-p-a-former-agency-chiefs-say/ Group That Beat Back Proposition 23 Is Reborn. George P. Shultz, the Republican former secretary of state, and Thomas F. Steyer, the Democratic hedge fund billionaire, are reviving the coalition that campaigned last year to defeat Proposition 23, the California ballot measure that would have derailed the state’s’ landmark global warming law. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/group-that-beat-back-proposition-23-is-reborn/ Of Nuclear Power, Risk and Meteorites. The Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant sits on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean — and on active seismic zones, worrying residents. As my colleagues Matt Wald and John Broder and I write in Science Times, weighing the risks associated with nuclear power against other forms of electricity is, at least for regulators and actuaries, a highly academic exercise. But for others — particularly those living in the shadow of nuclear reactors — it is an intensely personal affair. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/of-nuclear-power-risk-and-meteorites/?pagemode=print Groups Demand Data on Radiation Release. As the Japanese authorities order a wider evacuation area around the stricken Fukushima reactor complex to as far out as 19 miles, three health and environmental groups in the United States announced that they were seeking further information about why American officials recommended that its citizens keep at least 50 miles away. Gregory B. Jaczko, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, recommended the 50-mile radius in congressional testimony 10 days ago. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/groups-demand-data-on-radiation-release/?pagemode=print Renewing Support for Renewables. The biggest positive result of the accident at Fukushima Daiichi could be renewed public support for the development of renewable energy technologies. Many influential policy makers, including President Obama, continue to insist that we must expand nuclear power to help meet our energy needs. But plenty of experts disagree. As the chart below illustrates, renewable energy sources (including hydropower and biofuels) already account for almost the same share of total energy consumption in the United States as nuclear power. Posted. http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/renewing-support-for-renewables/?pagemode=print Lung Association Ads Fault House Panel Chairman. American Lung Association A billboard takes aim at Representative Fred Upton’s effort to prevent the E.P.A. from regulating greenhouse gas emissions. The American Lung Association has opened a billboard campaign against Fred Upton, the Republican chairman of the House Commerce and Energy Committee, taking him to task for his legislative attacks on the Environmental Protection Agency and clean air regulations. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/lung-association-faults-commerce-chairman-in-ads/?pagemode=print California Clean Energy: "No On 23" Is Back. Former Secretary of State George Shultz and San Francisco hedge fund manager Thomas Steyer are resurrecting the successful alliance between clean-tech businesses and environmental groups that defeated Proposition 23 last November. The new non-partisan group, calling itself “Californians for Clean Energy and Jobs,” will support the rollout of new regulations under the state’s ambitious global warming law, which survived the initiative that would have delayed its implementation. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/03/george-shultz-thomas-steyer-ab-32-california-global-warming-law.html Update: Air Board Moves Swiftly to Address Court's Concerns. The California Air Resources Board issued a statement yesterday in response to the Superior Court’s recent decision in the AB 32 Scoping Plan lawsuit. Californians should take heart – the statement spells good news for our efforts to protect public health and stay out in front in the global push for clean energy. The Air Board identified three courses of action it will take in the wake of the decision to ensure AB 32 implementation remains on track: Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ajackson/update_air_board_moves_swiftly.html 'Artificial Leaf' Makes Hydrogen From Solar Cell. Drawing from nature, Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Daniel Nocera thinks he can draw cheap and clean energy from water. At the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Nocera yesterday presented results from research on making an "artificial leaf" to split water to get hydrogen fuel and oxygen. The goal is to use the solar cell to make hydrogen, which would be stored and then used in a fuel cell to make electricity. Posted. http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20047814-54.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:16:21 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 29, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 29, 2011. 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 Radiation Detected in U.S. Traces of radiation from the crippled nuclear plant in Japan are being detected in states from California to Massachusetts, carried across the Pacific on broad rivers of wind. But state officials say there is no public health risk. “The levels that we're detecting are extremely, extremely low—we're talking about many orders of magnitude below what we would consider a risk," said Eric Matus, a radiation physicist for the Nevada State Health Division. Radiation has been detected at two monitoring sites in the state. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704471904576228833487550772.html Court Oks Air-Pollution Restrictions For Ships. A federal appeals court rejected a shipping industry challenge Monday to California's offshore air pollution rules requiring vessels to use low-sulfur fuel within 24 miles of the coast, standards that the court said would save about 3,500 lives over six years while modestly increasing shipping costs. The ruling by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco is a milestone in California's efforts to curb a significant source of hazardous emissions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/29/BAD91IL0RQ.DTL&type=printable http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/29/3510574/judges-uphold-cal-offshore.html Scientists At UC-Berkeley Keep Watch On Japan Radiation Levels >From A Campus Rooftop. Five thousand miles from Japan, UC Berkeley scientists don't have to read the headlines to know what is happening at a crippled nuclear power plant. They just need to glimpse at their computer screens. There, a steady stream of data from Berkeley's air, rain and creekwater samples shows peaks and troughs of radioactive contamination -- posing no threat to Californians' health, but telling a tragic tale of Japan's struggle to contain the threat. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_17719939?source=rss Closings Start In Merced Plant Contamination Case. Fresno, Calif. -- Closing arguments are set for Tuesday morning in a trial involving a former subsidiary of the pharmaceutical giant Merck accused of polluting groundwater, air and soil in a Merced subdivision for years. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/28/1619710/closing-arguments-set-in-merck.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/29/2328641/closings-start-in-merced-plant.html#storylink=misearch CLIMATE CHANGE Drafter Of California Cap And Trade Stands By Analysis. An architect of California's cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases defended his analysis of the regulatory plan in an interview yesterday and offered a peek at how the state might defend its regulations in upcoming court battles. Kevin Kennedy, assistant executive officer of the California Air Resources Board, argued that his examination of the program's potential impacts complied fully with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) -- an assertion that runs counter to a recent court ruling (Greenwire, March 24). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/29/3 DIESEL EMISSIONS Diesel Emissions Researcher Resumes Fight For Job Next Week. A longtime professor who has said his criticisms of the California Air Resources Board may have made him enemies will resume a fight to keep his job next week. James Enstrom has spent 36 years at UCLA, the last 34 as associate research professor. His career studying epidemiology was a springboard to his current expertise into the effects of diesel emissions on the human body. Last August, Enstrom’s contract was not renewed after a secret vote of faculty members in his department. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Mar11/032811/032811-04.shtml FUELS GE To Buy Converteam In $3.2-Billion Deal. General Electric Co. said Tuesday it will spend $3.2 billion for a controlling stake in French equipment developer Converteam as it continues to position itself as a major player in what's expected to be a 20-year boom in oil and natural gas demand. Converteam, which serves a variety of industries including oil and gas companies, is the latest of $11 billion in acquisitions by GE's energy business. GE also has acquired Dresser Inc., Wellstream Holdings, Lineage Power Holdings and Well Support in the past six months. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ge-20110329,0,4091813,print.story $5-A-Gallon Gasoline May Be On The Horizon. If you think $4 gas has put a dent in your wallet, prepare for a pothole in your purse this summer, fuel analysts say. As the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular rose Monday for the sixth consecutive day, some say it could hit $5 before the worst is over. "We're talking about five bucks by the end of August, because of the hurricane season. Then it may drop to $3 by the end of the year," said Bob van der Valk, a pricing analyst for 4Refuel, a fuel management company. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_17721173 VEHICLES Transport 2050 Challenges: Innovating For The Future. The document “Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system” sets “very challenging goals”, said EU Commissioner for Transport, Siim Kallas. These goals “will have to be met by 2050 to achieve the global vision described in the White Paper.” Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/54520110329.php Volvo Cars To Hire Up To 1,200 Workers. Stockholm -- Volvo Cars said Tuesday it will embark on a major recruitment program, hiring up to 1,200 workers within a 12-month period as it makes a major push to develop fuel-efficient vehicles. Most of the recruits will be research and development engineers working on improving fuel efficiency, including the electrification of cars, the Sweden-based company said. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/29/1620245/volvo-cars-to-hire-up-to-1200.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/29/volvo-cars-to-hire-up-to-1200-workers/ http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/29/2328532/volvo-cars-to-hire-up-to-1200.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/volvo-cars-to-recruit-1200-workers-in-major-push-to-develop-fuel-efficient-cars/2011/03/29/AFvZpWtB_story.html Colo. Auto Group Aims To Get Clunkers Off The Road. Denver — The Colorado Automobile Dealers Association says it hopes to remove 1,000 high-polluting cars from roads this year through a program with car recyclers. The association's Clear the Air Foundation is accepting old or poorly maintained cars from car dealers and the public that it would sell to recyclers. The car donors could get tax breaks. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/29/colo-auto-group-aims-to-get-clunkers-off-the/ GREEN ENERGY Clean-Tech Developers Fret Over Witching Hour for DOE Grants. New York -- Two-and-a-half years since the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. sent Wall Street into a tailspin, financing for wind, solar and other clean energy projects is still hard to come by, experts say. Deals are getting done, but not at the rate that the industry would call robust, and many project developers are still dependent on temporary government support measures. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/03/28/28greenwire-clean-tech-developers-fret-over-witching-hour-70921.html?pagewanted=print Obama To Turn Attention To Energy Issues – Barring Disaster Or Global Crisis. President Obama is expected to outline his plan for energy security in a speech this week, followed by visits to companies operating energy-efficient vehicles. Japan's earthquake and tsunami, and Middle East turmoil, have overshadowed his earlier efforts to discuss energy. After a speech meant to bring clarity to U.S. engagement in crises abroad, President Obama will turn his attention to what aides say will be a sustained focused on energy issues in the coming weeks. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-energy-20110330,0,593418,print.story 60 Percent Of U.S. Homes Use Some Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs – Study. American homes have become more energy efficient over time, but they also hold more energy-using devices than ever before, the Energy Department's statistical agency said yesterday. In 1978, one television was normal for a home, but by 2009, the average household had two and a half, the Energy Information Administration said. Similarly, in 1978, almost no homes had personal computers, but by 2009, three-quarters of homes did; about a third of homes had more than one. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/29/6 MISCELLANEOUS Disease Clusters Found In Some Calif. Communities. Environmental groups say disease clusters are on the rise and the government needs to do more about it. In a report released Monday, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Disease Cluster Alliance highlighted 44 communities in 13 states with higher than ordinary numbers of birth defects, cancer and other illnesses. They cited eight communities in California [PDF], including Kettleman City, where residents have expressed concern over high levels of birth defects. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/disease-clusters-found-some-calif-communities-9501 OPINION Fuel Inefficient. Re "Gas tops $4 in L.A. region," Business, March 26. I've been experiencing the shenanigans of gas prices since the gouging started around 1973. My way of life has been affected by how it has increased my cost of living. It also affects my mind, which runs riot over the fact we have done almost nothing to tackle the problem. We have a politically charged government that goes back and forth after every election, undoing any gains made toward improving our energy use. Why not lower the speed limit and find alternatives to driving? Oops, President Carter tried that. Posted http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0329-tuesday-20110329,0,780776,print.story Nuclear Power. As we all know, Chernobyl was the worst nuclear accident ever. So far, research places the number of deaths at 50. Now this does not mean more folks have not died because of the event, but it suggest that the total number is relatively small. One should be asking how many folks died early due to pollution due to coal fired electrical plants and smog. Not to mention deaths from cancers caused by pollution. I am sure the number would be exponentially higher than the 50 from Chernobyl. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/29/nuclear-power/?print=1 BLOGS Weighing the China Model? Take a Deep Breath in Beijing. Developed-world proponents of the “China Model” often point to environmental degradation as an example of the intractable sort of problem authoritarian governments, free of the need for grinding public debate, are good at addressing. But in new study examining one of the country’s highest profile environmental problems, a team of Chinese and U.S.-based economists casts some doubt on that thesis. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2011/03/29/weighing-the-china-model-take-a-deep-breath-in-beijing-air-pollution/ Clean Energy Investment Is Up, but U.S. Lags. A study released Tuesday by the Pew Environment Group suggests that investment in clean energy among the world’s 20 leading economies, a k a the G-20, is generally on the rebound after a grinding global recession. It also suggests that the narrative in the United States, which has been marked by partisan bickering and general paralysis over energy and climate policy, continues to weaken its position as a locus for investment. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/clean-energy-investment-is-up-but-u-s-lags/?pagemode=print Spoiler Alert: Downforce Accessories May Concentrate Pollution. Like the tail fins of yore, rear spoilers on the majority of today’s passenger cars are primarily appearance enhancers, not downforce tools, because the benefits of downforce are only apparent at high speeds. A new study suggests that rear spoilers do serve a dynamic purpose — one that might induce coughing fits in transportation-design classrooms. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/29/spoiler-alert-downforce-accessories-may-concentrate-pollution/ Americans Less Worried About Global Warming Than Drinking Water, Rainforests Or Sprawl. I think you could divide this table into two parts: the top five, which concern more than 70 percent of Amerricans, are “things that could kill my child now.” The bottom four are “things that could harm my child, or maybe my grandchildren, later.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/americans-less-worried-about-global-warming-than-drinking-water-rainforests-or-sprawl/2011/03/25/AFnDBioB_blog.html Cash for Clunkers 2: The Return of Government Motors. Ready for another cash for clunkers program? It looks like General Motors is attempting to replace it's own consumer incentives with tax payer money. The car company, bailed out of bankruptcy in 2009 by the American tax payer, appears to be turning the government into an automatic rebate provider. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2011/mar/29/cash-clunkers-2-dumped-capitol-hill/?sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4d91fcd8f968b86b,0 Airplanes' Contrails Cause Far More Warming Than Their Carbon Emissions, But... Radiative forcing has been on TreeHugger's radar for a while, and after finding out about this next study it'll be on your's too: According to research by the DLR German Aerospace Center, airplane contrails have a much, much greater impact on global warming than do the carbon emissions caused by planes' engines. I can't emphasize the 'much, much' part of that enough. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/03/contrails-cause-more-warming-than-carbon-emissions.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:49:13 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 30, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 30, 2011. 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 Lawyers Say Plant Leaked Toxic Chemical For Years. FRESNO, Calif. -- Company officials failed to alert residents and collect data about groundwater, air and soil contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals from a Central California manufacturing plant owned by a former subsidiary of drug maker Merck & Co., lawyers for nearby residents told jurors Tuesday in closing arguments of a lawsuit. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/29/1620350/closings-start-in-merced-plant.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/article_e8e6195a-d04e-5b33-bcad-490a448e7b3b.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/29/2328641/closings-start-in-merced-plant.html#storylink=misearch Web Page Tracks Radiation From Japan. Chico — If you're worried about how much radiation is making it to California from the earthquake- and tsunami-stricken Japanese reactors, the Internet provides direct access to West Coast monitors watching for the stuff. The Butte County Air Quality Management District has placed a link on its homepage — www.bcaqmd.org/ — to the state Air Resources Board Web pages where two kinds of data can be assessed. Posted. http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_17730822 Study Finds Curbing Auto Pollution In Developing Countries Could Have Short-Term Climate Impact. Enacting tough air pollution limits for motor vehicles in developing countries could help blunt the short-term effects of climate change, a new study finds. The study, published yesterday in the journal Nature Climate Change, concludes that reducing the amount of non-carbon dioxide greenhouse warmers produced by vehicles would also improve air quality, health and agricultural yields in developing nations. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/30/8 CLIMATE CHANGE Senate Vote Could Curb EPA's Climate-Change Powers. Washington (AP) — Environmentalists are trying to defeat a Senate measure that would bar the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases. The Senate is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the Republican-backed plan. Many businesses support it, saying regulations of heat-trapping gases would drive up their costs and make it harder to hire workers. Environmental groups and many Democrats oppose the measure. They say the government must curb gases that contribute to global warming. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jXh4wfRC1Mret7Yqw9hL0r3fJvNg?docId=9caeff4e5d5b4eabbf46a933c0461932 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-29/senators-set-to-vote-on-epa-over-regulation-mcconnell-says.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/30/1621517/senate-vote-could-curb-epas-climate.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/30/senate-vote-could-curb-epas-climate-change/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_6198e169-80de-5254-a6d9-ecc5747763b7.html Obama to Set Goal of One-Third Cut in Oil Imports. Washington — With gasoline prices rising, oil supplies from the Middle East pinched by political upheaval and growing calls in Congress for expanded domestic oil and gas production, President Obama on Wednesday will set a goal of a one-third reduction in oil imports over the next decade, aides said Tuesday. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/science/earth/31energy.html?_r=1&hp http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/president-obama-to-call-for-one-third-cut-to-oil-imports/2011/03/29/AFFy3O1B_story.html Aircraft Contrails Stoke Warming, Cloud Formation. OSLO (Reuters) - Aircraft condensation trails criss-crossing the sky may be warming the planet on a normal day more than the carbon dioxide emitted by all planes since the Wright Brothers' first flight in 1903, a study said on Tuesday. It indicated that contrails -- white lines of Vapor left by jet engines -- also have big knock-on effects by adding to the formation of high-altitude, heat-trapping cirrus clouds as the lines break up. The findings may help governments fix penalties on planes' greenhouse gas emissions in a U.N.-led assault on climate change. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/29/us-climate-contrails-idUSTRE72S47O20110329 Urban Areas Are Causing 70 Percent Of World's GHG Emissions, Says U.N. Although they only occupy 2 percent of Earth's land cover, the world's cities are responsible for 70 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions, according to a U.N. assessment. But the study, titled "The Global Report on Human Settlements 2011, Cities and Climate Change: Policy Directions," also contended that effective urban planning could bring about huge savings. If no action is taken, the authors warned of a "deadly collision between climate change and urbanization." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/30/11 FUELS Alternative Fuels. The majority of school buses in America run on diesel fuel, but those engines are far different today than the ones decades ago that spewed forth dark, black clouds of soot from the exhaust. Estimates are that about 95 percent of the national fleet of 480,000 school buses run on diesel, but there is a growing interest in alternative fuels. Informal surveys conducted by School Transportation News indicate that the most widely-used alternative fuel is biodiesel, which commonly range in regular diesel-blend amounts from 2 percent to 20 percent. Posted. http://www.stnonline.com/resources/12-clean-school-bus/3236-alternative-fuels Can Changing Feed Reduce Cattle Methane Emissions? The UK government has funded research aimed at finding ways for farmers to reduce methane emissions from ruminants by altering their feedstock. When dairy farmers added crushed rapeseed to the feedstock, cows released 20% less methane for every liter of milk produced, Researchers at Reading University and the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences found. Farming and ranching account for about 43% of the UK’s methane emissions. Posted. http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/2020960/can_changing_feed_reduce_cattle_methane_emissions/ VEHICLES California Expected To Seek High-Speed Rail Funds Rejected By Florida. Money from Florida could put Merced and Bakersfield on track to be included in construction of California's first section of high-speed rail. The California High-Speed Rail Authority, at a meeting today in Sacramento, is expected to apply to the Federal Railroad Administration for some of the $2.4 billion spurned last month by Florida's Republican governor, Rick Scott. Officials from Merced and Bakersfield complained long and loud about being left off the initial construction route when it was unveiled in late 2010. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/30/v-print/3513407/california-expected-to-seek-high.html Queen Of The Road: Solo Hybrid Drivers Banned From The Carpool Lane. COMMUTER: Is it true that in July, all 85,000 hybrid carpool stickers are void? Is there any way to protest? Tena Gallagher, Danville. QUEEN: Tena, the Queen is sorry to say that the answer is yes. Throughout the state, already congested non-carpool lanes will have to absorb 85,000 more vehicles at rush hour as of July 1. Ugh. The only recourse the Queen can suggest is contacting your state legislator. Alas, Her Majesty does not get the feeling an extension is likely. For more information, go to www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/decal.htm. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/traffic/ci_17719831 Neb. Grant Will Help Firm's Hybrid Truck Business. LA VISTA, Neb. (AP) - A Nebraska company that plans to convert semitrailer trucks to hybrid power will receive help with start-up costs through a $505,000 grant. Gov. Dave Heineman awarded the grant to the city of La Vista on Tuesday. The money will be used to help ePower Engine Systems get started. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/30/neb-grant-will-help-firms-hybrid-truck-business/ European Commission Proposes To Push Gasoline- And Diesel-Powered Cars Out Of Cities. An E.U. body has outlined a plan to phase out most fossil-fueled cars by 2050. Europe already has among the highest fuel taxes in the world, and Europeans are already used to smaller cars, more transit and more walking than elsewhere in the developed world. Yet in a white paper released Monday, the European Commission said that to meet climate goals by midcentury, gasoline- and diesel-run cars must disappear from cities. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/03/30/3/ Study Finds Curbing Auto Pollution In Developing Countries Could Have Short-Term Climate Impact. Enacting tough air pollution limits for motor vehicles in developing countries could help blunt the short-term effects of climate change, a new study finds. The study, published yesterday in the journal Nature Climate Change, concludes that reducing the amount of non-carbon dioxide greenhouse warmers produced by vehicles would also improve air quality, health and agricultural yields in developing nations. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/30/8 Tesla Sues BBC Over Alleged Fake 'Top Gear' Scene. Electric sports car maker Tesla Motors Inc. has filed suit against the British TV program "Top Gear," alleging that the show faked a scene in which the company's Roadster car runs out of electricity during a race. Tesla and the BBC have been feuding ever since the episode in question was first broadcast in 2008. On the BBC show, the Roadster was shown having to stop for a recharge in a race against the gas-powered Lotus Elise. But Tesla says that neither of the two Roadsters it lent to the show had gone below 20 percent of the charge. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/03/30/22 EU To Ban Cars From Cities By 2050. Cars will be banned from London and all other cities across Europe under a draconian EU masterplan to cut CO2 emissions by 60 per cent over the next 40 years. The European Commission on Monday unveiled a "single European transport area" aimed at enforcing "a profound shift in transport patterns for passengers" by 2050. The plan also envisages an end to cheap holiday flights from Britain to southern Europe with a target that over 50 per cent of all journeys above 186 miles should be by rail. Posted. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/8411336/EU-to-ban-cars-from-cities-by-2050.html GREEN ENERGY Green-Energy Legislation Means Higher Rates In California, Utilities Warn. Local consumers could see sharp electricity rate increases under sweeping new legislation that would require them to ramp up their energy supplies from wind, solar and other green sources, local utilities said. On Thursday, the state Assembly voted 55-19 to approve a measure requiring power companies to obtain up to 33 percent of their energy supplies from green sources, up sharply from the current 20 percent. The state Senate already has passed the bill. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/30/v-print/3513321/green-energy-legislation-means.html http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-energy-20110330,0,818402.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/30/MN4L1IM38G.DTL&type=printable http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704471904576231611388263814.html http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_17727487?nclick_check=1 http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/6951980 http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2011/03/30/state-nears-new-renewable-energy-rules.html http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/03/30/california-assembly-approves-33-renewable-mandate/ San Onofre Wave Farm Idea Churns Up Concerns. An Orange County firm has federal approval to study putting thousands of generators off San Onofre. Surfers, conservationists and fishing groups worry about potential negative effects. The waves off San Onofre have for generations beckoned surfers and sport fishermen to a wild stretch of coastline in the shadow of domed nuclear reactors. Now, an Orange County entrepreneur wants to tap the power of that legendary surf in a novel but highly controversial plan to build one of the nation's first hydrokinetic wave farms. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-wave-farm-20110330,0,5614333,print.story Obama Talking Energy Policy As Gas Prices Climb. Facing pressure to curb rising gasoline prices, President Barack Obama is calling for the U.S. to reduce its oil imports by one third by 2025, a lofty goal likely to run into significant obstacles. The White House said Obama will seek to reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign oil by boosting domestic energy production, increasing the use of biofuels and natural gas, and making cars and trucks more fuel-efficient. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/article_15c12ac1-ddd9-52d1-812a-18a56d43409d.html Legislature Sends Renewable Energy Bill To Jerry Brown. California would vastly increase its commitment to wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable energy under legislation that cleared the Legislature on Tuesday and was sent to Gov. Jerry Brown. The measure would require public and private utilities to obtain 33 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020, a sizable increase over the 20 percent required now. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/29/1620855/capitol-alert-legislature-sends.html SC Lawmakers Take A Dim View Of New Light Bulbs. Columbia, S.C.—South Carolina lawmakers are taking a stand in favor of states' lights. With incandescent bulbs being phased out under federal law in favor of energy-efficient compact fluorescents, legislators want to exempt South Carolina from the measure, saying Washington has no business telling the state how to light its closets and countertops. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_17724454 Obama To Focus On Clean Energy, Daring Republicans To Call It 'Froufrou' The White House is collecting options for a clean energy standard from outside groups, sharpening the president's effort to make low-carbon electricity a key piece of his re-election campaign, if not a passable piece of legislation in the current Congress. The meetings have solicited input on some of the thorniest elements of President Obama's goal to impose national fuel requirements on electricity providers. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/30/1 Calif. Assembly Sends 33% RPS To Governor. The California Legislature delivered a 33 percent renewable power mandate today to Gov. Jerry Brown (D), clearing the way for enactment. The renewable portfolio standard, or RPS, coasted this afternoon through the state Assembly, 55-19. The same bill passed the Senate 26-11 last month. The bill, which calls on utilities to get 33 percent of their power from renewables by 2020, differs significantly from a sister version of the standard that went into effect in 2008 under an executive order signed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/print/2011/03/29/1 Provisions To Shackle EPA Back On The Agenda. As budgetary jostling intensifies this week ahead of yet another deadline to keep the government funded, one thing is clear: Environmental and energy policy riders remain very much on the table. The resurgent riders, added to House Republicans' spending plan for the rest of fiscal 2011, would constrain more than a dozen White House initiatives, from U.S. EPA emissions rules to Interior Department lands policy. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/2011/03/30/3/ N.J. Chases Calif. In Race To Develop Solar Energy. New York -- U.S. clean energy enthusiasts looking for explosive growth in solar energy deployments should keep a close eye on New Jersey, investors and analysts were advised yesterday. Though California is still the dominant player in photovoltaic solar power in terms of total installed capacity, New Jersey is already No. 2, thanks to a state law that lends generous support to the industry. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/30/9 MISCELLANEOUS Congress Urged To Set Up System To Track Cancer Cases. Washington – Activists urged the government Tuesday to let people post and track cancer cases across communities, a public health effort that they say could lead to discoveries of new chemical-related cancer clusters throughout the United States as well as insights into disease management. A doctor, a cancer survivor and high-wattage environmental advocate Erin Brockovich told a Senate panel that no federal agency effectively tracks cancers now in a way that easily allows scientists to determine the existence of cancer clusters. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/30/v-print/3513109/congress-urged-to-set-up-system.html OPINION Nuclear or Coal? Hong Kong — Twenty five years ago a million people here signed a petition opposing a plan to build a nuclear power station with two reactors a few miles across the China border to provide power for Hong Kong and Guangdong Province. Some eminent citizens promised to emigrate if the plant was built. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/opinion/30iht-edbowring30.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Tim Rutten: Villaraigosa's Transportation Innovation. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa goes national with his 30/10 transportation initiative, which would speed up projects that would help the environment while putting people to work at little cost. In politics, as in commerce, there are times when you have to grow to survive. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa believes that's the case with his 30/10 transportation initiative, which is why he's in Washington on Wednesday arguing for a national version of the plan that its improbably bipartisan backers are calling America Fast Forward. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-oe-0330-rutten-20110330,0,6377775,print.column It's Not Easy Being Green Anymore. Big votes are coming on the Obama administration’s environmental agenda, and green groups are being forced to play defense in a world where D.C. pols aren’t scared of them. Environmentalists are being pummeled by Republican- and Democratic-minded competitors in advertisements and lawmaker donations, and they are finding it difficult to convince members that voting against their issues could hurt them at the ballot box. Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=AD612FFC-BE97-48FA-B462-28E372DA34F7 BLOGS Court Affirms California’s Marine Emissions Rules. Ships from China unloading their cargo in the Port of Los Angeles. On Tuesday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld California’s right to enforce its own limits on marine emissions. To hear T.L. Garrett, the vice president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association tell it, the point of challenging California rules requiring ships to use cleaner-burning fuel near the state’s shores was not to defend the burning of some of the dirtiest, most unhealthy motor fuel around today. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/court-affirms-californias-marine-emissions-rules/?pagemode=print Less than 50 Years of Oil Left, HSBC Warns. The world may have no more than half a century of oil left at current rates of consumption, while surging demand from the developing world threatens to create “very significant price rises” before substitutes like biofuels can serve as viable alternatives, the British bank HSBC warns in a new report. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/less-than-50-years-of-oil-left-hsbc-warns/ CA Moves Forward with Renewable Goals. After two failed attempts, California is moving ahead with the most aggressive renewable energy goal in the country. Today the State Assembly passed SB 2x, a bill that requires utilities to get 33% of their electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind, by 2020. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/03/29/ca-moves-forward-with-renewable-goals/ California Passes Aggressive Renewable Energy Standard. The Senate passed the legislation in February, and Governor Brown is expected to sign the bill. How big a deal is it? Well, according to Peter Miller, a senior scientist at NRDC, "As a result of the RPS program, renewable energy generation in California in 2020 will be roughly equal to total current U.S. renewable generation, and supply enough clean energy to power nearly 9 million homes" or, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, drive 3 million cars. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=85965 Want To Reduce BPA Exposure? Cut Canned Foods From Your Diet, Report Says. Exposure to the chemical Bisphenol A, or BPA, through canned foods and other food packaging can be significantly reduced with simple dietary changes, according to a report released Wednesday by the nonprofit Breast Cancer Fund and the Silent Spring Institute, a breast cancer research group. BPA is a chemical that is often used in clear, shatterproof plastics, such as baby bottles and food-storage containers, as well as the liners of metal food cans. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/03/bpa-canned-food.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Gas Prices Spur Move To Open Offshore Drilling In California, Alaska, East Coast [Updated]. With high gas prices once again becoming a high-octane political issue, House Republicans on Tuesday launched a drive to open up more coastal areas to oil drilling, including a stretch off Southern California. The pro-production legislation comes a day before President Obama is due to speak on energy security and amid heightened political anxiety among both parties over rising fuel prices. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/03/high-gas-prices-spur-move-to-open-offshore-drilling-in-california-alaska-east-coast.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 CA Moves Forward with Renewable Goals. After two failed attempts, California is moving ahead with the most aggressive renewable energy goal in the country. Today the State Assembly passed SB 2x, a bill that requires utilities to get 33% of their electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind, by 2020. By all accounts, utilities will need to add an unprecedented amount of renewable energy to meet the goal. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/03/29/ca-moves-forward-with-renewable-goals/ Got Problems? Blame Global Warming. It took virtually no time at all for some to attribute the tragic earthquake and tsunami that devastated lives and property in Japan to global warming. Only hours later the president of the European and Social Committee, Staffan Nilsson, issued a statement that “Some islands affected by climate change have been hit. Has not the time come to demonstrate on solidarity — not least solidarity in combating and adapting to climate change and global warming? Posted. http://blogs.forbes.com/larrybell/2011/03/29/got-problems-blame-global-warming/ California Set to Enact Nation’s Most Aggressive RPS. The 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard awaits the signature of Governor Jerry Brown. California's state legislature set the most aggressive renewables portfolio standard in the United States at 33 percent by 2020 in passing S.B. 2 on Tuesday. The bill now moves onto Governor Jerry Brown's desk -- he's already announced his intention to sign it. According to Adam Browning of Vote Solar, "Long-term market security is key to stimulating investment. Posted. http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/ca-33-rps/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 12:57:37 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 1, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 30-April 1, 2011. 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. OBAMA’S ENERGY PLAN An Energy Plan Derailed by Events Is Being Retooled. IN just over two years in the White House, President Obama has seen the major elements of his energy and climate-change strategy demolished by a succession of economic, political, technical and natural disasters. Mr. Obama came into office promising to enact a market-based system to combat global warming and encourage development of alternative energy sources. He endorsed a cap-and-trade system in his first State of the Union address and budget and began pushing for comprehensive legislation to place the nation on a path to a future less addicted to imported oil and more reliant on clean energy alternatives. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/business/energy-environment/31POLICY.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=print Obama goal to cut oil imports is well within reach. NEW YORK -- When President Obama called for reducing the nation's oil imports by one-third by 2025 in a speech Wednesday, he echoed similar goals - still unfulfilled - set by every president since Richard Nixon. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/30/1622444/obama-goal-to-cut-oil-imports.html Obama sets ambitious goal to reduce U.S. oil imports. WASHINGTON — Seeking to show the public he understands the burden of rising gas prices, President Barack Obama set an ambitious goal of reducing U.S. oil imports by one-third by 2025, and vowed to break through the political gridlock that has stymied similar initiatives for decades. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110330/WIRE/110339993 Obama to detail US energy security strategy. WASHINGTON — Facing pressure to curb rising gasoline prices, President Barack Obama is calling for the U.S. to reduce its oil imports by one third by 2025, a lofty goal likely to run into significant obstacles. Posted. http://web.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/mar/30/obama-to-detail-us-energy-security-strategy/ Obama seeks one-third cut in oil imports. “Those of us who are concerned about climate change, we’ve got to recognize that nuclear power — if it’s safe — can make a significant contribution to the climate change question,” he said. “And I’m determined to ensure that it’s safe.” Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/30/obama-seeks-one-third-cut-in-oil-imports//?page=2 Obama renews pitch for clean energy to reduce oil appetite. WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced a goal to cut U.S. reliance on foreign oil by one-third by 2025, saying that demand from growing economies such as China and India probably will force prices up in the long term. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/30/2330725/obama-renews-pitch-for-clean-energy.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/president-obama-to-call-for-one-third-cut-to-oil-imports/2011/03/29/AFFy3O1B_story.html U.S. to reduce oil imports by a third by 2021, Obama says. WASHINGTON (NEWSCORE) -- US President Barack Obama outlined Wednesday a new plan to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, expand oil production and increase the use of natural gas in vehicles. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-energy-20110331,0,5655740.story http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110330/A_NEWS/110339994&cid=sitesearch POLITICS: Greens see EPA-sized hole in Obama energy pivot. For environmentalists fighting to save U.S. EPA regulatory authority from the budgetary chopping block, the most pivotal part of President Obama's energy speech yesterday was what it failed to mention. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/climate_digest/2011/03/31/1/ Sector Snap: Natural Gas Dealers Up On High Prices. A one-two punch of winter storms and energy policy talk from President Barack Obama sent shares of a wide range of natural gas companies up sharply Wednesday. AccuWeather.com says a strengthening storm could knock out power in the Northeast this week, avalanches and high winds are striking the Northwest and a shot of winter chill will hit the Midwest next week. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9M9N00G2.htm Obama to highlight alternative-fuel vehicle partnership plan. US President Barack Obama Friday will highlight a public-private partnership to help large US companies reduce diesel and gasoline use in their vehicle fleets by incorporating alternative-fuel vehicles and other measures, the White House said in an early morning statement. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/Oil/8736755 Obama touts partnership to clean commercial fleets. The White House will work with major corporations, including AT&T Inc., FedEx Corp. and UPS Inc., to reduce fuel consumption in their fleets and integrate advanced hybrid and electric vehicles to the commercial sector. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/04/01/4/ Obama showcases fuel-saving vehicles. WASHINGTON -- With one eye on the gas pump and the other on his energy agenda, President Barack Obama is showcasing fuel-efficient vehicles as part of his goal to reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil. The president was to make a short trip Friday to Landover, Md., to visit a UPS shipping facility that features fuel-saving vehicles. Obama was to launch a public-private partnership designed to help large commercial fleets cut back on their diesel and gasoline use. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/01/1624705/obama-showcases-fuel-saving-vehicles.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/01/2332521/obama-showcases-fuel-saving-vehicles.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17750069 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17737573 http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/01/3519797/obama-showcases-fuel-saving-vehicles.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/03/29/national/w091602D01.DTL http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/obama-promotes-his-energy-agenda-by-showcasing-energy-efficient-vehicles/2011/04/01/AFpkQmEC_story.html http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17750069?nclick_check=1 http://wwww.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/01/obama-showcases-fuel-saving-vehicles/ Mr. Obama’s Energy Vision. It was instructive and depressing this week to watch President Obama and Congressional Republicans marching in completely different directions on energy policy. Mr. Obama reminded us that charting a clean energy future is not a pipe dream and that America can reduce its dependence on foreign oil. The Republicans reminded us how hard it will be to get there. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/opinion/01fri1.html What a clean-energy standard is, and why we’re talking about it. Whether you think the energy plan President Obama announced yesterday is worth applauding depends on whether you think a clean-energy standard is worth supporting. For most people, that raises a second question: What’s a clean-energy standard? Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/what-a-clean-energy-standard-is-and-why-were-talking-about-it/2011/03/10/AFuTzMBC_blog.html Explaining Obama’s car talk. President Obama likes to spend time talking about batteries, but on Friday he’s talking cars. Specifically, a new Energy Department program encouraging private companies to buy more alternative fuel vehicles. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/explaining-obamas-car-talk/2011/04/01/AFYATLHC_blog.html Obama’s New Plan for Old Goal, Cutting Oil Imports. You can choose from music or film — “ Same as it Ever Was…,” “ Groundhog Day”– to find the same feeling of echoey familiarity contained in President Obama’s latest speech trying to break through America’s “ shock to trance” approach to energy, and particularly oil. His central goal is to cut oil imports by a third over the next decade.. Click here to scan coverage and reactions. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/obamas-new-plan-for-old-goal-cutting-oil-imports/ Obama Pushes Energy Savings From ‘Clean Fleets’. President Obama is joining with FedEx, UPS and several other major companies whose vehicles are familiar sights on America’s roadways to promote a new administration initiative encouraging businesses to operate commercial fleets that burn less gasoline and diesel fuel. Posted. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/obama-pushes-energy-savings-from-clean-fleets/?scp=8&sq=fuels&st=cse AIR POLLUTION Cemtrex Outlook: EPA's MACT Regulation Will Have a Positive Impact. FARMINGDALE, N.Y., April 1, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Cemtrex Inc. (OTC: CTEI) announced today that the EPA is expected to issue new regulations for air pollution emissions from electrical generating units (EGUs) based upon the Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) provisions of the Clean Air Act Amendments in March 2011. The final regulations should be promulgated by November 2011 and then power plants will have 36 months to comply. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/01/v-print/3520364/cemtrex-outlook-epas-mact-regulation.html Ruling: California can mandate cleaner ship fuels. SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal court has decided California officials have the authority to require ships that stop in the state's ports to use cleaner marine fuels to reduce pollution from engine exhaust. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously Wednesday in favor of the Vessel Fuel Rules, which mandate that ship operators use less polluting fuel if they come within 24 nautical miles of the California coast. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/30/1622780/ruling-california-can-mandate.html http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110331/A_NEWS/110339979&cid=sitesearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/mar/30/ruling-california-can-mandate-cleaner-ship-fuels/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_c8e62848-8901-5e9c-b4d3-5a170efd287e.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/30/2330830/ruling-california-can-mandate.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17737573 Senate Resolution on Clean Air Act Benefits Slammed as 'Work of Fiction', by JunkScience.com. WASHINGTON, April 1, 2011 -- /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A Senate resolution introduced citing enormous public health and economic benefits from the Clean Air Act was denounced as "a work of fiction" today by JunkScience.com. Introduced yesterday by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and 33 other members of the Democratic caucus, the resolution parrots U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claims that the Clean Air Act saves millions of lives and adds trillions of dollars to the economy. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/01/v-print/3520585/senate-resolution-on-clean-air.html Air pollution is another potentially deadly threat for U.S. soldiers in Iraq. As if U.S. troops serving in Iraq didn’t face enough risk to life and limb already, these servicemen and women are putting their long-term health at risk because the air in Iraq is so polluted. A study begun in 2008 is finding that much of the air pollution in Iraq is of the most insidious sort – the very small dust particles that can make their way deep into the lungs and stay there. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-iraq-air-pollution-health-20110331,0,5107215.story CLIMATE CHANGE Congress aims to curb EPA's power over gases, bugs. The Obama administration's bid to regulate greenhouse gases, after losing last year's congressional debate over global warming, is making the Environmental Protection Agency the focus of Republican attacks on federal oversight. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_6198e169-80de-5254-a6d9-ecc5747763b7.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/03/30/state/n134914D35.DTL Has Emissions Cap and Trade Created Toxic Hotspots? A New Study Says No. Despite concerns that date back to the early days of emissions trading, a U.S. EPA program that lets coal-fired power plants buy and sell the right to pollute hasn't hit poor people and minorities with dirtier air than everyone else, according to a new study (pdf). Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/03/31/31greenwire-has-emissions-cap-and-trade-created-toxic-hotsp-4746.html?scp=7&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/climate_digest/2011/03/31/3/ CLIMATE: House to vote next week on EPA bill as Senate dithers. The House is poised to pass a bill next week that would prevent U.S. EPA from using the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions as Senate leaders continue grappling with when and how to bring the same provision to the floor. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/04/01/3/ U.S. emissions down, report says. WASHINGTON, April 1 (UPI) -- The economic recession and low energy prices contributed to the largest decline in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in more than a decade, the EIA said. Posted. http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Resource-Wars/2011/04/01/US-emissions-down-report-says/UPI-21011301660702/ Berkeley scientists' climate data review puts them at center of national debate. An effort by a handful of UC Berkeley scientists to reexamine temperature data underlying global warming research has landed in the center of a national political debate over government regulation. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-berkeley-climate-20110331,0,2472031.story Experts Heat Up Over Berkeley Lab Scientist's Quest to 'Calm' Climate Change Debate. The scientist heading up a controversial review of land-surface temperature records has a simple goal. "What I really hope to do is calm the debate" over climate change, said Richard Muller, a physicist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the director of the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature study (BEST). Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/04/01/01climatewire-experts-heat-up-over-berkeley-lab-scientists-q-490.html Denial of climate change is irresponsible and dangerous. SAN FRANCISCO -- My daughter, age 5, is a member. Chances are, so is a youngster you know. In fact, every child on Earth born after June 23, 1988, belongs to what I call Generation Hot. These 2 billion young people will spend the rest of their lives coping with the hottest, most volatile climate that civilization has ever known. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/31/v-print/3516933/denial-of-climate-change-is-irresponsible.html EIA reports 5.8% year-to-year decline in US GHG emissions in 2009; 4.3% drop in transportation sector although vehicle miles travelled increased. Total US greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were 6,576 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e) in 2009, a decrease of 5.8% from the 2008 level, according to Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2009, a report released by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/03/eia-reports-58-year-to-year-decline-in-us-ghg-emissions-in-2009-43-drop-in-transportation-sector-alt.html#more NATIONAL PARKS: Proposed construction cuts test GOP senator's support for land buys. A Republican senator and key supporter of Interior Department land acquisitions yesterday criticized the National Park Service for failing to address a growing backlog of maintenance projects and argued funding might need to be shifted from climate change or other agency programs. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/climate_digest/2011/03/31/4/ GREEN ENERGY Climate Corps interns help businesses save energy. Cisco Systems is installing energy-saving devices throughout its R&D labs. EBay upgraded its lights to LED, installed power-management software and replaced most of its desktop computers with laptops. Shorenstein Properties adjusted the heating and cooling systems for its buildings. Now it plans a road show to educate its thousands of tenants about sustainability. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/16/BUS91I3IJD.DTL China charges up the on-ramp of the electric highway. When it comes to the future of electric cars, as with other green technologies, the wild card is China. The People's Republic has invested billions in renewable energy and has become a solar superpower in photovoltaic manufacturing. It's also poised to one day potentially blow away the competition in wind turbine production. Posted. http://www.grist.org/green-cars/2011-04-01-china-charges-up-on-the-on-ramp-of-the-electric-highway Aviation Welcomes Obama's Boost For Biofuels. Aviation industry expects to benefit from plans for at least four commercial-scale biofuel refineries announced by President Barack Obama today as part of an energy-security strategy to reduce U.S. oil imports by a third by 2025. Posted. http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=aviationdaily&id=news/avd/2011/04/01/14.xml&headline=Aviation%20Welcomes%20Obama's%20Boost%20For%20Biofuels VEHICLES Carmakers scramble to hire electric engineers. DETROIT -- Engineering students and newcomers to the auto industry are unfazed by the deep job cuts and troubles the industry has suffered in recent years - especially those looking to become tomorrow's electric vehicle engineers. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/01/1624863/carmakers-scramble-to-hire-electric.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/01/2332670/carmakers-scramble-to-hire-electric.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/01/3520056/carmakers-scramble-to-hire-electric.html Vehicle-sharing network Zipcar opens in Sacramento. Zipcars now live in Sacramento. City Council members approved the partnership with Boston-area Zipcar Inc., at its meeting Tuesday night. The car-sharing network with its flotilla of gas-sipping economy cars carrying its banner of affordable, convenient transportation opened for business Wednesday. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/31/1623049/vehicle-sharing-network-zipcar.html Start-Ups Work to Reinvent the Combustion Engine. IN this city where Toyota Priuses clog the roads and battery-powered Tesla Roadsters and Chevrolet Volts can be spotted at the organic farmers market, the engine factory in a gritty industrial neighborhood near San Francisco Bay is a throwback to the automotive past. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/business/energy-environment/31ENGINE.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse Pinnacle Engines Introduces Its Ultra-Efficient Combustion Engine. SAN CARLOS, Calif., March 31, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Pinnacle Engines today unveiled plans to commercialize a breakthrough ultra-efficient engine by 2013. The new engine design enables significant reductions in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions without increasing vehicle cost. Pinnacle also announced it has raised $13.5 million in venture funding from NEA, Bessemer Venture Partners and Infield Capital. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/31/v-print/3517030/pinnacle-engines-introduces-its.html Lexus CT 200h is a multifaceted hybrid. Lexus recently introduced an all-new car, the CT 200h, and it's a hybrid in more ways than one. Unless you're a descendant of Gregor Mendel or his peas, it's likely you think of hybrids in strictly automotive terms. But let us not forget that the term has long been more broadly applied to the result of two dissimilar entities being combined. Think of the pluot, a sweet combination of the plum and apricot. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-lexus-ct-200h-review-20110331,0,6561613.story 24.2 million EURO for electromobility in Europe. The ‘Green eMotion’ project will cover different types of electric vehicles, the development of Smart Grids, innovative Information and Communication Technologies solutions, and urban mobility concepts with the aim to exchange and develop know-how and experience in selected regions within Europe as well as facilitate the market roll-out of electric vehicles in Europe. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/54820110401.php SHIFT: From hybrids, technology, new vehicles and the environment, to saving money at the pumps. Could a new lightweight material replace metal and carbon fiber?: Scientists at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., have created a material with the look, strength and durability of metal, but that can be molded into complex shapes just like carbon fiber can - but as simply and cheaply as plastic. They say the material could have an impact on soci ety similar to the development of synthetic plastics in the mid-20th century. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17744690 MISCELLANEOUS NYC green auction aids 4 groups. NEW YORK (AP) - A New York City benefit auction has raised $1.4 million for four environmental groups, including the Central Park Conservancy. Christie’s “The Green Auction: A Bid to Save the Earth” also will benefit Conservation International, Oceana, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/1/nyc-green-auction-aids-4-groups// An ecological calculator to help make your home-buying decision. If you can apply a hard-headed business perspective to a home purchase, you don’t need a deep understanding of environmental issues to make a decision that is more environmentally benign, said Mathis Wackernagel, the man who devised the Ecological Footprint, a widely used metric for assessing the impact of human activities on the earth’s resources. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/buying-a-home-considering-environmental-as-well-as-emotional-aspect-easy-activist-says/2011/03/28/AFU31eHC_story.html Sacramento State expands environmental studies degrees. California State University, Sacramento is expanding the types of degrees students can earn in environmental studies. The university is now offering both Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in environmental studies. The B.S. requires students take more hard science classes, while the B.A. requires more classes focused on policy and planning. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/31/3518917/sacramento-state-expands-environmental.html San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District board seeks student videos. Students and teachers have a chance to help clean the air with 30-second videos promoting bicycle riding, carpooling and other practices. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is holding its third annual For Reel Video Contest for elementary through college entrants. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/31/1624590/air-board-seeks-student-videos.html OPINION MILLOY: Defund EPA’s enablers. NPR is not the only partisan political organization that ought to have its public funding cut. Congress should put the American Lung Association (ALA) on the chopping block, too. As Congress went on recess last week, the ALA took out billboard advertising in Michigan targeting House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, Michigan Republican. The billboard ad features a child with an oxygen mask over her face and reads, "Rep. Fred Upton, protect our kids' health. Don't weaken the Clean Air Act." Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/31/defund-epas-enablers/print/ Need clean energy. After reading the March 29 opinion piece by Assembly Member David Valadao regarding loosening up requirements to encourage and allow petroleum-based energy production in California, I am very concerned with his logic. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/01/2332087/need-clean-energy.html#storylink=misearch BLOGS Republicans Get Inconvenient Replies at Climate Hearing. Richard Muller, a Berkeley physicist who at times has been embraced by foes of action to limit greenhouse gases because of his criticism of depictions of catastrophic global warming, was a star witness at a hearing today organized by Republican lawmakers. I’ll be adding some observations from the hearing below as time allows. Add yours, of course! Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/republicans-get-inconvenient-replies-at-climate-hearing/ E.P.A. Eases Way for Alternative-Fuel Engine Conversions. The Environmental Protection Agency has revised its alternative-fuel conversion regulations for light and heavy-duty vehicles, making it easier for manufacturers to sell conversions that are compliant with clean-air laws. The 186-page ruling provides an exemption from a Clean Air Act prohibition against tampering when converting an engine to run on alternative fuel. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/e-p-a-eases-way-for-alternative-fuel-engine-conversions/ Coal, Jobs and America’s Energy Future. No one should be surprised to learn that in trying to woo a reluctant community, developers in just about every industry tend to exaggerate — or perhaps optimistically overestimate — the number of jobs they expect to create by building that new shopping mall, industrial park, widget factory or other project. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/coal-jobs-and-americas-energy-future/?scp=10&sq=climate%20change&st=cse On Our Radar: Senator Expects Vote on Delaying E.P.A. Rules. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, has pledged to bring to a vote an amendment blocking the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to regulate climate-warming gases for two years, Senator Jim Webb, a Virginia Democrat, says in a statement. “I hope we will have the opportunity to vote on this measure within the next day or so,” said Mr. Webb, an opponent of E.P.A. emissions rules for stationary sources like power plants. [Blue Virginia] Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/on-our-radar-senator-expects-vote-on-delaying-e-p-a-rules/ Solar, Wind, and Nuclear: South Africa’s New Electricity Plan. You might think that this would be the sort of month to hold off on investing in a new nuclear reactor. But even as some countries are taking a step back — Germany has taken seven of its oldest plants offline, Italy has declared a one-year moratorium on a plan to re-establish its nuclear industry, and China has temporarily suspended approvals of new plants — South Africa is moving confidently ahead. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/solar-wind-and-nukes-south-africas-new-electricity-plan/?scp=8&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Piston Engine Holds Promise for Fuel Economy. As I wrote in Thursday’s Times, several start-ups backed by Silicon Valley venture capital firms are developing a new type of internal combustion engine that promises a striking boost in fuel economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/piston-engine-holds-promise-for-fuel-economy/?scp=2&sq=green%20vehicles&st=cse Your neighborhood tour bus: use it or lose it? Proximity to Alamo Square, a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, stellar, sweeping views and gorgeous architecture. On the other, abysmal parking and constant crowds of visitors, most of them transported to the Square by giant tour bus. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ontheblock/detail?entry_id=85997 Brooklyn Motorized: Electric With a Jolt of Retro Style. Last December, Neil Young played a venue opposite the offices of the Brooklyn Motorized Corporation, an electric-motorcycle start-up situated among the red brick warehouses of Gowanus, Brooklyn. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/brooklyn-motorized-electric-with-a-jolt-of-retro-style/ Everybody Panic: California dealers reportedly running out of Prius models. The Japan earthquake and tsunami has left the vast majority of Japanese auto plants without parts or power at least temporarily, and the good folks of California are beginning to feel the pinch. The Los Angeles Times reports that the Toyota Prius is in very short supply in The Golden State, leading many car buyers to move up their purchases in fear of not being able to get their precious hybrid at a later date. Posted. http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/01/everybody-panic-california-dealers-reportedly-running-out-of-pr/ 3-D Lithium-Ion Batteries Are Lighter and Charge in Minutes. A new type of lithium-ion battery that features a 3-D interior structure is able to recharge in just a few minutes, can be discharged over twice as many times as traditional lithium-ion batteries and is thinner and lighter than existing versions -- essentially the dream battery for electric cars. Posted. http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3469 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2011 11:53:21 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 4, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 4, 2011. 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 Tweaking the climate to save it: Who decides? CHICHELEY, England -- To the quiet green solitude of an English country estate they retreated, to think the unthinkable. Scientists of earth, sea and sky, scholars of law, politics and philosophy: In three intense days cloistered behind Chicheley Hall's old brick walls, where British saboteurs once secretly trained, four dozen international thinkers pondered the planet's fate as it grows warmer, weighed the idea of reflecting the sun to cool the atmosphere, debated the question of who would make the decision. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/03/1627665/tweaking-the-climate-to-save-it.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/03/tweaking-the-climate-to-save-it-who-decides/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_945bbb5c-e071-56a7-a1a7-0a0a4db4f1d8.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/03/2335125/tweaking-the-climate-to-save-it.html#storylink=misearch http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/03/2335125/tweaking-the-climate-to-save-it.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/04/03/international/i023434D59.DTL http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/03/3524342/tweaking-the-climate-to-save-it.html http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/03/tweaking-the-climate-to-save-it-who-decides/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17763423 Critics' review unexpectedly supports scientific consensus on global warming. A team of UC Berkeley physicists and statisticians that set out to challenge the scientific consensus on global warming is finding that its data-crunching effort is producing results nearly identical to those underlying the prevailing view. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-climate-berkeley-20110404,0,772697.story DIESEL EMISSIONS Soot filters snarl Valley school bus upkeep. Devices that were supposed to make diesel school buses pollute less are costing school districts and bus agencies thousands of extra dollars and creating major maintenance problems. The problems started when the buses were fitted with "particulate traps," which stopped most sooty diesel exhaust from leaving bus tailpipes. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/02/2334990/soot-filters-snarl-valley-school.html#storylink=misearch AIR POLLUTION: Cameras help track soot emissions. A new technique uses cameras to track the rate at which soot escapes from smokestacks, allowing scientists to measure how much pollution is released. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/04/04/archive/9?terms=air+pollution GREEN ENERGY Activists call for renewable energy at UN meeting. BANGKOK -- Citing the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, environmental activists at a U.N. meeting Sunday urged bolder steps to tap renewable energy so the world doesn't have to choose between the dangers of nuclear power and the ravages of climate change. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/03/1627666/activists-call-for-renewable-energy.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/03/activists-call-for-renewable-energy-at-un/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_8d81f0a9-81a4-5672-a2d5-1ea1ae1ea6e2.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/03/2335126/activists-call-for-renewable-energy.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/activists-at-un-climate-change-conference-call-for-renewable-not-nuclear-energy/2011/04/03/AFxRekTC_story.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/3/activists-call-for-renewable-energy-at-un-meeting// http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/04/03/international/i030553D17.DTL http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/03/3524347/activists-call-for-renewable-energy.html http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17763446 http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/03/activists-call-for-renewable-energy-at-un-meeting/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17763446 New studies dispute biomass' 'green' reputation. WASHINGTON ---- Simpson Tacoma Kraft would seem like one of the greener power plants. It boils water by burning sawdust, bark and wood shavings from saw mills and pulp mills, funneling the resulting high-pressure steam into a turbine to generate electricity. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_d9e352e9-bd46-50a8-ac39-645e11ddec99.html Natural gas stations opening in western Colorado. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- Two compressed natural gas stations are set to open in western Colorado, marking the completion of an alternative fuel corridor to the West Coast. A new CNG fueling station is scheduled to open Saturday morning in Grand Junction. It features a slow-fill side for large vehicles like buses and trash trucks and a fast-fill side for passenger vehicles. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/02/1626416/natural-gas-stations-opening-in.html VEHICLES eCarTech Paris 2011: utilities gear up for electric mobility. Discussions at the eCarTec Paris Conference & Exhibition 2011 centred around topics such as "new business models and new players", "energy & infrastructure" and "research highlights". Some interesting EV projections for the French market in terms of numbers and prices were given by Igor Czerny, Senior Executive Vice President at EDF France. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/54920110404.php Valley dealers see spark for electric cars. There are only a handful of plug-in electric cars on the roads in Fresno and Clovis -- but as gasoline prices tickle $4 a gallon, local dealerships say the vehicles are gaining attention from would-be buyers. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/02/2334841/valley-dealers-see-spark-for-electric.html#storylink=misearch Will buying an electric car make an environmental difference? Sure, you might get a carpool sticker and a tax break. But if you buy an electric car, will it make much environmental difference? Experts say that depends on three factors: What were you driving before? How is your electricity generated? And how many other electric cars are going to be sold? Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17767978 http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_17767977?nclick_check=1 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17767978 TrueCar.com Announces the Best Overall Value on the Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles. SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 4, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation experiences heightened gas prices, TrueCar.com, the authority on new car pricing, trends and forecasts, today announced the best value* for consumers on the most fuel-efficient vehicles, taking into account the purchase price and the average cost of fuel per year. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/04/3526579/truecarcom-announces-the-best.html MISCELLANEOUS How many green jobs can Kern really expect? Aman Sandhu is one of the green economy's success stories. After earning a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Fresno State, Sandhu tried student teaching with an eye toward becoming an educator, but quickly discerned it wasn't for him. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/economy/x233129924/How-many-green-jobs-can-Kern-really-expect Geary Boulevard underpass gets energy-saving lights. Commuters may not be pleased that one lane in each direction of the Geary Boulevard underpass between Collins and Lyon streets will be closed through the beginning of May for energy efficient lighting retrofits. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=86253 Recyclebank Launches "Green Your Home Challenge" for Earth Month. NEW YORK, April 4, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Recyclebank®, the company that rewards people for taking everyday green actions with discounts and deals from more than 3,000 local and national businesses, today announced the Green Your Home Challenge, a nationwide contest to educate, motivate and inspire people to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/04/3526440/recyclebank-launches-green-your.html Marcal® Small Steps® Honors Green Heroes With Small Steps for Big Change Awards. ELMWOOD PARK, N.J., April 4, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Marcal® Small Steps® kicks off Earth Month today announcing the five green heroes selected as recipients of its inaugural Small Steps for Big Change Awards. These five eco-crusaders were selected from the many great nominations that we received because the small steps they have taken made an impact in their local communities, helped to improve the environment and inspired others to get involved. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/04/3526538/marcal-small-steps-honors-green.html OPINION The Truth, Still Inconvenient. So the joke begins like this: An economist, a lawyer and a professor of marketing walk into a room. What’s the punch line? They were three of the five “expert witnesses” Republicans called for last week’s Congressional hearing on climate science. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/opinion/04krugman.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse# Leave clean-energy law alone. Assemblywoman Shannon Grove's recent call to roll back the state's landmark air-pollution and clean-energy law (AB 32) feels like, to quote the well-worn phrase, deja vu all over again ("Roll back greenhouse gas law," Local, March 13). To suspend full implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act ignores the well-established and negative health impacts of delaying this important public-health law and thwarts the will of the voters who overwhelmingly rejected the similar Proposition 23 on last November's ballot. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x529880658/Leave-clean-energy-law-alone EDITORIAL: Perfect marriage of land and need: solar. Eastern Kern County has long been the place for energy entrepreneurs to put their plans into action. Wind and solar projects are in abundance in the Tehachapis and points east, to the great benefit of state and regional economies. As bad as things are now, they'd be worse without this important investment. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/editorials/x529880656/EDITORIAL-Perfect-marriage-of-land-and-need-solar Hydro power: As green as it gets. The Legislature has passed and Gov. Jerry Brown is likely to sign a bill requiring California utilities to get one-third of their electrical energy from renewable sources by 2020. The state has been headed in this direction for several years, largely because of the pollution associated with fossil fuels. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/02/1626956/hydro-power-as-green-as-it-gets.html California powers ahead on green energy. If Washington won't, California will. In Congress, political paralysis is stalling energy and climate change policy, but Sacramento last week adopted a far-reaching plan to wean the state off fossil fuels and push for more clean-and-green sources of power. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/03/EDEI1H58NH.DTL The promise of natural gas in Maryland. THERE’S A MASSIVE amount of natural gas below the eastern United States — enough to meet American energy needs for decades. But to collect it, drillers have to pump a mixture of water and chemicals underground to fracture the shale formations that trap it, which worries environmentalists and nearby residents. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-promise-of-natural-gas-in-maryland/2011/04/01/AFU70UQC_story.html BLOGS As E-Waste Law Kicks In, the Ideal Option Varies. As I report in Saturday’s Times, a new state law took effect on Friday making electronics manufacturers responsible for offering free recycling programs. Many residents of New York City are likely to continue relying on so-called collection events to get rid of their e-waste, however. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/as-e-waste-law-kicks-in-the-ideal-option-varies/?gwh=AB90560917F558590DAAEE7D82A6F83F 9th Circuit Court upholds freeway air pollution monitoring rules. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's approval of caps on motor vehicle emissions that environmental groups had argued failed to address air pollution faced by the 1.5 million people who live next to Southern California freeways. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/03/9th-circuit-court-upheld-controversial-epa-decision-on-motor-vehicle-emmisions.html NREL study concludes aggressive action on vehicle miles travelled, fuel economy and fuel carbon intensity will all be required to meet US GHG reduction goals. Aggressive near-term actions are necessary in three areas—vehicle miles traveled (VMT), vehicle fuel economy (FE), and fuel carbon intensity (FCI)—in order to achieve a “fair share” reduction within the light-duty-vehicle sector toward meeting US goals of an 83% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2005 levels by 2050, according to a new study by a team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/nrel-20110403.html#more The role of social and decision sciences in communicating uncertain climate risks. A major challenge facing climate scientists is explaining to non-specialists the risks and uncertainties surrounding potential changes over the coming years, decades and centuries. Although there are many guidelines for climate communication, there is little empirical evidence of their efficacy, whether for dispassionately explaining the science or for persuading people to act in more sustainable ways. Posted. http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v1/n1/full/nclimate1080.html Breaking Records (of Sorts) With Toyota Prius. Large corporations and wacky marketing campaigns can make for some cringe-worthy viewing. But credit Toyota Motor Corporation for at least trying harder than most, thanks to a series of more than 200 record attempts centered on the Japanese automaker’s Prius hybrid. Held in cooperation with the grandiose-sounding and entirely irreverent Universal Record Database, the goal was to establish at least 200 bizarre Prius-related records over two days. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/breaking-records-of-sorts-with-toyota-prius/?scp=3&sq=green%20vehicles&st=cse&gwh=574D079C4C637401AEA6293E98DB0CE2 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 5 Apr 2011 12:39:21 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 5, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 5, 2011. 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 Estimated Cancer Risk for Air Pollution in Stockton. Newly-released data from the Environmental Protection Agency attempts to estimate cancer risk due solely to air pollution. Broken down by Census Tract, the data identifies some areas of Stockton — such as Boggs Tract and the neighborhood south of Charter Way and west of Interstate 5 — that face nearly twice the risk as other city neighborhoods. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=A_SPECIAL0274 CLIMATE CHANGE UPDATE 2-Japan Says Not Seeking Exemption From Kyoto CO2 Pledge. Tokyo, - Japan is not seeking an exemption from its Kyoto Protocol pledges to cut greenhouse gases, a government official said on Tuesday, despite a nuclear safety crisis that could hamper efforts to reduce its use of fossil fuels. Japan remains committed to achieving reduced emissions in the 2008-2012 period averaging 6 percent less than its 1990 level, said Takehiro Kano, director of the Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/05/climate-japan-idUSL3E7F52E020110405 Global Warming Skeptics Get Unexpected Early Results. Los Angeles -- A team of physicists and statisticians that set out to challenge the scientific consensus on global warming is finding that its data-crunching effort is producing results nearly identical to those underlying the prevailing view. The Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project at the University of California, Berkeley, was launched by physics professor Richard Muller, a longtime critic of government-led climate studies, to address what he called "the legitimate concerns" of skeptics who believe global warming is exaggerated. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/05/v-print/3528736/global-warming-skeptics-get-unexpected.html Critics' Review Unexpectedly Supports Scientific Consensus On Global Warming. A UC Berkeley team's preliminary findings in a review of temperature data confirm global warming studies. A team of UC Berkeley physicists and statisticians that set out to challenge the scientific consensus on global warming is finding that its data-crunching effort is producing results nearly identical to those underlying the prevailing view. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-climate-berkeley-20110404,0,5510928,print.story Ozone Layer Faces Record 40 Pct Loss Over Arctic. Geneva, Switzerland (AP) --The protective ozone layer in the Arctic that keeps out the sun's most damaging rays — ultraviolet radiation — has thinned about 40 percent this winter, a record drop, the U.N. weather agency said Tuesday. The Arctic's damaged stratospheric ozone layer isn't the best known "ozone hole" — that would be Antarctica's, which forms when sunlight returns in spring there each year. But the Arctic's situation is due to similar causes: ozone-munching compounds in air pollutants that are chemically trigged by a combination of extremely cold temperatures and sunlight. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/04/05/international/i011406D91.DTL&type=printable U.S. Vows Continuing Effort Toward A 17% Emission Cut. U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Climate Change Jonathan Pershing told a U.N. group today that the Obama administration still plans to cut its greenhouse gas emissions about 17 percent below 2005 levels by the end of this decade. Meeting in Bangkok this week for a round of U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) talks, delegates from nearly 200 countries appeared keenly aware that a new Republican majority in the U.S. House and increased GOP strength in the Senate have killed chances for passage of cap-and-trade legislation. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/05/4 AMA Sees Climate-Related Medical Problems Moving North. Climate change is already affecting Americans' health, the American Medical Association said yesterday. "If physicians want evidence of climate change, they may well find it in their own offices," the doctors' group said in an editorial published in American Medical News. During the past two years, the tropical disease dengue fever has cropped up in the Florida Keys. Farther north, Maine now reports 10 times more cases of Lyme disease than it did a decade ago, with outbreaks of the illness recorded in the previously unaffected central and northern parts of the state. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/05/7 Clean Technology Investors See Bumpy Road Ahead In U.S. New York -- Investors want a more efficient, more flexible and less bureaucratic Department of Energy if they are to partner with the agency to move domestic clean energy innovation, complaints that the government says it's responding to. Griping over red tape, time lags and lack of flexibility and nimbleness found in various DOE schemes colored the start of a renewable energy industry gathering that opened yesterday. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/05/3 DIESEL EMISSIONS EPA Streamlines Aftermarket Natural Gas Conversion. The federal government just made it easier to convert cars and trucks to run on natural gas. NGVAmerica, the trade association that represents the natural gas vehicle industry, applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to streamline the requirements for certifying aftermarket systems that are used to convert vehicles to run on natural gas. The agency's action modifies regulations that have been in force for aftermarket conversions since April 2002 and that were adopted pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-print.asp?news_id=73420 FUELS Transmission Plant On Obama's Itinerary. President Obama plans to visit an Indianapolis transmission plant that produces systems for hybrid vehicles as part of his push for reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil. The White House said Mr. Obama will tour a plant operated by Allison Transmission in Indianapolis on Friday. Last week, the president outlined his goals of increasing domestic oil exploration and production, making cars and trucks more energy efficient and building vehicles that run on alternative fuels or electricity. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/5/inside-politics-713418521/print/ http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/04/1629263/obama-to-talk-energy-at-indianapolis.html Clean Fuel Station Opens For Sanitation Vehicles. Los Angeles - The city opened its newest clean fuel station Monday to service part of its sanitation fleet operating around East Los Angeles. "This clean fuel facility will help the families of East L.A. breathe a little easier for years to come," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. "Our city already leads the nation with the largest municipal fleet of natural gas solid resources collection vehicles." Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_17769445 VEHICLES To Cut Smog, Navistar Blazes Risky Path of Its Own. In a testing cell tucked deep in the bowels of Navistar’s engine plant and technical center here, a hulking prototype of a truck engine sits behind a large glass window like a patient on an operating table. A snarl of sensors and wires is attached to nearly every part of the humming engine, feeding reams of data to a battery of computers and watchful engineers in the adjacent control room. One measurement — for nitrogen oxide emissions, or NOx — is of particular concern to Navistar. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/05/business/energy-environment/05truck.html?scp=3&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse Will Buying An Electric Car Make An Environmental Difference? Sure, you might get a carpool sticker and a tax break. But if you buy an electric car, will it make much environmental difference? Experts say that depends on three factors: What were you driving before? How is your electricity generated? And how many other electric cars are going to be sold? In many cases, people who trade gasoline-powered cars for electric ones won't be dramatically lessening the smog they emit. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/cars/ci_17767977?source=rss&nclick_check=1 Obama's Push For Clean Federal Fleet Could Spur U.S. Green-Car Market. In two energy speeches last week, President Obama targeted changes in the transportation sector as key to reducing U.S. petroleum consumption and vowed that change would start with the federal motor-vehicle fleet. By 2015, Obama said, the government would be buying only "100 percent alternative fuel, hybrid or electric vehicles" and would be helping companies turn over their fleets. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/05/4 GREEN ENERGY Wind Power Hits a Trough. Houston—Gabriel Alonso, who runs one of America's biggest wind-farm developers, often reminds his employees their goal isn't to stage a renewable-energy revolution. "This is about making money," the chief executive of Horizon Wind Energy LLC tells his troops. And right now, his strategy is to retrench. After years of blustery growth, wind power is facing a blow-back in some of its major markets. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704629104576190812458488694.html Pragmatism Influencing Energy Debates. Political support may be holding for nuclear power and offshore oil, despite the Fukushima and Gulf of Mexico disasters, as decision makers confront the challenges of climate change and dwindling energy reserves. A theory of “peak everything” suggests the world is running short of vital assets like clean water, carbon-free air, some minerals, fish stocks and the cheap fossil fuels that have powered the world economy and helped rein in the price of food Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/04/business/energy-environment/04green.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Republicans Weigh a Federal 'Reverse Auction' to Push Clean Energy. As House Republicans try to move energy legislation in "chunks," one piece has gone largely unnoticed: an attempt to fund renewable energy with maximum mileage for the federal dollar. The provision sits deep in H.R. 909, a bill Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) proposed in early March. Overall, the bill focuses on ramping up oil and gas production, oil shale and nuclear energy; it also cancels U.S. EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/04/04/04climatewire-republicans-weigh-a-federal-reverse-auction-18453.html?scp=10&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Democrats Revive Bills Vetoed By Schwarzenegger. Lawmakers hope Jerry Brown will sign renewable energy, labor and immigration proposals rejected by his predecessor. But Brown may not support them. Dozens of proposals vetoed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are zooming through the Legislature anew, with the ruling Democrats hoping Jerry Brown will sign them. But getting the governor on board may not be easy. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-legislature-20110405,0,7690897,print.story Supermarkets Appear To Be Fertile Ground For Fuel Cells. Fuel cells are under study for potential alternative-energy uses in cars and homes, but they may be ready to take off in neighborhood supermarkets. An online presentation yesterday sponsored by the Department of Energy, the Clean Energy States Alliance and Technology Transition Corp. asserted they would sharply cut power use. "Supermarkets are often overlooked and taken for granted," said Scott Larsen, a project manager for New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), a public benefit corporation. They're also energy hoggers. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/05/5 States Defend 2 DOE Energy Programs For Providing Jobs And Energy Savings. State officials warned on Capitol Hill yesterday that federal cuts to two energy programs could lead to job losses and higher greenhouse gas emissions in local communities. The U.S. State Energy Program and Weatherization Assistance Program, both funded by the Department of Energy, are facing potential reductions as Congress continues to hash over the budget for the current fiscal year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/05/6 OPINION Nugent: Glowing with Green Energy. The anti-American green goony squad squawks endlessly about the need to ween ourselves from oil after last year’s spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Due to the disaster in Japan, we are hearing more of the same from leftists about nuclear energy. It wouldn’t surprise me if the anti-energy leftist crowd in America will soon be yammering that what America needs to do is to ban all forms of energy that produce heat, including matches. Green energy is energy-less. Embracing so-called green energy is an energy death sentence for America. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/4/glowing-with-green-energy/ BLOGS Bill To Fund 'Green' Job Training For Students Goes To Jerry Brown. The Senate today sent legislation aimed at expanding "green" jobs training for high school students across the state to Gov. Jerry Brown for approval. SB X1 1, by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg would provide grant funding for "green partnership academy" programs that include in their curriculum training for careers in the clean technology and renewable energy sectors. The bill redirects $8 million from a California Energy Commission special fund to pay for the programs. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/04/jerry-brown-gets-bill-to-fund-green-job-training.html California Air Resources Board Makes More Than $100M Available To Clean Up Big Rigs. The California Air Resources Board in coordination with six local air districts is offering $106 million in grant funding to help qualified diesel truck owners upgrade or replace their vehicles. Projects selected for funding include upgrades or replacements that achieve the greatest emission reductions per state dollar and also achieve early or extra emission reductions not required by law or regulation. Posted. http://www.favstocks.com/california-air-resources-board-makes-more-than-100m-available-to-clean-up-big-rigs/0541461/ California Cap-And-Trade Blocked By Court. AB 32 is the landmark California bill that mandates greenhouse gas emissions in the state be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020. One method it will use is cap-and-trade. However, a coalition of environmental justice groups sued to block it, saying cap-and-trade will do little but dump polluting industries in low-income neighborhoods as they could simply buy credits rather than decreasing their pollution. Posted. http://caivn.org/article/2011/04/05/california-cap-and-trade-blocked-court World Bank To The Poor: ‘Coal’s Good Enough For You!’ The World Bank -- famous for funding gobsmackingly huge, planet-killing coal-fired power plants -- is changing its tune, sort of. Under a new set of proposed rules, the Bank would only be allowed to fund gobsmackingly huge, planet-killing coal-fired power plants in the world's poorest countries. Progress! Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-04-04-world-bank-to-poors-coals-good-enough-for-you Downplaying Or Remaining Silent About Climate Change Was And Is A Blunder For Progressives. Some of the best pollsters have known for years that progressives can and should talk about climate change. Mark Mellman calls the polling that suggests one shouldn’t talk about global warming, a “politically naïve, methodologically flawed, and factually inaccurate.” Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-04-04-downplaying-or-remaining-silent-about-climate-change-was-and-is GISS Study Finds Applying Stricter Non-CO2 Vehicle Emission Standards Worldwide Would Yield Climate Benefits In Addition To Major Health And Agricultural Benefits. Stricter non-CO2 vehicle-emission standards are extremely likely to mitigate short-term climate change in most cases, in addition to providing large improvements in human health and food security, according to a new analysis conducted by a team of scientists led by Drew Shindell of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) and published this week in the inaugural issue of the journal Nature Climate Change. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/giss-20110404.html#more GE Study Finds 5% Of World’s Natural Gas Production Wasted Per Year By Flaring. A newly released GE study—Flare Gas Reduction: Recent Global Trends and Policy Considerations—estimates that 5% of the world’s natural gas production is wasted by burning or “flaring” unused gas each year, despite some progress on the flaring issue. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/ge-20110404.html#more Renewable Energy Generation: “Change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy,” a lesson exported from Detroit. On May 25, 1961 President John F Kennedy, in a special joint session of Congress, declared, “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.” A very clear, time-bound, one nation goal. Fifty years later, the USA is faced with a similar challenge, energy independency and climatic change. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/glynne-20110405.html#more ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:15:30 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April11, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 11, 2011. 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 European Pollution Regulations Face Challenge. BRUSSELS — Ships and planes that belch greenhouse gases in Asia and North America could affect the climate in Europe as severely as in some other parts of the world. So does that give the European Union the right to regulate the emissions from airlines and shippers using its ports and airports? Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/business/energy-environment/11green.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse&gwh=22FDB0DB5A8370923A8FEB4D9C2AD785 Goldman Environmental Prize goes to Texas man who took on refineries over pollution. They call Port Arthur gasoline alley, cancer alley, and the armpit of Texas. For most of his life, Hilton Kelley has called it home. The city has had the same distinctive odor since he was a boy, Kelley said. Adults jokingly called it the smell of money, because the nearby oil refineries and petrochemical plants did most of the hiring. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/goldman-environmental-prize-goes-to-texas-man-who-took-on-refineries-over-pollution/2011/04/07/AFH9z1GD_story.html NAS reviewers slam EPA's formaldehyde assessment. U.S. EPA's long-awaited study of formaldehyde's toxicity got panned today by a National Academy of Sciences' panel that sharply disagreed with the agency's conclusions and declared the effort in need of "substantial revision." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/04/08/archive/4?terms=air+resources+board CLIMATE CHANGE World stumbles toward climate summit. BANGKOK -- Nineteen years after the world started to take climate change seriously, delegates from around the globe spent five days talking about what they will talk about at a year-end conference in South Africa. They agreed to talk about their opposing viewpoints. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/08/1636989/world-stumbles-toward-climate.html Future farm: a sunless, rainless room indoors. DEN BOSCH, NETHERLANDS (AP) - Farming is moving indoors, where the sun never shines, where rainfall is irrelevant and where the climate is always right. The perfect crop field could be inside a windowless building with meticulously controlled light, temperature, humidity, air quality and nutrition. It could be in a New York high-rise, a Siberian bunker, or a sprawling complex in the Saudi desert. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/11/future-farm-a-sunless-rainless-room-indoors/ http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/11/1639661/future-farm-a-sunless-rainless.html http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9MHFP6O1.htm European Commission to propose carbon tax law next week. The European Union next week will once again consider a carbon tax on greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and heating. This would introduce a climate change component in E.U. tax rules for the first time, after years of negotiations. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/04/11/archive/9?terms=climate+change Climate change skeptics surprised by early data. LOS ANGELES ---- A team of physicists and statisticians that set out to challenge the scientific consensus on global warming is finding that its data-crunching effort is producing results nearly identical to those underlying the prevailing view. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_86f312ce-d8a9-58bc-bf7a-7f7c6f31cb70.html FUELS Ore. city offers incentives for solar energy installation. PENDLETON, Ore. — A cowboy grasping the reins of a bucking bronco has long been the image of this farm and ranch town. It’s the emblem of the annual Pendleton Round-Up, a celebration of the city’s colorful past, when pioneers on the Oregon Trail settled the prairie. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ore-city-offers-incentives-for-solar-energy-installation/2011/04/10/AFVeRtGD_story.html Two Dinuba firms rely on fuel cells. DINUBA -- Two major companies in Dinuba are using fuel cells to generate power with almost no pollution, joining a growing cadre of California businesses with their eyes on both the environment and their bottom line. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/09/2344179/two-dinuba-firms-rely-on-fuel.html#storylink=misearch Shale gas isn't cleaner than coal, Cornell researchers say. Cornell University researchers say that natural gas pried from shale formations is dirtier than coal in the short term, rather than cleaner, and "comparable" in the long term. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/04/11/archive/2?terms=climate+change GREEN ENERGY Panel to probe clean energy programs' employment results. Lawmakers likely will debate the effects of the stimulus and clean energy investments at a hearing this week on the government's efforts to generate green jobs. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/2011/04/11/archive/15?terms=climate+change VEHICLES Altering vehicle's exhaust pipes might be illegal. "Without actually seeing an example of (what's) being described, the Air Resources Board cannot state that it is a clear safety issue," replied Karen Caesar, information officer with the California Air Resources Board, which is charged with reducing air pollution. The board is part of the state's Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://www.pe.com/columns/on_the_road/stories/PE_News_Local_D_traffic11.19c0d70.html Manufacturers highlight their electric vehicle projects at the Seoul Motor Show. As apparent in its theme, this year’s show was all about “green mobility” with an abundance of electric and hybrid vehicles on display. Marking its eighth year, the event, held at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Goyang, brought together 139 automakers and auto parts manufacturers and featured almost 300 vehicles, including 5 world premiers and 22 models unveiled for the first time in Asia. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/55520110411.php MISCELLANEOUS Science Group Launches Web Feature that Estimates Clean Air Act Benefits. The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) today launched a new web feature that tracks the estimated net benefits of the Clean Air Act from when it became law in 1970. The “ticker” is based on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates of the law’s net health and economic benefits. Posted. http://www.ucsusa.org/news/media_alerts/clean-air-act-ticker-0529.html OPINION A Forecasting Expert Testifies About Climate Change. In “The Truth, Still Inconvenient” (column, April 4), Paul Krugman begins with a “joke” about “an economist, a lawyer and a professor of marketing” walking into a room, in this case to testify at a Congressional hearing on climate science. I am the marketing professor, and I was invited to testify because I am a forecasting expert. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/opinion/l11krugman.html?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse&gwh=B27EC132D20AB056F955158CA3688667 Cap and Trade is Not Right for Canada. A market for trading emissions caps only makes sense for Canada if it happens in the U.S. as well. Today's media are fixated on getting election coverage out in record time. The consequence: issues get left behind. During Peter Kent's previous career as a journalist, reporters had more resources to dig into the issues. Posted. http://www.themarknews.com/articles/4669-cap-and-trade-is-not-right-for-canada BLOGS On Quake History and Climate Warnings. After reading about Japan’s aging, and largely forgotten, stone tablets warning of tsunami risk, a Dot Earth reader, “Mesa” from Telluride, Colo., posed an important question about the human capacity to act sensibly when facing future risks (some abbreviation expanded): So, if people don’t adjust behaviors for events that actually happened 100 years ago and may repeat, what’s the argument for them adjusting behaviors for things that might happen 100 years in the future? Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/09/on-quake-history-and-climate-warnings/?scp=5&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse&gwh=89FDED1F919B0AD09E5C47793A2E84A2 Energy of Innovation (The TV Show). It’s not American Idol, by any means, but I was invited to sit on a panel helping a Washington, D.C., audience weigh the attributes and faults of seven finalists in a nationwide search for talented innovators pursuing energy breakthroughs. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/08/energy-of-innovation-the-tv-show/?gwh=781CB86E5575228D36714D1EE2087EB7 EPA is safe, for now. Well, the government isn’t being shut down, and the castrate-the-EPA riders have been stripped from the budget bill. For now, at least, the world is safe for those brutes at the EPA to keep oppressing helpless rich, powerful industry giants who only want to kill the planet a little. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-04-11-epa-is-safe-for-now Natural Gas From Fracking Emissions Can Double Those From Coal. Here's the second study of the year showing that the greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning natural gas obtained by hydraulic fracturing are much higher than acknowledged. In fact, according to a soon to be published study seen by The Hill, using fracked natural gas results in emissions up to double those of using coal. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/04/natural-gas-fracking-emissions-double-coal.php http://www.grist.org/list/2011-04-11-natural-gas-from-fracking-is-worse-for-climate-than-coal-says-ne New Lithium-Air Batteries Could Go 500 Miles on a Single Charge. Researchers at the materials research division of Risø DTU in Denmark are developing a new lithium-air (Li-air) vehicle battery that is lightweight, holds a lot of energy, and could enable car-makers to fully electrify larger vehicles. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/new-lithium-air-batteries-could-go-500-miles-on-a-single-charge/ Aerodynamic Trucks Save Fuel and Money. As gas prices rise, more attention is again being paid to making transport trucks more fuel efficient. New trucks with hybrid or electric drive may be an option. For existing fleets, however, the quickest payback probably comes from making the vehicles more aerodynamic. Posted. http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3475 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:33:43 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 12, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 12, 2011. 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 China’s ambitious, high growth 5-year plan stirs a climate debate. Derek Scissors is a late-night number cruncher at a conservative policy shop that tends to be among the last places the Obama White House goes for advice. Among the small band of U.S. analysts who occupy the nexus of the Chinese economy and global climate change policy, Scissors, an economist at the Heritage Foundation's Asian Studies Center, is a dyed-in-the-wool contrarian. Lately, as Congress thrashes about trying to understand China's nature as an economic competitor, Scissors has been pushing back against the U.S. environmental community's top China experts. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/04/12/archive/1?terms=air+pollution CLIMATE CHANGE UK publishes roadmap for reducing CO2 emissions from commercial and off-highway vehicles. The UK Automotive Council has published a long-term strategy aimed at helping manufacturers of commercial vehicles and construction equipment move to low-carbon solutions. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/hgv-20110412.html#more FUELS Going green costing Palm Desert pretty penny. In the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert has been at the forefront of using alternative vehicle fuels and even put the nation's first compressed natural gas-run ambulance on the road early last year. But the benefits to air quality have come at a cost of higher repair bills from mechanics at shops outside the Coachella Valley and low gas mileage. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011104120318 GREEN ENERGY Calif. to set ambitious renewable power standards. SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov. Jerry Brown plans to sign legislation that would require California utilities to get one-third of their power from renewable sources, giving the state the most aggressive alternative energy mandate in the U.S. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/calif-governor-to-sign-nations-most-aggressive-renewable-energy-rules-critics-cite-costs/2011/04/12/AFiLLTOD_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/12/1641034/calif-to-set-ambitious-renewable.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/12/calif-to-set-ambitious-renewable-power-standards/ http://www.dailynews.com/ci_17824985?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17824985?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17824985?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com&nclick_check=1 http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_7d282b81-c5ad-57ed-a777-bd18fe50905b.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/12/2346893/calif-to-set-ambitious-renewable.html#storylink=misearch Studies Say Natural Gas Has Its Own Environmental Problems. Natural gas, with its reputation as a linchpin in the effort to wean the nation off dirtier fossil fuels and reduce global warming, may not be as clean over all as its proponents say. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/business/energy-environment/12gas.html?scp=2&sq=fuels&st=cse&gwh=331B27455306574AE7BBFA2B86FD826F Solar power projects debut today in Sacramento, Auburn. New solar power projects are transforming a Superfund site in south Sacramento and a wastewater treatment plant in Auburn into sources of green energy. The Depot Park commercial complex today will unveil its new 15-acre solar array, one of the largest privately owned solar power systems in Sacramento. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/12/1640678/solar-power-projects-debut-today.html http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/12/3545770/solar-power-projects-debut-today.html VEHICLES France to ban old polluting cars from cities. Eight French cities have volunteered to become Priority Action Areas for Air Quality (ZAPA) which limit or forbid the access for polluting cars. Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the French Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing announced this initiative during the first meeting on air quality organised by Ademe and the French Minister for Ecology on 6 April 2011. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/55720110412.php OPINION Pass the Boone Pickens Bill. On Wednesday, amid all the hullabaloo over the budget battles, a simple, discrete and largely overlooked bill was dropped into the Congressional hopper. Sponsored by two Democrats and two Republicans — that’s right: an actual bipartisan piece of legislation — its official title is the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act, or the Nat Gas Act, for short. People in the know, however, call it the Boone Pickens bill. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/opinion/12nocera.html?_r=1&gwh=016CA00EF8E38E267B438A31EDA8B8BA EDITORIAL: Embrace reality: Repeal valley's EPA ozone fine. We've got to work together, here in the most polluted region in America, to make our air more breathable. We've got to make sacrifices, accept restrictions and change long-entrenched habits. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/editorials/x617060327/EDITORIAL-Embrace-reality-Repeal-valleys-EPA-ozone-fine?utm_source=widget_60&utm_medium=summary_entries_teaser_widget&utm_campaign=synapse BLOGS Fugitive Methane Stirs Debate on Natural Gas. Not surprisingly, a new study suggesting that the greenhouse gas footprint of unconventional natural gas development is far worse than coal is already undergoing a furious deconstruction. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/fugitive-methane-stirs-debate-on-natural-gas/?gwh=3BFCD5FC4213D6E01698C2986CDB043F Clean Energy Loan Program at Risk in Budget Talks. Dozens of large-scale clean energy projects could be derailed if a measure to defund a federal loan guarantee program becomes part of a final Congressional budget deal. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/clean-energy-loan-program-at-risk-in-budget-talks/?gwh=AFA60ECB89B393FEFA86AF3EFCD443F1 California solar has a sunny week. It's only Tuesday but two milestones have been reached this week in the long march toward a carbon-free future. On Monday, BrightSource Energy became the first solar power plant developer to complete the financing of a large-scale project in two decades. Posted. http://www.grist.org/renewable-energy/2011-04-12-california-solar-has-a-sunny-week ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:46:57 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 13, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 13, 2011. 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 EPA Budget Deal Slams State, Regional Programs. The spending deal brokered last week by President Obama and Congress to avert a government shutdown would balance most its $1.6 billion in cuts to U.S. EPA's budget on the backs of state regulators and local environmental projects, according to details of the bill that were released by appropriators early this morning. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/04/13/13greenwire-epa-budget-deal-slams-state-regional-programs-26003.html?scp=8&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse&gwh=28442A48FF9B6FFBD39AA2B29A0851DE EPA Budget Cut to Limit Clean Air Enforcement, Activists Say. April 12 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency efforts to protect public health by enforcing clean air and water rules will be undermined by a planned 16 percent budget reduction, environmental groups said. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/04/12/bloomberg1376-LJJPW41A74E901-6VCHNS1ID85J5GBE0JPB81HKJQ.DTL CLIMATE CHANGE California-Canadian carbon market to start small. (Reuters) - A regional carbon market between California and some Canadian provinces will start off next year smaller than expected due to a delay by industrial powerhouse Ontario and a possible slowdown in a second province, British Columbia. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/13/us-carbon-california-idUSTRE73C07B20110413 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-04-13/california-to-join-canada-provinces-in-carbon-market-group-says.html http://www.pointcarbon.com/1.1528371 California is expanding its carbon-trading program to three Canadian provinces. California officials announced Tuesday that the state will expand its newly adopted carbon-trading program to three Canadian provinces, creating the largest regional cap-and-trade system in North America. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cap-trade-20110413,0,7800882.story EU proposals could raise taxes on diesel, coal to account for CO2 emissions, energy production. BRUSSELS — BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Union has proposed a radical overhaul of how energy in the 27-country bloc is being taxed that could lead to higher levies on diesel and coal. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/eu-proposals-could-raise-taxes-on-diesel-coal-to-account-for-co2-emissions-energy-production/2011/04/13/AFznuKVD_story.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704415104576250363830343404.html?KEYWORDS=diesel+emissions http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/13/eu-plans-radical-overhaul-of-fuel-taxes/ MARKETS: Calif. claims British Columbia, Quebec as 2012 trading partners; British Columbia not so sure. California tried to pull in two Canadian provinces as active trading partners in its nascent greenhouse gas market yesterday -- but only one decided to come along. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/04/13/6/ B.C., Ontario hinder California green plan. British Columbia and Ontario have thrown a wrench into a plan spearheaded by California to launch a cross-border greenhouse-gas emissions reduction scheme next January. Posted. http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/bc-ontario-hinder-california-green-plan/article1982893/?service=mobile Cargill to Work With EOS Climate to Curb Emissions from Aging Refrigerators and Air Conditioners. MINNEAPOLIS, April 13, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Cargill will be a financial and exclusive marketing partner for the tradable emission credits generated by San Francisco-based EOS Climate, a company which uses market-based incentives to prevent emissions of harmful greenhouse gases (GHGs) associated with older refrigerators and cooling systems. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/13/3549697/cargill-to-work-with-eos-climate.html FUELS Getting Rid of Gas. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the players without a scorecard — a phrase that’s just as true in the automotive world as it is in sports. Drivers are already tooling around in vehicles propelled by electricity, fuel blends, clean diesel and biodiesel, plus hybrid engines that combine various power sources. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles loom just over the horizon. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/custompublishing/altvehicles/la-ss-altvehicles-gettingridofgas-04132011,0,3976792.story GREEN ENERGY Gov. Brown signs law requiring 33% of energy be renewable by 2020. Reporting from Milpitas, Calif.— Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed into law a requirement that California get 33% of its electricity from renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy, by the year 2020. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-renewable-energy-20110413,0,3118203.story Calif. sets nation's highest renewable power goals. Gov. Jerry Brown signed far-reaching energy legislation Tuesday that will require California utilities to obtain up to a third of their electricity from wind, solar and other green sources. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/04/12/state/n120916D27.DTL http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/13/2348477/brown-signs-green-energy-legislation.html#storylink=misearch VEHICLES Where the H is my Fuel-Cell Car? If the many upsides of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles were more widely known, the nation’s conspiracy buffs would be busy indeed. “Wait a second,” they might say. “You’re telling me that this car requires no foreign oil, goes almost 250 miles on a single refueling, can be refueled as quickly as internal-combustion-engine vehicles, boasts excellent responsiveness and great torque, can carry heavy loads, operates efficiently in any temperature — and water vapor is its only emission? Why aren’t we all driving one?” Posted. http://www.latimes.com/custompublishing/altvehicles/la-ss-altvehicles-hydrogen-04132011,0,7728663.story Fuel-saving Tips. If you’re not ready to buy a more fuel-efficient car, you can still save money in a number of ways in whatever vehicle you drive. Cars.com provides the tips and dispels the myths. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/custompublishing/altvehicles/la-ss-altvehicles-gastips-04132011,0,2757141.story MISCELLANEOUS Lawn mower program begins. The San Joaquin Valley’s popular cheap lawn mower program resumed Monday, giving residents the chance to give up their gas-powered mowers in exchange for new electric ones. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110413/A_NEWS/110419956&cid=sitesearch Air district offers electric mowers. The valley air district's popular electric lawn mower trade-in program is back with new funding and a simplified voucher request process. Beginning this week, valley residents can replace their polluting, gas-powered mower with a clean, electric Neuton mower for $50 for a 14-inch blade model or $100 for the 19-inch mower, shipping included, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District said in a release. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x2092349201/Air-district-offers-electric-mowers OPINION What early-blooming plants tell us about global warming. The April 9 front-page article “Earlier blooms give flower lovers a chill” nicely summarized the worldwide evidence for season creep, the increasing length of the growing season. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/what-early-blooming-plants-tell-us-about-global-warming/2011/04/10/AFJLbvSD_story.html Was it an academic mission or UCLA speech code? If you think that academia is not the exclusive playground of the academic left, consider the fate of UCLA epidemiologist James Enstrom. In 2008, Enstrom thought that a report on the health effects of diesel emissions presented by the California Air Resources Board was faulty. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/12/ED541IUA8N.DTL http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110413/A_OPINION0619/104130308&cid=sitesearch BLOGS If Flying Isn’t Green, Can the Airport Wait Be? In Tuesday’s Times, I wrote about San Francisco International Airport’s renovated Terminal 2 and efforts to make flying a less carbon-intensive and stressful experience. The art-filled terminal, known as T2, features Danish modern furniture, organic chow, 350 power outlets, free Wi-Fi and other creature comforts and innovations designed to cut the building’s energy footprint while making air travel, dare we say it, more fun. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/13/if-flying-isnt-green-can-the-airport-wait-be/?gwh=58A3F361D0354F9A7C3E4C9E6B996AC6 Energy Options and Polarized Politics. The Bipartisan Policy Center, as its name implies, tries to define a path on issues like energy that can work in a period of polarized politics and shrinking budgets. It’s a tough challenge. That’s why the new center’s latest effort, “An Open Letter to the American People and America’s Leaders: A New Era for U.S. Energy Security,” focuses arguments for action on oil mainly on the basis of economic and geopolitical conflict, with the environment and climate in the background. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/energy-options-and-polarized-politics/?gwh=3144FFA335877AF0B837FF0BDD860068 GM develops prototype two-mode hybrid transmission with enhanced EV capability for plug-in hybrids. GM has developed a prototype of its two-mode front-wheel drive (FWD) hybrid transmission (earlier post) with enhanced electric vehicle capability (2MH4EV) for application in a plug-in hybrid; GM presented a paper detailing the work at the SAE 2011 World Congress in Detroit. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/gm-develops-prototype-two-mode-hybrid-transmission-with-enhanced-ev-capability-for-plug-in-hybrids.html#more The budget deal slows innovation and slashes rail, green jobs, and cleanup programs. The Republican slash-and-burn budget accepted by President Obama to avoid a government shutdown will put our fragile economic recovery in jeopardy. Moreover, the cuts are ideologically motivated, preserving massive subsidies for fossil fuel polluters while knocking out support for a cleaner, more innovative economic future. Posted. http://www.grist.org/article/2011-04-13-budget-deal-slows-innovation-slashes-rail-green-jobs-cleanup ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2011 10:58:04 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 14, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 15, 2011. 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 EPA Wears Many Hats in Sprawling Environmental Justice Initiative. Lisa Garcia has no illusions: In a recent interview, the U.S. EPA associate assistant administrator compared her vision of nationwide environmental equity to achieving world peace. Indeed, when Garcia first joined EPA as its environmental justice adviser, she was struck by the educational work that still needed to be done in overburdened communities. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/04/13/13greenwire-epa-wears-many-hats-in-sprawling-environmental-j-683.html CLIMATE CHANGE B.C. has become straggler in battle against greenhouse gases. VANCOUVER - British Columbia and Ontario have become stragglers in the Western Climate Initiative and the ambitious plans of its member provinces and U.S. states to start carbon trading and reduce their collective emissions of greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/become+straggler+battle+against+greenhouse+gases/4611715/story.html CARBON MARKETS: Del. lawmakers want out of cap-and-trade program. Some lawmakers in Delaware want to remove the state from a regional cap-and-trade system that last year brought it $7.4 million, most of which went to energy efficiency upgrades to businesses and homes. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/04/14/11/ CLIMATE: Bloomberg, Clinton team up groups to cut emissions. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) and former President Clinton yesterday announced they are joining up on climate efforts. The pair said they will merge their two climate groups -- C40, a coalition of cities led by Bloomberg, and the Clinton Foundation's Clinton Climate Initiative. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/04/14/13/ GREEN ENERGY German Firms Move Toward Postnuclear Economy. HANOVER, Germany — Josef Mehrer, a family-owned German company established more than 120 years ago, has survived by adapting with the times. Early on, it made sewing machines, then machines for cleaning beer vats, then it switched to compressors in the 1950s. In the early 1990s, the company placed a bet on the renewable energy sector and started to make compressors for the emerging biogas industry. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/14/business/global/14energy.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=green%20energy&st=cse# Most homeowners buying solar panels are over age 50. New research shows that seniors are on the cutting edge, at least when it comes to solar panels. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/13/1643094/most-homeowners-buying-solar-panels.html POLITICS: Obama, entering the budget fray, warns against clean energy cuts. President Obama braced for months of tense budget negotiations yesterday by warning Republicans that clean energy funding and other "win the future" priorities will be defended during a summerlong assault on national spending. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/04/14/1/ MISCELLANEOUS EarthEXPO under way in downtown Oakland. OAKLAND -- The 17th annual EarthEXPO is under way Wednesday afternoon in Oakland, kicking off the season of Earth Day events in the Bay Area. The popular outdoor environmental fair is expected to attract more than 2,000 attendees interested in sustainability, event organizers said. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17836115 OPINION Approve environmentally friendly quarry. I am a proud Southwest Riverside County resident and have called Temecula Valley home for the last 13 years. Through my long career as a local realtor, I have seen our region through times of growth and recession. When I first heard of the Liberty Quarry project in 2005, I knew it made sense for Riverside County both environmentally and economically. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/localviews/stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_D_op_quarryyes_loc_14.1a0a5a2.html BLOGS Toxic mystery unfolds in Newport Beach. Emissions of a toxic and potentially cancer-causing substance have spiked twice in recent months in a Newport Beach industrial area, bringing a warning from county health officials as experts investigate the possible source. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2011/04/13/toxic-mystery-unfolds-in-newport-beach/125853/ Los Angeles to slather its rooftops with solar panels. Here's a crazy idea: apply the same incentives that have made Germany the world leader in rooftop solar power to a place that is actually sunny. Also, use the power generated from these panels to zero out the electricity costs of people in low-income housing, so the city has more money for education. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-04-14-los-angeles-to-slather-its-rooftops-with-solar-panels SAE World Congress Goes Green: Alternative Fuels, EV Tech, and Award for Chevy Volt. This year’s SAE World Congress in Detroit has gone green, honoring the design of electric vehicles such as the Chevy Volt and focusing on technologies that bring better efficiencies to new and existing vehicles. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/sae-world-congress-goes-green-alternative-fuels-ev-tech-award-for-chevy-volt/ Ford Releases List of Top 25 Electric Vehicle Friendly Cities. Ford Motor Company just released a list of the top 25 electric vehicle (EV) friendly cities in anticipation of the release of their Ford Focus Electric later this year. The list was compiled by researchers at the company and digs deep into what makes one place more EV friendly than the next. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/ford-releases-list-of-top-25-electric-vehicle-friendly-cities/ California Utilities to be Powered by 1/3 Renewables. California has a long tradition of leading innovation - and the clean energy technology sector is no different. While the clean energy debate in Congress continues to stall, the state is charting the way toward building a diverse, clean and resilient energy portfolio. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/04/california-paving-clean-energy/ 40 Years in, Solar is Ready for a Makeover. Think quick: What brand comes to mind when you think of batteries? Is it Energizer, the brand that keeps going and going? How about fuel efficient cars? Did the Toyota Prius come to mind first? What about solar panels? Anyone having trouble on this one? Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/04/40-years-solar-ready-makeover/ When the Weather Outside is Frightful, Americans Find Climate Change Suspect. If you want to change the mind of a climate change skeptic, argue with them on a warm day. These words of advice stem from studies done by researchers affiliated with Columbia University’s Center for Research on Environmental Decisions (CRED), which found that people who thought the current day was warmer than usual were more likely to be concerned about global warming than those who thought the day was unusually cold. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/04/weather-be-hot/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:31:28 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 15, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 15, 2011. 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 TVA Agrees to Shut Down 18 Coal-Fired Boilers and Curb Emissions. One of the nation's largest coal-burning utilities said yesterday it will shutter 18 of its coal-fired boilers and pay billions to rein in pollutants at many of its remaining units, underscoring the evolving energy landscape in the United States. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/04/15/15climatewire-tva-agrees-to-shut-down-18-coal-fired-boiler-72955.html?scp=10&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse&gwh=16921C617692CC40AEF359C0463221B3 http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/04/15/1/ TVA agrees to pay $10 million penalty and phase out 300 to 400 coal jobs in clean air deal. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Tennessee Valley Authority over the next five years will shutter operations that account for about 16 percent if its coal-fired capacity to settle lawsuits from several states over air quality, its board said Thursday. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/tva-agrees-to-pay-10-million-penalty-and-phase-out-300-to-400-coal-jobs-in-clean-air-deal/2011/04/14/AFXRTTdD_story.html EPA settles with TVA over pollution from coal plants. WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency announced a sweeping settlement Thursday with the Tennessee Valley Authority over pollution from 11 coal-fired power plants in at least three states. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/14/1645514/epa-settles-with-tva-over-pollution.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/14/2350696/epa-settles-with-tva-over-pollution.html#storylink=misearch TVA paring coal operations, paying $10M in deal. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Valley Authority over the next five years will shutter operations that account for about 16 percent if its coal-fired capacity to settle lawsuits from several states over air quality, its board said Thursday. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/14/3553689/tva-paring-coal-operations-paying.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/14/tva-board-weighs-impact-of-japans-nuke-problems/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_c1e5facb-e516-5ade-bbb6-782308424838.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17846162 House Republicans attack life-saving mercury and air toxics standards. Long a rumored dirty secret, Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) confirmed today that House Republicans plan to introduce legislation to delay mercury and air toxics standards that will save up to 26,000 lives every year. Posted. http://www.grist.org/pollution/2011-04-14-house-republicans-attack-life-saving-mercury-toxics-standards CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Change Heads to the Supreme Court. Next Tuesday, the Supreme Court hears American Electric Power v. Connecticut, a case that asks whether America's climate change policy can be designed and managed by the federal courts. The answer should be a resounding no. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703551304576261271226827718.html?KEYWORDS=grKEYWORDS%3Dgreen+energy CARBON CAPTURE: No cap and trade leaves CCS project with a finance hole. The United States's first commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project is lacking necessary financing, a need that could have been met by pricing and trading carbon in a cap-and-trade system. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/04/15/8/ FORESTS: Climate change degrades potential of forests and other land-based systems to store carbon – study. America's forests, grasslands and other terrestrial ecosystems can absorb up to 40 percent of the country's carbon emissions from fossil fuels, states a five-year study. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/04/15/4/ FUELS 4 Clean-Energy Alternatives To Uranium. The recent accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan has caused many observers to question the use of uranium as a fuel to create nuclear energy, and perhaps cast doubts on clean energy alternatives in general. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/04/14/investopedia51732.DTL EPFL team discovers molybdenum-based catalysts enable more cost-effective hydrogen production from water. A team led by Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Professor Xile Hu has discovered that a molybdenum-based catalyst allows the electrolytic production of hydrogen at room temperature, and is inexpensive and efficient. The results provide new opportunities for the development of renewable and economic hydrogen production technologies. A paper on the work appears in the RSC journal Chemical Science. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/epfl-20110415.html#more GREEN ENERGY Huge old home of US envoy to Belgium goes green. Enormous 18th-century houses aren't known as the most energy-efficient buildings in the world. But now the 230-year-old residence of the U.S. ambassador to Belgium has gone green, thanks in large measure to donations from private companies. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/04/15/international/i011634D92.DTL http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/15/2351049/huge-old-home-of-us-envoy-to-belgium.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_88fbebfb-4797-5701-aad6-3e4debbc06e5.html Alternative energy runs into headwind. For the renewable energy sector, it’s a wonder either wind or solar power is still standing. Austere budgets and small government have become Capitol Hill credos, and clean energy technology champions are scrambling to secure the tax breaks and loan guarantees they’ve depended on over the past decade to drive investments. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53195.html DOE announces EcoCAR 2; focus on electric drive technology. At the SAE 2011 World Congress in Detroit, Michigan, US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, David Sandalow, announced the official launch of the EcoCAR 2: Plugging into the Future competition and the sixteen university teams selected to participate. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/doe-announces-ecocar-2-focus-on-electric-drive-technology.html#more New York’s Capital District Launches Hybrid Bus Line With Sustainably Built Shelters. Public transportation is going green in Albany. The Capital District Transportation Authority has launched BusPlus, a new, limited stop bus line featuring hybrid buses and eco-friendly bus shelters, made with up to 85 percent recycled material and equipped with LED lights. Designed by Duo-Gard, the structures have a sleek appearance while still being sturdy enough to hand harsh Upstate New York winters. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/nyc/new-york-states-capital-district-launches-hybrid-bus-line-with-sustainably-built-shelters/ Smart Windows Automatically Adjust to Outdoor Temperature to Save Energy. Production is beginning for a new window coating that automatically adjusts to control solar gain through windows. Raven Windows, made by Denver-based RavenBrick, are made with a special nanomaterial coating which makes the windows responsive to outdoor temperature. The Raven Windows act as "an intelligent window filter that automatically blocks solar heat when the outside temperature is too hot, while delivering solar heat inside when the outside temperature is cold." Posted. http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3478 VEHICLES Beijing employs creative tactics to spur electric vehicle purchases. Under the approved “125 Project”, electric car buyers will be exempt from tax, and the car plate lottery, whereby drivers of ICEs or hybrids have to apply via lottery system for a license plate. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/56120110415.php OPINION Is Natural Gas the Solution to Our Energy Problem? Re “Pass the Boone Pickens Bill,” by Joe Nocera (column, April 12): Before jumping on the natural gas bandwagon, Mr. Nocera might have consulted his colleagues. On the same day, there was an article in the business section about natural gas called “Poking Holes in a Green Image.” Mr. Nocera breezily claims that natural gas is cleaner than oil. Cleaner when burned, yes, but that’s just part of the story. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/opinion/l15nocera.html?scp=7&sq=green%20energy&st=cse&gwh=9B71908D5FB31A348A4F64B203D76F52 Protecting our air and public health. Californians, like all Americans, love breathing clean, healthy air. We relish that picture perfect moment: a clear view of the mountains or ocean, kids playing soccer or baseball, enjoying a picnic in the park on a warm day, or just a brisk walk with the dog. Posted. http://thedowneypatriot.com/bookmark/12795130-Protecting-our-air-and-public-health The best remedy for the price of gas. There is no magic wand that will bring down the price of gasoline, which has once again crossed the $4 mark in California. But there is a long-term solution that will inoculate us from higher costs in the future. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-gerstenzang-automobile-standard20110414,0,485070.story Think about how your behavior harms environment. Trash doesn't disappear. It is packaged and tucked away into unpopulated corners. Some trash is invisible but smells poorly and diffuses quietly through the atmosphere. Waste is present everywhere. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/14/1645399/think-about-how-your-behavior.html EDITORIAL: Embrace reality: Repeal valley's EPA ozone fine. We've got to work together, here in the most polluted region in America, to make our air more breathable. We've got to make sacrifices, accept restrictions and change long-entrenched habits. But the people of the San Joaquin Valley shouldn't be asked to do the impossible. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/editorials/x617060327/EDITORIAL-Embrace-reality-Repeal-valleys-EPA-ozone-fine BLOGS Indonesia's Deforestation Halt, Halted. If you included emissions from deforestation into national greenhouse gas emissions (which isn't always done, but probably should...) Indonesia is the world's third-highest emitter--India is if you don't take into account deforestation emissions. It has made public pledges to rein in its rampant deforestation, but as is often the case there's a rather large difference between political rhetoric and action. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/04/indonesia-deforestation-halt-halted.php ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:00:02 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 18, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 18, 2011. 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 States Seek Greenhouse-Gas Curbs. A battle over whether states can use nuisance laws to curb greenhouse-gas emissions from power plants will come to the Supreme Court Tuesday in a case that puts a twist on the debate over climate policy. The case pits a coalition of states against five of the nation's biggest power companies and the Obama administration, which has said it intends to curb greenhouse-gas emissions from big utilities but objects to the way the states want to do it. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704204604576269092011845186.html In Climate Change Case, Obama Administration Sides With Power Companies, Not Environmentalists. Washington -- The Obama administration and environmental interests generally agree that global warming is a threat that must be dealt with. But they're on opposite sides of a Supreme Court case over the ability of states and groups such as the Audubon Society that want to sue large electric utilities and force power plants in 20 states to cut their emissions. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/in-climate-change-case-obama-administration-sides-with-power-companies-not-environmentalists/2011/04/18/AFFqwlxD_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/17/1648994/new-climate-change-case-headed.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/18/new-climate-change-case-headed-to-supreme-court/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_a32c93e4-11a5-5237-bfd6-e362c31330a7.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/17/2353656/new-climate-change-case-headed.html#storylink=misearch http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_17867759 Budget Fight Hurts U.S. Climate Effort. Austin, Texas — The recent budget wrangling in Washington will take a toll on the administration’s efforts to combat climate change. The budget of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was cut $1.6 billion — 16 percent — for the rest of this fiscal year, under the bill that President Barack Obama signed Friday. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/18/business/energy-environment/18green.html?scp=4&sq=climate%20change&st=cse&gwh=2D9837F17F30E6269F27773DBB1BDD3C Carbon Traders Predict On-Time Launch Of New GHG Market. Los Angeles -- Carbon traders are cautiously optimistic that California's nascent greenhouse gas market will be well-designed and start on schedule. California's greenhouse gas trading program, set to start next January, would be the biggest in North America to date, covering 600 facilities and 166 million metric tons of carbon dioxide at the outset of trading. Some advance trades have taken place, but a robust secondary market has yet to form. Traders at a carbon markets conference here said they are not discouraged by California's rocky road to implementation of its climate law. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/18/7 Young Climate Activists Push Obama, Vow To Create More Local Awareness. About 10,000 young climate change activists gathered this weekend in Washington, D.C., for what they billed as the largest grass-roots training event in the nation's history. The third-ever Power Shift, which began Friday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and ends today, drew speeches from former Vice President Al Gore, former green jobs czar Van Jones and U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. But the event's main goal was to teach young environmentalists how to organize in their communities. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/04/18/ VEHICLES Electric Car Maker Coda Automotive To Open Showroom In Mall. Coda Automotive will begin selling its $44,900 electric compact sedan at the Westfield Century City mall in July. Kate Spade, Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton — tony retailers at the Westfield Century City mall — are getting a new neighbor, but it won't be another fancy brand. In an unusual move for an automaker, electric car company Coda Automotive Inc. will open its first showroom at the shopping center in July. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0418-autos-coda-20110418,0,5315158.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fbusiness+%28L.A.+Times+-+Business%29 GREEN ENERGY Is Your Building Green? We’ll All Know Soon. The District imposed some of the nation’s toughest standards for green construction in 2006, many of them to take effect in 2012. But developers didn’t need a deadline to get started. Many are incorporating energy-saving designs into their projects, hoping to appeal to the federal government as it pushes new standards and holds out the promise of millions of square feet of leases. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/is-your-building-green-well-all-know-soon/2011/04/11/AFqLFYvD_story.html EV Battery Forum: EVs in India from USD 400. Electric Two-Wheelers were introduced in India around four years ago. Today the market size is approximately 150,000 units per year, driven by 5 major and more than 50 minor players, with Hero Electric being the market leader. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/56420110418.php OPINION A Victory for Cleaner Air, and the Law. The new settlement between the Environmental Protection Agency, other plaintiffs and the Tennessee Valley Authority resolving clean air violations at 11 T.V.A. coal-fired power plants is long overdue. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/18/opinion/18mon2.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse&gwh=D6850F136B6FC51E3EA9E40A1A5D5B49 BLOGS Cornell Gas Study Stirs Heated Debate. More researchers and policy analysts have had a chance to digest a new study analyzing the climate impacts of unconventional natural gas development, published this week in the journal Climatic Change Letters. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/18/cornell-gas-study-stirs-heated-debate/ Clouds Part for U.S. Solar Industry. A potentially dim week for the American solar power industry ended on a bright note instead. Solar advocates mounted a last-minute push Monday to prevent sweeping cuts to a federal loan guarantee program for clean energy development in a Republican budget plan. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/clouds-part-for-u-s-solar-industry/ Scientists Find First Evidence That Weather Affects Movement of Tectonic Plates. What’s the News: Geologists have known for years that tectonic plates affect climate patterns. Now they say that the opposite is also true, finding that intensifying climate events can move tectonic plates. Posted. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/04/14/scientists-find-first-evidence-that-weather-affects-movement-of-tectonic-plates/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:03:07 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 19, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 19, 2011. 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 Obama Joins American Electric to Fight Lawsuits With Environment Agency. In 2004, eight states decided they wouldn’t wait for President George W. Bush to take steps against climate change. They sued to force five power companies to cut plant emissions. The Obama administration today will urge the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out the suit, arguing alongside American Electric Power Co., Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL), Duke Energy Corp. (DUK) and Southern Co. (SO) The administration contends the Environmental Protection Agency is already taking steps against climate change. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-19/white-house-joins-aep-to-fight-climate-lawsuits-with-epa-off-its-duff-.html Court Hears Arguments In New Global Warming Case. Washington—The Obama administration and leading power companies are going before the Supreme Court in an effort to block a global warming lawsuit aimed at forcing cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. The justices are hearing arguments Tuesday in the court's second climate change case in four years. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/19/1651449/court-hears-arguments-in-new-global.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/19/2355844/court-hears-arguments-in-new-global.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17878807 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/19/court-hears-arguments-in-new-global-warming-case/ States' 'Nuisance' Argument Seems To Fall On Deaf Ears In Supreme Court. Taking up a high-stakes case on climate change, a majority of Supreme Court justices appeared hostile today as to whether states can regulate greenhouse gases as a public nuisance under federal common law. Even the court's more liberal members gave little hope to the plaintiffs, six states, New York City and several land trusts, which want utilities that operate fossil fuel-fired electric power plants to reduce emissions by invoking federal "public nuisance" common law. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/19/1 States, Utilities Ask EPA To Boost Regional Cap-And-Trade Plans. The states of California, New York and Minnesota, as well as about a dozen power companies and influential advocacy groups, have joined forces to persuade U.S. EPA to let states meet new federal climate change rules by crafting their own programs, such as the cap-and-trade plans that have been adopted by California and a handful of Northeastern states. Under a settlement that staved off lawsuits from environmentalists, EPA must set new limits on greenhouse gas emissions from the utility sector this year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/19/3 Study Of Cap-And-Trade Lobbying Draws Angry Rebuke From Left. The liberal Center for American Progress has launched a pre-emptive strike against a report by an American University professor that suggests environmentalists and their corporate allies spent more on lobbying and advertising then their adversaries during the debate on cap-and-trade legislation last Congress. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/19/5 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Drop In Short Term, Rise In Long Term. The year 2009 marked a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in the United States from the year before, according to an annual inventory from U.S. EPA released yesterday. A decline in electricity and fuel use led to the decrease in overall emissions, which dropped by 6.1 percent from 2008 to 2009, according to the inventory. A consumer shift to low-carbon fuels played another role as prices for coal went up and prices for natural gas went down, according to the inventory. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/19/8 In Mass., Belief In Climate Change Is Stronger Than Action To Prevent It. Promoting the economic benefits of lowering carbon emissions could cause "fatigue around global warming" if green jobs are oversold, says a new study on the attitudes of Massachusetts residents. The research, which finds that 59 percent of state residents believe humans are contributing to climate change, urges officials to focus on the environmental impacts of warming as the state seeks to reach its ambitious climate goals. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/19/2 Germany Squanders Chance to Pioneer CO2 Capture Technology. It's an unusual drilling facility that stands on the outskirts of Ketzin, a town in the eastern German state of Brandenburg. Instead of pumping something out of the ground, it is forcing something into the earth. That something is carbon dioxide. The scientists with the Potsdam-based German Research Center for Geosciences are injecting the gas into porous sandstone 650 meters (2,100 feet) beneath the surface. Posted. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,757651,00.html FUELS Ethanol Rebounds From Two-Week Low as Corn Prices Go Higher. Ethanol futures rebounded from a two-week low on concern that bad weather will hurt corn crops and boost production costs. The alternative fuel gained the most since April 8 as corn rose amid cold, wet Midwestern weather that could delay planting and reduce crop yields. Ethanol in the U.S. is distilled from the grain. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-18/ethanol-rebounds-from-two-week-low-as-corn-prices-go-higher.html New Fast-Fill Station For Compressed Natural Gas. The city of Elk Grove has opened a fast-fill compressed natural gas station, the first of its kind in south Sacramento County. The station, at 9050 Elkmont Drive near the city's corporation yard, is used to fuel the city's fleet of 43 CNG e-tran buses and is now open to other transit agencies and the general public 24 hours a day. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/19/1651380/new-fast-fill-station-for-compressed.html VEHICLES Automakers Unveil Ambitious China Expansion Plans. Global automakers unveiled ambitious expansion plans for China on Tuesday, targeting the country's newly prosperous drivers as the industry struggles to recover from Japan's tsunami. Nissan Motor Co. plans to raise sales by about 15 percent to 1.15 million vehicles this year, said CEO Carlos Ghosn. He spoke as the company unveiled the new Tiida sedan, one of a series of world premieres at Shanghai's auto show by automakers that reflect China's critical importance to their sales. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/19/automakers-unveil-ambitious-china-expansion/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_905e1eec-db14-5a64-a48f-3e9fd314ebe1.html DOE Allots $5M To Encourage Electric Vehicle Deployment. The Department of Energy will open up $5 million for community and local projects designed to facilitate the deployment of electric vehicles in the next few years, Secretary Steven Chu said today. Speaking at the opening of the Electric Drive Transportation Association conference in Washington, D.C., Chu also announced that the administration was launching a partnership with Google Inc. and more than 80 EV companies to create a national charging station map. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/19/18 GREEN ENERGY San Joaquin Air Board Help On Electric Mowers. Air quality officials have trimmed the cost of switching from gasoline- powered lawn mowers to cleaner electric models. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is offering a limited number of vouchers that enable residents to pay $50 for a cordless electric mower with a 14-inch blade or $100 for a 19-inch version. The Clean, Green Yard Machine program will continue while funding lasts. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/18/1651211/san-joaquin-air-board-help-on.html Solar Power: Breakthrough Could Herald Big Drop In Costs. Scientists at the University of Michigan have discovered a new effect from an old property of light, which they say could lead to an "optical battery" that converts sunlight to electricity at a fraction of the cost of today's photovoltaic cells. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2011/0415/Solar-power-breakthrough-could-herald-big-drop-in-costs?cmpid=ema:nws:Weekend%20Weekly%2004162011&cmpid=ema:nws:NTI5OTY0ODM3NQS2 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:19:08 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- REVISED Newsclips for April 19, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov REVISED California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 19, 2011. 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 Obama Joins American Electric to Fight Lawsuits With Environment Agency. In 2004, eight states decided they wouldn’t wait for President George W. Bush to take steps against climate change. They sued to force five power companies to cut plant emissions. The Obama administration today will urge the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out the suit, arguing alongside American Electric Power Co., Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL), Duke Energy Corp. (DUK) and Southern Co. (SO) The administration contends the Environmental Protection Agency is already taking steps against climate change. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-19/white-house-joins-aep-to-fight-climate-lawsuits-with-epa-off-its-duff-.html Court Hears Arguments In New Global Warming Case. Washington—The Obama administration and leading power companies are going before the Supreme Court in an effort to block a global warming lawsuit aimed at forcing cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. The justices are hearing arguments Tuesday in the court's second climate change case in four years. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/19/1651449/court-hears-arguments-in-new-global.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/19/2355844/court-hears-arguments-in-new-global.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17878807 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/19/court-hears-arguments-in-new-global-warming-case/ States' 'Nuisance' Argument Seems To Fall On Deaf Ears In Supreme Court. Taking up a high-stakes case on climate change, a majority of Supreme Court justices appeared hostile today as to whether states can regulate greenhouse gases as a public nuisance under federal common law. Even the court's more liberal members gave little hope to the plaintiffs, six states, New York City and several land trusts, which want utilities that operate fossil fuel-fired electric power plants to reduce emissions by invoking federal "public nuisance" common law. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/19/1 States, Utilities Ask EPA To Boost Regional Cap-And-Trade Plans. The states of California, New York and Minnesota, as well as about a dozen power companies and influential advocacy groups, have joined forces to persuade U.S. EPA to let states meet new federal climate change rules by crafting their own programs, such as the cap-and-trade plans that have been adopted by California and a handful of Northeastern states. Under a settlement that staved off lawsuits from environmentalists, EPA must set new limits on greenhouse gas emissions from the utility sector this year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/19/3 Study Of Cap-And-Trade Lobbying Draws Angry Rebuke From Left. The liberal Center for American Progress has launched a pre-emptive strike against a report by an American University professor that suggests environmentalists and their corporate allies spent more on lobbying and advertising then their adversaries during the debate on cap-and-trade legislation last Congress. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/19/5 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Drop In Short Term, Rise In Long Term. The year 2009 marked a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in the United States from the year before, according to an annual inventory from U.S. EPA released yesterday. A decline in electricity and fuel use led to the decrease in overall emissions, which dropped by 6.1 percent from 2008 to 2009, according to the inventory. A consumer shift to low-carbon fuels played another role as prices for coal went up and prices for natural gas went down, according to the inventory. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/19/8 In Mass., Belief In Climate Change Is Stronger Than Action To Prevent It. Promoting the economic benefits of lowering carbon emissions could cause "fatigue around global warming" if green jobs are oversold, says a new study on the attitudes of Massachusetts residents. The research, which finds that 59 percent of state residents believe humans are contributing to climate change, urges officials to focus on the environmental impacts of warming as the state seeks to reach its ambitious climate goals. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/19/2 Germany Squanders Chance to Pioneer CO2 Capture Technology. It's an unusual drilling facility that stands on the outskirts of Ketzin, a town in the eastern German state of Brandenburg. Instead of pumping something out of the ground, it is forcing something into the earth. That something is carbon dioxide. The scientists with the Potsdam-based German Research Center for Geosciences are injecting the gas into porous sandstone 650 meters (2,100 feet) beneath the surface. Posted. http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,757651,00.html FUELS Ethanol Rebounds From Two-Week Low as Corn Prices Go Higher. Ethanol futures rebounded from a two-week low on concern that bad weather will hurt corn crops and boost production costs. The alternative fuel gained the most since April 8 as corn rose amid cold, wet Midwestern weather that could delay planting and reduce crop yields. Ethanol in the U.S. is distilled from the grain. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-18/ethanol-rebounds-from-two-week-low-as-corn-prices-go-higher.html New Fast-Fill Station For Compressed Natural Gas. The city of Elk Grove has opened a fast-fill compressed natural gas station, the first of its kind in south Sacramento County. The station, at 9050 Elkmont Drive near the city's corporation yard, is used to fuel the city's fleet of 43 CNG e-tran buses and is now open to other transit agencies and the general public 24 hours a day. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/19/1651380/new-fast-fill-station-for-compressed.html VEHICLES Automakers Unveil Ambitious China Expansion Plans. Global automakers unveiled ambitious expansion plans for China on Tuesday, targeting the country's newly prosperous drivers as the industry struggles to recover from Japan's tsunami. Nissan Motor Co. plans to raise sales by about 15 percent to 1.15 million vehicles this year, said CEO Carlos Ghosn. He spoke as the company unveiled the new Tiida sedan, one of a series of world premieres at Shanghai's auto show by automakers that reflect China's critical importance to their sales. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/19/automakers-unveil-ambitious-china-expansion/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_905e1eec-db14-5a64-a48f-3e9fd314ebe1.html DOE Allots $5M To Encourage Electric Vehicle Deployment. The Department of Energy will open up $5 million for community and local projects designed to facilitate the deployment of electric vehicles in the next few years, Secretary Steven Chu said today. Speaking at the opening of the Electric Drive Transportation Association conference in Washington, D.C., Chu also announced that the administration was launching a partnership with Google Inc. and more than 80 EV companies to create a national charging station map. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/19/18 GREEN ENERGY San Joaquin Air Board Help On Electric Mowers. Air quality officials have trimmed the cost of switching from gasoline- powered lawn mowers to cleaner electric models. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is offering a limited number of vouchers that enable residents to pay $50 for a cordless electric mower with a 14-inch blade or $100 for a 19-inch version. The Clean, Green Yard Machine program will continue while funding lasts. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/18/1651211/san-joaquin-air-board-help-on.html Solar Power: Breakthrough Could Herald Big Drop In Costs. Scientists at the University of Michigan have discovered a new effect from an old property of light, which they say could lead to an "optical battery" that converts sunlight to electricity at a fraction of the cost of today's photovoltaic cells. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2011/0415/Solar-power-breakthrough-could-herald-big-drop-in-costs?cmpid=ema:nws:Weekend%20Weekly%2004162011&cmpid=ema:nws:NTI5OTY0ODM3NQS2 Environmental Groups Object To Army Corps' Proposed Clean Energy Permits. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is on the verge of approving two new nationwide permits that would allow renewable energy developments on wetlands, streams and ocean floors. But yesterday, just before the period for public comments closed, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and others filed a complaint criticizing the potential environmental impact that the permits could allow. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/19/7 MISCELLANEOUS EPA's 10 'Greenest' Companies Include Intel, Cisco. A few days before Earth Day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the country's top corporate buyers of "green" power — solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and small-scale hydroelectric. Many of the companies have a strong presence in the four-county region. Topping the list was Intel Corp., followed by Kohl's Corp. and Whole Foods Market. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/04/19/epa-names-10-greenest-companies.html BPA Substitutes May Be More Harmful. As companies have been touting BPA-free products, a new study indicates that alternative chemicals used in such products might not be much safer. BPA, short for bisphenol A, is a synthetic estrogen used to harden plastic. Evidence remains inconclusive, but a growing body of science suggests that even at low doses, BPA binds to estrogen receptors in the human body and may be linked to health problems including infertility, birth defects, early puberty, autism, obesity, diabetes and hormone-related cancers. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/19/23 OPINION The Court and Global Warming. The case about global warming scheduled to be argued on Tuesday before the Supreme Court is a blockbuster. Eight states — from California to New York, plus New York City — sued six corporations responsible for one-fourth of the American electric power industry’s emissions of carbon dioxide. Rather than seeking money or punishment for the defendants, they seek what everyone should agree is the polluters’ responsibility: abatement of their huge, harmful part in causing climate change. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/19/opinion/19tue1.html?_r=2&pagewanted=print Climate Change Policy Is EPA’s Job, Not Courts’. THE DEMOCRATS’ global warming bill died in the Senate last year. The new Republican majority in the House wants to gut carbon regulations at the Environmental Protection Agency. President Obama is reluctant even to discuss global warming publicly. So some environmentalists believe that a case being argued before the Supreme Court Tuesday represents the last, best hope to reduce greenhouse emissions. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/climate-change-policy-is-epas-job-not-courts/2011/04/18/AFjsug1D_print.html Protect The Air To Protect Our Lives. I was glad to see Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, stand in support of clean air and public health. On April 7, he voted "no" on H.R.910, a bill that undermines the Clean Air Act. Among the actions that the bill would repeal is the provision that allows California to set clean vehicle standards to reduce smog forming pollution and carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/18/1650927/protect-the-air-to-protect-our.html Solar Panels, Not Merely Subsidized And Costly… A reader who saw my column Your money’s gone with the wind (and solar) on Sunday sent this photo of the solar panels he has. There are “a few other bothersome facts,” wrote Ben Alegra. ” It takes work to keep solar going. AND the current life expectancy is about 25 yrs. for the panels. “The snow below did not shed by itself.” Snow isn’t a problem for Southern California, you say? How about dirt? Bird droppings? Soot? Do you like roof climbing? Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2011/04/18/solar-panels-not-merely-subsidized-and-costly/43815/ BLOGS California's Carbon Market: Will Cap-And-Trade Work? Nine months before California is set to finalize a trading system aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions, participants have the jitters. Litigation threatens to delay the start of the multibillion-dollar program, and industry executives worry that its regulations will fall short of guaranteeing a smoothly operating market. Fear is growing that it could be susceptible to the fraud that has plagued a similar European system. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/04/california-cap-and-trade-carbon-trading.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Riverside County Solar Project Gets $2.1-Billion Federal Guarantee. Yet another California renewable energy project will get financial support from the federal government, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Gov. Jerry Brown said Monday. The first two parts of the Blythe Solar Power Project in Riverside County were awarded a conditional commitment for a $2.1-billion loan guarantee from the Department of Energy -– the controversial program’s largest offering to a solar project. So far, 22 clean-energy projects –- including wind, geothermal and biofuels, in 14 states have been handed $21 billion in conditional commitments. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/04/blythe-solar-project-gets-conditional-21-billion-federal-loan-guarantee.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Why The Supreme Court Should Let States Sue The Country’s Biggest Carbon Polluters. Today, the Supreme Court hears oral argument in American Electric Power vs. Connecticut -- a case in which six states and other plaintiffs are trying to put emissions limits on America's five largest greenhouse-gas polluters. The states are invoking their right, recognized by the Supreme Court more than a century ago, to seek relief in federal court when polluters in other jurisdictions send dangerous air or water pollution across state lines. Posted. http://www.grist.org/clean-air/2011-04-19-why-the-supreme-court-should-let-states-sue-the-countrys-biggest American Teens Smarter About Climate Change Than Adults, Despite Knowing Less. More American teens than adults believe climate change is caused by humans, 57 percent versus 50 percent, says a new survey from the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication. Yet American teens also tend to know slightly less than adults on the subject of climate science, says the same survey. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-04-19-american-teens-smarter-about-climate-change-than-adults-despite- Surprise! Developed World Uses Less Energy Per Person Than It Did 20 Years Ago. If you're the sort who wakes up every morning to a media diet that can only be delivered via a Wolf Blitzer situation room-style array of glowing screens and buzzing whatsits, you probably suspect that you're using more energy than the mid-90's you, the one who warmed herself over a kerosene lamp and ate hardtack straight out of the barrel. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-04-19-surprise-world-uses-less-energy-per-person-than-it-did-20-years- Rough Seas for Shipping Industry Emissions Agreement. Depending on how it’s spun, recent shipping industry meetings on controlling greenhouse gas emissions through market-based trading schemes either made “steady progress” or no progress at all. The International Maritime Organization characterized the meetings of the third inter-sessional meeting of the Working Group on Greenhouse Gas Emissions that ended early this month in London as making steady progress. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/04/shipping-industry-emissions-agreement/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:29:36 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 20, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 20, 2011. 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 Government Roundup: Bill Would Repeal $29 Million Air Pollution Fine. Congressman Kevin McCarthy announced Tuesday he's introduced a bill that would repeal a controversial fine imposed on the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District for failing to meet a tough clean air rule. The Commonsense Ozone Regulation Act would rescind the $29 million fine, which the district decided to pay by tacking an additional $12 onto the annual cost of registering a motor vehicle in the valley. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x517034414/Government-roundup-Bill-would-repeal-29-million-air-pollution-fine EPA Threatens Utah With Air Quality Sanctions. Federal officials threatened Monday to block road money and seize control of Utah's air quality management plan because of an exemption for excessive pollution from oil refineries and other sources. Utah officials have about 18 months to change the rule to ensure polluters are cited for a violation first, instead of the state having to investigate a breakdown... Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9MMQ96G0.htm Scientists: Soot May Be Key To Rapid Arctic Melt. Washington (AP) — An international research team is in the land of snow and ice, in search of soot. Though the Arctic is often pictured as a vast white wasteland, a scientist believe a thin layer of soot — mostly invisible — is causing it to absorb more heat. They want to find out if that's the main reason for the recent rapid warming of the Arctic, which could have a long-term impact on the world's climate. Soot, or black carbon, is produced by auto and truck engines, aircraft emissions, burning forests and the use of wood- or coal-burning stoves. Posted. http://hosted2-3.ap.org/KXJZFM/7c3175a29c1940e189e7b8e1073e7721/Article_2011-04-20-Arctic%20Soot/id-db4aa65537c7407db5a1d63faf19d1c2 EPA Staffers Recommend A Crackdown On Soot. The air quality standards that U.S. EPA has put in place for chemical-laden dust and soot aren't strong enough to protect human health, agency staffers say in a new memo to Administrator Lisa Jackson that could pave the way for stricter rules later this year. In the final policy assessment, staffers express particular concern about fine particles, which are released by diesel engines, coal-fired power plants and the burning of wood and other plant matter. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/20/2 CLIMATE CHANGE Justices Skeptical on Role of Courts in Setting Emissions Standards. Washington - A lawsuit by six states and New York City to force major power companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions was met with seemingly unanimous skepticism from the justices on Tuesday during arguments at the Supreme Court. No one questioned the basic premise of the suit — that greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming. But there was essentially no support for the states’ position that courts are the proper forums in which to regulate the problem. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/us/politics/20scotus.html?_r=1&scp=10&sq=climate%20change&st=cse&gwh=13398DA1CAA42B9D5074AE25822DE4C9 Supreme Court Skeptical Of Allowing Global-Warming Case To Move Forward. Supreme Court justices across the ideological spectrum signaled Tuesday that they might halt a huge global-warming lawsuit in which states are asking the federal courts to restrict polluting power plants outside their borders. “Asking a court to set standards for emissions sounds like the kind of thing that EPA does,” said Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, referring to the Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-skeptical-of-allowing-global-warming-case-to-move-forward/2011/04/19/AFIitM8D_story.html http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-court-warming-20110420,0,2042058,print.story Court Casts Doubt On States' Global Warming Suit. Washington --The Supreme Court appeared deeply skeptical Tuesday about allowing states to sue electric utilities to force cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Both conservative and liberal justices questioned whether a federal judge could deal with the complex issue of global warming, a topic they suggested is better left to Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/19/justices-mull-states-emissions-lawsuit/?page=all http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/supreme-court-hears-plea-from-administration-utilities-to-block-states-global-warming-suit/2011/04/19/AFxCg82D_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/19/1651952/court-casts-doubt-on-states-global.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/19/court-hears-arguments-in-new-global-warming-case/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_a32c93e4-11a5-5237-bfd6-e362c31330a7.html Polls Show Wide Partisan Gap, Erroneous Beliefs On Climate. A series of polls was conducted recently to ask about the facts of climate change while trying to avoid the divisive political beliefs around government policies to address it. It didn't work. Researchers found that seemingly neutral questions about the level of people's knowledge of climate change, their notions about scientific consensus and their personal beliefs on warming resulted in strong partisan responses. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/20/2 Carbon Credits Could Be A Billion-Dollar Industry. Most B.C. projects are forestry-related, says a sustainability expert. British Columbia has a bank of carbon credits already approved for sale that adds up to over $1 billion once a promised cap-and-trade system is established by the Western Climate Initiative, says the Sauder School of Business ISIS research centre. The $1 billion credit has essentially created a new export industry for the province, ISIS executive director James Tansey said in an interview Monday. Posted. http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=4637677&sponsor= B.C.'s Business Case For Cap And Trade. This week the provincial cabinet is expected to meet to discuss British Columbia's future role in the Western Climate Initiative, the initiative developed by 11 provinces and U.S. states to set up a carbon cap-and-trade system to mitigate climate change. Premier Christy Clark is at a crossroads: Do we as a province continue advancing as a green economy leader, using our leadership role in the WCI and growing partnership with California? Posted. http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/business+case+trade/4645410/story.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Apply Soon For Diesel Truck Funds. Stockton - Owners of heavy-duty diesel trucks have through April 29 to apply for money to replace, power or retrofit their vehicles. The money comes from voter-approved Proposition 1B. Owners can receive up to $60,000 to upgrade their trucks. Diesel trucks are a significant source of pollution in the San Joaquin Valley, with Interstate 5 and Highway 99 serving as major shipping corridors. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110420/A_NEWS/110419862&cid=sitesearch VEHICLES Study Emphasizes Importance of China’s Transition to Electric Cars. A STUDY prepared for the World Bank Transport Office in Beijing released today makes clear the urgency of China’s transition to electric cars. According to “The China New Vehicles Program: Challenges and Opportunities,” prepared by PRTM, a management consulting firm, China’s soaring consumption of imported oil could stifle the country’s economy, while emissions from petroleum-powered vehicles could choke its cities with air pollution. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/automobiles/20Electric.html?scp=2&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse&gwh=9F2C50C8837D4D8E97504A0A3E7FA74B GREEN ENERGY IEA Urges China to Reduce Energy Subsidies. Shanghai -The head of the International Energy Agency called on China to more quickly reduce subsidies on gasoline, diesel and electricity. In an interview Wednesday with The Wall Street Journal, Nobuo Tanaka, executive director of the industrialized world's energy watchdog, said prices in China should reflect the fact that the age of cheap energy is over, a reality underlined by the Japanese nuclear crisis. He said it is obvious that the nuclear industry's expected expansion will be curtailed in the wake of Japan's disaster in Fukushima prefecture, though he thinks the energy source will remain important. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704658704576274243829736066.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Government Using Score Cards To Track Federal Agencies’ Greening Efforts. Using a scoring system modeled on a traffic light, the Obama administration on Tuesday unveiled a new way to track how the government’s largest agencies and departments are scaling back their use of electricity, water and fuel. In October 2009, President Obama ordered federal agencies to hit the gas on plans to cut the government’s greenhouse gas emissions by 28 percent by 2020. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/government-using-score-cards-to-track-federal-agencies-greening-efforts/2011/04/19/AFm3Jd7D_story.html Alpena Refinery To Convert Wood Waste To Chemical. Alpena, Mich. (AP) - Two companies have announced plans for a refinery in Alpena that will use waste wood from a local particle board plant to make a renewable industrial chemical called biobutanol. Biobutanol is used widely in paints and other chemical products and can be converted into plastics and fuels. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/20/alpena-refinery-to-convert-wood-waste-to/ Bay Area Program To Help Governments, Businesses Get Solar Panels. The city of San Jose, Calif., and the Bay Area Climate Collaborative have launched a program that allows local governments and businesses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area to collectively buy solar panels for their buildings. The program, called SunShares, will hopefully lead the way for similar initiatives throughout the state, said San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. "It's an opportunity to bring the cost down and demonstrate how easy it is to get solar," said Reed. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/20/10 Money For Green-Tech Academies. Brown signs bill that Schwarzenegger vetoed. Gov. Jerry Brown this week signed legislation that at least will protect high school green-tech career academies from a state budget implosion and will even expand the number over the next few years. Doing so took some creative thinking from the bill’s sponsor, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. SBX 1-1 will direct $40 million over five years from a fund for conservation and alternative energy uses financed by a tiny surcharge ($.0003 per kilowatt-hour) on utility bills. Posted. http://toped.svefoundation.org/2011/04/20/money-for-green-tech-academies/ MISCELLANEOUS Mercury Climbing In Food Chain, New Study Shows. Levels of mercury have risen dramatically in some Pacific seabirds in the past 120 years, suggesting that industrial emissions containing the poisonous metal associated with fetal and brain damage may be climbing the food chain and endangering sensitive species, according to a new study. While the study did not specifically address human-mercury exposure, there is rising concern among scientists that more people are consuming the heavy metal through tainted seafood, where the compound is known as methylmercury. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/20/MNK71J3OLL.DTL&type=printable OPINION Justices Against Court-Imposed Cap-And-Trade. It appeared yesterday during oral arguments in a case raising important constitutional and political issues that members of the U.S. Supreme Court doubt the wisdom of allowing federal judges the power to regulate carbon emissions. The case was AEP v. Connecticut in which eight states sued American Electric Power and other electricity providers over carbon emissions. Posted. http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/2011/04/justices-against-court-imposed-cap-and-trade#ixzz1K5XcGRsk Charlie Zender: More Dangerous Than Japan Radiation. West Coast inhabitants have learned by now that we live downwind from the crippled nuclear reactors in Fukushima, Japan. The plume of radioactive material poses a real threat near the source, where images include health workers wearing protective "moon suits," infants probed by Geiger counters, and contaminated smoke and steam spewing from the damaged reactor buildings. These emissions are carried our direction in the global wind belt called the prevailing westerlies. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/common/printer/view.php?db=ocregister&id=296900 LETTERS: Hiding Their Real Motivation. Many arguments critical of Liberty Quarry aren't based in reality. Armondo Lopez (April 12) claims that Temecula may go the way of towns that died because of mining operations. If he is right, the cities of Palos Verdes, Upland, Ontario, Claremont, Pasadena, Riverside, San Juan Capistrano, Orange and countless others would be ghost towns. The mines Lopez is talking about are coal mines, gold mines and copper mines, not rock quarries. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/letters/article_ed291115-24ef-5157-8d40-ec5bef38f771.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:10:35 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 21, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 21, 2011. 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 Heating oil phase-out part of NYC clean-air plan. NEW YORK -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg says New York City is moving to phase out the use of polluting heavy oils to heat buildings. Bloomberg announced the initiative Thursday as part of the first update to the city's 4-year-old environmental plan. The phase-out of heavy heating oils would start right away. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/20/v-print/3568527/ny-to-build-solar-power-plants.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/20/1654372/ny-to-build-solar-power-plants.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/21/nyc-mayor-to-announce-solar-plants-at-landfills/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17898056 http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17898056 Shipping companies fined for violating ARB fuel rule. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has fined three Europe-based shipping ... with a maximum 1.50% sulphur, or marine diesel oil (MDO), with a maximum … Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.bunkerworld.com/news/i102506/Shipping_companies_fined_for_violating_ARB_fuel_rule# Doctors Group Opposes Liberty Quarry Near Temecula. An environmental study of the proposed Liberty Quarry is flawed and pollution from the open-pit mine would threaten public health, a group of doctors said Wednesday. Physicians Against the Quarry's news conference came less than a week before the first of at least two public hearings on the project, sought for a 414-acre site in the Temecula foothills bordering the San Diego County line. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_squarry21.297eb4a.html CLIMATE CHANGE Justices Skeptical in Emissions Case. WASHINGTON—A six-state lawsuit seeking to cap greenhouse gas emissions from power plants nationwide seemed likely to fail Tuesday, after Supreme Court justices suggested that recent federal action to slow climate change left no room for separate litigation. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703922504576273051798139570.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution Supreme Court indicates it will dismiss 6-state global warming lawsuit. Reporting from Washington — In a setback for environmentalists, the Supreme Court signaled Tuesday that it would throw out a huge global warming lawsuit brought by California and five other states that seeks limits on carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants in the South and Midwest. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-court-warming-20110420,0,5463771.story DIESEL EMISSIONS Economic recession cut greenhouse gas output by 7.2 percent. The financial crash of 2008 led to an abysmal drop in industrial production, resulting in a record 7.2 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions, E.U. data reveal. "The strength of the 2009 recession affected all economic sectors in the EU," the Denmark-based European Environment Agency said in a report. "Consumption of fossil fuels fell compared to the previous year, mainly for coal." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/04/21/11/ GREEN ENERGY Opportunities for California seen in China's green-tech industries. China's leadership in the green technology sector represents "a wake-up call" for California companies but it also provides opportunities, a top state official said Wednesday. In just a few years, China went from being "barely on the map" to the largest manufacturer of solar panels and the largest energy consumer in the world, said Margret Kim, a deputy director at the California Environmental Protection Agency and head of the agency's China program. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/21/1654423/opportunities-for-california-seen.html http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/21/3568509/opportunities-for-california-seen.html#storylink=misearch VEHICLES Environmental literacy talk, electric car charging stations at BWI among Earth Week events. WASHINGTON — Earth Day is this Friday and environmental activities are being held across the region this week to raise environmental awareness. In Washington, the U.S. Department of Education will be talking about environmental literacy. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environmental-literacy-talk-electric-car-charging-stations-at-bwi-among-earth-week-events/2011/04/21/AF3E81FE_story.html With B-Class F-Cell, Mercedes rolls out an impressive steppingstone. The only Mercedes hatchback on the U.S. market, the 2011 B-Class F-Cell, wouldn't be recognizable as a Benz if it weren't for its premium badge. Its small, pragmatic silhouette is more Japanese than German. But the B-Class F-Cell is more notable for what's under the hood than its profile. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0421-autos-mercedes-fcell-revie20110421,0,6292650.story MISCELLANEOUS Greenpeace pushes Apple, Facebook, Twitter for clean-energy data centers. Data centers -- facilities that house massive computer servers -- gobble up enormous and rapidly growing amounts of electricity. Tech companies in Silicon Valley and elsewhere are taking steps to reduce the environmental impact of their data centers by boosting energy efficiency. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_17900411?nclick_check=1 BLOGS What went wrong for cap-and-trade? Climate hawks are trying to pinpoint where they went wrong in their campaign to combat global warming. Brad Plumer rather sensibly suggests that they’re overlooking the possibility that the problem wasn’t tactical deficiencies on the part of the green movement, but rather the result of things just not working out on the issue. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/what-went-wrong-for-cap-and-trade/2011/04/13/AFgEYqHE_blog.html To Shrink Carbon Footprints, One Size Doesn't Fit All. While turning down your thermostat, taking public transportation, and buying locally grown food could all reduce your household's carbon emissions, just how effective each of those individual strategies is depends on who you are and where you live, according to researchers at UC Berkeley. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/04/20/to-shrink-carbon-footprints-one-size-doesnt-fit-all/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 New laser system for fuel ignition may lead to reduced auto emissions, greater fuel efficiency. Lasers have been discussed as a promising alternative ignition source for efficient internal combustion engines since the mid 1970s. Laser ignition promises less pollution and greater fuel efficiency, but making small, powerful lasers has proven difficult. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/laser-2010420.html#more Clean-Technology Trends 2011: Shaping Clean Energy Markets for the Next Decade. According to Clean Energy Trends 2011, a new report by Clean Edge, the growth of clean technology over the last decade rivals that of the internet and computers, and it is poised to continue the trend. Clean Edge’s research revealed biofuels, wind power, and solar photovoltaics combined to create a $188.1 billion industry in 2010 – and the clean-tech sector research firm projects these three technologies will grow to $349.2 billion in the next decade. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/04/clean-technology-trends-2011-shaping-clean-energy-markets-next-decade/ Will Richard Daley, Chicago’s outgoing ‘green’ mayor, help quash coal pollution? A long-stalled Chicago ordinance that could force the city's two aging coal-burning power plants to greatly reduce emissions or shut down now has enough backing to pass at the city council's next meeting. But proponents aren't declaring victory yet. Posted. http://www.grist.org/coal/2011-04-19-will-richard-daley-chicagos-outgoing-green-mayor-help-quash-coal ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:13:52 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 22, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 20, 2011. 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 State Regulators List 33 Ways EPA Rules Aren't Working. If the administration is going to strip away some red tape, as President Obama said when he penned an executive order telling federal agencies to get rid of ineffective and outdated regulations, one group of top state officials has 33 good places for U.S. EPA to start. The executive order, which was signed in January, asked the members of the public to air their grievances. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/04/21/21greenwire-state-regulators-list-33-ways-epa-rules-arent-91396.html?pagewanted=print Heating Oil Phase-Out Part Of NYC Clean-Air Plan. The city will phase out the use of polluting heavy oils to heat buildings and will begin building solar power plants on capped landfills, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday in his first update to a 4-year-old environmental plan that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2030. Under the plan, the phase-out of heavy oils from the city's boilers would start right away and be completed by the 2030 deadline. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9MO6C380.htm Tougher Air Rules Coming, Air District Says. Imagine a ban on leaf blowers. Or no new businesses allowed. Or even a restriction on all fossil fuel burning in the San Joaquin Valley. Those are some of the restrictions that could kick in if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adopts tough new pollution controls this summer, said Seyed Sadredin, executive director of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Posted. http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/article_25b06a62-6c32-11e0-ad9c-001cc4c002e0.html Black Carbon Testing Finds High Levels. When the City Council passed an ordinance in early April to reduce emissions from construction equipment working on city jobs, it touched on a larger problem: harmful amounts of diesel exhaust in Chicago’s air. Residents of several neighborhoods are most likely exposed to diesel emissions at levels several times higher than the national average for urban areas, testing by the Chicago News Cooperative shows. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/22/us/22cnccarbon.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse&gwh=9238126272D2F9AE8E5DA44E5E4BD88D CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Footprint Varies By Location, Income. What is your carbon footprint? Like the real estate slogan, it depends on location, location, location. For a single-person household earning less than $10,000, living in California, the annual carbon footprint is about 16 tons of greenhouse gasses. But for a couple earning $90,000 living in the Bay Area, it's about 57 tons annually. That is almost the same as a family of five living in St. Louis, with half of the annual income. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/carbon-footprint-varies-location-income-9951 Global Warming Doesn't Mean The End Of Winter. Here's some good global warming news -- for folks who likes snowball fights and shoveling out their driveway -- we still have some chilly winters ahead, despite climate change. Still good -- Winter scene of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with snow and trees. CAPTIONUS FWSA 2008 series of National Academies of Sciences reports concluded average global atmospheric temperatures will likely rise from 2 to 11 degrees by the end of this century, continuing a 1.4 degree rise over the previous one. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/04/global-warming-doesnt-mean-the-end-of-winter/1 New York City Studies Feasibility And Cost Of 80% Greenhouse Gas Cut. New York -- This city will pursue 132 new initiatives as part of a multi-decade effort to improve air and water quality and sharply curb greenhouse gas emissions, Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) announced yesterday. New schemes include a utility-scale solar power plant on closed New York City landfills and pilot projects that would convert solid waste into energy. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/22/3 To States, Climate Change Means Plan Now, Or Pay More Later – Report. Unmitigated climate change will deal a significant blow to state coffers, according to new work from a national security group. A state-by-state map detailing the economic, public health and tourism impacts of climate change across the 50 states was rolled out by the bipartisan American Security Project this week. It is expected to become fodder for future climate policy debates. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/22/4 Carbon-Footprint Labels Face Obstacles In Calculations, Recognition. Despite pushes for eco-consciousness, few consumers recognize carbon-footprint labels at the store, and even fewer agree on how emissions should be calculated in the first place for common products. While some countries have begun developing labeling schemes, there are no international standards, and the United States falls behind countries such as Japan and France. In many cases, consumers must turn to online carbon-footprint calculators. Disagreements on how to calculate carbon footprints continue to be an impediment. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/22/18 FUELS Linking Mileage to Pump Price. Auto makers are pushing to link federal fuel-economy and emissions targets to the price of gasoline, saying consumers won't pay enough for fuel-efficient cars to make them profitable if gas prices aren't high. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the industry's main trade group, is proposing that regulators periodically review gas prices and other market factors, and scale back fuel-mileage and emissions requirements if gas prices don't hit certain targets. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704889404576276782973215212.html Court Declines To Rehear Case On Renewable Fuel Standard. A federal appeals court today declined to reconsider its decision to reject the petroleum industry's challenge of U.S. EPA's biodiesel blending requirements. In December, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia held that EPA had followed the correct procedures in issuing the new regulations (E&ENews PM, Dec. 21, 2010). Today, the court rejected a request from the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association and the American Petroleum Institute that the entire court rehear the case en banc. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/22/17 VEHICLES Cupertino Looks Into Installing Electric Car Charging Stations At City Hall. The city of Cupertino plans to leverage grant money to bring electric car charging stations near city hall and the Cupertino Library. The council unanimously voted earlier this month to bring stations to Rodrigues Avenue. The city is accepting a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and plans to partner with Coulomb Technologies, a Campbell-based business that deploys charging stations in municipalities, utilities, office buildings and parking garages. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/san-jose-neighborhoods/ci_17904678?nclick_check=1 GREEN ENERGY Opportunities For California Seen In China's Green-Tech Industries. China's leadership in the green technology sector represents "a wake-up call" for California companies but it also provides opportunities, a top state official said Wednesday. In just a few years, China went from being "barely on the map" to the largest manufacturer of solar panels and the largest energy consumer in the world, said Margret Kim, a deputy director at the California Environmental Protection Agency and head of the agency's China program. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/21/v-print/3568509/opportunities-for-california-seen.html In Oakland, A Creative Strategy for Financing the City's Solar Roofs. The city of Oakland, Calif., is getting its residents to help build out a clean energy economy, one solar tile at a time. By selling 5,000 tiles at $100 each to locals, the city is aiming to piece together entire rooftop solar arrays at seven budget-strapped schools, youth centers and houses of worship. Posted. http://solveclimatenews.com/news/20110422/oakland-creative-strategy-financing-citys-solar-roofs REGION: More Builders Turning To Eco-Friendly Practices. The average customer at the University Avenue McDonald's in Riverside probably doesn't realize that the restaurant's water is heated by solar power, its countertops are made with recycled glass and the parking lot's permeable pavers eliminate polluting storm water runoff. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_earthday22.132b57d.html Regulators, Recyclers And Retailers Build 'Urban Mining' Industry. Each year, new electronics hit the market and capture consumers' attention, giving them reason to throw away the old VCR or standard television and engross themselves in state-of-the-art gadgetry. Most of the time, the old electronics end up in the garbage, despite holding plenty of reusable material. But a push for recycling them has gained ground in recent years through both new state laws and a developing "e-recycling" industry. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/22/2 Google Exec Hopes New Wind Power Deal May Spark Industry Trend. San Francisco -- Google Inc.'s point man on energy hopes a deal the company cut yesterday for 100 megawatts of wind power to fuel a data center in Oklahoma sparks a trend that others in the information technology sector will soon follow. Bill Weihl, Google's green energy czar, spoke about the contract with NextEra Energy Resources during a conference here in which he explained why the Internet search giant decided to pursue its second agreement to date with the wind power developer. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/22/5 A National Clean Energy Standard Should Curb Natural Gas Use, Group Says. A national clean energy standard could fail to spark future renewable energy technologies if the program doesn't cap utilities' use of natural gas, according to a leading think tank. The system proposed by President Obama to double low-emission electricity by 2035 will also need to regulate at least 666 utilities, which produce 92 percent of the nation's power, to approach the goal of generating 80 percent clean energy nationwide, the group says. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/22/7 MISCELLANEOUS As Consumers Cut Spending, ‘Green’ Products Lose Allure. When Clorox introduced Green Works, its environment-friendly cleaning line, in 2008, it secured an endorsement from the Sierra Club, a nationwide introduction at Wal-Mart, and it vowed that the products would “move natural cleaning into the mainstream.” Sales that year topped $100 million, and several other major consumer products companies came out with their own “green” cleaning supplies. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/22/business/energy-environment/22green.html?scp=4&sq=green%20energy&st=cse&gwh=2862090C679582777EAC73826D6D2398 OPINION The Clean Air Act Keeps Us Healthy. Congress can't be trusted to interfere with the EPA's scientific standards. I love American success stories. Start-up companies that change the marketplace, inventors who create new technologies, and, of course, immigrants who make it big in Hollywood. That's why I love the Clean Air Act, one of the most successful laws in American history. Over the last 40 years, it has made our air dramatically cleaner, saved hundreds of thousands of lives, and substantially boosted our economy. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703789104576273120525192318.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Editorial: Battle Of The Greenhouse Gas Regulators. It's risky to predict what the U.S. Supreme Court will do, but a broad consensus in the media this week concluded justices are likely to dismiss a case brought by California and five other states seeking to use "public nuisance" lawsuits to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. That would be the proper decision. The issue is which arm of government is appropriate for the task. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/greenhouse-297408-court-epa.html BLOGS In Texas, Questions of Drought and Climate Change. The severe drought across Texas has hit the oil and gas city of Midland especially hard, as I reported in Friday’s New York Times and Texas Tribune. Since Oct. 1, Midland has received only 0.13 inches of rainfall — making it “most likely the driest six-and-a-half-month period in recorded history,” said David Hennig, a Midland-based meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/22/in-texas-questions-of-drought-and-climate-change/?pagemode=print For a Few, Focus on Green Products Pays Off. These days, it seems, the provenance of green products matters. Manufacturers who have long aligned themselves with environmental causes, like Seventh Generation and Method, have rebounded better from the recession than the “green” lines of larger, more traditional manufacturers. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/rebound-for-product-makers-with-green-focus/?gwh=D0FD3DA5D3C816F0B1B5644457371ABF Smog Season Is Almost Here -- And We're The Culprits, Too. Take a look back 10 years ago in the San Joaquin Valley's ozone records and see how bad it was: 162 violations in summer 2001. Ouch. So, flash forward to last year and note there were only 93. Improvement, yes. You can see it when you look at the chart of violations. But the Valley still has major ozone problems. The months of July and August are still an assault on the lungs. And most of us are culprits. Posted. http://fresnobeehive.com/news/2011/04/smog_season_is_almost_here_--.html#storylink=misearch Greenpeace Gives Apple Low Marks On Green Tech. ust in time for Earth Day, Greenpeace published a report Thursday on cloud computing that asserts Apple is the company with the dirtiest data. The report looks at the practices of several tech companies that rely on cloud computing and scored the companies on coal power use, policy transparency, data center sites and how the companies offset their energy use. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/greenpeace-gives-apple-low-marks-on-green-tech/2011/04/21/AFWWPwOE_blog.html Solar Panels Boost Home Prices. A new study from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab could help California's homeowners decide whether or not to "go solar." Researchers found that on average, homeowners who recently installed solar photovoltaic (PV) panels recouped most or all of their investment when they sold their homes. “A house that has a PV system compared to a house that doesn’t have a PV system is expected to sell for more,” said Ben Hoen, the lead researcher on the study and a principal research associate at Berkeley Lab. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/04/22/report-solar-panels-boost-home-prices/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 Going Green For Innovation. As a former member of the California Coastal Commission, the California Air Resources Board and current member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I have long been an active steward of environmental issues. What these experiences have taught me is that it is difficult to be an environmentalist without encountering some sort of paradox that suggests otherwise. Posted. http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-a-environment/157333-going-green-for-innovation?tmpl=component&print=1&page= ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 11:49:11 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 25, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 25, 2011. 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 Planners To Hear Quarry Dispute. Jan Tucker and her husband hope to retire to the dream home they bought last June in Temecula. But they see a shadow looming over their plans: an open-pit mine proposed for the foothills just outside the city limits. Like most opponents, she worries that the quarry will lead to pollution, traffic backups and other problems that will ruin the area's quality of life. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_squarry24.25341c0.html Sky Savers Program Offers Consumers Way to Save Green and Go Green. Go green and save some green through the Sky Savers program, a public awareness campaign sponsored by the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District. Sky Savers offers consumers promotional discounts and coupons from eco-friendly and green businesses throughout Ventura County. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/22/sky-savers-program-offers-consumers-way-to-save-gr/ Western Environmental Says It's Not Necessarily Source Of Foul Odor. Soil plant defies state demands. Despite recent claims it has operated for years without the proper permits, Western Environmental Inc. continues to accept hazardous waste shipments at its Mecca plant and maintains it is complying with the law. Air quality and environmental health officials believe the soil-recycling facility is the main source of the unusually strong odor that has sickened Mecca residents downwind in recent months. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110423/NEWS01/104230315/1006/news01/Western-Environmental-says-s-not-necessarily-source-foul-odor CLIMATE CHANGE Report Prompts Debate, Soul Searching On Enviros' Cap-And-Trade Bill Tactics. A little-known associate professor at American University kicked a hornet's nest last week when he released a study that took aim at environmentalists' view of themselves as underdogs, outgunned in financing and exposure by "Big Oil," "Big Coal" and other industries interested in maintaining the regulatory status quo. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/25/3 DIESEL EMISSIONS NY Truckers Prevail in DERA Battle. Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that contractors engaged in state sponsored work are not required to abide by the requirements of that state's Diesel Emissions Reduction Act regulations. According to the wording of the DERA, passed by the New York legislature in 2006, diesel powered heavy-duty vehicles "owned by, operated by or on behalf of, or leased by" state agencies and certain public authorities were to be required to use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel … Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-print.asp?news_id=73583 FUELS HEMET: Slow-Fill CNG Station To Increase Efficiency. The city of Hemet will soon have a more efficient way to fill its clean-energy fleet of city vehicles. The City Council earlier this month approved a bid that will result in a new slow-fill compressed natural gas station at its city yard that will cut down on the number of times vehicles have to stop and fill up throughout the day. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_efill24.280e774.html Fuel For Car Or Cows? Many look to end corn subsidies for ethanol. Dairy and poultry industry leaders seek to end a state subsidy for corn-based ethanol, which they claim has driven up the price of their main feed. Meanwhile, the ethanol plant in Keyes has received a $1.88 million state grant for research on possible alternatives to corn for making the fuel. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/23/1657099/fuel-for-car-or-cowsmany-look.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/24/2362803/ethanol-aid-slammed-as-alternative.html#storylink=misearch VEHICLES Electric Vehicle Conference Drives Through Washington. The Electric Drive Transportation Association rolled its annual conference into Washington last week, bringing with it a parade of electric and hybrid vehicles charged with reconciling the country’s transportation, energy and climate demands. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/electric-vehicle-conference-drives-through-washington/2011/04/21/AFV2f5cE_story.html How Often Are Smog Checks Due? Q: Larry A. Roberts, a San Jacinto resident, asked about smog-check information mentioned in a column a few months ago. Another reader had asked whether SUVs are exempt from state smog checks (they're not). The answer mentioned that "vehicles registered in some ZIP codes within western Riverside and San Bernardino counties are subject to every-other-year smog checks." Roberts said in an email, "I thought the every-other-year smog check was throughout California. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_traffic25.2258272.html Program Aims At Fixing Clunkers. REPAIRS: A state plan will pay up to $975 to fix vehicles that fail the tailpipe portion of the smog check. Now is the time to take that smog-causing clunker out of the garage and get it fixed. A state program is offering California drivers up to $975 each to pay for testing, diagnosis and repair of vehicles that fail the tailpipe portion of the smog check. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/local/stories/PE_Biz_D_smogcheck23.1b2ef5c.html Will Buying An Electric Car Make An Environmental Difference? Sure, you might get a carpool sticker and a tax break. But if you buy an electric car, will it make much environmental difference? Experts say that depends on three factors: What were you driving before? How is your electricity generated? And how many other electric cars are going to be sold? In many cases, people who trade gasoline-powered cars for electric ones won't be dramatically lessening the smog they emit. Posted. http://www.dailydemocrat.com/ci_17918795?IADID=Search-www.dailydemocrat.com-www.dailydemocrat.com Discovery Could Make Fuel Cells Much Cheaper. One of the biggest issues with hydrogen fuel cells, aside from the lack of fueling infrastructure, is the high cost of the technology. Fuel cells use a lot of platinum, which is frightfully expensive and one reason we’ll pay $50,000 or so for the hydrogen cars automakers say we’ll see in 2015. That might soon change. Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a platinum-free catalyst in the cathode of a hydrogen fuel cell that uses carbon, iron and cobalt. Posted. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/04/discovery-makes-fuel-cells-orders-of-magnitude-cheaper/ GREEN ENERGY Easier To Track Renewable Energy Sources At New Cal ISO HQ. In a major milestone for the state's renewable-energy program, California wind farms delivered a record amount of electricity last week, while the output from solar power approached last year's all-time highs. The California Energy Commission and the California Independent System Operator Corp., which runs most of the state's transmission lines, said solar and wind producers as of Friday generated nearly 9 percent of the state's peak demand, or enough electricity to light about 2.2 million homes. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/23/v-print/3573198/easier-to-track-renewable-enery.html Being Green: Power Shift Vs. The Powers That Be. More than 10,000 people converged in Washington, D.C., this past week to discuss, organize, mobilize and protest around the issue of climate change. While Tax Day tea party gatherings of a few hundred scattered around the country made the news, this massive gathering, Power Shift 2011, was largely ignored by the media. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110423/WIRE/110429750# Solar: California's New Gold Rush. Green energy offers the prospect of an economic boon, but some worry the environmental, cultural cost is too high. It's been called California's second gold rush: the clamor by large solar companies to stake a claim in southern California's open deserts and capture one of its most abundant resources — sunlight. While many cheer the cleaner energy and economic possibilities utility-scale solar development may bring to a job-starved region, some environmentalists … Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/print/article/20110424/NEWS07/104240320/Solar-California-s-new-gold-rush U.S. Solar Surges, Wind Stalls – Report. Electricity generation from solar panels nearly doubled in the United States last year on favorable state and federal incentives, but the number of new wind installations dropped by half compared to prior years, according to a new report from federal energy regulators. Grid-connected solar photovoltaics added almost 1,000 megawatts last year, up from about 500 megawatts in 2009, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff says in its annual "State of the Markets" report released last week. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/25/9 Eye On The Environment: Do Some Research, Then Go Solar. We represent three competing solar panel installation companies, and we are teaming up to write this column because there has never been a better time to "go solar." Utility incentives are declining, prices have dropped, and our country and environment need solar energy more than ever. Fortunately, federal tax credits are in place through 2016. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/23/do-some-research-then-go-solar/ Electric Mowers Still Available. Air quality officials have trimmed the cost of switching from gasoline-powered lawn mowers to cleaner electric models. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is offering a limited number of vouchers that enable residents to pay just $50 for a cordless electric mower with a 14-inch blade or $100 for a 19-inch version. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/24/1658561/electric-mowers-still-available.html MISCELLANEOUS Pediatricians Want Tighter Regulation Of Chemicals. Pediatricians say the U.S. should more tightly regulate chemicals in consumer products because studies show children are at risk. Alarmed by studies showing children are vulnerable to toxic chemicals in scores of consumer products, the nation's largest pediatricians group is joining a campaign to overhaul how the U.S. regulates hazardous substances. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-kid-chemicals-20110425,0,3365437,print.story OPINION The Climate Tort Goes Down. Even liberal Justices can't abide this theory... How unconvincing is the green legal doctrine of the climate tort? So much so that not a single Justice seemed persuaded when the Supreme Court heard oral arguments last Tuesday—even some of the liberals questioned the theory with Scalia-like vigor. In American Electric Power Co. v. Connecticut, a group of state attorneys general are suing five utilities, claiming their carbon emissions are a "nuisance" under common law. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704658704576274930992503832.html?mod=googlenews_wsj BLOGS Sizing Up the Greenest Colleges. For environmentally conscious students, choosing a school with green principles is getting a little easier. This week the Princeton Review, the test prep firm and creator of popular college guides, and the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization in Washington, released their second annual listing of the 311 greenest colleges in the country. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/22/greenest-colleges/?gwh=C40611EB1B127AD95413D21F5A2F9239 Chris Paine Stages a Discussion of the Electric Car’s Future at the Tribeca Film Festival. Chris Paine, whose 2006 documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?” admonished General Motors for taking a not-so-metaphorical wrecking ball to the automaker’s EV1 electric-vehicle program, has returned with “Revenge of the Electric Car.” The film had its premiere on Saturday in New York during the Tribeca Film Festival. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/chris-payne-joins-a-discussion-of-the-electric-cars-future-at-the-tribeca-film-festival/?gwh=1054B9F45D456908E5CC44D7D6922ED3 Are La Nina And Global Warming Behind The Extreme Tornado Activity? Tornadoes have been descending from angry skies with a frequency that may become unmatched in official records of April twisters. Cities, small towns, rural hamlets - even international airports - have suffered severe damage. The atmosphere has been behaving like an unruly teenager, with 275 tornadoes recorded so far this month. In order for tornadoes to form, several factors have to combine in just the right way. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/are-la-nina-and-global-warming-behind-the-extreme-tornado-activity/2011/04/25/AFHoAiiE_blog.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:06:26 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 26, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 26, 2011. 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 Mecca-Area Residents Air Their Odor Concerns. With a faint, gas-like smell drifting in the air, about 30 Mecca residents and students gathered in the Saul Martinez Elementary School cafeteria to express their concerns about the noxious odor outbreaks that have affected the east valley community since late 2010. It was the first of two meetings scheduled this week to address the problem. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110426/NEWS08/104260308/Mecca-area-residents-air-their-odor-concerns?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage Houston Mayor Asks Impact Statement For Coal Plant. Houston—Houston Mayor Annise Parker has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to require an environmental impact statement for developers of a coal-fired electric power plant proposed for the shores of Matagorda Bay. The 1,200-megawatt White Stallion Energy Center project proposed for Bay City, about 75 miles south of downtown Houston and outside the federal air pollution non-attainment area covering Houston, Galveston and Brazoria County. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_17926580 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17926580 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17926580 CLIMATE CHANGE Calif. Judge Has Carbon Market Choice: Point Carbon. Washington (Reuters) - Plaintiffs in a case targeting California's planned greenhouse gases market on Monday offered a judge a choice of plans to redress failings by the state in rolling out its plan. The court could either put on hold the so-called cap-and-trade market or take the much broader step of halting implementation of the state's full global warming law, including fuel standards and other programs. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/25/us-california-carbon-idUSTRE73O5MF20110425 Clean Air Act Not ‘Ideal’ to Regulate Carbon, Jackson Says. Environmental Protection Agency rules using the Clean Air Act to limit greenhouse gases aren’t an “ideal tool” to cut emissions and combat climate change, agency Administrator Lisa Jackson said. President Barack Obama’s EPA in January began limiting the gases, using the law after Congress failed to pass legislation last year. While the rules are needed to start curbing heat- trapping emissions, legislation is the preferred step, Jackson said today at an energy conference in Washington. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-04-26/clean-air-act-not-ideal-to-regulate-carbon-jackson-says-1-.html Climate Change May Not Dramatically Affect California's Precipitation Or Runoff. The Southwest is likely to become drier and the Columbia River Basin may become wetter, while the effect in California remains unclear, U.S. study finds. Precipitation and runoff in California's major river basin will not fall dramatically with climate change, according to a new federal study that shows rising temperatures will have an uneven effect on the West's water supplies. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-climate-water-20110426,0,4447240.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Flocal+%28L.A.+Times+-+California+|+Local+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Report Stresses Impact Of Global Warming On Valley. Washington -- Global warming in the Central Valley could increase flooding, shrink salmon habitat and invite in more invasive species, scientists conclude in a new report. Snow will melt sooner in the Sierra Nevada, the report predicts. Rain will replace snow altogether in some places. Fisheries will stress out. Surface water will be harder to come by, and groundwater will be drained, as average temperatures rise. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/25/v-print/2363994/valley-warming-could-increase.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/25/1660711/study-climate-shift-means-big.html Imports Offset Developed Countries' Emissions Reductions – Study. Developed countries have canceled out their emissions reductions by increasing their imports from developing countries, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Though developed countries have collectively reduced their emissions by nearly 2 percent between 1990 and 2008, their emissions have actually increased by 7 percent when international trade, both imports and exports, has been taken into account. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/26/14 Fact Check: The NDP's Cap-And-Trade Revenue Plan. With only a week before Canadians head to the polls, the Liberals have launched fresh attacks on the surging NDP, accusing Jack Layton of using "fantasy money" to pay for his campaign promises. While both the Liberals and the Conservatives have turned attacks toward Layton's party, the NDP maintains that they are the only party with a "fully-costed" campaign plan. Posted. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/print/CTVNews/20110425/fact-check-ndp-green-policy-110425/20110425/?hub=SpecialEvent7&subhub=PrintStory DIESEL EMISSIONS Valley Truck Operators Say They Can't Afford Cleaner Trucks. Between the rising price of diesel fuel, increased competition in the trucking industry and other growing expenses, Jaime Robles said replacing his small fleet of five trucks may be impossible for him to afford. And retrofitting them with filters to capture more pollutants that can cost thousands of dollars per truck seems no more within his budget. But new state regulations starting Jan. 1 will require him and other commercial diesel truck owners to buy newer-model trucks with cleaner emissions or retrofit them with special filters to clean up emissions. Posted. http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20110426/NEWS01/104260312 CARB Fines Ships For Bunker Fuel – Will Chinese Ship Comply In CA? Truck drivers have seen smog from oceanliners billowing above ports at left and right coasts for years, and wondered why environmental agencies like the California Air Resources Board haven’t seemed to punish these ships as often as trucks. In reality, CARB does fine shipping lines for breaking emission rules. CARB announced it has fined three European-based shippers a total of $161,000 for using bunker fuel while in regulated California waters. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Apr11/042511/042511-02.shtml FUELS Ethanol Sales Sluggish Amid E85 Push. Despite a push from ethanol lobbyists to get consumers to use higher blends of it, sales of E85 are slow even in the Midwest. Critics of ethanol say that motorists who have vehicles that can use E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, often don't buy it. "Even in states where E85 pumps are concentrated, actual sales of E85 have been stagnant," Shane Karr, a lobbyist for the auto industry, said to a Senate committee this month. The fuel is supposed to be used only in vehicles specially equipped to run on ethanol. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/26/10 The Golden Landfill State: California Democrats Continue To Block Use Of Waste For Biofuels. In California, Jim Stewart, Chairman of the Board, BioEnergy Producers Association reports: “Democrats on California’s environmental committees, for more than six years, have blocked corrective legislation that would enable the state to make constructive use of its organic wastes as a feedstock for the sustainable production of advanced non-food derived biofuels and electricity. Posted. http://biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2011/04/26/the-golden-landfill-state-california-democrats-continue-to-block-use-of-waste-for-biofuels/ VEHICLES Zipcar Adds More Vehicles In Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz - With six months of operation under their fan belts, the verdict is in: the county's new Zipcars are a success. Monday, Ecology Action announced that three more cars are hitting the streets: two near Whole Foods on Soquel Avenue and another at Olive and Mission streets on Santa Cruz's Westside, bringing the total to nine. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17926730 Deloitte Survey: Chinese Market Could Spark Mass Adoption Of Evs. The survey, conducted among 1,163 consumers in China, coincides with China's 12th five year plan to increase the amount of EVs on the roads, as well as produce a million cars each year by the end of the decade. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/56920110426.php Cheap Platinum Substitute Could Crack The Fuel Cell Puzzle – Researchers. Expensive platinum could be substituted with a roughly zero-cost material in electricity-producing fuel cells, researchers believe, in a discovery they say could significantly shift the economics of the elusive technology. Scientists with the Energy Department's Los Alamos National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory teamed up in pursuit of an alternative to platinum that could match the precious metal's power output, efficiency and longevity. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/26/4 Ford Posts Best 1Q Profit In 13 Years. Ford posted its best first-quarter profit in 13 years, as its new, more fuel-efficient vehicles reached showrooms during a surge in gasoline prices. New arrivals such as the Ford Explorer and Fiesta small car are selling well. Company profits are growing around the world. And Ford is charging more for its cars, helping offset higher commodity costs. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_4f39bedf-d875-5073-a1aa-444a4b9f317c.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/apr/26/ford-posts-best-1q-profit-13-years/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS GREEN ENERGY SMUD Gets $1 Million For Smart Grid Project. The California Energy Commission has awarded a $1 million grant to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District for its regional smart grid project. The state grant comes on top of more than $127 million in federal stimulus money already granted for the project, which will modernize SMUD's transmission system. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/26/1660492/smud-gets-1-million-for-smart.html Wind Power Surpasses Record Peak In Calif. Wind production in California hit a record peak last week of 2,432 megawatts available statewide, accounting for about 5 percent of total electricity demand, according to the state's grid operator. The California Independent System Operator, or Cal ISO, said in a statement that this year's peak wind power outpaced last year's record of 1,915 MW. Peak refers to the amount of generation available when demand is highest. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/26/6 Labor, Business Groups Launch Push For Local Renewables. A group of 25 labor, business and environmental groups are pushing for California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) to fulfill his campaign pledge of a massive local renewable energy buildout. The CLEAN Coalition announced today it would lobby for a feed-in tariff for utilities to purchase power from small renewable projects on the distribution grid. California has several programs to promote utility purchases of local generation, but none offer a set, fixed price, as a feed-in tariff does. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/26/25 OPINION Battling Over the Climate War. After cap-and-trade finally died in the U.S. Senate last year, it didn't take long before we all started asking what went wrong—and who was to blame. There was no shortage of explanations: a plummeting economy and high unemployment made it impossible to sell major environmental legislation; the White House chose to prioritize health care legislation and never really pushed the climate bill; the simple mathematics of the Senate, with its 60-vote requirement and overrepresentation of industrial and agricultural regions, simply made passage impossible. Posted. http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2011/04/25/battling-over-the-climate-war/ BLOGS Legislation To Kill Air Resources Board Rejected In Assembly. Legislation to abolish the California Air Resources Board has been killed by a legislative committee. The proposal by Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, died Monday in the Assembly's Natural Resources Committee on a party-line vote, with Democrats opposed to the measure. Assembly 1332 would have transferred the Air Resources Board's duties, powers and jurisdiction to the state Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/04/legislation-to-abolish-air-res.html Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf Earn Top Marks in First U.S. Crash Tests. In the first independent crash tests of mainstream electric vehicles conducted in the United States, the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf have been named Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/chevrolet-volt-and-nissan-leaf-earn-top-marks-in-first-u-s-crash-tests/?scp=2&sq=vehicles&st=cse Poll: Americans Chilly On Global Warming Fears. Global warming isn't making Americans sweat as much as it used to do. More than half of the U.S. respondents to a new Gallup Poll said it posed a "somewhat serious" or "very serious" threat, but the percentage slipped from 63% in 2007-2008 to 53% last year. Our Corky Siemaszko writes: Concern about global warming also declined in much of Europe, where the fear factor among French respondents dropped steeply from 75% in 2007-2008 to 59% last year. Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2011/04/poll-americans-chilly-on-global-warming-fears Global Warming, Temperatures, Turtles And Toilets. We kid you not. The global warming mania that swept the nation is subsiding, but in its wake it’s left a horde of unnecessary and counterproductive laws, and more than a few unintended unpleasant consequences. Exhibit #1 – “Federal officials have told a solar developer to stop work on two-thirds of a construction site in northeast San Bernardino County because no more tortoises can be disturbed,” reports Heliogenic.net. Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2011/04/25/global-warming-temperatures-turtles-and-toilets-we-kid-you-not/44237/ Start-Up Commercializing NC State Technology For Drop-In Biofuels; Full Commercial Production Targeted For 2016. Avjet Biotech, Inc. (ABI), a developer of small distributive refining systems in the 10 to 15 million gallon per year range and parent company of Red Wolf Refining, has licensed exclusive rights to a technology portfolio developed at North Carolina State University (NCSU) for producing drop-in diesel, jet and gasoline hydrocarbon fuels from triglycerides (fats), and for producing products from genetically modified marine microalgae (earlier post). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/avjet-20110425.html#more GM: 90% of Chevy Volt Customers Are New To GM, Most Trading In A Prius. General Motors says customers love their new Chevy Volts – and the number one vehicle they are leaving behind is the Toyota Prius. Quoting some interesting statistics from an early GM Volt Customer Satisfaction survey, GM's marketing manager for the Chevrolet Volt and EV Technologies, Rob Peterson, says the Volt launch is exceeding GM's expectations. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/article.flash.php?Id=1969&AlertDate=2011-04-22 Los Angeles Cuts Red Tape, Offers Rebates on Electric Car Charging. In just under a week, electric vehicle owners in Los Angeles will be find that owning an electric car will have got a lot easier. As part of a program recently announced by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, residents of the city will be able to fast-track applications to install electric vehicle charging stations in their homes, receiving a decision in just seven days. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/article.flash.php?Id=1966&AlertDate=2011-04-22 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:21:02 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 27, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 27, 2011. 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 L.A., Bakersfield Remain Among U.S.'S Most Polluted Cities, Report Says.American Lung Assn. says smog and soot levels dropped significantly in Southern California over the last decade, but the L.A. area remains the worst region in the nation for ozone pollution. Smog and soot levels have dropped significantly in Southern California over the last decade, but the Los Angeles region still has the highest levels of ozone nationwide, violating federal health standards an average of 137 days a year. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-california-air-20110427,0,4423301,print.story Lung Group Rates Ozone Here As 5th Worst In U.S. In its annual "State of the Air" report released today, the American Lung Association ranks Sacramento as the fifth-worst metropolitan area in the country for ozone pollution during the 2007-09 period. The area is tied for 11th worst for short-term particle pollution during the same three-year span. Bonnie Holmes-Gen, senior policy director of the American Lung Association in California, noted the local region is improving due to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and wood burned in fireplaces. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/27/v-print/3581570/lung-group-rates-ozone-here-as.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/27/1662356/lung-group-rates-ozone-here-as.html Air Quality: Several Bay Area Counties Fail Survey. Periodic spikes in ozone levels and the choke-inducing fine particle pollution from diesel engines and smokestacks earned several Bay Area jurisdictions poor marks in air quality, according to a nationwide report card released today. A county-by-county analysis by the American Lung Association in California gave failing marks to Santa Clara, Solano and Contra Costa counties. But the Bay Area lapses pale in comparison with the persistent, noxious air in places like Los Angeles, Visalia and Bakersfield, which earned the association's title for worst air in the nation. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/27/BADE1J7SUK.DTL&type=printable Area Gets F For Air Pollution. Long Beach - Despite decades of progress, air in the Long Beach-Los Angeles area remains among the nation's most polluted and potentially dangerous, according to a new report. The region received an F for the number of days where smog-producing ozone reaches unhealthy levels, averaging 91 days, according to a detailed study by the American Lung Association released Tuesday. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_17936596?nclick_check=1 U.S. Metro Areas With Dirtiest Air Get Cleaner. Most U.S. cities with the dirtiest air are getting cleaner, but about half of Americans still live in areas where it's often difficult to breathe, the American Lung Association reports today. The group's 12th annual "State of the Air" report comes amid congressional efforts to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from using the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. "We're very pleased to report great progress," American Lung Association President Charles Connor said in announcing the findings, based on the most recently available EPA data. Yet he cautioned, "Air pollution remains a very real health threat." Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2011-04-27-city-smog-epa-dirty-air_n.htm?csp=34news Inland Empire's Air Some Of Worst In Nation. Riverside County residents continue to breathe some of the most polluted air in the nation, a report released today shows. Riverside County received an “F” for its air quality in the nationwide American Lung Association “State of the Air” report —a grade it's received every year since the report began in 1999. The county ranked fourth in the nation for the most polluted by particulates, such as dust and factory smoke, in a 24-hour period. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110427/NEWS07/104270308/Inland-Empire-s-air-some-worst-nation?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage REGION: Lung Association Gives Region 'F' On Air Quality. Despite recent improvements in air quality, the American Lung Association has flunked San Diego and Riverside counties on air pollution standards in its annual State of the Air report. The association gave both counties an F. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/article_6dfb9efe-04c0-5591-ad66-0003151c951f.html QUARRY: Hearing Fuels Cheers And Jeers. Six years of debate and emotion over a proposed open-pit mine just south of Temecula fueled applause, cheers, boos and sarcastic laughter that annoyed Riverside County planning commissioners during seven hours of testimony in a public hearing Wednesday that drew more than 1,000 people. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/temecula/stories/PE_News_Local_D_quarry27.2c2131061.html Bakersfield Again No. 1 For Particle Pollution. Bakersfield has in recent years seen some of the lowest levels of smog-producing ozone ever measured in the southern San Joaquin Valley, along with significant improvements in particle pollution. But that progress didn't save Bakersfield from being ranked the most polluted city in the nation by the American Lung Association's 12th annual "State of the Air" report released today. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x16510738/Bakersfield-again-No-1-for-particle-pollution Grants Aim To Reduce Air Pollution In Placer County. Auburn, Calif., -- The Placer County Air Pollution Control District recently announced that it is awarding $1 million in 2011 Clean Air Grant funds to 15 projects that will reduce air pollution in Placer County. “The Clean Air Grant program directly supports our primary goal of improving Placer County’s air quality,” said Tom Christofk, Placer County Air Pollution Control Officer. “It’s important that we support proactive approaches to reduce harmful emissions in the County. Posted. http://www.rocklintoday.com/news/templates/community_news.asp?articleid=9884&zoneid=4 CLIMATE CHANGE Do Americans Care About Climate Change Anymore? Talk of global warming has given way to green jobs and energy security. Earth Day, for some, is a yearly excuse to throw on a tie-dyed T-shirt, spend some time in the sun, and get some grass between the toes. In years past, it had also marked an opportunity for liberal policymakers and environmentalists to band together to warn about the effects of climate change. But today, climate change has taken a back seat to talk of clean technologies and energy security. Posted. http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/04/27/do-americans-care-about-climate-change-anymore_print.html All Roads Lead To Home. Housing and transportation—the yin and yang of county planning. When the state Legislature passed two bills aimed at improving the environment, it seemed a laudable goal but a bit abstract for many. Well, the abstract is becoming reality as Marin and the rest of the state look at how those goals influence long-range planning. The first key piece of legislation, AB 32, became law in 2006. It mandates a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020—a 30 percent decrease. Posted. http://pacificsun.com/news/story_print.php?story_id=3043 VEHICLES Green Claims Of Diesel Cars Disputed. London (Reuters) - Modern diesel cars may not be as clean as previously thought, say some experts as regulators try to roll out industry standards to satisfy "green" consumers. Filter technologies have cleaned up diesel cars traditionally viewed as far more polluting than gasoline rivals, but their soot emissions are now underestimated, say some analysts. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/27/uk-autos-emissions-idUSLNE73Q02H20110427 Hybrid, Battery Car Demand Limited by Cost, Utility, J.D. Power Study Says. Demand for hybrid and rechargeable cars may stay below 10 percent of U.S. sales through at least 2016, even as fuel prices rise, because of consumer concerns about their expense and utility, J.D. Power & Associates said. Hybrids’ higher cost compared with gasoline-powered autos and the limited driving range per charge of all-electric and plug-in cars limits their appeal, J.D. Power said in its U.S. Green Automotive Study released today. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-04-27/hybrid-battery-car-demand-limited-by-cost-utility-study-says.html Queen Of The Road: COMMUTER: I Am Thinking Of Converting My 2005 Prius To A Plug-In Electric. Will I be able to get a white sticker to drive solo in the carpool lane on Jan. 1? Darryl in Martinez. QUEEN: Darryl, the Queen is so glad you wrote in about this. Owners of hybrids such as the Prius soon will be getting notifications from the DMV that their carpool privileges expire on July 1. Hence, your question is most timely. How can conscientious, gasoline-conserving drivers continue to enjoy driving in the carpool lane with only one passenger? Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/columns/ci_17926589 Mitsubishi I To Debut In Hawaii First, Then West Coast States. Mitsubishi's entry into the electric car market will begin in Hawaii, California, Oregon and Washington by the end of the year. The car is set to roll out nationwide in 2012, the company revealed last week. Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc., plans to market its Mitsubishi i on the low end of the EV market, with a sticker price of $27,990 for its base model. That cost could be lowered further still by state rebates and a federal tax credit of $7,500. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/27/5 GREEN ENERGY Santa Clara Solar Startup Miasolé Announces Consulting Deal With Intel. MiaSolé, a Santa Clara solar startup that makes thin-film photovoltaic solar panels, announced Tuesday a unique consulting agreement with chip manufacturing powerhouse Intel (INTC) to help it ramp up production. Under the yearlong contract, a dozen employees from Intel's Technical Manufacturing Services will work at MiaSolé, providing everything from employee training and strategic consulting to operational knowledge. Under the contract, Intel gets paid only as MiaSolé achieves a set of agreed-upon manufacturing milestones. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_17933557?nclick_check=1 MOJAVE DESERT: Solar Project Would Disturb Thousands Of Tortoises. More than 3,000 desert tortoises would be disturbed by a solar project in northeast San Bernardino County and as many as 700 young ones would be killed during three years of building, says a federal assessment issued Tuesday. The document, made public by the U.S. Bureau of Land of Management, was released about a week after federal officials ordered developer BrightSource Energy Co. to halt construction activity on two-thirds of the project area near Primm, Nev. Biologists hired by the company …Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_tortoises27.22ec228.html CSUSB To Offer 'Green Technology' Summer Courses. Cal State San Bernardino's College of Education and College of Extended Learning will jointly offer a new course this summer, "Exploration into Green Technology." The introductory course takes a look at some of the most popular green technology available today. "Exploration into Green Technology" will meet for five Wednesday evenings from June 29-July 27 from 6-9:50 p.m. at Cal State San Bernardino. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_N_ngreen27.22ee605.html Government Works To Push Down Price Of Solar. Santa Barbara — Much like the moonshot 50 years ago, the government is turning to the heavens to inspire a generation of scientists and innovators to help America reach its next big challenge. Only this time, it's the sun, not the moon, that is the object of desire. And instead of space travel, the focus is finding better ways to power the earth through the energy from the sun. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/26/government-works-to-push-down-price-of-solar/ Livermore Lab Launches Research On 'Wakes' Every time a wind turbine spins and generates power, it also generates "wakes," or invisible ripples caused by air hitting the blade. At the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, researchers are set to kick off a study on these wakes, with the aim to improve wind turbine efficiency. Jeff Mirocha, an atmospheric scientist at Livermore, said he hopes the research will lead to wind turbines "that will last longer and be more robust." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/27/7 Experts Call Marine Power Promising, Lacking Funding. In the past seven to eight years, several European nations spent a combined $500 to $600 million on marine hydrokinetic energy, the use of ocean waves, currents and heat to generate electricity. The United Kingdom alone invested $370 million. In contrast, the United States has invested just $150 million in the past 10 years in the technology, said Sean O'Neill, president of the Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition, a national trade association representing the emerging marine and hydrokinetic energy industry. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/27/8 OPINION Energy Deja Vu: Obama Must Break With Failed U.S. Policies. Despite soaring rhetoric and some promising proposals, President Obama is repeating the same mistakes that have doomed U.S. energy policy to failure for 40 years. Until Obama and Congress finally put a true price on the fossil fuels America consumes, the U.S. will continue its addiction to foreign oil and domestic coal. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/26/idUS125741760020110426 Greenhouse Gases: Too Hot For The Courts. A lawsuit filed by six states over greenhouse gases seems headed for defeat, but the EPA can still act. Despite the rants of some conservative politicians and fringe scientists, it's a fact that greenhouse gases produced by human activity contribute to global warming. Last week the Supreme Court considered one way that such emissions might be controlled: through a huge and unwieldy lawsuit brought by California and five other states against five power companies and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-warming-20110427,0,698112,print.story BLOGS The Many Shapes of Climate Knowledge. After I gave a talk at Pennsylvania State University not long ago, a professor there asked if I could share the slide I use to describe one source of confusion and disputes when people are yelling about “global warming” or “climate change.” Here’s an improved version of the slide, which I hope helps reveal that the issue can’t be meaningfully discussed without getting into some more specifics: The Many Shapes of Climate Knowledge. Confusion and division over “global warming” often grows out of the meaninglessness of the phrase on its own. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/the-many-shapes-of-climate-knowledge/?pagemode=print When Refrigerators Warm the Planet. The kitchen refrigerator is an obvious contributor to global warming because it usually sucks in electricity that was made by burning fossil fuels. But it turns out that the refrigerator does harm to the environment before it is even plugged in because the insulating foam in its innards is made with a gas that is more than 1,000 times worse, molecule for molecule, than carbon dioxide. General Electric GE’s first HFC-free model. Now, however, manufacturers are seizing on a single change can reduce both warming mechanisms at once. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/when-refrigerators-warm-the-planet/?pagemode=print U.S. Department Of Ed Unveils 'Green Ribbon Schools' Competition. The U.S. Department of Education announced today the creation of the Green Ribbon Schools program to recognize schools that are creating healthy and sustainable learning environments and teaching environmental literacy. The new awards program will be run by the Education Department with the support of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/blogs/thegrade/x592175859/U-S-Department-of-Ed-unveils-green-ribbon-schools-competition A Second Life for the Electric Car Battery. As I wrote in a recent Times article on electric car batteries, scientists are expecting big breakthroughs in battery technology over the next five years that will increase the range of electric cars while reducing their cost. But even with these advances, researchers acknowledge that any rechargeable battery will gradually lose its capacity to store energy after repeated cycles of charging and discharging. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/a-second-life-for-the-electric-car-battery/?gwh=100EBD7B5EEB85B92BBF042FCB3C2175 J.D. Power: Fuel-Pump Savings, Not Environmental Benefits, Inform Most Alternative-Powertrain Purchases. For most car shoppers, a green vehicle’s ability to save an owner money at the pump is a greater motivator for purchase than its lower environmental impact. That is one of the primary findings of the inaugural 2011 U.S. Green Automotive Study by J. D. Power and Associates, released Wednesday. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/j-d-power-fuel-pump-savings-not-environmental-benefits-inform-most-alternative-powertrain-purchases/?scp=1&sq=green%20vehicles&st=cse&gwh=DF1B97C4AE3A615F4A623B91A71CB20C Speed Bump for Big SoCal Solar Project. It had been a good month for BrightSource Energy, the Oakland-based company that's building the massive Ivanpah solar farm in the Mojave Desert. Google announced it would invest $168 million in the project. The Department of Energy announced $1.6 billion loan guarantee. And on Friday, the company announced it plans to go public with a $250 million initial public offering. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/04/26/speed-bump-for-big-socal-solar-project/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader What Are CO2e And Global Warming Potential (GWP)? This question and answer is part of the Guardian's ultimate climate change FAQ. CO2e, or carbon dioxide equivalent, is a standard unit for measuring carbon footprints. The idea is to express the impact of each different greenhouse gas in terms of the amount of CO2 that would create the same amount of warming. That way, a carbon footprint consisting of lots of different greenhouse gases can be expressed as a single number. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/apr/27/co2e-global-warming-potential/print ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:40:51 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 28, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 28, 2011. 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 State Clean Air Agencies Lose $112 Million in EPA Budget-Cutting. Washington—Those conducting triage on the gimpy EPA budget that limped out of the U.S. Capitol in mid-April describe the results this way: House Republicans might not have landed the gigantic bite they initially sought, but they still managed to launch their share of substantial licks. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/27/idUS132376617720110427 Valley's Bad Air Better, Slightly. Most of the San Joaquin Valley has reduced its air pollution, but the region still has some of the dirtiest air in the nation, said a report Wednesday from the American Lung Association. It said Stanislaus County had the 12th worst rate of particle pollution, including dust and other lung irritants, out of 277 areas surveyed from 2007 through 2009. It ranked 14th for ozone, a component of smog. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/27/1664193/valleys-bad-air-better-slightly.html CLIMATE CHANGE DOE Expert Sees Growth In China's GHG Emissions Stopping In 2 Decades -- If Everything Goes Right. China's energy use should flatten out sometime around 2030, with a similar leveling off of its greenhouse gas emissions, a federal researcher said yesterday. Mark Levine, director of the China Energy Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, said his research bucks the mainstream view that China's energy appetite is swelling indefinitely. Instead, as Levine and others argue in a report released yesterday, China will reach "saturation" around 2030 -- it simply won't have to make appliances, roads and raw materials at the pace it needs to right now. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/28/2 FUELS UCD Researcher Gains Grant For Biofuel Work. The National Science Foundation has awarded $407,000 to a University of California, Davis professor for her research on cellulosic biofuels. Tina Jeoh, a UC Davis assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering, will use the five-year award to study how microbial enzymes break down plant cell walls for the development of biofuels and other products. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/28/1664098/ucd-researcher-gains-grant-for.html http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=9856 China Coal-Fired Power Generation Share To Drop To 30% By 2050: Study. The use of coal-fired power plants in China to generate electricity will drop to as low as 30% by 2050 after the fossil fuel accounted for 74% of the country's electricity generation in 2005, according to a study released Thursday by the US-based Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The forecast is one of many made by the authors of the study, which analyzed current and past energy infrastructure and electricity demand trends in China in an effort to predict the future of the country's energy use and output of greenhouse gases linked to global warming. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/Coal/6033916 GREEN ENERGY Google: Renewable Energy Is Long-Term Effort. Washington (Reuters) - Google Inc has not given up on its goal of making renewable energy cheaper than coal for consumers but it is not predicting victory soon, its director of green business operations said. "We are still moving forward," said Rick Needham, in an interview at the company's office in Washington. "I think that is an important goal and a very aspirational goal, but we are doing what we can." Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/28/us-google-cleanenergy-idUSTRE73Q8IR20110428 State's Efficiency Law Quickly Cuts Computer Energy Demands – Report. A law signed by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) last year to cut energy use by state-owned computer systems and employees has already saved enough power to keep the lights on in 2,000 homes annually, the state said in a new analysis. The law, known as A.B. 2408, directed information technology managers of state systems to reduce electricity use by 20 percent by July 1 and another 20 percent by July 1, 2012. It went into effect about six months ago. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/28/5 Obama Highlights Energy Agenda At NYC Fundraisers. President Obama cast energy reform as a major piece of unfinished business for his administration in a trio of New York City fundraisers last night, defending his spending on renewable power and promising not "to sacrifice clean air and clean water" during deficit-reduction talks. The president's remarks came as Republicans gear up for a summer of slamming the White House over domestic fossil-fuel production policies that they blame for driving gas above $4 per gallon in many areas of the country. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/28/5 Small vs Big Solar: Small Solar Has Many Advantages. When we wrote our story, Small vs Large Solar, we thought we were alone in wondering why mammoth solar plants that cover thousands of acres of desert habitat were being emphasized over distributed solar that would cover the roofs of millions of buildings in the US. Posted. http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/22325 MISCELLANEOUS Boeing Prevails; State Cleanup Law Is Struck Down. Suit centered on polluted field lab site. A federal judge this week struck down as unconstitutional a landmark state law setting strict cleanup standards at a polluted former rocket engine and nuclear test site south of Simi Valley. Judge John F. Walter ruled the law, Senate Bill 990, unjustifiably singles out one site, the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, for "uniquely onerous treatment" with requirements not related to a legitimate state interest. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/apr/27/federal-judge-slaps-down-state-santa-susana-lab/?print=1 OPINION Viewpoints: Flame Retardants Are The Asbestos Of Our Time. A half century ago, asbestos seemed a wondrous material. Added to building insulation, brake pads and other products, the fibrous substance stopped the spread of fire and saved lives. But it has ended up killing countless others: Asbestos fibers lodge in the linings of the lungs, where they cause a fatal form of cancer called mesothelioma. There are more than 10,000 deaths per year due to the legacy of asbestos exposure. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/28/3584223/viewpoints-flame-retardants-are.html Warming Up To Climate-Change Rhetoric. Have you considered that our planet would die without carbon dioxide? Every living being — including humans — breathe in oxygen and exhale CO2. And, plants do the exact opposite. In fact, some people refer to CO2 as plant food. So, we have this cool, synergistic thing going on here between plants and animals. What, exactly, is the problem with this so-called phenomenon of global warming? Posted. http://www.santamariatimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/commentary/article_83bc341a-7155-11e0-a845-001cc4c002e0.html BLOGS U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projected to Grow Slowly. Even if the United States takes no explicit action to regulate greenhouse gases, emissions of carbon dioxide and other climate-altering substances will grow slowly over the next two decades, not returning to 2005 levels until 2027, according to a new projection from the Energy Information Administration, the research branch of the Energy Department. Carbon dioxide emissions fell by 3 percent in 2008 and 7 percent in 2009, largely because of the recession. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/u-s-greenhouse-gas-emissions-projected-to-grow-slowly/?pagemode=print American Lung Association to Los Angeles: Your Air Quality Sucks! The American Lung Association just released a health report Los Angeles politicians will most probably try to ignore, and hope the public will not notice, but facts are facts: Los Angeles' air quality sucks, and its residents are paying the price. According to the ALA's "State of the Air 2011" study, Los Angeles ranks number one in the United States with the worst "ozone pollution," number four with the worst "short-term particle pollution," and number two with the worst "annual particle pollution." Posted. http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/04/los_angeles_air_quality.php Why The Government Is Missing The Point In Chasing Reduced CO2 Emissions. The government's relentless pursuit of reducing CO2 emissions is at high risk of failure if it continues to miss the point about the reason for high outputs. By focusing less on CO2 and more on energy, we would have a much better chance of success in the short term. Current thinking simply fails to differentiate between supply side energy and demand side energy management. Long-term success is less certain and depends on fundamental changes in energy production. Posted. http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/industry-voice-blog/2045969/government-missing-chasing-reduced-co2-emissions What’s Next For The Enviro-Business Coalition That Defeated California’s Prop 23? Much of the green movement has been mounting a rearguard fight in Washington to fend off attempts to gut the U.S. EPA in the wake of the Republican sweep of the 2010 elections. California, as usual, is heading down a different road. The enviro-business coalition that defeated Prop 23, Texas oil companies' attempt to derail the state's global-warming law, is stepping up effort to push lawmakers to expand California's climate-change efforts. Posted. http://www.grist.org/cleantech/2011-04-27-whats-next-enviro-business-coalition-that-defeated-calif-prop-23 Review of Spencer’s ‘Great Global Warming Blunder’ A good writer knows their audience, and Roy Spencer knows his. There are plenty of people who would love to hear a compelling argument for why no action is needed to mitigate global warming, and Spencer’s book “The Great Global Warming Blunder: How Mother Nature Fooled the World’s Top Climate Scientists” will give uncritical readers the argument they’ve been looking for. Posted. http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2011/04/review-of-spencers-great-global-warming-blunder/ Want To Be An Energy Star Superstar? You, too, can be an Energy Star, as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Earth Month efforts to show how citizens all over the country are going green and saving money with energy efficient improvements. EPA’s “Be an Energy Star” video challenge encourages Americans to pick up their home video cameras and document all the ways they’re taking action on improving the energy efficiency of their homes, schools, workplaces and communities. Posted. http://www.earthtechling.com/2011/04/want-to-be-an-energy-star-superstar/ Imported Products Undo All Developed Countries' Emissions Reductions Since 1990. Here's some news that should be obvious on some level, but is now backed up with the data to prove it: the cuts in carbon emissions that developed countries have made since 1990 have been cancelled out "many" times over by increases in imported goods from developing countries. We already knew that we've been outsourcing our carbon emissions for years. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/04/imported-products-undo-all-developed-countries-emissions-reductions-since-1990.php ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 12:05:26 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 29, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 29, 2011. 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 Groups Call On BLM To Act Against Wyoming Ozone. Cheyenne, Wyo. -- Environmentalists are asking regulators to consider slowing the pace of gas drilling in western Wyoming after several days of severe ozone pollution last winter. Ozone levels in the Upper Green River Basin topped the highest levels in Los Angeles all last year. The ozone results from air pollution from gas drilling, which has picked up with the reviving economy. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/groups-to-blm-consider-drilling-slowdown-to-address-high-winter-ozone-in-wyoming-gas-fields/2011/04/29/AFcBV2DF_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/29/1666600/groups-call-on-blm-to-act-against.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/29/2369282/groups-call-on-blm-to-act-against.html#storylink=misearch West Trumps East and Midwest! (In terms of dirty air). America’s skies are cleaner than a few years ago, but many cities still have polluted air — and about half of Americans live in those places. That’s the upshot of a new report by the American Lung Assn. called State of the Air 2011. The annual report states: “Unhealthy air remains a threat to the lives and health of millions of people in the United States, despite great progress. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-air-quality-20110428,0,7268984,print.story Ads Spotlight Brown, Mccaskill Environmental Votes. The League of Women Voters is launching ads on TV and the Internet today highlighting votes by Sen. Scott Brown and Sen. Claire McCaskill to block air pollution standards. Brown, R-Mass., and McCaskill, D-Mo., are both up for re-election in 2012 in closely watched contests that could help decide which party is in power in the Senate. The League of Women Voters is highlighting Sen. Scott Brown's votes to limit the EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gases. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/04/scott-brown-claire-mccaskill-clean-air-league-of-women-voters-/1 Mecca Residents Want Soil-Recycler Closed. Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told an auditorium full of Mecca residents that they are investigating a soil-recycling plant for possible violations of federal hazardous waste regulations. The meeting at Saul Martinez Elementary School drew about 150 people, and many of them said they want the plant closed immediately. They blame the operation for strong chemical odors that they say have made people sick. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/environment/stories/PE_News_Local_D_mecca29.280fa43.html Officials Promise To Clear Foul Odor From Mecca Air. Residents, frustrated by pace of probes, press for timeline for results. The 200 or so Mecca residents who packed into the Saul Martinez Elementary School cafeteria Thursday received no new insight into what chemicals, particles or other substances could be causing the foul odors that have sickened scores in the community since December. But they did get renewed assurances from state and federal environmental health officials that the air quality tests will continue…Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110429/NEWS01/104290310/Officials-promise-clear-foul-odor-from-Mecca-air?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage Gag Reflexes Tested By Foul Stench In Mecca. A Strange Odor Started In December, Hasn't Gone Away. MECCA, Calif. -- A foul odor has plagued Mecca for months, forcing school evacuations, sending students and teachers to the hospital and on Thursday the South Coast Air Quality Management District held its second town hall meeting at Saul Martinez Elementary school this week to address the problem. The question-and-answer session got heated at times. Parents, teachers and local leaders voiced their concerns about the on-going stench. Posted. http://www.kesq.com/print/27713764/detail.html Draft Bill Offers Rule Exemptions For Coal-Burning. Draft legislation being circulated on Capitol Hill would exempt utilities from a host of air pollution rules if they agree to retire older coal-fired power plants by the end of 2020 or if they submit an alternative plan to U.S. EPA for ratcheting down sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants. Sources say the discussion draft was written by American Electric Power Co., a major multistate utility that has been lobbying Congress for more industry-friendly Clean Air Act rules and a longer time frame to comply with them. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/29/1 CLIMATE CHANGE Business Roundtable Urges EPA to Stop Greenhouse Gas Rules. The Business Roundtable, a group of chief executives officers from companies such as General Electric Co. (GE) and Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), urged the Obama administration to abandon efforts to regulate greenhouse gases from industrial polluters. The Washington-based association wants President Barack Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency to scrap the rules for power plants and oil refineries, giving Congress time to craft legislation, according to an e-mailed statement today. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-04-28/business-roundtable-urges-epa-to-stop-greenhouse-gas-rules-1-.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Oakland Port to Offer a Greener Power Supply to Berthed Ships. The Port of Oakland is about to start the construction of shore power connections at twelve of its berths, which will provide power from land to a vessel that is berthed or at the dock. Providing a land-based source of power is intended reduce the amount of pollution from ships burning diesel fuel while they are in port. Usually berthed ships keep auxiliary engines running in order to provide power to core ship functions and to cool cargo. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/environment/story/oakland-port-offer-greener-power-supply/print/ FUELS Amyris Builds Brazil Plant to Turn Sugar Into Renewable Source of Diesel. Amyris Inc. (AMRS), a U.S. biotechnology company, built its first industrial-scale facility to produce from sugar-cane syrup a compound that can be converted into a renewable fuel, tapping Brazil’s expansive cane industry for feedstock. The plant in Sao Paulo state on a property owned by Biomin do Brasil Nutricao Animal Ltda. will go into production next month, Emeryville, California-based Amyris said today in a statement. It will make farnesene, a compound that can be processed further into diesel or lubricants. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-04-29/amyris-builds-brazil-plant-to-turn-sugar-into-renewable-source-of-diesel.html EPA Stance on Natural-Gas Recovery Gets Support. Washington—Diesel fuel shouldn't be added to drilling fluids used to recover natural gas, the head of the American Gas Association said Thursday. The comments from Dave McCurdy, the industry group's president and CEO, came days after the Environmental Protection Agency said it would more closely regulate the use of diesel fuel in hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," a process that involves injecting drilling fluids into wells to free oil and natural gas trapped in shale formations deep underground. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704463804576291440236600946.html?mod=googlenews_wsj#printMode EPA Starts Work On Diesel Fracking Guidance. U.S. EPA is in discussions with industry to issue formal guidance on how drillers can perform hydraulic fracturing with diesel fuel, seeking to resolve an issue that has chipped away at the credibility of both the agency and industry. "We are in the process of engaging the public, industry, states and environmental groups as we develop permitting guidance for companies that use diesel fuel," EPA said in a statement, confirming a comment by Administrator Lisa Jackson to reporters earlier this week. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/29/3 VEHICLES BMW Launches Electric Car Compatibility App. Interested in buying an electric car, but not sure if it fits your lifestyle, commute, or needs? Auto maker BMW — which has been rather hesitant when it comes to EVs — recently launched an iPhone app , called EVolve, designed to help users discover if they are a good fit for owning an EV or not. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/28/idUS143810340120110428 Chevy Volt Hate Comes On Strong; Bob Lutz Strikes Back Hard. 2011 Chevy Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery. Is there any car out there that draws more political fire than the Chevy Volt? Sure, people rag on the Nissan Leaf for its limited range and on a bunch of cars – the Murano CrossCabriolet, the Acura ZDX, the Juke – for their styling, but the Volt really seems to have a special ability to get people's claws out. It's almost like they've forgotten all about the Toyota Prius. The main issues are the alternative powertrain and the political effects of the feds bailing out General Motors and issuing plug-in vehicle rebates. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/article.flash.php?Id=1985&AlertDate=2011-04-28 GREEN ENERGY Report urges SA to invest in electricity. SA WILL need to make further investments if the country’s electricity transmission networks are to cope with additional capacity from multiple renewable energy projects, according to a report by the World Economic Forum. The report’s observation reinforces the view that the commissioning of new capacity, as proposed in the integrated resource plan for electricity (IRP2010), will need to be accompanied by investment across the electricity chain. Posted. http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=141353 Clean Energy Finance Can Be Thwarted By A Lack Of Structure. In nations where renewable energy policy and infrastructure are weak, public and private investors in clean energy may be throwing money to the wind. Renewable energy goals in emerging markets need a firm regulatory and infrastructure framework in order to work, says a new World Economic Forum (WEF) report. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/04/29/4 Dow, DOE Team Up To Keep Cool Roofs Clean. The Energy Department announced this week a research partnership with Dow Chemical Co. to resolve the issues of dirt, algae and mold accumulation on cool roofs. Cool roofs are typically white or light-colored and reflect incoming sunlight with the effect of reducing the need for interior cooling. The technology is particularly useful in asphalt-covered cities that tend to absorb and retain more heat than their rural surroundings. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/04/29/12 MISCELLANEOUS Oil Companies Are Making More Money And Less Fuel. Refiners including Exxon Mobil are raking in profits while producing less gasoline and diesel in the U.S. than usual for this time of year. They're also exporting more to foreign countries. With oil prices rising, that makes for sticker shock at the pump. Gasoline prices are skyrocketing — and so are oil company profits. Exxon Mobil Corp. earned nearly $11 billion in the first three months of the year, a rollicking 69% increase over its performance for the same period last year. That's on sales of $114 billion. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-oil-refineries-20110429,0,6421589,print.story OPINION Pain at the Pump? We Need More. GASOLINE prices are above $4 per gallon in much of the country, a reminder that our dependence on oil carries a great cost. President Obama has promised that the Justice Department will be vigilant in pursuing price-gouging at the pump, but what we really need is to address the full set of energy-related problems, with a focus on spurring clean energy innovation. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/opinion/28esty.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse&gwh=2DA8F390AB3B993C054E0A4402867C0C Costly Ethanol Subsidies Should Be Ended Now. With gasoline above $4 a gallon, it's time to rethink the $6 billion Uncle Sam spends annually on ethanol subsidies paid to corn growers and ethanol producers. Ethanol increases the price of gasoline, pollutes the air, and drives up food costs, as well as increasing the deficit, which this fiscal year stands at $1.6 trillion. Ethanol, a corn-based fuel that can be substituted for some of the gasoline needed to operate vehicles. But the gasoline-ethanol blend, currently 10 percent ethanol, lowers vehicles' gas mileage, leaving motorists with higher fuel bills. Posted. http://washingtonexaminer.com/print/opinion/columnists/2011/04/costly-ethanol-subsidies-should-be-ended-now Russ Dahler: Clean Air Projects Quietly Make A Difference. Since its inception in 2007, Measure R has funded more than $9 million in transit, bike and environmental projects. These projects are funded through the 14 percent clean air projects category of Measure R, as detailed in the voter-approved expenditure plan. The funding "pie" also allocates 35 percent of the budget for use in the incorporated cities and the County of Tulare, for local projects; 50 percent on major projects of regional significance; and 1 percent on administration. Posted. http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20110429/OPINION/104290328/Russ-Dahler-Clean-air-projects-quietly-make-difference?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFrontpage%7Cp BLOGS China's Energy Use & Emissions To Peak Well Before 2050. Some good news about China's energy use coming out of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, relying on some assumptions that may or may not actually come to pass (or even be good for the environment defined broadly). According to the China's Energy and Carbon Emissions Outlook to 2050, contrary to the prevailing wisdom, China's energy use and carbon emissions will stop growing well before 2050, as market saturation for consumer products and in construction takes hold. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/04/china-energy-use-emissions-peak-before-2050.php?campaign=top_news ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 14:28:56 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 2, 2011 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 2, 2011. 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 California Gambles on Carbon Trade. Washington — California is putting its reputation as a pioneering environmental heavyweight on the line as it prepares to establish a carbon market in eight months. State regulators are battling the clock, the courts and their own empty pockets as they prepare to oversee the start of the multibillion-dollar market Jan. 1. The idea of capping greenhouse gas emissions and providing cleaner companies with the potential for profit from their success is not new, but it has never been tried in the United States on this scale. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/business/energy-environment/02iht-green02.html?pagewanted=print Carbon Cap a Possibility in Canada's Election. Canadians head to the polls today to determine whether Prime Minister Stephen Harper will keep his job or be replaced by a new leader in favor of carbon pricing. The result of the national election could determine whether Canada dramatically changes its climate policy and moves ahead of the United States in enacting a cap-and-trade system. It also could change how much money the national government invests in energy efficiency, renewable and coal projects. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/05/02/02climatewire-carbon-cap-a-possibility-in-canadas-election-59888.html?pagewanted=print UPDATE: Appeals Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Calif Auto Emissions Rules. Washington (Dow Jones)--A federal appeals court on Friday dismissed a lawsuit challenging California's ability to regulate emissions from passenger cars and light trucks, without addressing the case's underlying legal question. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said an auto-dealers association that filed the case jointly with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce failed to establish standing. Specifically, the court ruled the dealers failed to prove they would be harmed by the California regulations. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110429-713960.html California's Right To Exceed Federal Auto Emissions Standards Is Upheld. In a challenge to California's auto emissions standards, a U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Automobile Dealers Assn. did not have legal standing. California's authority to enact automotive air pollution standards that are stricter than federal law has withstood legal challenge after a U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Automobile Dealers Assn. did not have legal standing in the case. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-clean-cars-20110502,0,6015382.story Court Rejects Challenge To Calif.'S Clean Car Regs. San Francisco -- A federal appeals court rejected a legal challenge Friday that sought to bar implementation of a California regulation meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by forcing automakers to make and sell less polluting cars in the state. The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled the U.S. Chamber of Commerce failed to identify any members affected by the regulation, and the National Automobile Dealers Association didn't prove its members would suffer future harm. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/federal-appeals-court-rejects-legal-challenge-to-calif-program-requiring-less-polluting-cars/2011/04/29/AFnsLGGF_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/29/1667096/court-rejects-challenge-to-califs.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/04/29/2369820/court-rejects-challenge-to-califs.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_27b5cb73-f951-56ed-9672-fad927113a62.html Communities Win Federal Climate Change Funds. Tackling climate change just got a little bit easier, with some help from federal funding. The Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded grants to five local and tribal governments in California for projects that include reducing waste, improving energy efficiency and planting drought-resistant gardens. Nationwide, 50 communities will receive funds for localized efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, totaling $20 million in two years. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/communities-win-federal-climate-change-funds-10090 Cracking The Carbon Code: Corporations, Businesses, Kids Cash In On Carbon. Cracking the Code shows how corporations and businesses can cash in on the new carbon consciousness and regulations developing throughout the nation and the world. Next week, thousands of highschool kids around the world will participate in the iMatterMarch to reduce carbon imbalances in the atmosphere-- "to let the world know that climate change is not about money, its not about power, it's not about convenience, it is about our survival. It's about the future of this and every generation to come." - Alex Loorz. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/environmental-news-in-national/cracking-the-carbon-code-corporations-businesses-cash-on-carbon-review?render=print#print Nations Begin To Plan The Details Of 'Green Climate Fund' The United Nations has started the detailed work of designing a fund that leaders hope will deliver billions of dollars each year to help poor and vulnerable countries address climate change. In a meeting in Mexico City that wrapped up on Friday, U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres lauded the work that leaders from 40 different countries directing a transitional board are doing, and warned that a strong Green Climate Fund is critical. Posted. http://eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/02/6 FUELS Arch Coal Mines A Rich Seam. U.S. Coal's Great Escape Continues. Arch Coal is the latest miner to dig a tunnel abroad with its $3.5 billion takeover of International Coal Group. It won't be the last. Despite dodging comprehensive carbon cap-and-trade legislation for now, domestic miners still must look over their shoulders. U.S coal consumption in 2010 was less than in 2000. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency continues to target emissions from coal-fired power plants, and cheap natural gas presents a competitive threat. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704569404576299214071215244.html GREEN ENERGY Permit Process Clouds Solar Energy Projects. For the past several years, the solar installation business has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise depressed local construction industry. But contractors say cumbersome and inconsistent regulations are undermining the sector's growth and are increasing costs for consumers. "It's a nightmare," Kevin Hahner, owner of Roseville Solar Electric, said of the myriad permitting rules that solar contractors face. "The problem is every building department is different." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/01/v-print/3590755/permit-process-clouds-solar-energy.html Real Estate Managers Reaping Rewards From Going Green. Green investing not only helps the climate, but lowers costs and improves returns. Real estate managers are going green for environmental reasons, and are reaping the benefits through lower costs and higher returns. Much of the funding for measures to make real estate portfolios more environmentally friendly withered during the economic crisis, as real estate managers needed money to help cover their debt and maintain their properties. Posted. http://www.pionline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110502/PRINTSUB/305029913&Show=0&NoCache=1&SAXOEdAjax=1&AjaxRequestUniqueId=130435248534419&template=printart MISCELLANEOUS Pesticide Could Have Serious Health Risks. Monterey, Calif. -- California's strawberry crop, the little red fruit that produces a lot of cash for farmers, has a dark cloud hanging over it. The pesticide used in strawberries, Methyl Bromide, is being phased out because it depletes the ozone. Its replacement is a controversial chemical, Methyl Iodide. While this chemical has been deemed safe for strawberries, questions have been raised if it’s safe for workers to apply. UCSF doctor Paul Blanc said exposure to this chemical will definitely cause cancer. Posted. http://www.ktvu.com/print/27737465/detail.html OPINION Dan Morain: Old law bottles up a renewable resource. There's no polite way to say this: California has a lot of gas. Our happy cows, our sewage treatment plants and, most of all, our garbage dumps ooze gas. California has more landfills emitting more gas than any state in the union. It's a classic renewable energy source. Organic garbage in, methane out. But in the state that views itself as the greenest one of all, legislators and regulators have made it all but illegal to transport gas from California landfills through pipelines for use by large gas-fired electrical power plants. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/01/v-print/3590581/old-law-bottles-up-a-renewable.html The High Price Of Ethanol. "Ethanol has a lower energy content than gasoline. That means that about one-third more ethanol is required to travel the same distance as on gasoline." That is a quotation from the California Energy Commission. We in California are buying gasoline with 5 to 10 percent ethanol and it is costing a premium price. It will reduce your gas mileage by 10 percent. Check your car and see. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/04/30/1668544/the-high-price-of-ethanol.html Menace in Mecca. The public spotlight should not be the only way to protect people from dangerous contaminants. California regulators need to do a far better job policing hazardous waste operations, judging by what happened at a Coachella Valley facility. And a local tribe should insist that any such operations on tribal land comply with state, as well as federal, safety standards. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/editorials/stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_D_op_02_ed_mecca.260d12c.html BLOGS Energy Information Agency Feels Budget Ax. The federal government’s ability to gather and analyze energy data and produce market forecasts will be significantly impaired by the recently enacted budget cuts, the administrator of the Energy Information Administration said. The agency’s 2011 funding levels were cut by 14 percent, or $15.2 million, in a short-term budget deal signed into law earlier this month. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/energy-information-agency-feels-budget-ax/ Old Energy Strategies, New Century. The Op-Ed page has published “Pain at the Pump? We Need More,” a very retro-feeling proposal for a rising price on carbon-emitting energy sources by Daniel C. Esty, the new commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, and Michael E. Porter, a professor at the Harvard Business School. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/old-energy-strategies-new-century/ Whose Life Looks Greener? Towns Compare Notes. Eager to post information about a green event in your town? Wondering what other cities are doing to make their buildings more energy-efficient? GreenTowns.com, a new Web site billed as an online community board where towns can trade information on local sustainability efforts and green events at no cost, was introduced on Monday. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/whose-life-looks-greener-towns-compare-notes/ Clean-Tech Venture Capital Jumps 54% In First Quarter 2011. Venture capitalists spent the first quarter of the year dousing the clean-tech industry with attention, giving more money to fewer companies and hiking investment 54%. Green companies raised $1.1 billion in the first three months of 2011 compared to $743.3 million in the same period last year, according to Ernst & Young and data from DowJones Venture Source. The number of deals fell to 69 from 79. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/cleantech-venture-capital-jumps-54-q1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Auto Pollution: California's Carbon Curbs Upheld By Appeals Court. California's authority to pass its own air pollution standards, when they are stricter than federal law, withstood legal challenge Friday when a U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Automobile Dealers Assn. did not have legal standing in the case. Under the 1970 Clean Air Act, California may request waivers of federal standards in order to enact its own, stricter laws -- a right granted because the state had its own pollution laws before the federal government’s. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/04/california-auto-clean-car-standards.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Stanford Researchers Say Climate Change Affects Where Plants Grow. A lizard is almost invisible, camouflaged in a bush. A bumblebee flits about and pauses on one of the plant's flowers. An ant descends a stem, delivering food to her brothers. What kind of lives would the lizard, bee and ant lead without this plant? It's not a question we ask ourselves often. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inthepeninsula/detail?entry_id=88128 Cap-and-Trade Best Financed Cause in U.S. History, Study Says. Green-advocacy groups are fielding the equivalent of a full-court press to discredit the principal finding of a study released last week by Matthew Nisbet, an associate professor of communications at American University in Washington D.C. The finding: environmentalists are spending as much – and probably more – money on political causes like cap and trade as their adversaries in the fossil-fuel industry. Posted. http://blogs.forbes.com/williampentland/2011/05/01/cap-and-trade-best-financed-cause-in-u-s-history-study-says/ ANSI Workshop Called For Electric Drive Vehicle Standardization. Convened on behalf of the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the ANSI workshop brought together around 120 experts, working collaboratively through presentations, Q&A and breakout discussions to identify the issues and make recommendations for additional standards and programs that may be needed to support the broad uptake of electric mobility. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/57220110429.php ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 3 May 2011 11:37:01 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 3, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 3, 2011. 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 Kaweah Delta Named Air Partner. Kaweah Delta Health Care District has been named a Valley Air Living Partner by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Healthy Air Living Partners have expressed an interest in reducing emissions at their businesses and organizations to improve air quality in the Valley. Kaweah Delta will kick off its commitment to clean air throughout the month of May by asking employees to walk, bike or take public transportation to work in an effort to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion. Posted. http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20110503/NEWS01/105030319 Republicans Seek To Spare Smoggy Calif. Areas From Punishment. Worried that their constituents will soon pay more dearly for their air pollution, four California Republicans have introduced legislation to temporarily exempt the San Joaquin Valley from stricter smog limits and a $29 million fine from U.S. EPA that grows larger by the year. Many smog-choked areas of California have failed to meet the standards despite having some of the nation's strictest restrictions on industrial pollution and emissions from cars and trucks. Posted. http://eenews.net/EEDaily/print/2011/05/03/3 CLIMATE CHANGE New Report Confirms Arctic Melt Accelerating. Stockholm—Arctic ice is melting faster than expected and could raise the average global sea level by as much as five feet this century, an authoritative new report suggests. The study by the international Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, or AMAP, is one of the most comprehensive updates on climate change in the Arctic, and builds on a similar assessment in 2005. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ihWDFhEac_olGsCtkv7NRBEMbMmw?docId=a3c4094d7ce14e9e8ab59faadecae3e5 http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/new-climate-report-confirms-arctic-melt-accelerating-sharply-raises-sea-level-rise-projection/2011/05/03/AFQQGufF_story.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/3/new-report-confirms-artic-melt-accelerating/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/05/03/international/i063450D31.DTL http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17981529?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17981529 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17981529 http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_3d59fd61-2876-5781-b0f9-96d802f79b47.html Conservatives Win Big; Climate Policy Likely To Remain Unchanged. Canada's ruling political party won a resounding victory in national elections last night, ensuring the country's climate policy will continue on its current course. That means no national emission cap as long as the United States is not enacting such a limit, and ongoing support for production in the country's vast oil sands region, which is more carbon intensive than traditional oil drilling and provides the U.S. with its top source of oil. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/03/3 Climate Cycle Shift May Accelerate West Coast Sea Level Rise. Changing wind patterns could accelerate sea level rise along the West Coast, new research suggests. The cause is an apparent shift in a climate cycle called the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, or PDO, said researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The climate pattern cycles between two phases every few decades, driven largely by changes in broad-scale wind patterns. Each phase produces its own recognizable fingerprint of sea level rise and sea surface temperatures along the West Coast. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/03/4 When It Comes To Carbon Footprints, Location And Lifestyle Matter. Tips to reduce your carbon footprint frequently include buying compact florescent light bulbs, taking your own bag to the grocery store or buying local produce. But how much difference do these actions make? A new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that who you are and where you live make a big difference in which activities have the largest impact. Posted. http://environmentalresearchweb.org/cws/article/yournews/45805 FUELS Hydraulic Fracturing Hearings Planned for BR Area. The state plans to hold public hearings on whether a potentially oil-rich shale in the Baton Rouge area will be tapped on a large scale through a process used to develop natural gas from north Louisiana's Haynesville Shale. High oil prices are sending petroleum explorers in search of shale oil using a process called hydraulic fracturing that has raised concerns from environmentalists. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/02/hydraulic-fracturing-hearings-planned-for-br/ GREEN ENERGY Cutbacks In Solar Rebates Cast Shadow Over Green Power. Bill Donnelly is going as green as he can. He drives a Prius. By next year, he hopes to have an all-electric vehicle. And to keep his car and home running, he wants to install solar panels on the roof of his home in the South Carthay neighborhood of Los Angeles. But Donnelly, 63, has put his solar plans on hold, at least until he finds out how much the L.A. Department of Water and Power will kick in. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/fi-lazarus-solar-20110503,0,1298227,print.column At Oregon Gym, Members Burn Calories While Generating Electricity. Portland, Ore. — Reddening, a rivulet of sweat running across her cheek, Amy McCullough hunched over the stationary bike, pumped her legs like crazy and began producing serious power — enough watts to run a flat-panel TV and a ceiling fan. She thrust her arms upward and exclaimed: "Oh, 180!" And with that, her electrical output drooped. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/02/1670893/power-workoutat-oregon-gym-members.html Solar Plane Set To Try First International Flight. (CBS/AP) Last July, a team of Swiss adventurers made history when their solar-powered manned aircraft flew continuously for a 26 hours. Now, they're about to take the next step - and it's a big one: nothing less than an international flight. The Solar Impulse team says the flights to Belgium and France, slated for Tuesday, are a big challenge because the plane will need to navigate across international air traffic networks. Posted. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/02/scitech/main20058907.shtml Clean Technology Investments Up 54%, Driven By Calif. And Solar. New York -- Venture capital investments in renewable energy and clean technology companies soared in the first three months of the year, an indication that such investors are still bullish on the industry's future. Data released by Dow Jones and an analysis by Ernst & Young show venture capital investments in clean tech grew by 54 percent over levels during the same period last year, from $743 million to $1.14 billion during the first fiscal quarter of 2011. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/03/6 Korean Power Company To Spend Billions On 'Green' Technology. State-run Korea Electric Power Corp. committed to spending the equivalent of $2.8 billion to develop green technology like carbon capture and storage and smart grids, its officials said. "Should KEPCO win in the global 'green race' with its challenges and aspirations for green growth, it would be able to lead" Korea's effort for an expanded gross domestic product by 2020, KEPCO CEO Kim Ssang-su said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/03/10 MISCELLANEOUS Brown Appoints SF Official To State Toxic Panel. Debbie Raphael, who spearheaded San Francisco's efforts to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals, was appointed Monday to head the state agency that monitors toxics substances in California and is in the process of developing its own regulations to limit the use of dangerous chemicals. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/03/BA841J5K3O.DTL&type=printable Which Is Better, A Window A/C Or Central Air? The boxy air conditioners that fill so many urban windows must consume a tremendous amount of energy. From an environmental perspective, aren’t central air conditioners better? Not necessarily. Air conditioning accounts for more than 15 percent of the energy use of the average home, consuming about 183 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in the United States per year, according to a 2001 analysis by the Energy Information Administration. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/which-is-better-a-window-ac-or-central-air/2011/04/26/AF17HEdF_story.html OPINION Roadshow: As Gas Prices Rise, Some Drivers May Be Slowing Down. I often think that I am imagining it when I see cars flying by me going 85, 90, 95 and even 100 mph on Interstate 280 by De Anza Boulevard. I am not a slow driver by any means, but I get blown off the road by people driving at these very unsafe speeds. Am I imagining things or do other people tell you about that, too? Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17976316 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17976316 Forum: Quarry A Bad Deal For Both Sides Of County Line. As a Fallbrook resident and a grower in Riverside's De Luz Valley, I oppose Granite Construction's proposed Liberty Quarry. The mountaintop quarry, at 1,300 feet elevation, would be in Riverside County, but the approximately mile-long quarry access road would be blasted up the mountainside at the Rainbow exit in San Diego County. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/article_f317b587-9508-55fb-8bc0-68d0432517d0.html Try a Greener Way to Dry Clean. Does the “earth-friendly” sign at a dry cleaner really mean it’s better for the planet and your health? You’ve seen the signs at the local dry cleaners boasting “earth-friendly” or “organic” dry cleaning. But just like the questionable food labels “all natural” and “fat free” at the grocery store, those signs that make grand, green claims can often be misleading. Posted. http://burlingame.patch.com/articles/a-greener-way-to-dry-clean-5 BLOGS Clean-Tech Venture Capital Jumps 54% In First Quarter 2011. Venture capitalists spent the first quarter of the year dousing the clean-tech industry with attention, giving more money to fewer companies and hiking investment 54%. Green companies raised $1.1 billion in the first three months of 2011 compared to $743.3 million in the same period last year, according to Ernst & Young and data from DowJones Venture Source. The number of deals fell to 69 from 79. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/cleantech-venture-capital-jumps-54-q1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Report: Homebuyers Willing To Pay Premium For Solar. Okay, I’m a little slow on the uptake on this but I’ve been pursuing a recent report from Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory on the effect of installing a rooftop solar array on the sale price of homes in California.(It makes for dense reading and unless you’re really into “hedonic pricing models” and “difference-in-difference model,” you might want to stick with the two-page summary.) The upshot: California homes that sport solar panels sell for a $17,000 premium for an average newish 3.1-kilowatt photovoltaic array. Posted. http://www.grist.org/solar-power/2011-04-28-report-homebuyers-willing-to-pay-premium-for-solar Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Investment Strategies: Lessons from the Past? Are the same strategies and market dynamics that characterized the growth of the telecom industry in the late 1990’s surfacing in the emerging smart grid and electric vehicle infrastructure market? For much of the telecom boom, Cisco Systems was admired for their ability to identify, invest and acquire promising technology from early stage ventures – effectively outsourcing their research and development. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/electric-vehicle-infrastructure-investment-strategies-lessons/ Pressure Builds to End $4 Billion in Taxpayer Subsidies for Oil Companies. In these days of federal budget-cutting (and high gas prices), it was only a matter of time before subsidies for oil companies came under closer scrutiny. That moment has come. Chatter has been building for a few weeks and things came to a head this past Saturday, when President Obama used his weekly address to make the case for putting an end to the $4 billion that U.S. taxpayers contribute to the oil industry. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/pressure-builds-4-billion-taxpayer-subsidies-oil-companies/ Michigan County Embraces Giant Wind Farms. While many communities are imposing moratoria on commercial wind farms, one mid-Michigan county is putting out the welcome mat to not one but potentially three major wind developments. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/michigan-county-embraces-giant-wind-farms/ Arctic Ozone Levels Reach All-Time Low. In the past, massive ozone loss over Antarctica has grabbed the headlines. But this year, measurements by several different sources show record levels of stratospheric ozone loss over the Arctic. Scientists say the main reason for the record ozone loss this year is that unusually cold stratospheric temperatures, which have endured later into the season than usual. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/arctic-ozone-levels-reach-all-time-low/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 4 May 2011 15:32:02 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 4, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 4, 2011. 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 Asthma Rate Rises Sharply in U.S., Government Says. Americans are suffering from asthma in record numbers, according to a study released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly one in 10 children and almost one in 12 Americans of all ages now has asthma, government researchers said. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/health/research/04asthma.html?pagewanted=print http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-asthma-rates-increasing-05032011,0,3191787,print.story Region’s Air Is Cleaner, Report Says. The Sacramento region has made big cuts in air pollution over the past 20 years despite a 40 percent increase in population, according to a new air quality progress report released Tuesday by the Cleaner Air Partnership. The report found the region still needs to do more to reduce health effects of poor air quality. The rate of asthma hospitalizations, for example, has declined — but there were still 2,233 hospitalizations in 2009. Still, efforts to curb pollution have paid off, the report concludes. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/05/03/regions-air-is-cleaner-report-says.html House Bill Would Require Regular Economic Analysis of EPS Regs. Two members of Congress will introduce a bill today that would require agencies to conduct periodic analyses of the effect of a range of air quality rules on the U.S. economy, the reliability of the power supply, employment and international competitiveness. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/04/2 CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Activists Target States With Lawsuits. Billings, Mont. A group of attorneys using children and young adults as plaintiffs plans to file legal actions in every state and the District of Columbia on Wednesday in an effort to force government intervention on climate change. The courtroom ploy is backed by high-profile activists looking for a legal soft spot to advance a cause that has stumbled in the face of stiff congressional opposition and a skeptical U.S. Supreme Court. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/climate-activists-target-all-50-states-dc-with-legal-action-to-establish-atmospheric-trust/2011/05/04/AFv4zJlF_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/05/04/financial/f013116D74.DTL&type=printable http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/04/3600429/climate-activists-target-states.html http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17989041?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/04/1673301/climate-activists-target-states.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/04/climate-activists-target-states-with-lawsuits/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_7391bb34-3867-5462-8918-eb8f0aec5c8b.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/04/2375152/climate-activists-target-states.html#storylink=misearch New Alarm On Melting Ice: 5-Foot Sea Level Spike. Stockholm -- The ice of Greenland and the rest of the Arctic is melting faster than expected and could help raise global sea levels by as much as 5 feet this century, dramatically higher than earlier projections, an authoritative international assessment says. The findings "emphasize the need for greater urgency" in combatting global warming, says the report of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), the scientific arm of the eight-nation Arctic Council. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/04/MN601JBFFK.DTL&type=printable Climate Change: Report Offers Strategies To Adapt. The Bay Area must start prepping for the whens, not the ifs, of climate change - like building cooling centers for use during heat waves, propping up homes on stilts in flood-prone areas and even abandoning roadways vulnerable to sea-level rise, according to an influential urban policy organization. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/04/BA1L1JBFQR.DTL&type=printable Rwanda Gets $30 Million World Bank Grant For Skills Development. Rwanda received $36.5 million of grants to develop skills and a strategic plan for the environment, the Finance and Economic Planning Ministry said. The East African will receive $30 million from the World Bank for skills development and $6.5 million from Sweden to implement its climate-change plan, the Kigali-based ministry said on its website today. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-05-04/rwanda-gets-30-million-world-bank-grant-for-skills-development.html Central Valley Small Businesses Recognized For Climate-Smart Efforts. Six small businesses in the Central Valley or foothills are among 23 statewide that have been singled out by the California Air Resources Board for their “climate-smart” actions. The CARB program recognizes California small businesses that demonstrate leadership and made notable, voluntary achievements toward reducing their climate impact. “These California small business owners demonstrate passion and conviction for reducing their impact on the environment,” says CARB Chairman Mary Nichols. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=18329 Richardson: Climate Right for Change. Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson hopes that Osama bin Laden's death will spur President Barack Obama to promote climate change legislation. “My hope is that from this success in the foreign policy arena two days ago, that he will be emboldened to take once again to the Congress legislation — not just to increase a renewable energy standard — but climate change legislation that this country and the world need,” …Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=BF8FE0E4-45C3-4890-9E38-25F9B454DC9F FUELS Economic Studies of Biofuels Paint Opposing Pictures in Gas Price Wars. Both sides in the debate over government biofuels support are looking to bolster their arguments with numbers, as new, warring economic studies present differing figures on the role that ethanol production plays in gasoline pricing. A paper by two economists published by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) at Iowa State University argues that ethanol production has reduced wholesale gasoline prices by 25 cents per gallon on average over the past 10 years, with recent price impacts in certain markets reducing the cost by as much as $1.37 per gallon. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/05/03/03greenwire-economic-studies-of-biofuels-paint-opposing-pi-21329.html?pagewanted=print Grassley Plans Bill to Tie Ethanol Tax Break to Oil, Group Says. U.S. Senator Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican, plans to introduce legislation that would tie an ethanol tax break to the price of oil, said Matt Hartwig, a spokesman for the Renewable Fuels Association in Washington. The measure, which Grassley may offer today, would convert the 45-cent credit into a “variable tax credit that would adjust based on the price of oil,” Hartwig said in an e-mail. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-04/grassley-plans-bill-to-tie-ethanol-tax-break-to-oil-group-says.html Senators Introduce Bipartisan bill Scuttling Subsidy, Import Tariff. A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation yesterday that would immediately end a federal ethanol tax break and a tariff on ethanol imports. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) are spearheading the measure, which also lists as co-sponsors Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Jim Webb (D-Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and James Risch (R-Idaho). Feinstein filed a similar measure in March, and Coburn has long been critical of ethanol use … Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/05/04/5 “Exploding Lake’ Could Power Economic ‘Revolution’. Spanning the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the serene waters of Lake Kivu hide a deadly secret. Beneath its tranquil surface, the 1,000-square mile expanse of water is one of the continent's "exploding lakes," thanks to the rich supplies of methane gas that are lying in its depths. Because of the area's volcanoes and anaerobic bacteria in the water, there is an estimated 60 billion cubic meters of methane gas and carbon dioxide trapped in the deep-water lake. Posted. http://www.cnn.com/2011/BUSINESS/05/04/rwanda.kivu.exploding.methane/ VEHICLES Queen of the Road: Right Turns On Red and Plug-In Hybrids. QUEEN: Her Majesty recently ran a letter from a reader asking about converting his hybrid car, a Prius, to a plug-in. In her response, she quoted a spokesman for a public agency about kits for conversion and their cost, and here's what a reader said: COMMUTER: I love the doublespeak of John Swanton, the "smog expert" from the California Air Resources Board. I have some specific questions for him. Steve, Antioch. QUEEN: Steve then went on with questions for Swanton. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_17983343 Small Cars Boosting Sales For Carmakers As Consumers Look To Fuel-Efficient Models. Higher gas prices meant more small cars were sold last month. Several automakers reported better than expected sales in April as buyers turned to smaller, more fuel-efficient models to counter the rising cost of gas that's now near $4 a gallon. The trend was welcome news for the U.S. auto industry, which posted sales of more than 13 million vehicles for the third straight month - the first time that's happened since the summer of 2008. Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2011/05/04/2011-05-04_small_cars_are_big_rising_prices_at_pump_pushing_consumers_to_fuelefficient_mode.html Congress Might Charge Up the Electric Car Industry. A bill to set up a pilot project that could give a boost to electric cars has begun its meandering through Congress. Co-authored by Central Valley Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, it would establish 10 “deployment communities” around the country to serve as hubs for increasing the use of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=18331 GREEN ENERGY Turning His Near-Ghost Town Into A Clean-Tech Boomtown. Gerald Freeman saw the tiny outpost of Nipton, Calif., as 'a little place to make a home' and maybe some money. He bought it in the 1980s and has moved toward creating a sustainable wonderland. Gerald Freeman was prospecting for gold in the Mojave Desert when he stumbled on Nipton. In 1984, it had become a virtual ghost town. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-nipton-20110504,0,569145,print.story NJ Company to Build $18M Solar Energy Project. A New Jersey company says it will invest $18 million to install a solar power system capable of producing 3.6 megawatts of electricity, or enough to power 450 homes every year. The clean energy division of New Jersey Resources is leasing 13 acres in Manalapan to build a "solar field" of ground-mounted, crystalline panels. The energy generated will be fed into the power grid through the wholesale market. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9N064AO0.htm http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/03/nj-company-to-build-18m-solar-energy-project/ Wary of Cheaper Gas, E.U. Climate Chief Wants to Raise Renewable Energy Target. E.U. climate Chief Connie Hedegaard is pushing to stretch Europe's renewable energy targets to 2030, in an effort to boost the industry amidst attacks from the gas sector. Hedegaard wants to extend mandatory targets for renewable energy beyond 2020. After then, the current commitment to generate 20 percent of energy from renewables will expire. The natural gas industry has been lobbying intensely to brand gas as a cheaper alternative to renewables, holding a series of meetings with high-ranking E.U. officials. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/04/7 MISCELLANEOUS A Remote Town In Hawaii Has the Most Expensive Gas In The U.S. In Hana on the island of Maui, a gallon of regular costs $6.03, more than $2 above the national average. Among the cheapest places was a convenience store in Casper, Wyo., where regular was selling for $3.36 a gallon. If you're fed up with high gasoline prices, you might want to avoid the roads less traveled. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-most-expensive-gas-20110504,0,92155,print.story A Fresh Cabin Air Filter Creates ‘Breathing Room’ Inside Your Vehicle. BROADVIEW, Ill.- Let's say you are about to take a long road trip. It's one thing to have to clean out your car ahead of time to create enough space for you and your family to be comfortable inside. But did you know that you could also help them breathe more comfortably — especially if some of them suffer from seasonal allergies or asthma? Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/04/3600525/a-fresh-cabin-air-filter-creates.html OPINIONS Commentary: Could High Gas Prices Be A Good Thing? Are high gas prices a good thing? That is not as dumb a question as it sounds. Examine a few revealing past remarks from President Obama and the Cabinet officials who are now in charge of the nation's energy use and oil leases on federal lands. Then decide whether the current soaring gas prices are supposed to be good or bad. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/03/3595344/commentary-could-high-gas-prices.html Is That A Nose On Your Chin? Along with my trusty Schwinn, the buses of Orange County have been my primary source of transportation for the past couple of years. I’m not an environmentalist or anything like that — trying to do my part to cut down on emissions — I am though what you might call fiscally challenged. Therefore I don’t have a vehicle that runs. Posted. http://www.coastreportonline.com/views/article_77233ac6-75df-11e0-8358-001cc4c002e0.html BLOGS Electronic Health Records: Green of Polluter? This is the year that billions of dollars in government incentive payments are set to begin flowing to the nation’s doctors and hospitals to encourage them to adopt computerized patient records. The goal, of course, is to help improve the quality of care and curb costs. But what about the environmental impact? That was the question asked by researchers at Kaiser Permanente, a giant health-care group, which covers 8.7 million people in nine states and the District of Columbia. Posted. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/electronic-health-records-green-or-polluter/?pagemode=print Are Rising Seas Returning to the West Coast? Researchers say sea levels haven't been rising along the West Coast of North America for decades, but that could be about to change, according to a new study. Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography say they've observed changing wind patterns that, if persistent, could soon speed up sea level rise along California's shores. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/05/03/are-rising-seas-returning-to-the-west-coast/ CAFO Air Pollution Crackdown? I'm traveling in New Mexico this week, learning about its dairy industry, and thinking a fair bit about how we raise animals -- for milk and meat -- in the United States. Many of the people I've met so far on this trip live very near large dairies. Some of the people I hope to meet later run large dairies, or consult with them to help them be more efficient or environmentally-benign. Posted. http://www.hcn.org/hcn/blogs/goat/a-regulation-for-cafo-air-pollution Pioneering Wind Energy Study Looks 30-50 Years Ahead for Global Warming. "First ever analysis of long-term stability of wind over the U.S." This week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (often just known by its acronym: PNAS) contains the first ever analysis of long-term wind stability in the United States. The goal was to see if global warming will have a big impact on wind patterns and, potentially, disrupt wind power production, compounding the problems caused by climate change. The results are very interesting... Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/05/wind-power-study-looks-30-50-years-global-warming-climate-impact.php Wakening the Kraken: Methane and Warming Oceans. Methane (CH4) is a very potent greenhouse gas, 20-30 times more powerful than carbon dioxide (CO2) on a century timescale. Fortunately, it only occurs in very low concentrations in the atmosphere - about 0.3 to 0.4 parts per million during ice ages and 0.6 to 0.7ppm during warmer periods. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/05/methane-warming-oceans-wakening-the-kraken.php Evs Help Out In Japan Crisis And New I-Miev And Leaf To Store Energy - In the area in Eastern Japan that was hit hardest by the earthquake and tsunami in March, electric vehicle sales are soaring. Terra Motors, a manufacturer of e-bikes and e-scooters reports that while the company has sold 300 units in 2010, they have sold 200 units in the weeks after the earthquake alone. As gasoline is scarce in the affected areas, the electric two-wheelers are often the only means of transport. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/57420110503.php Guidelines For The Safe Conversion Of Electric Cars. The Japanese Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles (APEV) has published guidelines for conversion of gasoline cars to electric vehicles. The need arose as over the last years more and more businesses as well as private people started to convert cars to EVs which can bear some risks if not done properly. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/57320110503.php ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 5 May 2011 13:49:33 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 5, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 5, 2011. 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 Air Quality Measure Could Be On October Ballot. Fairbanks, Alaska—Fairbanks voters could see another air quality measure on the October ballot. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported Thursday that the measure would attack air pollution by banning certain appliances and penalizing the improper use of others. The citizen's initiative would prohibit wood-fired hydronic heaters and coal burning appliances, and it would set emissions limits for other home heating devices. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17999153 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17999153 Next Liberty Quarry Hearing Set for June 22. The third meeting on Liberty Quarry is set for next month, giving Riverside County officials time to answer a key ethics question and get a handle on the complicated review process for the proposed open-pit mine. County Planning Commission Chairman John Roth announced Tuesday the next quarry hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 22 at Temecula's Rancho Community Church. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_squarry05.261c18b.html CLIMATE CHANGE New Hampshire Senate Panel Opposes Bill to Leave CO2 Market. A New Hampshire Senate committee opposed a bill that would pull the state out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade program for power- plant carbon-dioxide emissions. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 2-3 today on the bill that would withdraw New Hampshire from the 10-state program, Richard Parsons, an aide to the panel, said in a telephone interview. The bill is scheduled to get a vote in the full state Senate on May 11, Parsons said. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-05/new-hampshire-senate-panel-opposes-bill-to-leave-co2-market-1-.html Report: Global Warming Already Crimping Crop Production, Pushing Prices Higher. The warming of the Earth has cooled the yields of corn and wheat in much of the world, a new study finds. Although agricultural advances have pushed global production of staple crops skyward, hotter temperatures in Russia, China, Mexico and elsewhere have stunted that growth and contributed to the long-term rise in food prices, concludes the analysis published Thursday in the journal Science. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/report-global-warming-already-crimping-crop-production-pushing-prices-higher/2011/05/04/AFdsMSzF_story.html Suit Accuses U.S. Government of Failing to Protect Earth for Generations Unborn. SAN FRANCISCO — Advocates of stringent curbs on greenhouse gas emissions sued the federal government on Wednesday, arguing that key agencies had failed in their duty to protect the earth’s atmosphere as a public trust to be guarded for future generations. Similar lawsuits are to be filed against states around the country, according to the plaintiffs, a coalition of groups concerned about climate change called Our Children’s Trust. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/science/earth/05climate.html?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Climate Change Panel Drafts Renewable Energy Paper. DOHA, Qatar -- A draft report from the world's top scientific body concludes that prices for renewable energy are falling and will keep declining in the coming years with the help of technological breakthroughs. But the report, obtained by The Associated Press, also warns that policy changes will have to be enacted to ensure that renewable energy can achieve its potential in helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/05/2376986/climate-change-panel-drafts-renewable.html#storylink=misearch http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/05/2376986/climate-change-panel-drafts-renewable.html#storylink=misearch Climate Scientists Told To 'Stop Speaking In Code'. Copenhagen, Denmark—Scientists at a major conference on Arctic warming were told Wednesday to use plain language to explain the dramatic melt in the region to a world reluctant to take action against climate change. An authoritative report released at the meeting of nearly 400 scientists in Copenhagen showed melting ice in the Arctic could help raise global sea levels by as much as 5 feet this century, much higher than earlier projections. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/04/1673791/climate-scientists-told-to-stop.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/04/2375666/climate-scientists-told-to-stop.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17990934 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17990934?IADID=Search- www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Teen Activist Plans 'Million Kid March' To Fight Global Warming. At an age when most of his peers are worrying about driver's licenses and the SAT, Alec Loorz is tackling some weightier challenges. This week, for example, he's suing the U.S. government in an effort to fight climate change. And right after that, he'll lead what's being billed as a "Million Kid March" in 25 countries. "I think it's awesome," the 16-year-old environmental activist and founder of Kids vs. Global Warming said by phone from his home in Oak View. "We don't have political power. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/04/teen-activist-plans-145million-kid-march-to/?print=1 FUELS Ukraine Looks to Texas for an Energy Path. KIEV, Ukraine — This former Soviet state in Eastern Europe is betting that the path toward energy independence runs through Fort Worth. By drilling in the scrubland and vacant lots in and around the city of Fort Worth, American energy companies have demonstrated that they can produce natural gas economically from shale — a form of sedimentary rock previously considered all but worthless. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/business/global/05shale.html?ref=business Rising Gasoline Prices Fuel The Growing Appeal Of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles. Honda, the only automaker selling natural gas passenger cars, has seen sales of its Civic GX almost triple so far this year, and interest in converting conventional vehicles to natural gas is growing because the fuel costs about half as much as gasoline. With no end in sight for rising gasoline prices, cars and trucks that run on compressed natural gas — fuel that's about half the cost of gasoline — are getting another look. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/la-fi-autos-natural-gas-20110505,0,3379287,print.story Ballot Initiative Seeks 15% Tax On Statewide Oil Extraction. Proponents of a ballot measure in California that would tax oil producers directly to fund state education programs were authorized by the Secretary of State to start collecting signatures today, with an eye on the next statewide ballot early next year. The initiative, which needs about 500,000 signatures to qualify, would direct a 15 percent levy on each barrel of oil extracted in California, to pass on the funds to elementary schools, high schools, community colleges and the state's university system. Posted. http://eenews.net/eenewspm/print/2011/05/04/6 VEHICLES GM Earns $3.2 Billion in 1Q on Higher Sales. General Motors Co. reported its highest quarterly profit in more than a decade, helped by demand for fuel-efficient cars and a big gain from selling its stake in its former auto parts business. The biggest U.S. automaker said Thursday that it earned $3.2 billion, or $1.77 per share, in the first quarter. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/5/gm-earns-32-billion-1q-higher-sales/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/05/gm-earns-32-billion-in-1q-on-higher-02/ Tesla Posts A $48.9-Million Loss Despite Jump In Revenue. The Palo Alto firm's revenue climbs to $49 million in the first quarter, up from $20.8 million a year earlier, on deliveries of battery packs and chargers. Tesla Motors Inc., bolstered by sales of battery packs for electric vehicles, said quarterly revenue more than doubled. But losses grew sharply as costs of developing an electric vehicle escalated. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tesla-20110505,0,5265841,print.story GREEN ENERGY Green Energy Can Wean Off Subsidies, Gradually. London (Reuters) - Government support for renewable energy must end gradually and in tandem with cuts in fossil fuel subsidies, say investors and lobbyists who complain bitterly about unpredictable chopping of incentives. Most green energy sources still struggle to compete with fossil fuels except in favorable areas, for example for onshore wind in coastal areas of Western Europe or in Texas. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/05/us-energy-green-support-idUSTRE7443GA20110505 Texas Firm Has Plans For First Erie-Area Wind Farm. North East, Pa.—A Texas company wants to build the first wind farm near Erie in northwestern Pennsylvania. Officials with Pioneer Green Energy, of Austin, Texas, tell the Erie Times-News they've begun leasing property for the planned 7,000-acre wind farm that will include between 50 and 75 turbines. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17998413 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17998413 Riverside Lauds New Solar Projects. With the addition of two city-funded solar projects coming online last month, the city of Riverside has achieved another milestone toward increasing its renewable energy portfolio by surpassing the 3 megawatt mark of clean, renewable energy that is produced by solar generation projects throughout the city. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/riverside/stories/PE_News_Local_W_wsolar05.20b0fa5.html UN To Forecast Renewables Boom Through To 2050. The United Nations is set to forecast substantial increases in the deployment of renewable energy through to 2050 as clean technologies such as wind and solar power improve and costs fall. The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is next week expected to publish a set of 164 scenarios, most of which show a 100 exajoule rise in renewable energy capacity by the middle of the century. Posted. http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2068122/forecast-renewables-boom-2050 Solfocus Completes A One Megawatt High Concentrator Photovoltaic Power Plant For Nichols Farms In California. California’s central valley region has significant solar resources and a wealth of agricultural business that can benefit from the implementation of innovative solar technology. SolFocus, Bechtel Power Corporation and developer Sol Orchard, have completed a one megawatt high concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) power plant for Nichols Farms in Hanford, CA. Posted. http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/20110426/solfocus-completesone-megawatt-high-concentrator-photovoltaic-power-plant-nichols-farms-california.htm MISCELLANEOUS Phone App Enlisted To Help Map Future Bicycle Routes. Local governments long ago started including bikes in their transportation plans. But while there are tried-and-true ways of figuring out automotive traffic patterns, tracking bicyclists can be more difficult. Well, now there's an app for that. Building on a program out of San Francisco, the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments is going high-tech, using next week's Bike Week to urge bicyclists to help with regional bike planning by downloading a smart phone application that tracks their routes. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_17994622 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_17994622 OPINION The EPA Shouldn’t Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should keep its hands off greenhouse gases (GHGs). That doesn’t mean that emissions of carbon or other GHGs aren’t important national security, business investment, or pollution policy issues — that’s for citizens and policymakers to decide on the merits. It does mean that even if one decides in favor of limiting emissions, the EPA is the wrong way to go. Posted. http://dailycaller.com/2011/05/05/the-epa-shouldnt-regulate-greenhouse-gas-emissions/ Regional Energy Pact Is A Matter Of Security. My Turn. State would be wrong to quit now. As a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and a New Hampshire native, I have to speak out against the short-sighted effort by some in the Legislature to pull our state out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a program that promotes clean, efficient energy generated right here in New Hampshire. The decisions we make about our energy use here in New Hampshire directly affect our national security. Posted. http://www.concordmonitor.com/print/255014?CSAuthResp=%3Asession%3ACSUserId|CSGroupId%3Aapproved%3AC2LrYMFgYeeUmDA11ajgwA%3D%3D&CSUserId=94&CSGroupId=1 Forum: Don’t be Fooled by Misinformation on Liberty Quarry. Misinformation is a dangerous thing, not only as it applies to this project, but to all matters of great public importance. With regard to the quarry, the myths promulgated by opponents have included assertions regarding the project causing dust clouds over Temecula, being the largest quarry in the world, bringing down the ridgeline behind the city, polluting the Santa Margarita River, causing silicosis and more. None of this is true. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/article_e307154d-1a89-548d-97a7-3469d6cc7c5a.html BLOGS Climate Change: Arctic Ice Melting Faster, Sea Level To Rise More, Report Says. Sea levels will rise more dramatically than was predicted nearly four years ago by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a new study of arctic conditions concludes. The Arctic ice study by the International Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, titled Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic (SWIPA), says that the feedback loops scientists have been warning about already are accelerating glacial melting in the Arctic, …Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/climate-change-arctic-ice-melting-faster-sea-level-to-rise-more-report-says.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Mow Down Air Pollution: Trade In Your Gas-Powered Lawn Mower. Vehicles get most of the attention when it comes to air pollution, but a single gas-powered lawn mower used 45 minutes each week for a year is equal to driving 22,000 miles in a new passenger car, according to the Air Quality Management District, the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of the L.A. area. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/lawnmower-exchange.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Climate Change: Alarming New Study; Report on Effects in Bay Area. Australia's Chief Climate Commissioner, Tim Flannery, stopped by KQED this morning for an appearance on Forum, the station's live call-in program. He spoke about the status of international climate agreements and expressed hope for the process, not something I came across very often as a reporter at the UN climate talks in Cancun last December. "We're slowly gaining the ability to cooperate globally," he told KQED's Michael Krasny. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2011/05/04/climate-change-alarming-new-study-report-on-effects-in-bay-area/ Ford Credits Green Vehicles as Driver Behind Earnings Jump. Ford Motor Company is feeling pretty good about itself these days. The company just announced its best quarterly profits this century. Profits reached $2.55 billion, up, 460 million, or 22% from a year ago. Rising demand for their new line of fuel-efficient vehicles, along with an improving economy, were seen as the main drivers. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/ford-credits-move-green-vehicles-driver-behind-earnings-jump/ High Gas Prices: Want To Be A Cool 'Hypermiler'? When gas hit $4 a gallon in 2008, Americans started driving less – and when they drove, they drove less aggressively. But today, with prices back at $4, demand doesn't seem to be declining, a Reuters analysis shows. Perhaps $4 just doesn't count as sticker shock anymore. Or maybe it's just too hard to break the bad driving habits – hard acceleration, sudden braking, speeding – that contribute to excessive oil consumption. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Editorial-Board-Blog/2011/0505/High-gas-prices-Want-to-be-a-cool-hypermiler Republican Energy Coalition Has The Most Ironic Name Ever. House Republicans are forming a coalition to talk about energy priorities. They're calling it the Guild to Load Our Business Associates with Lucre While Also Realizing Many International Net Gains, or GLOBALWARMING. Ha ha, just kidding! They're calling it the House Energy Action Team, or HEAT. WHAT? THAT IS NOT EVEN BETTER. Given that the coalition is pushing to expand oil drilling, the name is appropriate, but it's rare for politicians to be so forthright. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-05-05-republican-energy-coalition-has-the-most-ironic-name-ever New York City Taxi And Limo Commissions Selects Nissan NV200 As “Taxi Of Tomorrow”; Fully-Electric Version Possible Starting In 2017. The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) has selected the Nissan NV200 as the exclusive taxi of New York City for a decade, beginning in late 2013. The award comes after a selection process that lasted more than two years. The other two finalists included Ford Motor Co. and Karsan, a Turkish vehicle manufacturer. The City now will enter into final negotiations with Nissan to make the NV200 the first taxicab specially built for use in New York City. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/05/nv200-20110504.html#more The World’s First Solar Powered Floating Golf Course. The island nation of the Maldives has a series of coral reefs that are being threatened by rising sea levels as a result of climate change, so a transition to floating development is a logical next step to encourage a new boom in tourism. The zero-footprint, solar-powered 18-hole golf course is the combined effort of the architecture firm, Waterstudio.NL, floating development engineers, Dutch Docklands and golf course developer Troon Golf. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/world-first-solar-powered-golf-course/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 6 May 2011 15:31:08 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 6, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 6, 2011. 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 Sen. Boxer Makes Stink To EPA Over Mecca Odor. In a bluntly worded letter to the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer on Thursday demanded that the government act more urgently to solve the persistent problem of the foul odor in Mecca. “It is imperative that this serious problem be solved immediately,” wrote Boxer, a Democrat who lives in Rancho Mirage, about 25 miles from the smell's epicenter. “The EPA must take prompt action to protect the children and families in this community. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110506/NEWS01/105060313/Sen-Boxer-makes-stink-EPA-over-Mecca-odor CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Change Reduced Wheat, Corn Yields, U.S. Researchers Say Climate change reduced wheat and corn yields from 1980 to 2008, U.S. researchers said in a study published in the journal Science. World wheat production was 5.5 percent lower in that span than it would have been without any change in temperatures and rainfall, the researchers said. Corn output fell 3.8 percent compared to a model without a changing climate, the study showed. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-06/climate-change-reduced-wheat-corn-yields-u-s-researchers-say.html http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/06/us-climate-food-idUSTRE74520720110506 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/06/science/earth/06warming.html?partner=rss&emc=rss http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/06/MNQ41JAS92.DTL&type=printable http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/06/4 RGGI Still Alive In N.H., For Now. A Senate committee in New Hampshire voted yesterday against a bill that would pull the state out of the nation's only operating cap-and-trade system. A vote by the full Senate chamber to leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, could come next week, however. The state House already passed a bill this year calling for the state to depart from the program, which caps carbon dioxide emissions of utilities in 10 states in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/06/8 FUELS Research Aims To Substitute Petroleum Fuels With Bio-Fuels. The California Energy Commission has awarded $2 million to UC San Diego to accelerate research that will demonstrate the feasibility of using a variety of new kinds of biofuels to supplement or replace petroleum-based transportation fuels in the future. The state agency selected the university for the award, which will be used to investigate a wide range of plant-based biofuels, because it is one of the nation's leaders in developing technologies to turn algae into biofuels. Posted. http://www.domain-b.com/technology/20110506_biofuels_research.html California Biofuel Company To Build Plant In Northwestern Ontario. Thunder Bay, Ont. — A California biofuel and energy company is poised to build a new plant in White River, Ont. Rentech’s president is in Sault Ste. Marie today to officially announce the project. Rentech’s White River project is to be fuelled by wood fibre. When it was checking out Marathon’s dormant pulp mill last year, Rentech said it would create more than 250 jobs at a retrofitted mill by producing 2,600 barrels a day of aviation fuel made from wood fibre. Posted. http://fftimes.com/node/242227 VEHICLES With Carpool Perk Ending For Hybrids, Some Owners Are Trading Up. Starting July 1, those yellow carpool stickers cherished by hybrid owners will expire, but by early next year a new generation of super-clean vehicles sporting green and white stickers will be taking their place in the carpool lane. The looming expiration date already has 85,000 hybrid drivers and their jealous commuter counterparts jockeying for position -- as the Department of Motor Vehicles mails out warnings this week that driving solo in the carpool lane will soon mean a $450 fine. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_18004524?source=rss&nclick_check=1 GREEN ENERGY GOP Bill Would Merge EPA, DOE. Senate Republicans are pushing a plan to morph the Energy Department and the EPA into one giant agency. A bill introduced Thursday by Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C) would combine the DOE and the EPA into a new agency called the Department of Energy and Environment. Burr’s effort has the backing of 15 GOP co-sponsors. Consolidating the agencies could result in more than $3 billion in savings in 2012 alone, according to a statement from Burr’s office. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54422.html NW Ind. Power Plant Set For Closure Next Year. Hammond, Ind. (AP) - The owner of a northwestern Indiana electric generating plant plans to shut it down at the end of 2012 after more than 55 years of operation. Officials of Virginia-based Dominion Resources say that stand-alone coal plants such as State Line Energy in Hammond have become less competitive with natural gas power plants as natural gas prices fall and coal prices increase. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/06/nw-ind-power-plant-set-for-closure-next-year/ GE Pushes A Clean Energy Policy That Includes Incentives For Natural Gas, Renewables And Nuclear. General Electric Co. believes President Obama's concept of a broad "clean energy" standard that includes incentives for natural gas, nuclear power and renewable energy will work politically and economically. "We thought it was achievable if you took steps to incorporate the broadest number of technologies," said Rob Wallace, GE's Washington-based head of government relations. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/06/5 MISCELLANEOUS State Delays Vote On Two-Track High-Speed Rail For Bay Area. The California High-Speed Rail Authority board on Thursday delayed a decision to study a plan to initially run the state's bullet trains on two tracks instead of four between San Francisco and San Jose. The board decided to take up the plan at its next meeting in June. If approved, officials would study the proposal before making a decision in early 2013. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_18003418?source=rss OPINION Viewpoints: Energy Projects Should Help Poor Areas Thrive. California once again is at the forefront of national efforts to address the crisis of global warming and achieve a thoughtful transition from fossil fuel to clean and renewable energy sources. By signing a law that requires 33 percent of the energy produced by all of the state's major retail electricity suppliers to come from renewable sources by 2020, Gov. Jerry Brown has positioned the Golden State to lead the nation in reducing greenhouse gases that threaten the future of Mother Earth. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/06/v-print/3606078/energy-projects-should-help-poor.html Editorial: Leaders Must Demand An End To The Mecca Stink. Something stinks in Mecca. For months now, children at Saul Martinez Elementary School have been sickened by an odor of unknown origin. More than a dozen students and teachers have been treated by paramedics at the school. A couple have been sent to the hospital. Teachers have complained. Parents have complained. There have been three town hall meetings since the odor became a problem in mid-December, with empathetic public officials and promises to provide answers. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110505/OPINION01/105050303 BLOGS Fracture on Fracking. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has appointed a panel of seven scientific and environmental worthies to study the rapidly growing method of natural gas extraction known as hydraulic fracturing and to make recommendations about how it can be done more cleanly and more safely. The group includes John Deutch, a former Central Intelligence Agency director; Kathleen McGinty, a former top White House environmental adviser; and Daniel Yergin, probably the best-known oil industry analyst in the country. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/06/fracture-on-fracking/ How Clean is Clean? With the demise of climate change legislation last year, attention has shifted to the possibility of a patchwork of other rules that would have the effect of cutting carbon dioxide emissions. On the state level, one popular step is a renewable energy standard for the electricity sector. Generally the renewables standard is expressed as a percentage of the electricity generated by all energy sources, often with sub-quotas for solar power or geothermal energy. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/how-clean-is-clean/ Report: Climate Change Hits Home. Even if the world stopped emitting all greenhouse gases today, scientists say, the climate would continue to change, perhaps for centuries, before it stabilized. Since a zero-emissions world is unlikely, to say the least, and considering that global carbon emissions are continuing on their upward trend, finding ways to adapt to what many see as inevitable is getting more and more attention. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/05/05/report-climate-change-hits-home/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 9 May 2011 14:21:43 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 9, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 9, 2011. 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 DESERT: Senator Demands Immediate Action To Curb Mecca Odors. Sen. Barbara Boxer is demanding that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency act immediately to protect Mecca residents from strong chemical odors that have been blamed for illnesses in the rural Coachella Valley community. In a May 5 letter to EPA administrator Lisa Jackson, the California Democrat asked that Jackson personally intervene to help families "living in unbearable conditions caused by the horrendous odors." Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_mecca07.3fb09e8.html Obama's Challenge: Unite Groups On Emissions Targets For 2017-25. Washington--The Obama administration faces a challenge in uniting disparate groups behind a single national program of fuel economy and tailpipe-emission standards for 2017-25 models--especially in light of recent conflict between automakers and California state regulators. Private talks are under way among the EPA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the California Air Resources Board, and automakers in the hope that the administration can propose a rule by September and approve it by July 2012. Posted. http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20061090-48.html SB 375 Approaches a Crucial Phase. The rubber is finally hitting the road for California's elaborate sustainable planning model, known commonly as SB 375. Nearly three years after the landmark environmental law was enacted, local governments are beginning to adopt the complex strategies required to implement it. Two weeks ago, the San Diego Association of Governments adopted a draft Regional Transportation Plan, forecasting investments in streets and highways over the next several decades. Posted. http://www.publicceo.com/index.php/local-governments/151-local-governments-publicceo-exclusive/2883-sb-375-approaches-a-crucial-phase CLIMATE CHANGE UN Climate Change Panel Says 80 Percent Of Energy Needs Could Be Met By Renewables By 2050. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates -- Renewable sources such as solar and wind could supply up to 80 percent of the world's energy needs by 2050 and play a significant role in fighting global warming, a top climate panel concluded Monday. But the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said that to achieve that level, governments would have to spend significantly more money and introduce policies that integrate renewables …Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/un-climate-change-panel-says-80-percent-of-energy-needs-could-be-met-by-renewables-by-2050/2011/05/09/AFoweyWG_story.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/9/un-renewable-energy-key-in-climate-change-fight/ http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/09/1680296/un-renewable-energy-key-in-climate.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/09/2381269/un-renewable-energy-key-in-climate.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_1ae6c80b-7cae-565f-8c2a-074ab05dd9d7.html Group Urges 'Climate Justice'. About 70 people calling for "climate justice" gathered at Cesar Chavez Plaza in Sacramento on Sunday as part of an international "iMatter March" to publicize the campaign to halt global warning. The brief gathering was marked by a short march to the west steps of the state Capitol, with loud chants and placards. Participants were the local face of what was billed as the "largest-ever mobilization of youth," a group that vowed to counter climate change and become the next generation of environmental stewards. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/09/1680119/group-urges-climate-justice.html Scientists Measure Arctic Soot In Bid To Slow Global Warming, Oceans' Rise. WASHINGTON -- American scientists working on an island far above the Arctic Circle have been launching unmanned aircraft and digging snow samples to measure how soot helps melt Arctic snow and ice. Satellite observations in recent decades show longer warm seasons and more melting throughout the region. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/08/1679194/scientists-measure-arctic-soot.html Program Helps Grocery Stores Snuff Out Carbon Footprint. Among climate scientists, it’s not the smorgasbord of foods and sundries in grocery stores and supermarkets that are concerning, but the large amount of greenhouse gases emitted from the buildings. But that may change. On Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that supermarkets in all 50 states had promised to try to control these gases by voluntarily signing up for the agency’s GreenChill program. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/program-helps-grocery-stores-snuff-out-carbon-footprint-10183 Experts Push For Carbon Labeling, Yet Efforts At Home Are Slow To Start. While large-scale efforts to curb greenhouse gases aren't likely to happen in the near future, advocates are thinking of smaller ways to reduce emissions in the meantime. Recently, Vanderbilt University professor Michael Vandenbergh and two others proposed the idea of voluntarily labeling carbon footprints on products in the journal Nature Climate Change. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/09/2 E.U. Proposes 24-Hour Delay On ETS Carbon Transactions To Fight Fraud. The European Commission last week proposed a 24-hour delay in carbon dioxide transactions, shortly after carbon permit thefts estimated at €50 million brought the world's largest carbon market to a halt. The European Union's Emissions Trading System (ETS) was closed for spot emissions trading for more than two weeks in January and February after hackers illegally transferred about 4 million permits from accounts in Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Greece and Romania. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/05/09/3 FUEL Feinstein, GOP Senator Fight Subsidies For Ethanol. Washington -- Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California and Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn have joined forces with Tea Party activists in an attempt to kill $6 billion a year in ethanol subsidies, taking on the corn lobby and anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist. Ethanol, an alcohol fuel made from corn and used as a gasoline additive, for decades has received lavish federal subsidies in the form of tax breaks, import tariffs and regulations that set a goal of gasoline to contain up to 10 percent ethanol. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/07/MN5N1JCFTV.DTL&type=printable Corn Food Vs. Fuel Battle Turns Political Again. Corn prices are way up, and cattle ranchers, dairymen and others who depend on the grain to feed their animals are pointing to corn ethanol as the culprit. Prices are up, they say, because demand for corn used as a fuel source has skyrocketed. The battle has once again found its way into the political realm, where efforts are under way at both the state and national levels to cut subsidies for the corn-based additive, which is blended into gasoline to help it burn more cleanly. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/08/2381097/corn-food-vs-fuel-battle-turns.html Colombia Pursues Sweet Dream Of Becoming A Sugar-Cane Ethanol Powerhouse. Cauca Valley, Colombia -- Laborers swing sickles and machetes under a punishing equatorial sun to harvest sugar cane in the narrow flatlands along the Cauca River. Though 85 percent of Colombia's cane crop is harvested this old-fashioned way, industry leaders say they have no intention of mechanizing the harvest, for fear of mass unemployment in a rural area where people suffered during Colombia's five-decade-long civil war. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/09/1 Molecules For Sale: Biofuel Outfits Bet On Chemicals. Many biofuel companies are finding the best way to make money is to stay away from biofuels, at least for a while. A number of biofuel companies are first focusing on industrial chemicals or food supplements as they seek a route to get out of the lab and into the market. Chemicals used in everyday products, such as rubber or plastics, are also made from oil as fuels are but they can command higher prices than gasoline and diesel. Posted. http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20060433-54.html VEHICLES On The Money: Brush Up On Alternative-Fuel Vehicles. The timing couldn't be better. Just as gas prices at the pump climb rapidly, automakers finally have a wide range of new fuel-efficient, alternative fuel and hybrid cars and trucks to offer for budget and environmentally conscious motorists. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/09/1680334/on-the-money-brush-up-on-alternative.html Target 62 Mpg: CAFE Debate To Reshape Industry. Quiet negotiations going on in Washington could change profoundly the nature of U.S. cars and trucks over the next 13 years, making more of them electrified and more costly. New federal fuel economy and emissions rules took effect Jan. 1, requiring automakers to hit 35.5-mpg corporate average fuel economy by the 2016 model year. Posted. http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110509/GREEN/110509845 Barring Cars to Clear the Air. Brussels — Cruising through cities in cars has been a part of urban life for decades. But for some European drivers, that pastime could be coming to an end where the authorities want to bar the most polluting vehicles. “The future in city centers belongs to small cars and electric vehicles,” Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the French minister for ecology and transport, told a French newspaper, Le Parisien, last month. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/09/business/energy-environment/09green.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=green%20vehicles&st=cse Garia LSV Offers Electric Luxury At 25 Mph. The two-seat street-legal golf cart features an elegant look and hand-stitched leather seats. And getting in and out of this plug-in vehicle is easy because there are no doors. As gas prices escalate toward $5 a gallon, one novel fuel saver is generally overlooked: the street-legal golf cart. These electric, low-speed vehicles, or LSVs, have been available since 1998 but have yet to catch on with urban commuters who may not be keen to avoid freeways and chug along at 25 mph. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-autos-garia-lsv-review-20110505,0,4080678,print.story GREEN ENERGY US Ranks 17 As Clean Tech Producer, China Is No. 2. Amsterdam -- Denmark earns the biggest share of its national revenue from producing windmills and other clean technologies, the United States is rapidly expanding its clean-tech sector, but no country can match China's pace of growth, according to a new report obtained by The Associated Press. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/07/1679002/us-ranks-17-as-clean-tech-producer.html Energy Expert Issues Dire Warning Over Oil. Energy crisis expert Michael C. Ruppert says the sky is falling and makes a strong argument as to why you should heed his warnings. Ruppert marshals compelling facts about the imminent collapse of the oil fields, whose cheap energy has fueled developed society's way of life for more than a century. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/local/stories/PE_Biz_D_bizbooks08.30cf2a8.html World May Draw 77% Of Its Power From Clean Sources By 2050 – IPCC. United Nations -- The world could be drawing almost 80 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2050, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said in a report released today. Taking a broad view of renewable power -- including not only wind, solar and geothermal power but also wood scavenged in the developing world -- the report says renewables could constitute about 77 percent of all power generation, measured in exajoules per year, up from 13 percent. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/09/2 MISCELLANEOUS Final Free Tire Recycling Friday In Yolo County. Yolo County will offer its final free tire recycling event Friday in Esparto. County officials said the tire recycling has allowed residents to properly dispose of waste tires that can pose fire, health and environmental hazards. They noted that illegally dumped tires often pollute roads, open spaces, waterways, and the county's farms and ranches. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/08/1679507/final-free-tire-recycling-friday.html OPINION Conn Carroll: Energy issues are Pawlenty's Achilles Heel. When Fox News' Chris Wallace told former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty he was about to play an Environmental Defense Action Fund radio ad during last Thursday's Republican presidential debate, Pawlenty quipped "Do we have to?" After stoically listening to his own his own voice proclaim, "Cap greenhouse gas pollution, now," Pawlenty turned to the camera and said: "I've said I was wrong. It was a mistake, and I'm sorry." Posted. http://washingtonexaminer.com/print/opinion/columnists/2011/05/conn-carroll-energy-issues-are-pawlentys-achilles-heel BLOGS Climate Panel Charts Options for Renewable Energy. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued the summary of its first report on the potential role of renewable forms of energy, from dams to wind turbines and solar panels, in cutting emissions of greenhouse gases in coming decades. The document doesn’t take readers much beyond what is already well established: that without sustained and focused climate and energy policies by governments around the world, …Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/09/climate-panel-charts-options-for-renewable-energy/ Climate: The Next Generation. What do they want? Climate Justice! When do they want it? You guessed it. Young activists are taking to the streets to call for immediate action against change. Youth turned out in eleven cities across California over the weekend in a series of coordinated demonstrations. Dubbed the i-Matter marches, youth from Eureka to San Diego and from grammar school to college, demanded "climate justice" for their generation. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/05/09/climate-the-next-generation/ Political Polarization Of Climate Change Is On The Rise. It's time to find a good way to reconsider whether carbon cap and trade would eliminate jobs. Samuel Clemens published under the pen name of Mark Twain. If Al Gore had followed this strategy for "Inconvenient Truth" would we now have passed more aggressive Federal legislation for slowing the growth of greenhouse gas emissions? Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Green-Economics/2011/0509/Political-polarization-of-climate-change-is-on-the-rise ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 10 May 2011 13:05:58 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 10, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 10, 2011. 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 Alcoa Says New Aluminum Building Coating Fights Smog. Alcoa Inc. (AA.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said it will start selling an aluminum building panel that removes smog from the air using a chemical commonly found in automobile paint. Using a proprietary process developed with Japan's Toto (5332.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Alcoa said it turns fine grounds of titanium dioxide into a clear paste then applies it the surface of aluminum. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/09/alcoa-idUSN0927642020110509 http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/consumer&id=8121875&pt=print http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/05/10/metals-firms-unveil-smog-eating-buildings-recycling-goals/ Obama's Challenge: Unite Groups On Emissions Targets For 2017-25. Washington -- The Obama administration faces a challenge in uniting disparate groups behind a single national program of fuel economy and tailpipe-emission standards for 2017-25 models -- especially in light of recent conflict between automakers and California state regulators. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110509/OEM06/305099960/1143 EPA Halts Hazardous Waste Shipments To Mecca Plant. A soil recycling plant in Mecca must stop accepting gasoline-contaminated earth and other hazardous materials that residents say have been making them ill, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Monday. Operations at Western Environmental Inc. may present a danger to human health, the EPA order said. It requires the company to cover existing piles of contaminated soil, some as high as 40 feet, within 15 days. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_mecca10.3df9dda.html http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110509/NEWS07/110509013/Hazardous-waste-trucks-greeted-surprise-checkpoint-outside-Mecca-plant?odyssey=nav|head http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110510/NEWS01/105100315/Feds-crack-down-Mecca-stink?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage Hoax Website Skewers Coal-Fired Power Plants. A hoax website purporting to be sponsored by coal company Peabody Energy announced the launch today of a new community service campaign by the company to distribute free inhalers to all children living within 200 miles of a coal-fired power plant. Called "Coal Cares," the phony initiative wouldn't seek simply to end childhood asthma…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/10/5 CLIMATE CHANGE Vatican-Appointed Panel Warns Of Climate Change. A Vatican-appointed panel of scientists has reported what climate change experts have been warning for years: the Earth is getting warmer, glaciers are melting, and urgent measures are necessary to stem the damage. The scientists called for urgent reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and reductions in methane and other pollutants that warm the air, and for improved observation of mountain glaciers to better track their changes. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g10NglmvY5S--196nMSfug79L3BQ?docId=e80362e575554118aa3fabbc3f725c8e http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/05/10/international/i091816D85.DTL&type=printable Physicist Group’s Study Raises Doubts on Capturing Carbon Dioxide >From Air. Over the last few years, some of world’s brightest minds have become fascinated with a seemingly simple idea: easing the threat of climate change by pulling carbon dioxide out of the air. The concept is entirely different from capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide from power plants and other big polluters before it enters the air. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/10/science/earth/10carbon.html?ref=earth Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/10/15 Group Urges 'Climate Justice' About 70 people calling for "climate justice" gathered at Cesar Chavez Plaza in Sacramento on Sunday as part of an international "iMatter March" to publicize the campaign to halt global warning. The brief gathering was marked by a short march to the west steps of the state Capitol, with loud chants and placards. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/09/v-print/3611845/group-urges-climate-justice.html U.N. Climate-Change Panel: Renewable Energy Use Up. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates -- Renewable sources such as solar and wind could supply up to 80 percent of the world's energy needs by 2050 and play a significant role in fighting global warming, a top climate panel concluded Monday. But the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said that to achieve that level, governments would have to spend significantly more money and introduce policies that integrate renewables…Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/10/MN9Q1JDQDO.DTL&type=printable Climate Change May Disrupt Wi-Fi Access, U.K. Report Says. Rising sea levels, overheated polar bears and melting ice caps are some of the consequences commonly identified with global warming. But a new U.K. government report identifies a new victim of rising temperatures: Wi-Fi Internet access. Higher temperatures can reduce the range of wireless communications, rainstorms can alter the reliability of the signal, and drier summers and wetter winters could damage masts and underground cables…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/10/11 FUELS Celanese Says Ethanol-From-Coal Process Is a ‘Game-Changer’ Celanese Corp. (CE) said its technology to make ethanol from coal is more profitable than producing the gasoline additive from plants, and is a “game-changer” for the U.S. chemicals company. Celanese’s so-called TCX technology can convert coal, petroleum coke or natural gas to ethanol for 25 percent to 35 percent less than alternative processes, it said today in presentation slides posted on its website. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-10/celanese-says-ethanol-from-coal-process-is-a-game-changer-1-.html Study Finds Methane Contamination Rises Near Shale Gas Wells. Researchers at Duke University have issued a study showing a link between methane contamination of drinking water wells and their proximity to shale gas drilling sites. The study (pdf) would suggest potential for widespread contamination of rural drinking water from drilling in the Marcellus Shale under Pennsylvania, New York and other states. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/05/09/09greenwire-study-finds-methane-contamination-rises-near-s-87464.html?pagewanted=print Japan To Scrap Plan To Boost Nuke Energy To 50 Pct. Japan will scrap a plan to obtain half of its electricity from nuclear power and will instead promote renewable energy and conservation as a result of its ongoing nuclear crisis, the prime minister said Tuesday. Naoto Kan said Japan needs to "start from scratch" on its long-term energy policy after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant was heavily damaged by a March 11 earthquake and tsunami and began leaking radiation. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/10/japan-to-scrap-plan-to-boost-nuke-energy-to-50/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_61bf9e1b-6f1a-59ac-9d15-6d8a2d6a8c1b.html New Biofuel To Spar With Ethanol. Washington, D.C. -- Imagine filling up the car on a fuel that isn't made from oil but doesn't have the drawbacks of corn ethanol, including its lower energy content and ability to damage older cars or gas pumps. Such fuels could be made from the same sources as ethanol, including corn and corncobs as well as straw, trees and other abundant types of biomass. But these fuels would be synthetic versions of today's gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Posted. http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/article/20110510/OPINION02/105100315/New-biofuel-spar-ethanol Camelina Offers Hope As California Biofuel Crop. California’s 20 billion-gallon gasoline and diesel habit makes it ground zero for low-carbon and renewable fuel development, since there is a state objective that calls for 20 percent of the fuel for California engines be grown in state by 2020. Camelina may be a better crop fit than grain because it will produce 1,500 to 1,600 pounds of Camelina per acre on 4-6 inches of winter rainfall. Posted. http://westernfarmpress.com/print/markets/camelina-offers-hope-california-biofuel-crop VEHICLES SF To Install 80 Electric Car Charging Stations. San Francisco will install more than 80 free charging stations for electric vehicles by the end of the year, as part of City Hall's eco-friendly resolve to reduce air pollution. Monday's announcement by Mayor Ed Lee came as the average price for a gallon of gas in San Francisco hit the $4.32 mark - $1.09 higher than a year ago, according to data tracked by the AAA auto club. That's a dramatic price escalation expected to drive the public's appetite for more fuel-efficient cars. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/10/BAJM1JE0CJ.DTL&type=printable Appetite For 'Clean' Is Driving Vehicle Technology: Daimler CEO. Long Beach, Calif. -- The president and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) says the market for ultra-clean, energy-efficient trucks is driving technological advancements in the natural gas and hybrid fields. “We see tremendous growth opportunities for our line-up of ultra-efficient products, and are extremely excited about the market potential here,” Martin Daum told delegates at the Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo 2011 in Long Beach, Calif., yesterday. Posted. http://www.todaystrucking.com/news.cfm?intDocID=26312 China Plans Big Investment In Electric Vehicles. When China got into the automaking business, it was reeling with smog-filled cities and disappearing global oil reserves. As Chinese automakers geared up, planners in Beijing started to develop an electric car industry that wouldn't rely on oil. That once seemed futuristic, but auto executives in the United States, Europe and Japan are now taking China's efforts seriously as it sets production targets and plans to provide $15 billion for it between now and 2020. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/10/8 GREEN ENERGY U.K. Submits 12 Applications to Tap $6.5 Billion in EU Clean Energy Funds. The U.K. government is seeking funds from the European Union for 12 projects under a 4.5 billion-euro ($6.5 billion) program to promote low-carbon energy. The projects will compete for funds generated by the sale of 300 million allowances to emit carbon dioxide under the EU’s New Entrants’ Reserve initiative, the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change said today in a statement. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-10/u-k-submits-12-applications-to-tap-6-5-billion-in-eu-clean-energy-funds.html Scientists Surprised By Genesis Mission's Solar Wind Data. Solar wind particles from NASA's Genesis mission suggest unexpected differences in the composition of the sun and inner planets. The 2004 crash-landing of a returning NASA space capsule in the deserts of Utah had scientists fearing for a while that samples collected by the Genesis mission, sent to capture particles from the sun's solar wind, were lost. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-genesis-solar-wind-20110510,0,7444851,print.story IPCC Sees Swiftly Expanding Alternative Energy Defines Cookstoves As 'Renewable' And Omits Nuclear. United Nations -- The world's leading climate change research organization issued a report yesterday that has renewable energy boosters cheering, as it foresees substantial growth in alternative energy sources over the next 40 years. But the conclusions reached by that report's authors are colored with multiple caveats and uncertainties not captured by initial media coverage. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/10/5 Clean-Tech Sector On Growth Trajectory – Report. Companies dipping their toes into clean energy technology today will invest more in the next five years to develop clean-tech products that can pay off in the form of profits, according to an Ernst & Young survey. "During the financial downturn, businesses looked to cleantech for cost savings and efficiency improvements," it says. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/10/6 Progress Energy CEO Sees Clean Energy As Incremental Policy That Includes Nuclear. If electric utility Duke Energy successfully acquires Progress Energy later this year, current Progress CEO Bill Johnson will become the CEO of the nation's biggest electric utility. That means he will be responsible for one of the biggest sources of pollution in the country and will be an important player in the energy and emissions debates heating up Congress. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/10/10 MISCELLANEOUS Bike To Work Day Organizers Seek Two-Wheeled Commuters For May 20 Event. Washington — May is Bike Month and Bike to Work Day organizers want you to take two wheels to work on May 20. Organizers of the Washington event say they hope to register more than 10,000 riders. This year’s event features 50 regional pit stops throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia where participants can get a free T-shirt, snacks and drinks and meet other bike commuters. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/bike-to-work-day-organizers-seek-two-wheeled-commuters-for-may-20-event/2011/05/10/AFTTIFeG_story.html New $300 Million High-Speed Rail Grant Won't Help Bakersfield. California's high-speed rail project got word Monday that it will receive $300 million of the roughly $2 billion in bullet train money turned down this year by Florida -- far less than the Golden State requested but enough to extend its initial 110-mile Central Valley segment an extra 20 miles northward and ending at a Y that allows the authority to later build north to Merced or westward to San Jose. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/economy/x43485785/New-300-million-high-speed-rail-grant-wont-help-Bakersfield-specifically OPINION Climate Change And The Flood This Time. Midwest flooding is a taste of climate change in its early stages. We've got to fight back, and fast. Last week, at a place called Bird's Point, just below the confluence of the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers, the Army Corps of Engineers was busy mining a huge levee with explosives. The work was made dangerous by outbreaks of lightning, but eventually the charges were in place and corps Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh gave the order: Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-0508-mckibben-levee-20110510,0,4588539.story Opinion: Biking To Work Once A Week Can Significantly Help The Environment. With the passage of California's Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, cities and counties are required to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One of the great problems is this: Nearly 40 percent of our greenhouse gases come from transportation. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18027903 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18027903?nclick_check=1 Ethanol Nonsense. Burning the nation's food as a fuel supply is dubious energy policy. Charging taxpayers a premium for such a scheme is fiscally irresponsible. Congress should end the costly federal subsidy for corn ethanol production, and dump a tariff that protects the U.S. ethanol industry from cheaper imported ethanol. Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., last week introduced a bill to revamp the nation's wasteful ethanol policies. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/editorials/stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_D_op_10_ed_ethanol.30d20ee.html BLOGS This Energy Bill Is Not So Green. Shrinking the state is no way to deliver the 'greenest government ever'. Cameron's energy bill is light on detail and lacks ambition. This is a critical year for energy and climate change policy. Key government decisions are due in the coming months on flagship initiatives designed to reform the electricity market, drive investment in renewables, improve energy efficiency and set Whitehall emission targets. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/10/energy-bill-greenest-government-ever/print Online Auction Mechanism for EV Charging Developed. With the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), the energy impact on the grid is less about the overall availability of energy to charge vehicles than it is about the ability to meet demand at the local level – where clustering of EVs could overstress local transformers. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/online-auction-mechanism-ev-charging-developed/ U.S. Finally Catching Up To Rest Of World On Solar. In the U.S., solar photovoltaic panels are, somewhat unexpectedly, suddenly the belle of the renewable energy ball -- and their dance card is wide open. There is now more solar PV capacity planned for the immediate future than any other renewable you can name. Wind, solar thermal, geothermal…Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-05-10-u.s.-finally-catching-up-to-rest-of-world-on-solar Want local communities to support wind? Put them in charge. Last month, Grist's Jess Zimmerman noted sarcastically that "Money is a miracle cure for 'wind turbine syndrome'." It is. And environmental advocates frustrated by the (spurious?) health and aesthetic complaints raised by not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) actors would do well to consider why. Posted. http://www.grist.org/wind-power/2011-05-09-ownership-money-and-policy-offer-a-cure-for-nimby Report For IPCC Finds Renewables Could Supply Up To 77% Of Global Energy By 2050. under most optimistic scenario; need for enabling public policies and investments. Up to 77% of the world’s energy supply could be met by six key renewables by mid-century under the most optimistic scenario if backed by the right enabling public policies, according to a new report by more than 120 researchers working with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/05/srren-20110510.html#more Washington State Closes the Door on Coal. As the old saw goes, when one door closes another one opens. That is about to tested on a grand scale in the State of Washington, which recently announced an agreement to shut down its only coal fired power plant. The plant is owned by the power company TransAlta. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/washington-state-closes-door-coal-opens-new-opportunities/ Geothermal Energy Provides Key to Airport Expansion. A new geothermal project for the Portland International Jetport in Maine provides a hint of the potential for U.S. businesses to expand their operations without being hobbled by the high price of fossil fuels, or by local concerns over fossil fuel emissions. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/geothermal-energy-key-airport-expansion/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 11 May 2011 14:51:33 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 11, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 11, 2011. 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 Emissions: State Urged To Tighten Tailpipe Rules. California must tighten tailpipe emissions controls not just to clean up some of the dirtiest air in the nation, but to save hundreds of lives each year and billions of dollars devoted to asthma and other disorders stemming from smog and diesel fumes, a public health group will argue in a report to be released today. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/11/BAUG1JEE99.DTL&type=printable http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/10/v-print/2383730/cleaner-vehicles-could-save-california.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-11/u-s-may-require-up-to-7-annual-fuel-efficiency-boost-for-cars.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/10/1683188/study-predicts-savings-with-new.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/10/2383779/study-predicts-savings-with-new.html#storylink=misearch http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/10/v-print/2383730/cleaner-vehicles-could-save-california.html http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/may/10/lung-association-backs-tough-rules-vehicle-polluti/ http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18041065?nclick_check=1 http://www.capradio.org/articles/2011/05/11/-study-reducing-car-emissions-could-save-billions-in-health-costs- Court Ruling Complicates EPA's Refrigerant Phaseout. U.S. EPA is walking a fine line as it prepares new limits on the use of gases that harm the atmospheric ozone layer, one of the largest manufacturers of the ozone-depleting gases told the White House this week as it met with officials about the upcoming rule. The Office of Management and Budget started review last week on an interim final rule that will tell chemical companies how much hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) they are allowed to produce in 2011 and 2012. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/11/7 Asthma Rates Up, Despite Less Smoking And Air Pollution. Los Angeles ---- About 1 in 12 people in the United States now has asthma, a total of 24.6 million people and an increase of 4.3 million since 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said recently. The cost of medical care for these patients increased by about 6 percent between 2002 and 2007, totaling $56 billion in the latter year, according to information in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The increases come despite improved air quality throughout most of the country and widespread decreases in smoking. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/article_b8d1bc3f-12aa-525e-9617-f9c42d634a5c.html EPA Defers Air Sanctions Against Sacramento-Area Businesses. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reporting that the Sacramento region has attained an air quality standard it previously failed to meet. As a result, the agency will defer sanctions to businesses that would have taken effect July 5 and other economic sanctions set to become effective Jan. 5, 2012. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/05/10/epa-defers-air-sanctions-to-sacramento.html Dumping Continues In Mecca After Odor Order. Soil plant officials say they're in touch with EPA regulators on issue. The heavy hauling trucks continued to rumble onto tribal lands Tuesday outside Mecca, a day after a federal agency ordered a halt to hazardous waste shipments at two plants there. There was activity at the Western Environmental Inc. plant targeted by an Environmental Protection Agency order on Monday, but it wasn't clear if it was business as usual. No one at the plant would say. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110511/NEWS01/105110323/Dumping-continues-Mecca-after-odor-order CLIMATE CHANGE Arctic Nations Eye Future Of World's Last Frontier. (Reuters) - Leaders of Arctic nations gather in Greenland this week to chart future cooperation as global warming sets off a race for oil, mineral, fishing and shipping opportunities in the world's fragile final frontier. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will join foreign ministers from seven other Arctic states in Greenland's tiny capital of Nuuk -- population 15,000 -- on Thursday for an Arctic Council meeting on the next steps for a region where warming temperatures…Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/11/us-arctic-idUSTRE7490UD20110511 http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/us-others-to-clinch-arctic-search-and-rescue-pact-_-and-tiptoe-on-some-climate-oil-questions/2011/05/11/AF64AxmG_story.html Gates Puts His Energy Into Finding Solutions For Climate Change. Seattle - Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is investing more of his own time and money in the search for clean energy and solutions to climate change. Gates is moving into a third arena, after software and philanthropy, and is using his Kirkland-based incubator, BGC3, to fund related science. "The more I learn about this problem, the more I see it as super critical," he said. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/11/v-print/3617728/gates-puts-his-energy-into-finding.html DIESEL EMISSION California Businesses Get Help Moving To Cleaner Diesel Vehicles. California small businesses now can tap into a $5 million pool of federal money to replace, repower or retrofit their off-road diesel vehicles, the California Air Resources Board says. The objective is to encourage early compliance with CARB’s off-road diesel regulation vehicles used in construction, agriculture, mining and industrial operations. “Small businesses can take advantage of the loan program and modernize their vehicles improving air quality and public health ahead of state deadlines,” says CARB Chairman Mary Nichols. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=18390 FUELS Gasoline Futures Drop 8 Pct As Government Reports Lower Gasoline Demand, Higher Supplies. New York — Gasoline futures tumbled almost 8 percent Wednesday after a government report added more evidence that Americans are driving less because of higher pump prices. The Energy Information Administration said that U.S. gasoline demand dropped 2.4 percent last week, the largest drop in seven consecutive weeks of demand declines. Analysts said motorists have been forced to conserve gasoline with pump prices close to a national average of $4 per gallon. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/gasoline-futures-drop-8-pct-as-government-reports-lower-gasoline-demand-higher-supplies/2011/05/11/AFs7OWqG_story.html Corn-based Ethanol: The Real Cost. It was supposed to be the fuel that could wean, at least partially, the United States and other petroleum importing countries from their dependence on foreign oil. Corn-based ethanol was heralded to do the trick and with massive political support from both sides of the political spectrum, it has emerged as the biofuel of choice, anointed by the United States government and enjoying the support of agricultural lobbies and states. Posted. http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm/7401/Corn-based-Ethanol-The-Real-Cost VEHICLES House Dems To Roll Out Alt-Fuel Vehicle, Drilling Measures. House Democratic leaders today are set to unveil two new measures aimed at promoting alternative-fuel vehicles and increasing domestic energy production, fleshing out the party's counterpoint to the revved-up GOP push for faster offshore drilling. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is expected to outline the two bills this afternoon, while the House debates two Republican offshore drilling proposals. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/11/2 Metro Adding More Hybrid-Electric Buses To Its Fleet. Metro takes plenty of heat from bus riders, who complain that older buses break down too often and wheelchair lifts don’t work properly. But on Tuesday, transit officials showed off a new hybrid-electric bus that — in theory — is supposed to solve some of those problems. The “New Flyer Xcelsior XDE40” is an updated version of Metro’s diesel buses, some of which are 15 years old. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/metro-adding-more-hybrid-electric-buses-to-its-fleet/2011/05/10/AFO0TVkG_story.html GREEN ENERGY Bill Gates Calls for More U.S. Clean Energy Investment, Urges American Companies to Work With China. Microsoft founder, famous billionaire and clean energy supporter Bill Gates yesterday downplayed the notion that China is overtaking the United States in renewable energy at a breakfast meeting about climate change in Seattle. "A lot of figures that are thrown about China are sort of these bogeyman, 'We should feel bad'-type things," he said. "But China is very important. China can be a part of the solution here." Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/05/11/11climatewire-bill-gates-calls-for-more-us-clean-energy-in-54756.html?scp=8&sq=green%20energy&st=cse http://modbee.com/2011/05/10/1682282/gates-clean-energy-wont-be-focus.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/10/gates-clean-energy-wont-be-focus-of-foundation/ MISCELLANEOUS Dan Walters: High-Speed Train Trip Going Nowhere. California's chronic inability to govern itself has made it an international laughingstock with a blistering article in the Economist, a highbrow British magazine, only the latest manifestation of that unfortunate status. The state now has another opportunity to either cement its image as a civic buffoon or begin acting like an adult. It is the disaster-in-waiting known as the high-speed rail project. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/11/v-print/3617419/dan-walters-high-speed-train-trip.html BLOGS Ford Says There’s Wealth in Weeds. Petroleum is found throughout passenger vehicles, not only in the gas tank. But Ford announced on Tuesday a project intended to minimize its reliance on petroleum-based vehicle components, and it chose an unlikely standard bearer: the dandelion. Developed in collaboration with Ohio State University, the project harnesses the scourge of lawn tenders worldwide, Taraxacum kok-saghyz, commonly called the Russian dandelion, to produce a versatile, milky-white substance that can be used as a plastics modifier. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/11/ford-says-theres-wealth-in-weeds/#more-102337 Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Could Save $7.2 Billion Annually In California Health Costs. California could save $7.2 billion in healthcare costs -- and prevent more than 400 premature deaths -- annually if the state adopts a 64 miles- per-gallon equivalent fuel economy standard, according to a report released Tuesday by the American Lung Assn. in California. The Road to Clean Air study estimates a 70% reduction in asthma attacks …Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/fuel-economy-clean-car-standards.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Van Nuys, Long Beach Airports Cited As Major Lead Polluters. The Center for Environmental Health on Tuesday announced impending legal action against more than 40 suppliers of aviation fuel containing lead, often used in piston-powered aircraft engines, at California airports. The Oakland-based group blames ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Shell, AvFuel Corp. and 38 other suppliers for water and air pollution around 25 airports in California, including Van Nuys Airport, Long Beach/Daugherty Field and LAX. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/lax-van-nuys-airports-cited-as-major-lead-polluters.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Calculating Benefits of Cleaner Car Technology. Toughening clean air standards for automakers can reduce California’s respiratory and coronary health impacts and save more than $7 billion annually in health costs, according to a new study funded by the American Lung Association in California. With the California Air Resources Board—CARB—set to devise new standards for car manufacturers, the ALA is pushing them to take the high road in rules that will reduce the maximum amount of greenhouse emissions and particle pollution from vehicles. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/blogs/quality-of-life/calculating-benefits-cleaner-car/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 12 May 2011 14:28:41 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 12, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 12, 2011. 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 Sacramento Region Likely To Pass One-Hour Ozone Standard, EPA Says. It’s taken years, but the Sacramento region is on the verge of meeting a key federal clean air hurdle. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials say they likely will rule next month that Sacramento has met the Clean Air Act's critical one-hour ozone standard, nearly six years after the original federal deadline. The region, long troubled by hazy skies, has struggled to meet U.S. standards, in part because of local topography. Air pressure traps pollution in the Valley at the edge of the foothills for extended periods. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/12/3620923/sacramento-region-likely-to-pass.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/12/1684916/sacramento-region-likely-to-pass.html S.J. Adds 4th Air Monitor Station. Manteca - Students gasping for air as they run the track at Sierra High School can now get hour-by-hour information about exactly how clean - or how dirty - that air is. Air quality officials have constructed San Joaquin County's fourth air monitoring station, a high-tech and unmanned system of machines in a nondescript building tucked into a corner of the south county campus. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110512/A_NEWS/105120323/-1/NEWSMAP&template=printart http://www.mantecabulletin.com/news/article/23363/ http://www.kcra.com/news/27854594/detail.html Yolo County, Sacramento Getting More Fresh Air - But Not Fresh Enough. Improvements are outpacing population growth, report says. Take a deep breath. Chances are you're breathing cleaner air than Yolo County or Sacramento residents have inhaled in decades -- and it looks like it's getting better, thanks to state regulations. But the air is still shy of the EPA requirements -- and local officials are traveling as far as Washington to lobby against possible changes to transportation funds that could follow after years of air quality violations. Posted. http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_18048011 SAN BERNARDINO: Rail Yard Pollution Is More Toxic Than In Other Areas. Research by UCLA scientists is finding more bad news about the air near the busy BNSF rail yard in southwest San Bernardino. Compared to areas next to two other major Southern California rail yards, the air near the San Bernardino yard is more toxic, said John Froines, a UCLA environmental health sciences professor and nationally known expert in fine-particle pollution. Froines announced his findings Wednesday to members of an Inland task force dedicated to solving environmental problems. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_railair12.3ed5560.html EPA Agrees To Rethink Parts Of New Cement Kiln. U.S. EPA announced yesterday that it will reconsider some aspects of its new standards on hazardous air pollution from cement plants, but it won't delay the regulations as the cement industry had asked. Both cement companies and environmental groups had filed petitions asking EPA to take another look at the regulations, which will limit the amount of toxic emissions that cement kilns are allowed to release into the air. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/12/2 CLIMATE CHANGE Sierra Club Challenges Governor On Cap-And-Trade. A leading environmental group has called on Gov. Jerry Brown to take another look at the cap-and-trade rule adopted by the Air Resources Board late last year, saying it doesn't go far enough to meet standards set by the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In a letter sent Monday, Sierra Club Director Bill Magavern says the rule change approved at the end of former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's term "has some serious flaws that will limit its effectiveness in reducing emissions and gen- erating green jobs…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/12/v-print/3620885/sierra-club-challenges-governor.html Public Doubts on Climate Change Delay Urgent Action, Report Says. Public misconceptions of climate change have thwarted urgently needed U.S. efforts to reduce emissions blamed for global warming, according to a report from the National Research Council of the National Academies. The media sometimes present aspects of climate change that are well-established as if they were “matters of serious debate,” according to the report released today in Washington. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-12/public-doubts-on-climate-change-delay-urgent-action-report-says.html Panel Says US Must Act Now To Curb Global Warming. Washington -- An expert panel asked by Congress to recommend ways to deal with global warming said Thursday that the U.S. should not wait to reduce the pollution responsible and any efforts to delay action would be shortsighted. But that's exactly what Republicans and some Democrats in Congress are trying to do. With a majority in the House and many freshman lawmakers skeptical of the science behind climate change, Republicans are pushing measures to block the federal government from controlling greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/12/3622297/panel-says-us-must-act-now-to.html FUELS AE Biofuels Re-Starts 55 Million Gallon Per Year Ethanol Production Facility In Keyes, California. CUPERTINO, CalifAE Biofuels, Inc. (OTC:AEBF), a global advanced biofuels company, today announced its wholly owned ethanol subsidiary AE Advanced Fuels Keyes, Inc. (AE Keyes) has restarted operations at the 55 million gallon per year ethanol production facility located in Keyes, California. Approximately 50 full time employees have been hired at the AE Keyes facility. Posted. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110512005506/en/AE-Biofuels-Re-Starts-55-Million-Gallon-Year Federal Subsidies Have Limited Impact On Record Corn Prices – Study. New economic modeling shows that ethanol isn't responsible for huge run-ups in corn prices over the past several years, according to researchers who instead point to weather, the recession and general commodity price increases as major cost drivers. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/12/6 GREEN ENERGY Eight North Bay Small Businesses Recognized As ‘Climate-Smart’. Eight North Bay companies were among 23 small businesses the California Air Resources Board recognized Tuesday at its second CoolCalifornia.org Small Business Award ceremony for “climate-smart actions.” The award-winners were selected from 85 applicants. Criteria were actions taken to save money and improve operations, facilities and practices while reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. Posted. http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/33761/eight-north-bay-small-businesses-recognized-as-climate-smart/?tc=ar Small Businesses Honored For Keeping California Cool. Cool California honored two small businesses in San Diego for taking green actions that reduce their business' impact on the climate. The Small Business Awards were given to 23 companies that do business in cities throughout California on Tuesday, May 3. Recon Recycling LLC in the city and Telework Research Network in Carlsbad were given two of the nine certificates of recognition awarded at the California Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Sacramento. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/public-policy-in-san-diego/small-businesses-awarded-for-keeping-california-cool Lafitte Cork & Capsule, Silverado Brewing Company win awards. The California Air Resources Board awarded Lafitte Cork & Capsule a CoolCalifornia Small Business Award at a ceremony recently held in Sacramento. The company installed efficient lighting and Energy Star appliances. Lafitte Cork & Capsule, a supplier of premium cork, sells to wineries across North America. Posted. http://napavalleyregister.com/business/article_601ae3c8-7a9a-11e0-83d7-001cc4c002e0.html Small Businesses Recognized for Climate-Smart-Efforts....23 top small businesses saved money, cut climate impact. The 23 award winners were selected from 85 competitive applicants, representing a variety of business sectors. These businesses took an array of actions to save money and improve their operations, facilities and practices while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Steps taken include installation of compact fluorescent lights, solar panels and energy-efficient computer servers; elimination of toxins and solvents; use of eco-friendly products; and, adding automated thermostats and lighting fixtures. Posted. http://thepinetree.net/index.php?module=announce&ANN_user_op=view&ANN_id=24554 Sustainability award to NatureWorks. Tamalpais NatureWorks was recognized as a Cool California 2010 small business by the California Air Resources Board on May 3, in Sacramento. A certificate of recognition was awarded for the company’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including recycling, natural resource conservation, zero-waste initiatives and the production of sustainable furniture, using wood salvaged from new construction sites, building deconstruction projects and felled trees. Posted. http://marinscope.com/articles/2011/05/11/news_pointer/news/community/doc4dcb2751e4c87757512665.txt California's Installed Renewable Energy Numbers May Surprise You. If asked what type of renewable energy is most prevalent in California, most would choose solar or wind, but in reality, those two forms of renewable energy aren't even close. Instead, the current California champion for renewable energy is geothermal, followed by small hydro. Say what? As an example, on Wednesday May 4, 2011, geothermal energy production in California was 23,980 MWh, followed by small hydro with 13,210, then wind at 10,166. Posted. http://caivn.org/article/2011/05/12/californias-installed-renewable-energy-numbers-may-surprise-you MISCELLANEOUS New Precedent: Pollution Permits For Fireworks. Regional pollution regulators have drawn up rules for fireworks shot over waterways in an attempt to satisfy the Clean Water Act. Regional pollution regulators have drawn up rules for fireworks shot over waterways in an attempt to satisfy the Clean Water Act. San Diego regional regulators on Wednesday became the first in the country to require a pollution permit for all fireworks shot over water, and federal officials signaled their intent to consider similar rules nationwide. Posted. http://signonsandiego.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?expire=&title=New+precedent%3A+Pollution+permits+for+fireworks+-+SignOnSanDiego.com&urlID=452713172&action=cpt&partnerID=86541&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.signonsandiego.com%2Fnews%2F2011%2Fmay%2F11%2Ffireworks-under-fire-across-county%2F LAPD Receives Two Electric Hybrid Bicycles For Street Patrols. The Los Angeles Police Department is now the proud owner of two hybrid electric bicycles that officers can use on bike patrol. Chatsworth-based Currie Technologies has donated two electric hybrid bicycles to the Los Angeles Police Department. "The biggest thing that these electric bikes do on the street for the officers is afford them the power to stay with conventional road bikes," said Sgt. Matthew Bygum, ...Posted. http://www.scpr.org/news/2011/05/11/ebikes-lapd/ OPINION Dan Morain: Pious Prius Owner Can't Give Up Life In Fast Lane. John Burton has left fingerprints everywhere in the Capitol. Maybe, they're his tread marks. The California Democratic Party chairman and former state Senate leader loves his old blue Prius. It gets 45 miles to a gallon on the ride from his home in San Francisco to Sacramento. More to the point, his Prius, like those driven by many of his friends and donors, has a yellow sticker, the coveted decal issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles that permits him to cruise in carpool lanes while the rest of us stop, go and get stuck in traffic. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/12/3620609/pious-prius-owner-cant-give-up.html#mi_rss=Opinion BLOGS Sierra Club Asks Jerry Brown To Reassess Cap-And-Trade Rule. A leading environmental group has called on Gov. Jerry Brown to take another look at the cap-and-trade rule adopted by the Air Resources Board late last year, saying the regulation doesn't go far enough to meet the standards set by the state's 2006 greenhouse gas emission reduction law. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/05/sierra-club-jerry-brown-cap-and-trade.html#ixzz1M9guWUzu http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/california-cap-and-trade-sierra-club.html http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/05/11/sierra-club-challenges-governor-on-cap-trade/ CalSTRS Weighs Risk on Investment in Methyl Iodide Manufacturer. When California State Teachers’ Retirement System Chief Investment Officer Christopher Ailman meets with representatives from Permira IV in New York next week, he’ll be talking about the unrest among teachers when it comes to investments in the fund that’s paid for developing the controversial fumigant methyl iodide. “They are aware there’s a growing concern,” he says. “Concern” doesn’t necessarily mean divesting or hedging against the nearly $1 billion CalSTRS has committed to the private equity fund …Posted. http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/weblogs/news-blog/2011/may/11/calstrs-weighs-risk-on-investment-in-methyl-iodide/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 13 May 2011 12:02:29 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 13, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 13, 2011. 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 Alaska Offshore Oil Bill May Boost State Air Pollution, EPA Says. A Republican proposal in the House aimed at speeding up oil production in Alaska may expose the state’s population to significant air pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said in opposing the measure. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-12/alaska-oil-drilling-legislation-may-boost-pollution-epa-official-says.html Neighbors Oppose Strawberry Farms' Fumigant Use. When Annette Danzer and her husband moved into a house surrounded by brush and strawberry fields on California's Central Coast, they were drawn by the rural feel and closeness to nature. Three years later, the couple fears the fields near Salinas could become a health threat due to potential use of the pesticide methyl iodide. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/13/2386725/neighbors-oppose-strawberry-farms.html#storylink=misearch http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18055926?nclick_check=1 http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_f6a45e64-127c-5b5e-b281-339269ea506b.html CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Treaty Is Possible, UN Envoy Says, Rejecting U.S. View. The United Nations diplomat leading talks on a binding treaty to curb global warming today rejected the U.S. position that the negotiations are based on unrealistic expectations. “What is not doable is not to address climate change and not to do it in a timely fashion and at the level which it merits and with the urgency it needs to be done,” Christiana Figueres, the executive secretary of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change told reporters in New York. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-12/climate-treaty-is-possible-un-envoy-says-rejecting-u-s-view.html Research Panel Says Climate Change Doubts Slow Urgent Action. Public misconceptions of climate change have thwarted urgently needed U.S. efforts to reduce emissions blamed for global warming, according to a report from the National Research Council of the National Academies. The media sometimes present aspects of climate change that are well-established as if they were “matters of serious debate,” according to the report released today in Washington. Groups opposed to policies limiting carbon-dioxide emissions…Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-12/public-doubts-on-climate-change-delay-urgent-action-report-says.html Scientists’ Report Stresses Urgency of Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The nation’s scientific establishment issued a stark warning to the American public on Thursday: Not only is global warming real, but the effects are already becoming serious and the need has become “pressing” for a strong national policy to limit emissions of heat-trapping gases. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/science/earth/13climate.html?_r=1 As Clinton Works Against Global Warming In Greenland, Some There Don’t Mind It. Nuuk, Greenland — Few places on Earth have seen starker changes in weather than this icebound island straddling the Arctic Circle. With that in mind, America’s top diplomat arrived here this week intent on calling attention to the perils of climate change. The problem was that Greenlanders aren’t exactly complaining. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/as-clinton-works-against-global-warming-in-greenland-some-there-dont-mind-it/2011/05/12/AF5d4O1G_print.html Sierra Club Wants Landmark Climate Law Altered. California's quest to create the world's first clean energy economy was again under fire this week when the Sierra Club urged Gov. Jerry Brown to drastically alter key elements of the much criticized climate protection law. The state's largest environmental group urged the governor in a May 9 letter to re-evaluate and revise proposed "cap-and-trade" business incentives, particularly the rules that would allow companies to offset their pollution by purchasing credits from clean businesses outside the state and country. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/13/BAJL1JF37G.DTL&type=printable UN Climate Chief Predicts US Turnaround On Warming. New York -- Washington's inaction on climate legislation is a "very serious hand brake" on world efforts to combat global warming, the U.N. climate chief said Thursday. But Christiana Figueres said she believes the U.S. will eventually join the rest of the industrialized world in mandatory reductions of greenhouse gases. "I don't think it's a permanent state of affairs that the world will be able to live with," she said of the failure of the U.S. Congress to cap emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for global warming. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/12/3622712/un-climate-chief-predicts-us-turnaround.html Report: Strong U.S. Action Needed On Warming. The United States should lead a strong national and worldwide response to the threat of global warming, including placing a price tag on greenhouse gas emissions and assisting other nations in dealing with climate effects, according to a new report from the National Academy of Sciences. "The message in a nutshell is that this committee reaffirms that climate change is occurring, and that it's very likely caused primarily by human activity," said Albert Carnesale…Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/report-300243-climate-says.html Huntsman On Cap And Trade: 'It Hasn't Worked'. Jon Huntsman is backing away from his support for a cap-and-trade system for Western states that he once championed as Utah governor. "It hasn't worked," the potential GOP presidential candidate told Time Magazine in his first extended interview since leaving his post as U.S. ambassador to China. "And our economy's in a different place than five years ago." Until the economy recovers, Huntsman added, "this isn't the moment" to implement it. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54890.html U.S. Looks To Germany For Landfill Lessons. In 2005, a landfill ban on untreated household waste in Germany forced the country to stare its trash problems in the eye, and pushed it to become one of the most efficient waste managers in the world. Now, American waste management stakeholders are turning to German policymakers for examples of how to better deal with garbage, especially when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/05/13/9 U.S. Climate Action Urgent – Report. Climate change poses "significant risks" to society, the National Academy of Sciences said yesterday, warning that delaying cuts in greenhouse gas emissions will make dealing with the problem harder in the future. "Each additional ton of greenhouse gases emitted commits us to further change and greater risks," an academy panel said in a new report, which calls for the federal government to take a lead role in combating climate change at home and abroad. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/13/7 Africa: The Hype Versus the Reality of Carbon Markets. The launch of an Africa Carbon Exchange is unlikely to meet the goals of curbing carbon emissions and financing adaptation needs, writes Shefali Sharma. The Africa Carbon Exchange (ACX) was launched in Nairobi on March 24; yet only two days before, Bloomberg headlines announced: 'Global Carbon Credits Die as Smart Money Backs Indian RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates). Posted. http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/201105130703.html RGGI NEWS COVERAGE New Hampshire Senate Votes to Amend Involvement in Carbon Market. The New Hampshire Senate voted to amend, rather than repeal, the state’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade program for carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The state’s House of Representatives approved in March a bill to exit the 10-state program. Under the amended bill approved today by a vote of 16 to eight, the state’s would replace an emission reduction fund with an energy efficiency fund and would increase energy-efficiency rebates. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-11/new-hampshire-senate-votes-to-amend-involvement-in-carbon-market.html Delaware Bill To Quit Regional Climate Pact Stalls. Members of the House Energy Committee voted Wednesday to keep a bill in committee that would seek to end Delaware's participation in a regional program aimed at curbing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. After a hearing lasting nearly two hours, committee members voted to table the measure, meaning they would not release it for discussion by the full House. The proposal seeks an end to Delaware's participation in the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, also known as RGGI, or "Reggie." Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9N5UG701.htm Environment Maine Hails Panel’s Decision to Keep Maine in RGGI Program. Augusta, Maine—The Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee today rejected a bill, LD 793, which would have withdrawn Maine from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Instead, it reaffirmed an existing condition for Maine’s participation in the RGGI program. “The RGGI program is a win-win for Maine’s environment and economy. It’s cutting pollution, reducing energy costs, and creating jobs. Posted. http://www.environmentmaine.org/news-releases/global-warming/global-warming/environment-maine-hails-panels-decision-to-keep-maine-in-rggi-program?noCache=497:1305203949 FUELS Obama Administration Set To Raise Fuel Efficiency Standards, But By How Much? As the first Toyota Priuses took to U.S. roads more than a decade ago and celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz touted their virtues, enthusiasts predicted that hybrid cars would quickly become mainstream. But there was a problem: They cost too much, and consumers spurned them. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-administration-set-to-raise-fuel-efficiency-standards-but-by-how-much/2011/05/09/AFQsJ00G_story.html China Suspends Exports Of Diesel Fuel To Counter Energy Shortages During Peak Summer Season. SHANGHAI — China is suspending exports of diesel fuel to help counter shortages likely to worsen during the peak summer months. The National Development and Reform Commission, the country’s planning agency, on Friday urged oil companies to help “maintain social stability and promote economic development” by increasing refinery output and stepping up new projects to ensure stable supplies. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/china-suspends-exports-of-diesel-fuel-to-counter-energy-shortages-during-peak-summer-season/2011/05/12/AFByHf1G_print.html Carmakers Urge Obama Admin To Move Slowly On Fuel-Economy Standards. The nation's largest automakers are urging the Obama administration to go slowly on setting fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles in the wake of a recent call by a bipartisan group of senators for a 62-mile-per-gallon standard. In a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers said it would be "inappropriate" to promote a fuel economy target before the proper analysis was completed. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/13/17 Making a Great Fuel Even Better. How replacing natural gas with biomass as feedstock for methanol production can improve biodiesel's already good environmental footing. The vast majority of methanol produced today is sourced from natural gas, but this has not always been the case. A biobased version of the alcohol was produced for centuries before the industry moved to fossil-based feedstock. Posted. http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/7792/making-a-great-fuel-even-better GREEN ENERGY Solar Plane Takes Off For 1st International Flight. Geneva -- A team of Swiss adventurers took their solar-powered plane on its first international flight Friday, a 370-mile (600-kilometer) leap from a small airfield in Switzerland to Brussels airport in Belgium. The Solar Impulse HB-SIA single-seater prototype took off from Payerne airfield in Switzerland at 8:40 a.m. (0640 GMT) after a three-hour delay due to strong winds. It is expected to reach Brussels by nightfall. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/12/1686512/solar-plane-takes-off-for-1st.html MISCELLANEOUS Coastal Fireworks In South O.C. And San Diego County Now Need Pollution Permits. The San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board adopts new rules — the first in the nation— for displays over water. Operators will pay a $1,500 fee, minimize the discharge of pollutants into the water and clean up shells, fuses and other debris. Water regulators have voted to require pollution permits for coastal fireworks displays in southern Orange County and San Diego County, in what they said was the first such regulation in the nation. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0513-coast-fireworks-20110513,0,5828132.story Wide Disparities In Public Transit Access Keep Residents From Jobs, Brookings Study Says. Washington -- Seven in 10 working-age metropolitan residents live within three-quarters of a mile of a transit stop. But a new study from the Brookings Institution found that these commuters can reach only 30 percent of the jobs in their area in under 90 minutes. The report, "Missed Opportunity: Transit and Jobs in Metropolitan America,” revealed access to jobs varied widely across metro areas: Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/12/wide-disparities-in-public-transit-access-jobs-brookings_n_861336.html?view=print OPINION It's Time To End Ethanol Subsidies. America's ethanol subsidies and tariffs are outdated, expensive and damaging. There's no good reason we should continue offering them, and a bipartisan pair of U.S. senators have sponsored an amendment to abolish them. There are three subsidies and tax credits for ethanol. One of them is a 45-cent-per-gallon blender's tax credit. That subsidy alone costs taxpayers about $6 billion a year. Another is a 54-cent-per-gallon tariff on imported ethanol, which is less expensive than the domestic product. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/13/EDLD1JES31.DTL&type=printable At A Disadvantage. I was glad to see a Reporter editorial addressing the seeming inconsistencies between our local Vacaville general plan and the regional Association of Bay Area Governments-Metropolitan Transportation Commission's "Plan Bay Area" ("Regional vs. Local Control," May 8.) The editorial referred to it as a tug of war and, indeed, it is just that. There are a couple of issues, though, that give the regional planners a longer, stronger rope with which to tug: * Sustainable Community Strategy: The Vacaville general plan update is subject to 2008 state legislation governing greenhouse gas emissions and global warming (SB 375 and AB 32). Posted. http://www.thereporter.com/opinion/ci_18056022 Some Common Sense About Global Warming. Can we lay folk agree on some uncommon common sense about this controversy over global warming? Here are some of my musings about it. Without human help, our globe - once it solidified and held an atmosphere - has had a changing climate. We cannot know all its changes over several billion years, but we know that, during recent millennia, terrestrial, solar and maybe even cosmic forces have influenced the overall coldness and warmth of the globe. Again, without human help. Posted. http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/printer/article.asp?c=277680 BLOGS Oakland Airport Builds E.V. Chargers and Awaits the E.V.’s. If every electric car in the United States suddenly descended on Oakland International Airport, only 15 of them would be able to charge their batteries. But for E.V. drivers in the Bay Area, that is plenty of capacity, for now. As it makes preparations to accommodate E.V.-driving travelers, Oakland Airport officials will formally inaugurate 15 charging stations next week. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/oakland-airport-builds-e-v-chargers-and-awaits-the-e-v-s/ Greenland Benefits From Global Warming. “Rather than questioning global warming, many of this island’s 60,000 inhabitants seem to be racing to cash in. The tiny capital of Nuuk is bracing for record numbers of visitors this year; the retreating sea ice means a longer tourist season and more cruise ships from the United States. Hunters are boasting of more and bigger caribou, and the annual cod migration is starting earlier and lasting longer. Posted. http://washingtonexaminer.com/print/blogs/opinion-zone/2011/05/greenland-benefits-global-warming High Marks but Few Takers on California Transit. A new study from the Brookings Institution finds that compared with the rest of the nation, the Bay Area offers pretty good public transportation options. Among 100 major metropolitan areas, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ranks 16th, and San Jose-Santa Clara-Sunnyvale ranks second. Areas were ranked according to how accessible transit is to riders, how long it takes to get to work on transit and how often the systems run during rush hours. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/05/12/high-marks-but-few-takers-on-california-transit/ Jon Huntsman, Once A Climate Hawk, Now Disses Cap-And-Trade Like All The Other Republicans. A couple of months ago, I asked, "Is Jon Huntsman the greenest GOP presidential hopeful?" In 2007, as Utah governor, he brought his state into the Western Climate Initiative, a regional cap-and-trade program. And up through 2009, when he took the post of ambassador to China, he called repeatedly for climate action. Posted. http://www.grist.org/election-2012/2011-05-12-jon-huntsman-now-disses-cap-and-trade-like-other-republicans ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 13:53:56 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 16, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 16, 2011. 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 Noxious Odor Plagues Poor Desert Communities. The source is a Coachella Valley soil-recycling plant on tribal land, regulators say. Operators defend their enterprise, but agencies have cracked down. Reporting from Mecca, Calif.— The burning stench first enveloped Saul Martinez Elementary School in December, sending two teachers to the hospital and forcing a classroom lockdown as firefighters searched the grounds for the source of the noxious odor. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-indian-toxic-waste-20110515,0,3751742.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Flocal+%28L.A.+Times+-+California+|+Local+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader State Knew Of Permitless Dump In Mecca, Failed To Act. 'Somebody dropped the ball,' leader of grassroots group says. State regulators say they knew a contaminated soil-recycling plant was operating on tribal lands without the proper state permits, but their own communication problems and budget constraints kept them from taking action. The plant, Western Environmental Inc., has been named by state and federal environmental regulators as the main source of an intense, gas-like odor that has sickened scores of Mecca residents since December. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110515/NEWS07/105150312/-Somebody-dropped-ball-permitless-Mecca-dump?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage Shell, EPA Near a Deal on Arctic Offshore Drilling Project. U.S. EPA's top air pollution official said today that the agency is close to an agreement with Royal Dutch Shell PLC over an air permit for the oil giant's Arctic drilling project, which has faced years of setbacks. Shell was planning to start drilling exploratory wells this summer until a ruling by EPA's Environmental Appeals Board sent the project's air permit back to federal regulators. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/05/13/13greenwire-shell-epa-near-a-deal-on-arctic-offshore-drilli-2979.html?scp=6&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Power Plant Union Asks Congress To Delay EPA Rules. A labor union that is usually a stalwart supporter of the Obama administration is asking Congress to delay U.S. EPA's new rules on toxic air pollution from coal-fired power plants, saying jobs will be lost if utilities don't get more time. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers said today that it is backing American Electric Power Co. Inc. (AEP) as it lobbies Congress to give utilities an extra five or six years to clean up or shut down their oldest coal plants. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/16/1 CLIMATE CHANGE U.K. Manufacturers Say Climate Goals Will Damage Industry, Competitiveness. Britain’s plans to cut greenhouse gas output in half by 2027 risk damaging the country’s competitiveness, crimping growth and curbing investment, a lobby group representing 6,000 companies said. The government’s global warming adviser, the Committee on Climate Change, recommended the U.K. limit emissions to an average of 390 million tons a year from 2022 through 2027, or half the 1990 level. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-16/u-k-manufacturers-say-climate-goals-will-damage-industry-competitiveness.html U.K. Government Battered by Criticism Over Climate Change Actions, Divided Over Future Policy. LONDON -- The United Kingdom's coalition government declared its aim to be the greenest government ever when it came to power a year ago. It is either failing dismally, must do more, must do less or must change direction or emphasis, according to a barrage of reports that have suddenly dropped on the doorstep of No. 10 Downing St. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/05/13/13climatewire-uk-government-battered-by-criticism-over-cli-41056.html?scp=9&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Climate Study Gets Pulled After Charges Of Plagiarism. Evidence of plagiarism and complaints about the peer-review process have led a statistics journal to retract a federally funded study that condemned scientific support for global warming. The study, which appeared in 2008 in the journal Computational Statistics and Data Analysis, was headed by statistician Edward Wegman of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. Its analysis was an outgrowth of a controversial congressional report that Wegman headed in 2006. Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/2011-05-15-climate-study-plagiarism-Wegman_n.htm Britain Should Scrap Electricity Plans, Curb Utility Dominance. Britain should scrap proposed legislative changes to the electricity market and focus on reducing the power of the six biggest energy companies to spur low-carbon investment, according to a panel of lawmakers. The Energy and Climate Change Committee said the dominance of these companies, including Electricite de France SA and RWE AG, needs to be halted to encourage …Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/15/bloomberg1376-LL55WT07SXKX01-4562R4JLO3JKUPE3S4QKIS750A.DTL&type=printable http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/8896257 UCSD Offers Roadmap For Coping With Climate Change. Climate change is real. It'll cause significant damage. But aspects of the science of global warming aren't resolved. And many of the political approaches being used to address climate change are naive or ineffective. David Victor, a professor of political science at UC San Diego, delivers this message in unapologetic terms in his new book, "Global Warming Gridlock: Creating More Effective Strategies for Protecting the Planet." Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/may/15/ucsd-offers-roadmap-coping-climate-change/?sciquest Los Alamitos Class Must Present Both Views Of Global Warming. Los Alamitos – A new high school advanced placement class that addresses global warming has prompted the school board to start requiring teachers to present opposing views in courses that include controversial topics. Los Alamitos Unified School district trustees unanimously agreed to update the policy on controversial issues at the request of board member Jeffrey Barke, who said he is concerned about "global warming dogma" and wants students to be offered a balanced perspective on the topic. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/-300559--.html U.N. Prepares A 10-Year Program To Tackle Climate Change And Clean Up The Environment. United Nations -- The United Nations is attempting to embark on a 10-year moral crusade against resource waste, carbon emissions and environmental damage in general, akin to the one it launched against poverty in 2000. Back then, U.N. officers and a variety of non-governmental organizations invited government representatives to New York to adopt the Millennium Development Goals, targets for cutting poverty and rates of death from malnutrition and unsanitary conditions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/16/3 FUELS Jatropha Blooms Again: SG Biofuels Secures 250K Acres For Hybrids. SG Biofuels announces 250K acres secured for with JMax jatropha. In California, SG Biofuels announced it has signed customers for the deployment of 250,000 acres of Jatropha using its JMax hybrid seeds. According to SG, “the JMax hybrid seeds on average provide double the yield of existing commercial varieties planted in similar conditions, resulting in greater uniformity and vigor while significantly reducing seed handling and deployment costs.” Posted. http://biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2011/05/16/jatropha-blooms-again-sg-biofuels-secures-250k-acres-for-hybrids/ VEHICLES Lawmakers Push For Electric Cars While Driving Gas-Guzzlers. Two Michigan Democrats are leading an effort to create charging stations for electric cars in the Capitol complex. Sen. Carl Levin and Rep. Dale E. Kildee have offered plans in the House and Senate that would task the Architect of the Capitol to install electric vehicle recharge stations for lawmakers, congressional staffers and others authorized to park in the Capitol complex. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/15/lawmakers-push-for-electric-cars-while-driving-gas/?page=all Germany Doubles EV Research And Development Aid. BERLIN -- The German government announced an additional 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in research and development aid for electric vehicles, doubling its budget by 2013 in a bid to position itself at the technology's vanguard. Tax rebates, dedicated parking spots and measures aimed at promoting government use of electric cars are among the other incentives to... Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110516/ANE/305169817/1193 Rising Fuel Prices: It's Time For Electric Vehicles. The news this week that energy prices could more than double in the next decade is, unfortunately,not surprising - the first five months of this year have seen some of the highest oil prices in memory. At the time of writing, gasoline prices are pushing GBP1.40 (US$2.28) per litre - an astronomical price which affects everyone's bottom line, from big businesses with fleets of company cars to young families with a car for the school run. If the predictions are correct, owning and running a gasoline-powered car could become, for many, untenable. Posted. http://www.automotiveworld.com/news/components/87143-rising-fuel-prices-it-s-the-time-for-electric-vehicles GREEN ENERGY SAN MARCOS: Permit Sought For Methane-To-Energy Operation. The San Marcos Planning Commission will consider a conditional use permit Monday for a methane-to-energy operation at the former San Marcos landfill in San Elijo Hills. The operation initially received a permit in 1988 to convert methane released by the landfill to electrical energy on a quarter-acre parcel of the 80-acre site, a staff report to the commission stated. The landfill ceased accepting trash in 1997 and formally closed in 2007, while the methane-to-energy operation continued. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/san-marcos/article_202b3141-648c-5c46-9d74-440fca4df11d.html Renewable Energy Can Exceed Global Demand, According To IPCC. “The report clearly demonstrates that renewable technologies could supply the world with more energy than it would ever need, and at a highly competitive cost,” said Steve Sawyer, Secretary General of the Global Wind Energy Council. The IPCC studied six renewable energy sectors – bioenergy, direct solar energy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean energy and wind energy. Renewable energy sources are expected to contribute up to 80% of global energy supply by 2050, according to a new report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Posted. http://www.evwind.es/noticias.php?id_not=11585 Ending Nuclear Power Is Possible In A Decade, Using Renewable Energy – Report. Germany should phase out all of its nuclear reactors by 2021, recommends a leaked draft report. The stance reinforces a law passed almost 10 years ago in the country, but that policymakers had worked to overturn prior to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan. The shutdown target was passed by former Chancellor Schröder in 2002, and Japan's recent disaster has intensified the push to nix nuclear. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/16/9 GM Begins Building Solar Field At Detroit Plant. General Motors Co. broke ground last week on a 6-acre field of solar panels to be installed in front of its Detroit-Hamtramck plan. The solar field comes as part of an effort to add sustainability to the production of GM's Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car. As part of its Solar Currents program, DTE Energy will own and operate the 516-kilowatt system. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/16/11 MISCELLANEOUS Smoking Ban For California Residential Housing Seeks Approval. For a number of years now the landlord community has hotly debated the value of providing No Smoking units within apartment communities. A large number of property owners believe that the detriments of smoking are so numerous and the economic cost of smoke damage so high, that common sense requires owners to implement broad No-Smoking policies. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/rental-business-in-san-francisco/smoking-ban-for-california-residential-housing-seeks-approval Leave Your Car Behind For A Day. With rising gas prices, it's not tough to find a reason to want to drive less. And when there are incentives like prizes, it's even easier. This annual event, organized by Commute Connection, encourages community members to take a day (or more) off driving and hop on bikes or use public transit to ease the problems of traffic congestion and air pollution. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110515/A_LIFE/105140308&cid=sitesearch OPINION Climate Change Denial Becomes Harder To Justify. “CLIMATE CHANGE is occurring, is very likely caused by human activities, and poses significant risks for a broad range of human and natural systems.” So says — in response to a request from Congress — the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, the country’s preeminent institution chartered to provide scientific advice to lawmakers. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/climate-change-denial-becomes-harder-to-justify/2011/05/13/AF44QQ4G_story.html California's High-Speed Train Wreck. The state's plan to build a bullet train has become a monument to the ways poor planning, mismanagement and political interference can screw up major public works. We can do better. California's much-vaunted high-speed rail project is, to put it bluntly, a train wreck. Intended to demonstrate the state's commitment to sustainable, cutting-edge transportation systems, and to show that the U.S. can build rail networks as sophisticated…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-bullettrain-20110516,0,1884698,print.story Editorial: Locals Should Level Playing Field For Solar. California has invested lots of money and sweat equity in building the foundation for green energy, nowhere more so than in the Sacramento region. It would be a crying shame if too much government red tape got in the way of reaping the rewards. As The Bee's Rick Daysog reported this month, contractors and others in the business of installing solar panels are complaining about exorbitant permit fees and inconsistent regulations from one city or county to the next. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/16/v-print/3629130/editorial-locals-should-level.html Viewpoints: As Gas Costs Rise, Clean Cars Will Help Consumers Cope. Seven presidents have declared the goal of reducing U.S. dependence on oil, with George W. Bush, an oilman from Texas, lamenting the national addiction to oil. None has come close to achieving this goal. But, over the course of this spring and summer, the United States has an opportunity to dramatically change the trajectory of national oil consumption. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/15/v-print/3625817/as-gas-costs-rise-clean-cars-will.html Opinion: California's Missing The Boat On Trash-To-Power Technology. In 2010, after recycling, California put 35 million tons of municipal waste into landfills. The organic materials in this waste stream contain the energy equivalent of more than 60 million barrels of crude oil. Theoretically, from just this single waste resource, California could produce 1.6 billion gallons of advanced, non-food-derived biofuels and some 1,250 megawatts of power, potentially reducing the amount of waste that we place in landfills by up to 80 percent. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_18060824 Opinion: Wind Energy: Its Time Has Come (Back) For California. On May 22-25, the American wind energy industry will gather in Anaheim for the WindPower 2011 Conference and Exhibition, the largest annual wind power event in the world with 1,200 exhibitors and 20,000 attendees expected. It's a homecoming for the industry, which was born right here in California in 1981 under a visionary young governor, Jerry Brown. Then, as today, America and California were faced with momentous energy policy decisions. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_18061908?nclick_check=1 Natural Gas Just Won't Cut It In The Long Run. Rep. Kevin McCarthy and two members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform met in Bakersfield on May 6 to urge that federal regulations to facilitate extracting oil and natural gas be "streamlined." The committee spent government money to discuss only one point of interest: natural gas. Natural gas is primarily methane with carbon dioxide and longer hydrocarbons; hydrocarbons are burned to make heat. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x504580339/Natural-gas-just-wont-cut-it-in-the-long-run BLOGS Philips Brightens Its LED Lineup. LED lamps are expected to revolutionize the lighting industry because of their sharply reduced power consumption and their long life compared with standard incandescents. But to date, market acceptance has been slow given the high initial cost ($50 and up in many cases) and limited brightness. LED lamps have only been able to emit light equivalent to a 60-watt standard bulb. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/philips-brightens-its-led-lineup/ $25,000, 350-Mile-Per-Charge Electric Car Could Be Reality By 2017, DOE Says. In an event flanked with all the electric cars that have recently come to market and a handful of those that are poised for sale later this year, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa flipped the switch today on the 500th electric-vehicle charging station installed by Coulomb Technologies as part of its ChargePoint America network. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/la-ev-charging-stations.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 13:15:45 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 17, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 17, 2011. 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 Power Plant Union Asks Congress to Delay EPA's Air Pollution Rules. A labor union that is usually a stalwart supporter of the Obama administration is asking Congress to delay U.S. EPA's new rules on toxic air pollution from coal-fired power plants, saying jobs will be lost if utilities don't get more time. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers said today that it is backing American Electric Power Co. Inc. (AEP) as it lobbies Congress to give utilities an extra five or six years to clean up or shut down their oldest coal plants. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/05/16/16greenwire-power-plant-union-asks-congress-to-delay-epas-87699.html?pagewanted=print EPA Delays Rule On Industrial Emissions. The regulation to limit pollutants at power plants is suspended after protests from industry. It is the Obama administration's latest concession on the environment. The Obama administration has decided to delay a rule that would cut emissions from power plants at major industrial facilities, the most recent in a series of decisions since the midterm election to postpone controversial environmental regulations and steer a more business-friendly course. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-epa-emissions-20110517,0,5430431,print.story Clean Air Groups To Sue EPA Over Smog Enforcement. Advocates for clean air in the Valley today filed a notice of intent to sue the federal Environmental Protection Agency, alleging its failure to enforce 30-year-old pollution standards required by the Clean Air Act. In the letter filed on behalf of Medical Advocates for Healthy Air and the Sierra Club, Oakland-based Earthjustice threatens to sue the agency if it doesn't act on the San Joaquin Valley's failure to attain the one-hour ozone standard within 60 days. Posted. http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/article_6bd970ce-800f-11e0-be7e-001cc4c002e0.html White House Starts Review Of EPA Rules For Coal Plants. U.S. EPA has finished drafting final rules that would require coal-fired power plants in Eastern states to install new pollution controls if their emissions cross state lines and make air more unsafe to breathe in other parts of the country. White House records show that the agency sent a draft of the final regulations, also known as the Clean Air Transport Rule, to the Office of Management and Budget yesterday. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/17/3 Groups Plan To Sue EPA Over Ozone In LA, San Joaquin Valley. California environmentalists said yesterday they plan to sue U.S. EPA over years of perpetually high ozone levels in Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley. Advocacy groups accuse EPA of failing to comply with the Clean Air Act over hourly measurements of ozone. The one-hour standard is intended to prevent spikes in pollution that can cause asthma attacks and other breathing problems. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/17/18 CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Execution Officer. The CEO of Alcatel-Lucent has put cutting emissions at the heart of strategy. Soon after becoming chief executive of Alcatel-Lucent in 2008, Ben Verwaayen announced the company would cut its carbon footprint 50% by 2020. Some might argue carbon emissions were the least of the telecom equipment maker's problems at the time. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703789104576272532218665822.html http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/17/8 Siemens U.S. Chief Concerned By Inattention to Climate Change. The head of Munich-based Siemens AG (SI)’s U.S. unit said he is unhappy that federal energy policymakers in Washington are no longer focusing on climate change. Eric Spiegel, chief executive officer of Siemens Corp., said a national strategy is needed to reduce clean-energy technology costs and find solutions for environmental risks associated with greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-16/siemens-u-s-chief-concerned-by-inattention-to-climate-change.html Australia To Set Expected Carbon Tax Price By July. Canberra, Australia (AP) - A planned tax on carbon gas emitting industries in Australia would be far below a recommended price that might have forced polluters to switch to greener technology, the government said Tuesday. The still-undetermined starting tax, expected to be announced in July, would be "well south" of 40 Australian dollars (US$42) a metric ton (AU$44 a U.S. ton), Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/australia-says-carbon-tax-price-will-be-set-by-july-will-be-well-below-consultant-forecast/2011/05/17/AFjigT5G_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/17/australia-will-set-its-carbon-tax-price-by-july/ Britain Set to Announce Ambitious Environmental Steps. Brussels — Britain is poised to announce some of the world’s most ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions — a striking example of a government committing to big environmental initiatives while also pursuing austerity measures. Chris Huhne, the secretary of state for energy and climate change, is expected to release a statement on Tuesday that the British government will set in law a goal to cut its greenhouse gas emissions about 50 percent by 2025. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/business/global/17carbon.html?_r=2&pagewanted=print http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hHeVFaETbvJA7QYeFbvOIaY6Kp-w?docId=9f2948a9eaa645b4b06dde93e74fb9e1 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/16/bloomberg1376-LLA7PT0D9L3501-0D5VIQ59AFBT0LJ6R1IHTLBLEF.DTL&type=printable One Senate Republican, a Climate Believer, Considers Repealing Oil Subsidies. Rochelle, Ill. -- The flat fields here stop reluctantly at old screen doors of farmhouses dotting a countryside that changes mostly when corn covers or bares it. But something else is rising from these plains where trees are sparse: hundreds of wind turbines. Illinois is among the fastest-growing states for wind power, rivaling competitors with steadier breezes because of its access to transmission lines and a major market in Chicago. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/05/17/17climatewire-one-senate-republican-a-climate-believer-con-84371.html?pagewanted=print DIESEL EMISSIONS Port Of Hueneme Tentatively Awarded $4.5 Million For Electricity System. The Port of Hueneme has been tentatively awarded $4.5 million in state funds to help pay for a $9 million shore-side electricity system. The system is being developed to comply with new regulations requiring that ships anchored at California ports turn off their engines to limit emissions. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/16/port-of-hueneme-awarded-45-million-for-system/?print=1 VEHICLES Poll: Americans Worry About Gas Prices, Oil Dependence. The vast majority of Americans are concerned about gas prices (85%) and U.S. reliance on Middle East oil (87%), and three out of four say it's important to increase vehicle fuel economy, a poll Monday reveals. "Pain at the pump, along with the country's oil import dependence, has produced a growing consensus that the federal government should substantially increase fuel economy standards," said Mark Cooper…Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/05/poll-americans-gas-prices-oil/1 Yellow Hybrid Stickers For Carpool Lanes Set To Expire. The California sticker program that has allowed solo drivers access to diamond lanes as a way to spur sales is ending July 1 — this time for good. Life in the fast lane is coming to an end for hybrid drivers. After a six-year run, the yellow stickers that allow owners of about 85,000 older hybrid vehicles to drive solo in carpool lanes are expiring July 1 — this time for good. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hybrid-stickers-20110517,0,372758,print.story Investors Urge US To Adopt California’s ‘Clean Cars’ Policies. The US government could significantly propel investments in the clean energy and energy efficiency sector by following California’s lead in adopting stronger fuel economy and emissions standards through 2025, investment experts said. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation last year set the first national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards, known as the 'clean cars' rules. Posted. http://www.environmental-finance.com/news/view/1713 Bill Ford: Company's Fleet Will Be 25% Electrified By 2020. Detroit -- About 25 percent of Ford Motor Co.'s fleet will be electrified by 2020, Chairman Bill Ford wrote in an article for Fortune magazine, published online today. With global oil prices rising and more congestion on the roads, Ford wrote that it is critical for the automakers to build smarter and cleaner-running cars that people will want to drive. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110517/OEM02/110519921/1186 GREEN ENERGY Sen. Bingaman: Outlook Bleak for Passing 'Clean Energy' Standard, Repealing Oil Subsidies. The chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is casting doubt on prospects for President Obama's proposed "clean energy" standard that would require utilities to source a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable sources by 2035. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/05/16/16greenwire-sen-bingaman-outlook-bleak-for-passing-clean-e-38941.html MISCELLANEOUS New Sprouts Store Gets EPA Honor For Refrigeration Technology. The new Sprouts Farmers Market opening Wednesday in Westlake Village is the first grocery store in California to receive the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for green refrigeration technology. The new store, in the Westlake Plaza and Center on Westlake Boulevard, is the only grocery outlet west of the Mississippi to get the EPA's GreenChill platinum-level store certification award. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/16/new-sprouts-store-gets-epa-honor-for-technology/ OPINION Inhofe's View: All Pain, No Gain. Not too long ago, President Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress proudly announced that America would lead the fight against global warming by passing a cap-and-trade bill. But despite overwhelming majorities in both houses of Congress in 2009, Democrats barely found the votes to get the proposal through the House, and Senate Democrats never even brought it up for a vote. Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2011-05-16-Inhofe-says-cap-and-trade-all-pain-no-gain_n.htm Global Warming. To the Editor: Re “The River Untamable” (Week in Review, May 8): What will it take to convince people that the world’s climate is changing and that we are causing it to change? Will it be this latest flooding of the Mississippi River, brought about by record April rainfall in the Ohio River Valley and very high levels in other states, killing at least 18 people, flooding millions of acres of farmland, and causing untold misery and economic hardship? Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/opinion/l17warming.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print What Is Really Causing Renewable Project Failures in California? It is clear that the development of renewable and clean energy projects in California and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has been successful, but has also been impeded by a variety of causes. With the required percentage of renewable resources being increased to 33% in the future, a survey of the landscape identifies many potential sources … Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/05/17/what-is-really-causing-renewable-project-failures-in-california/ BLOGS Climate Panel Announces Reforms. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, rocked by controversy in recent years, has adopted a series of reforms of its management and governance to increase transparency and improve the quality of its hugely influential climate change reports, the group says. The changes will include a stronger review process for future climate assessments and fuller inclusion of alternate scientific views and acknowledgment of scientific uncertainty and controversy. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/climate-panel-announces-reforms/ New Tool, and Tune, for Tracking Fracking. In the final session of an environmental-science communication course that I co-taught at Pace University this spring, Thad Cook, a graduate student, gave a thorough overview of the issues raised by extracting natural gas from shale using hydraulic fracturing, the method now widely called fracking. He mentioned a useful new source of information, FracFocus.org. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/new-tool-and-tune-for-tracking-fracking/ Electric Motorcycles Pick Up Speed. Electric motorcycles are closing the speed gap on internal combustion bikes. Brammo won the kickoff to this year's TTXGP North American Championship series Sunday, clocking the fastest-ever lap speed at Infineon Raceway for an electric motorcycle with its Empulse RR -- and showing the quick evolution of a sport that didn't even exist until 2009. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/brammo-ttxgp.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Climate Science-Defying Paper Yanked for Plagiarism. The so-called “hockey stick” plot of recent climate, in which recent temperatures appear as a sudden and anomalous rise after a thousand years of relative stability, has become a bit of an icon for climate change. Even though it’s rather secondary to the concerns about rising greenhouse gas levels — CO2 would be a concern even if we were limited to the 150 years of instrument records — Posted. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/05/climate-change-critic-retraction/ Carbon Budget: Could This Be The Greenest Government Ever? Actions speak louder than words - what is the coalition's environmental record so far? It seems a deal has finally been brokered on the UK's long-term climate change targets, with an announcement expected this afternoon from the energy and climate change secretary committing the UK to a 50% cut in greenhouse gases – compared with 1990 levels – by 2025. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2011/may/17/carbon-budget-greenest-government Report: CARB Says U.S. Is Leaning Towards Non-Chademo Quick-Charge Standard. Craig Childers, a zero-emissions specialist at the California Air Resources Board (CARB), said it appears that the U.S. is leaning towards the adoption of a non-CHAdeMO quick-charge standard for plug-in vehicles, according to All Cars Electric. Though Childers admits that this is not a "done deal," he claims that "automotive companies are lobbying for only one opening for powering the car to allow for cleaner design." Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/05/16/report-carb-says-u-s-is-leaning-towards-non-chademo-quick-char/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 12:31:24 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 18, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 18, 2011. 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 Britain Sets Strict Targets for Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Brussels — Britain announced on Tuesday some of the world’s most ambitious targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, calling for a reduction of 50 percent by 2025. Chris Huhne, the secretary of state for energy and climate change, said the measures would be aimed at weaning the country off cars that pollute and at encouraging new industries. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/18/business/global/18carbon.html?_r=2&pagewanted=print MILLOY: 2012 GOP Guide To The Climate Debate. If you’re thinking of becoming a Republican presidential candidate - and who isn’t these days - you can plan on being pressed on the climate issue. In the wake of last week’s new report from a panel of the National Research Council (NRC) reiterating its old talking points on climate, The Washington Post editorialized that all (read “Republican”) candidates for political office should be quizzed about whether they agree with the “scientific consensus of America’s premier scientific advisory group.” Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/17/2012-gop-guide-to-the-climate-debate/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS DIESEL EMISSION Making Clean Air a Reality at the Port of Oakland. The docks. Ships. Rail and trucks. Images of moving cargo readily come to mind when we think of the working waterfront. The Port of Oakland is a busy, bustling hub of cargo transport conveying, among other things, a steady stream of containerized consumer goods from China to distribution warehouses as far away as Reno. Posted. http://www.baycrossings.com/dispnews.asp?id=2537 VEHICLES Connecticut Seeks To Support Electric Car Usage. Hartford, Conn. (AP) - A key legislative committee is expected to act on legislation intended to improve Connecticut's infrastructure for electric cars. The bill, up for a vote on Wednesday in the General Assembly's Transportation Committee, would require updating the state building code to address the need to electrically charge the vehicles. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/18/connecticut-seeks-to-support-electric-car-usage/ Green Automotive To Begin All-Electric SUV Impact Testing. Green Automotive Company Corporation (OTC:GACR) last night confirmed its initiation of a 20 MPH FMVSS 214 Oblique Pole Side Impact test on its All-Electric SUV, and plans to continue testing as part of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards testing required before the Company's planned launch of its All-Electric vehicle line late this year. Posted. http://www.4-traders.com/news/Green-Automotive-To-Begin-All-Electric-SUV-Impact-Testing--13629906/ GREEN ENERGY Wind Vs. Water Conflict Roils The Pacific Northwest. The wind energy industry is sharply protesting a decision by the Bonneville Power Administration that could force wind generators in the Pacific Northwest to shut down this spring when power demand is low and the Columbia River flow is high. Such an order could come this weekend, BPA says. In the short run, the wind producers' remaining hope would be a difficult bid for a court injunction against BPA's "environmental dispatch" decision, which was announced Friday after months of public debate. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/18/4 Going To Church Works To Promote Renewable Energy And Sell Energy Efficiency. The public attitude and religious groups' attitudes toward belief in man-made climate change are roughly the same, with both currently in the minority, but that's not stopping faith-based organizations from taking action. Faith-based organizations on the East Coast have teamed up with utilities and energy consultants to promote going green. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/18/7 MISCELLANEOUS State Gives Long Beach $3.3 Million For Colorado Lagoon Cleanup. Funding in addition to $1.8 million OKed earlier. Long Beach — The State Water Resources Control Board approved $3.3 million to fund the final cleanup phase to restore the Colorado Lagoon. The 15-acre lagoon, near Fourth Street and Park Avenue, has been plagued by contaminated sediment. Posted. http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_18082935 OPINION Denial Won't Make Climate Change Go Away. There are truthers who think the Sept. 11 attacks were staged by the U.S. government. Then there are birthers who believe President Obama isn't native born. And then there are the deniers who refused to accept the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change. A study by an agency of the National Academy of Sciences, the nation's premier scientific think tank, stated the case in plain, bumper-sticker English: "Climate change is occurring, is very likely caused primarily by human activities and poses significant risks to humans and the environment." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/18/EDG01JH7MB.DTL&type=printable BLOGS You’ve Got to Start Somewhere: A Climate Prescription. Hoping to find a way around the current political impasse on climate change and energy policy, a former top adviser to President Obama has devised a policy proposal to drive down greenhouse gas emissions from the utility industry over the next 20 years. The plan, “Promoting Clean Energy in the American Power Sector,” borrows from a range of policy proposals, including President Obama’s latest clean energy policy, the cap and trade plan that foundered in Congress last year, and state-level clean electricity mandates. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/18/youve-got-to-start-somewhere-a-climate-prescription/ The True Cost of Carbon. Michael Greenstone and Adam Looney, economists at The Hamilton Project, are releasing a new paper Wednesday on the costs of American energy policy. They argue: … our energy choices are based on the visible costs that appear on utility bills and at the gas pump. This system masks the social costs arising from those energy choices, including shorter lives, higher health care expenses, a changing climate, and weakened national security. Posted. http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/18/the-true-cost-of-carbon/?scp=6&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse&gwh=EC917D2A34AB600083EADEA10E6A649F Exploring Roots of Climate Stasis, and Next Steps. David Roberts, the Grist blogger, has written a double-barreled book review for the American Prospect that’s well worth reading. It explores “The Climate War,” Eric Pooley’s deconstruction of the long, and ultimately failed, effort to pass a comprehensive climate bill in the United States. But Roberts focuses most on David Victor’s new book “Global Warming Gridlock,” which I’m way overdue to read. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/exploring-roots-of-climate-stasis-and-next-steps/ With 700 E.V.’s to Lease, BMW Announces Charging Partner for U.S. Market. BMW will lease 700 ActiveE electric cars, which are based on the 1 Series coupe, in the United States beginning this year. On Wednesday, the automaker announced a partnership to ensure that customers have a place to plug in. BMW calls AeroVironment, a California-based supplier of charging units, its “preferred provider,” which is similar to the role filled by the supplier for the purely electric Nissan Leaf. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/18/with-700-e-v-s-to-lease-bmw-announces-charging-partner-for-u-s-market/ PG&E Abandoning Wave Power. Challenges prove too much for one of California's largest utilities. One of the nation's more progressive electric utilities is bailing out of wave energy. Pacific Gas & Electric is giving up its pilot projects along the California coast. "There's definitely still a future for wave energy," PG&E renewable energy spokesman Denny Boyles told me in a Sacramento interview. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/05/17/pge-abandoning-wave-power/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 19 May 2011 13:04:24 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 19, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 19, 2011. 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 EPA Admits Making Math Error In Mercury Proposal. After being taken to task by critics in the utility industry, U.S. EPA conceded yesterday that it made mathematical errors in newly proposed limits on mercury from coal-fired power plants. The Utility Air Regulatory Group, a coalition of power companies that often challenges new Clean Air Act rules, recently claimed that "egregious errors" by EPA led to estimates that the cleanest power plants are releasing 1,000 times less mercury than they actually are. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/19/2 CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Study Congress Requested Falls on Deaf Ears in the Capitol. The latest climate report from U.S. scientists urges action but avoids policy recipes. Some fear this method of communicating science is no longer adequate. Ho hum. The average air temperature in the United States has leapt two degrees in the last five decades. Yawn. Coastal regions in the country are disappearing because of rising sea levels. Hit the snooze button. The already-arid Southwest is becoming drier. Snore. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=US347362584520110518 Energy: America's Top Climate Cop. The United States has abandoned comprehensive greenhouse-gas curbs, but California is pressing ahead. Mary Nichols is leading the fight against emissions. Mary Nichols can take some pride in the view as she travels out of Los Angeles. The San Gabriel Mountains rise up to the north, framed by blue sky with just a touch of midday haze. The clear vista comes in large part because of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the agency that Nichols leads, which has spent decades cleaning up the city's air. Posted. http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110518/full/473268a.html Emissions Traders Suggest A Buffer Pool To Minimize Offset Project Risks. A group of greenhouse gas emissions traders and oil companies is floating an alternative to California's plan for managing risk from voluntary emissions-reduction projects. The International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), the Western States Petroleum Association and other groups sent a letter to the California Air Resources Board (ARB) on May 2 asking for 1.5 percent of all offset credits to be put into a fund that would compensate credit buyers if a given project falls through due to misrepresentation or fraud. Posted. http://eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/19/4 EPA Launches Awards as ‘Climate Leaders Legacy’. The Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Registry, Pew Center on Global Climate Change and Association of Climate Change Officers have announced a new national awards program for climate leadership, to serve as a legacy for the EPA’s now-defunct Climate Leaders program. The awards program is designed to recognize exemplary corporate, organizational and individual leadership in response to climate change. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/05/19/epa-launches-awards-as-climate-leaders-legacy/ FUELS O.C. Firm Reopens 10 Oil Wells In Kansas. Force Fuels Inc. in Costa Mesa has reopened 10 oil wells in Montgomery County in southern Kansas and plans to reopen another 10 wells by June 2. The four-employee firm specializes in marginally producing wells. It has leases on 2,600 acres in Chautauqua and Montgomery counties and on 1,200 acres in Oklahoma. The properties have a number of wells that have been shut down for several years, President Thomas Hemingway said in a phone interview. Posted. http://jan.ocregister.com/2011/05/19/o-c-firm-reopens-10-oil-wells-in-kansas/59321/ Research Shows No Historic Evidence Of Indirect Land Use Change. A research project meant to analyze possible indirect land use change (ILUC) as a result of biofuels production has found no factual evidence that ILUC occurred from 1990 through 2007. The study, titled “Indirect land use change for biofuels: Testing predictions and improving analytical methodologies,” was funded by the U.S. DOE’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and examined data from countries that are historical grain …Posted. http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/7797/research-shows-no-historic-evidence-of-indirect-land-use-change VEHICLES Japan Produces Autos Over Weekend In Power Crunch. Japanese automakers are going to be producing cars over the weekend and taking Thursday and Friday off to avoid blackouts from a power crunch caused by problem nuclear reactors. Toshiyuki Shiga, chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and chief operating officer of Nissan Motor Co., told reporters Thursday the plan, which includes auto-parts suppliers, kicks in July, August and September _ the peak months for electricity use in Japan. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_a95ad1ce-140b-52cb-b71a-2dc986877b80.html http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110519/OEM01/305199917/1117 Ford To Build First Transmission Plant In China. A Ford Motor Co. joint venture in China will spend $350 million to build the company's first transmission plant in the world's largest auto market. The company said Thursday that the factory in Chongqing in southwest China will be able to build 400,000 six-speed automatic transmissions. It will make them for Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Limited, the Chinese joint venture. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18094728?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18094728?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18094728?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/19/1694912/ford-to-build-first-transmission.html http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110519/GLOBAL03/305199880/1131 GREEN ENERGY California Energy Commission Awards Nearly $2.9 Million for Research Projects. Sacramento, California - The California Energy Commission today awarded $2,872,755 for four research projects. The research areas include renewable energy, climate change, and the safety of natural gas pipelines. Funds for the projects come from the Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program. Posted. http://imperialvalleynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10368&Itemid=1 MISCELLANEOUS Hanford-Area Residents Slam High-Speed Rail Route. Hanford -- Farmers and rural residents turned out in force Wednesday to state their opposition to the planned California high-speed rail project east of Hanford. They got their message across, but expressed frustration that the information session for the public did not allow the public to speak out. "It's like talking to a brick wall," said almond farmer Helen Sullivan, whose orchard could be cut in half by tracks. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/18/v-print/2393604/hanford-area-residents-slam-high.html Sanger Chile Farm Uses Controversial Pesticide. Methyl iodide was applied to a field of chili peppers. Methyl iodide, a powerful but controversial fumigant, has been applied for the first time in California -- on a one-acre chili pepper farm near Sanger. The fumigant's use Tuesday took environmentalists by surprise: They have been waging a battle against the fumigant and have been trying to track where and when it would be used. Environmentalists say the chemical is a significant threat to public health. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/18/v-print/2393701/sanger-farm-uses-controversial.html Calif. Statute To Blame For Flame Retardants In Baby Products, Watchdogs Say. A 1975 California statute encouraged manufacturers to include potentially toxic flame retardants in baby products, a group of scientists and chemical watchdogs said today. At issue is California Technical Bulletin 117 (TB 117), which requires polyurethane foam used in upholstered furniture to be able to withstand an open flame for 12 seconds. To comply, manufacturers have used flame retardants in nursing pillows, car seats, highchairs and other baby products. Posted. http://eenews.net/eenewspm/print/2011/05/18/6 Hagman's Assembly Bill 135 Gets Unanimous Approval. The proposed measure would mandate that small business owners have representation on the State Air Resources Board. A bill designed to give small business owners representation on the State Air Resources Board received unanimous support on the Assembly Floor last week. Assembly Bill 135, authored by Assemblyman Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills, said in press released that he is pleased that 71 members voted in favor of the measure. Posted. http://walnut.patch.com/articles/hagmans-assembly-bill-135-gets-unanimous-approval OPINION California’s High-Speed Train Project Is Going Off The Rails. THERE’S A SCANDAL brewing in California, and we are not talking about Arnold Schwarzenegger. We refer to the $43 billion high-speed rail project in that state, to which the Obama administration has pledged more than $3 billion in federal funding, even though study after authoritative study has cast serious doubt on its financial feasibility. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/californias-high-speed-train-project-is-going-off-the-rails/2011/05/18/AFdaUl6G_story.html BLOGS Natural Gas: Study Raises Doubts On U.S. Supply. The United States does not have a decades-long supply of inexpensive, locally sourced natural gas, according to a new report commissioned by the Post Carbon Institute, a nonprofit think tank that examines issues related to the economy, energy and the environment. The report, titled "Will Natural Gas Fuel America in the 21st Century?" is a challenge to the commonly cited projection that domestic natural gas can meet U.S. demand for more than 100 years. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/natural-gas-fuel.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Protesters Shell Mojave Solar Plant. Oakland's BrightSource Energy and Environmentalists throw down over a threatened tortoise. What some have billed as the world's largest solar project in the Mojave came under fire again today. This time a baby desert tortoise led the charge with a cohort of environmentalists. While the tortoise provided a slow-motion picket around downtown Oakland, protestors lined up in front of BrightSource Energy's corporate headquarters, determined to preserve the Mojave desert and keep solar projects local. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/05/18/protesters-shell-mojave-solar-plant/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Global Weirding And You. "More than 3.4 billion people worldwide are already threatened by natural hazards, most of them in the developing world. Climate change could make matters even worse. Innovative insurance solutions offer these large populations more adequate financial tools to help them cope with the growing risks in a changing climate." "Climate change will continue to expose local communities to the mounting challenges - and costs - of protecting lives and assets against extreme weather and other climate-related risks. Posted. http://blogs.redding.com/dcraig/archives/2011/05/global-weirding.html Global Warming Means More Fire. For those of us who study the science of climate change, we know that a warmer world is bad in about every way you can imagine the Earth being bad. More droughts, more floods, more heat waves, increased extinctions, rising seas, dead trees, more disease, climate refugees, water scarcity, more acidic oceans, melting permafrost and increased methane releases. And that's the short list. Posted. http://blogs.redding.com/dcraig/archives/2011/05/global-warming-3.html It’s Time To Put A Price On Carbon, NRC Says. Substantial, immediate action on climate should begin, new report says By Janet Raloff Web edition : 1:49 pm Text Size “Climate change is occurring, is very likely caused by human activities, and poses significant risks for a broad range of human and natural systems.” As such, “it is imprudent to delay actions that at least begin the process of substantially reducing emissions [of greenhouse gases].” Posted. http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/74483/title/It%E2%80%99s_time_to_put_a_price_on_carbon,_NRC_says Will Gas Prices Turn America into Europe? If you thought driving sporty little fuel-efficient vehicles and living a reasonable distance from work was strictly an affectation of Continentals who kiss their ladies down there, we've got news for you: Turns out these behaviors can be induced in any population, whatever the likelihood that its colors will run, simply by increasing the cost of fuel. Probably. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-05-19-will-gas-prices-turn-america-into-europe A Violent Climate is the New Normal, Say Scientists. "Extreme weather" may soon just be called "weather." Thanks to climate change, floods and storms and droughts and Snowpocalypses and the like will soon be standard office procedure, according to scientists and civic planners brought together by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-05-19-a-violent-climate-is-the-new-normal-say-scientists Doe Expands Partnership With Industry To Advance Next-Generation Automotive Technologies, Adds Tesla And Epri As Members: Us Drive. The US Department of Energy (DOE) has launched US DRIVE, a cooperative partnership with industry to accelerate the development of clean, advanced, energy-efficient technologies for cars and light trucks and the infrastructure needed to support their widespread use. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/05/usdrive-20110519.html Pwc Industry Survey Provides “Check-Up” On Determining Factors For EV Success. PwC has released the first edition of the “Charging Forward: Electric Vehicle Survey”, which it developed to provide a check-up on some of the major determining factors for the success of EVs in the near-, mid- and long-term. More than 200 participants from the automotive, utilities, energy, technology, government, finance, education and other sectors provided their feedback for the effort. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/05/pwc-20110519.html Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Restore Free Market Capitalism for the Environment. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is well known as an environmental advocate and attorney. Given his pro-environment position, it is quite unexpected to hear Kennedy advocate for free market capitalism in order to protect the environment. If you ask many committed environmental folks, they would probably be anti-free market capitalism. If you ask many free market adherents, they would probably be anti-environmentalist. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/robert-kennedy-jr-restore-free-market-capitalism-environment/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 20 May 2011 12:35:22 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 20, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 20, 2011. 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 Jackson Defends Boiler Rule Delay On 'Daily Show'. U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson tried to tamp down environmentalists' concerns during an interview on "The Daily Show" last night, telling host Jon Stewart she's still committed to curbing mercury from power plants and industrial boilers. Some of the agency's supporters cried foul last week when Jackson granted a request to delay the toxic emissions limits for industrial boilers. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/20/5 Assembly Bill Proposes Small Business Reps for Air Resources Board, Passes Senate. A bill designed to give small business owners representation on the State Air Resources Board received unanimous support on the Assembly Floor last week. Assembly Bill 135, authored by Assemblyman Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills, said in press released that he is pleased that 71 members voted in favor of the measure. Posted. http://diamondbar.patch.com/articles/hagmans-assembly-bill-135-gets-unanimous-approval-2 CLIMATE CHANGE China Threatens Airbus Over EU Carbon Cap –Sources. Brussels. China has threatened retaliation against French planemaker Airbus (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) if the European Union goes ahead with plans to include international aviation in its carbon market, three sources said on Friday. From January 1 next year, the EU will require all airlines flying to Europe to be included in the Emissions Trading Scheme ETS.L, a system that forces polluters to buy permits for each tonne of carbon dioxide they emit above a certain cap. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USLNE74J05820110520 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-20/china-threatened-airbus-over-eu-carbon-trading-reuters-says.html Climate-Change Aid To Developing World Difficult To Track, Report Says. In the 2009 Copenhagen climate accord, 21 developed nations and the European Union agreed to provide $30 billion over three years to help poorer nations adapt to climate change and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. But nearly two years later, tracking these “fast start” pledges — and what specific programs the funds have been used for — has proved difficult, according to a new report from the World Resources Institute. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/climate-change-aid-to-developing-world-difficult-to-track-report-says/2011/05/19/AFbTdp7G_story.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Placer Logger Gets Clean Energy Loan. The state has launched a new loan guarantee program to help construction companies and other heavy equipment users replace aging off-road diesel vehicles with cleaner models. The California Air Resources Board on Thursday unveiled the first of its loan guarantees to a Placer County logging company, Volcano Enterprises Inc. The $84,000 loan helped Volcano acquire a new ultra-clean Caterpillar skidder to replace a high-polluting, 22-year-old model. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/20/v-print/3640949/placer-logger-gets-clean-energy.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/20/1696279/placer-logger-gets-clean-energy.html Shell's U.S. Shale Gas May Be Refined Into Diesel, Jet Fuel. Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe's largest oil company, said a $19 billion investment in Qatar may prove that abundant natural gas coaxed from shale rocks across the U.S. could be converted into diesel and jet fuel. Shell, which is completing the world's largest gas-to- liquids plant in Qatar, could use the technology on a smaller scale in the U.S. if capital costs can be reduced, Marvin Odum, head of Shell in the Americas, said in an interview in London. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/19/bloomberg1376-LL149N07SXKX01-4CNI6S50NFA1NIAITMLPHKHQF3.DTL&type=printable http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-19/shell-s-u-s-shale-gas-may-be-refined-into-diesel-jet-fuel-1-.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-05-19/shell-s-u-s-shale-gas-may-be-refined-into-diesel-jet-fuel.html Gas Power Plant Approved. State regulators on Wednesday approved a 200-megawatt natural gas power plant in far northeastern Alameda County, about seven miles from Tracy. Supporters have said the Mariposa Energy Project will burn cleanly and stimulate the economy. Critics say the plant — one of several that have been proposed just outside of San Joaquin County — will funnel tax dollars to Alameda County while San Joaquin gets whatever comes out of the smokestack. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/19/1696315/gas-power-plant-approved.html Tehama County To Get New Buses To Clear The Air. Two schools will be getting new buses thanks to funding help from the Tehama County Air Pollution Control District and the state. County supervisors approved matching state funding Tuesday, at $25,000 per bus, to purchase three new buses, replacing ones manufactured before 1986. Manton Joint Union School District will get one bus, while Evergreen Union School District in Cottonwood will get two. Posted. http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_18096978 FUELS U.S.-Backed Biofuel Study Says Other Nations Show Ways That Biofuels 'Can Be Done Right'. Expanding biofuel feedstocks has often come at the expense of agricultural plots or forests, but new government-funded work suggests that does not always have to be the case. A $1.1 million Energy Department-backed study sheds light on ways alternative fuels may be more sustainably produced and help to safeguard biodiversity and carbon conservation. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/20/7 Do Biofuels Reduce Greenhouse Gases? Greenhouse-gas emissions from biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, may be lower than many researchers have estimated, according to a new study. The findings could further fuel a debate over whether biofuels actually reduce greenhouse-gas emissions compared to gasoline, and if so, by how much. Posted. http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/37609/?p1=A3 VEHICLES Hybrid Owners Look to Extend Carpool Privilege. San Francisco — Virtue may be its own reward, but incentives don’t hurt. In California in 2004, when the country’s first measure restricting vehicles’ greenhouse gas emissions became law, 75,000 owners of the gas-stingiest hybrid cars were assured access to carpool lanes. Now the $8 yellow decal that served as a get-out-of-traffic-free card is about to become meaningless: the privilege, originally set to expire in 2008, was legislatively extended twice, and now ends July 1. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/science/earth/19prius.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=green%20vehicles&st=cse&gwh=B2830EE37715B83BDF06D743713B6820 How Is The Transition To Electric Cars Going? As electric cars arrive in American garages, drivers are going to have to start thinking of them more like cellphones and less like hungry children. Just as we've learned to plug our phones in at night if we want to use them in the morning, we'll need to remember to plug in the car if we want to get to work. This will replace the old thinking in which, as the gas gauge approached empty, we lived in confidence that we could duck into a nearby gas station to top off the tank, just as we know we can find a grocery store or fast-food place if the kids get hungry. Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2011-05-18-electric-cars_n.htm GM Boosts Volt Production as More Consumers Consider Electric Vehicles. With gas hovering $4 a gallon, it's easy to understand why many drivers are becoming increasingly frustrated with their gas guzzling vehicles that drain their wallets on a normal basis. To make matters worse, fuel prices are expected to remain around the $3 to $4 mark for some time, and these high prices are pushing some consumers toward electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt. Posted. http://www.dailytech.com/GM+Boosts+Volt+Production+as+More+Consumers+Consider+Electric+Vehicles/article21678.htm http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/20/10 Fuel-Economy Labels Won't Include Letter Grades – Sources. New federal fuel economy labels for cars and light trucks won't include letter grades, according to sources from industry and advocacy groups tracking the Obama administration's work on the issue. The administration is expected to announce a new design for fuel economy labels next week that will include data about emissions and annual fuel costs. Regulators had been considering a pair of designs announced last August, including one that would feature a letter grade to assess fuel economy. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/20/2 Zero Emission-Branded Electric Cars 'Misleading': Consumers. EU policymakers are pushing to boost the take-up of electric vehicles across the European Union as a crucial means of reducing the bloc's CO2 emissions. Indeed, back in 2008, the EU earmarked €5 billion in its economic recovery plan for the Green Car Initiative as part of a wider package of public support for the industry. But consumer groups yesterday warned that current commercial and political pressures to present battery electric vehicles as 'zero emission' vehicles "are misleading for consumers". Posted. http://www.euractiv.com/en/consumers/zero-emission-branded-electric-cars-misleading-consumers-news-504971 GREEN ENERGY Which U.S. States Lead In Clean Energy? Eight of the 10 U.S. states that rank highest for their use and support of clean energy are on the West and East coasts, according to a second annual scorecard. California tops the list, followed in order by Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Washington, New Mexico, Minnesota, Connecticut and Vermont, according to a ranking based on 70 indicators by consulting firm Clean Edge. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/05/which-states-lead-in-clean-energy/1 Duke Energy Chief Urges U.S. Caution in Relying on Natural Gas. Duke Energy Corp. Chief Executive Officer James E. Rogers said the U.S. should be careful about depending on natural gas for energy even as his company seeks to expand its portfolio of the fossil fuel. The historic volatility of natural gas, questions about accessible reserves, and the possible environmental implications of drilling all raise concerns, Rogers told reporters today after a speech in Washington. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/20/bloomberg1376-LLGP590YHQ0X01-7VSRUVD7OV34D55A82G53HS9OR.DTL&type=printable Panasonic Sees Light After Darkness Of Disaster. TOKYO, Japan (AP) --Panasonic Corp., which faces a tough road this year after Japan's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, believes it can turn disaster into opportunity as the country rethinks its energy policy. President Fumio Ohtsubo said Friday his company's recent efforts to move toward environmentally friendly products and renewable energy technologies would eventually pay off. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/05/20/financial/f042349D54.DTL&type=printable State Oks 2 Bay Area Power Plants Over Objections. California regulators have approved construction of two new Bay Area power plants, despite criticism that they aren't needed. One will be built in Oakley, the other in the hinterlands of Alameda County 7 miles northwest of Tracy. Like most California power plants, both will burn natural gas. Each won unanimous approval from the California Energy Commission on Wednesday. Critics contend neither one is needed. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/20/BUVF1JIILG.DTL&type=printable Acid-Rain Curbing Kit at U.K. Power Plants Too Costly, SSE Says. Scottish & Southern Energy Plc, the U.K.'s second-largest power producer, said equipment needed to curb acid rain pollutants at two of its coal-fed power stations in northern England is too costly. SSE's Fiddlers Ferry and Ferrybridge power stations have until 2023 to comply with European Union limits on pollutants including nitrogen oxides. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/20/bloomberg1376-LLHJSN1A74E901-275NLIKJKH3ENPROK19HJM2QIL.DTL&type=printable Australian Coal Gas Plant Gets Conditional Environment Approval. HRL Ltd., a privately held Australian electricity generator, got conditional approval to develop a plant in Victoria State that will be powered by gas from brown coal, the Environment Protection Authority said. The Environment Protection Authority, or EPA, approved construction of a 300-megawatt plant by Duel Gas Pty, a subsidiary of HRL, the department said in a statement today. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/20/bloomberg1376-LLHE8M0YHQ0X01-1OAR9M0NTOF6T2I1M9S6LKPU2Q.DTL&type=printable CA Moves Toward Investment In On-Site Clean Energy Technologies. Sacramento, Calif. - A bill moving through the state Legislature would give large manufacturers more incentive to comply with the state's landmark global-warming law. The renewable-energy bill comes on the heels of a new report which finds that not only is climate change happening - most likely caused by humans - but that it'll only get worse the longer we wait. Posted. http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/20174-1 MISCELLANEOUS Pumped Up: Are Americans Addicted To Oil? As many Americans struggle with higher gas prices, others look for ways to live using fewer fossil fuels. They pursue a personal form of energy independence — and they are finding that it's no easy feat. About a year ago, following the Deepwater Horizon oil rig catastrophe that released millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, Mary Richert decided that she wanted to live a life free of oil. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/05/20/136424838/pumped-up-are-americans-addicted-to-oil Locals Examine Bullet Train Plans. Of the many questions asked at Thursday's high-speed rail workshop in Bakersfield, the one posed by southwest resident Debbie Raygoza-Wells had to be among the simplest. Would the trains be much like the ones she had ridden in France? Why, yes, a project staff member responded -- in fact, they will be much like Europe's bullet trains. If only all the questions were that easy. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/economy/x504580825/Locals-examine-bullet-train-plans OPINION In The 2012 Campaign, Environmentalists Don't Matter. That's the message President Obama is sending as the administration caters to smokestack and other industries. Shortly after his party's "shellacking" in the midterm election, President Obama ordered government agencies to ensure that new regulations took economic growth into consideration and that old ones be revoked if they "stifle job creation or make our economy less competitive." Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-environment-20110520,0,2203186,print.story Editorial: Hybrid Owners: Bid Adieu To HOV Lanes. Come July 1, we won't be tying yellow ribbons on trees in hope that the yellow stickers will return. No, we bid these stickers a fond farewell, even though some bothersome green ones are coming in their wake. Perhaps we should explain. Starting in 2005, California began handing out 85,000 yellow stickers to owners of hybrid cars, as an incentive to boost purchases of fuel-efficient vehicles. Motorists with such stickers were allowed to drive solo in carpool lanes. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/20/v-print/3640500/hybrid-owners-bid-adieu-to-hov.html PUBLIC OPINION: Online Climate Change Searches Can Lead To Faulty Information, Study Says. Curious Web users looking online for global warming information are likely to come across a site called climatechangefacts.info. From the website, they'll find that the link between carbon dioxide and the Earth's temperature is unproven, that many scientists blame the sun for rising temperatures, and that the Earth could soon cool. This, of course, differs from a broad scientific consensus that says fossil fuels are causing temperatures to rise. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/20/9 BLOGS Who Will Reap the Dividends of Fuel Economy? There are two basic arguments over whether and how the country should respond to climate change and other environmental challenges. One focuses on government’s right to regulate industry, and the other on the costs and benefits of such regulation. A new, almost biblical twist to one of these arguments was presented at a recent conference organized by Ceres, a Boston-based nonprofit that brings together investors, companies and environmental organizations who embrace sustainable business practices. twist. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/who-will-reap-the-dividends-of-fuel-economy/?pagemode=print As School Roofs Crumble, Toronto Finds Solar Solution. Like many of its counterparts in the United States, the Toronto District School Board oversees a large number of schools that were built as a result of the baby boom. Now that those schools, like their former pupils, are firmly in late middle age, their roofs have become a major financial problem. The board estimates that it faces a $3 billion backlog in roofing repairs. On Thursday it announced a plan to harness solar power to finance roof repairs over the next four years. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/as-school-roofs-crumble-toronto-finds-solar-solution/ Lamar Alexander Uses Gas Prices To Drive Republicans To Electric Cars. Sen. Lamar Alexander went after members of his own party in testimony before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee yesterday, calling government subsidies for electric cars “urgent” in light of high gasoline prices. “Why do we need the government to be involved?” asked Alexander, chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. Posted. http://blogs.forbes.com/jeffmcmahon/2011/05/20/lamar-alexander-uses-gas-prices-to-press-republicans-on-electric-cars/ Natural Gas, Coal, and Climate. Recent research has shown that over the next few decades an effective U.S. climate policy to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions would rely on extensive reductions in energy use and substitution of natural gas for coal in power generation. The second pathway -- gas-for-coal -- is premised on the fact that natural gas, when combusted, produces 50 percent lower CO2 emissions than coal. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-m-reilly/natural-gas-coal-and-clim_b_864698.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 14:47:06 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 23, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 23, 2011. 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 Black Lung Disease Seen Rising In U.S. Miners. New York (Reuters) - Black lung disease, long a killer of coal miners, is on the rise again after retreating in the 30 years since Congress passed tougher mine safety laws, health and safety experts said on Friday. The renewed appearance of the disease emerged from an investigation of the worst U.S. coal mining disaster in four decades. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/20/us-black-lung-idUSTRE74J6DJ20110520 Stench From Waste Facility Overwhelms Calif. Town. Students at Saul Martinez Elementary School had just piled in from recess when the principal began to field alarming calls: a powerful, propane-like stench had swept over the school grounds and was bringing children and teachers alike to their knees. By the time it was over, as many as 40 people had been treated by paramedics for headaches, nausea, dizziness and asthma attacks. Posted. http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/US_Stinky_Town_574148C.shtml CAP AND TRADE/CARBON MARKET California Agency to Appeal Decision Halting Cap-And-Trade. The California Air Resources Board will appeal a court ruling that suspends work on a cap-and-trade program to cut greenhouse gases, the agency said. The notice of appeal will be filed May 23, Stanley Young, a spokesman for the agency, said in an e-mail today. Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith in San Francisco today ordered the board to halt further rulemaking or implementation of the program until alternatives are properly reviewed. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-21/california-agency-to-appeal-decision-halting-cap-and-trade-1-.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-05-20/california-agency-to-appeal-decision-halting-cap-and-trade.html CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-California Carbon Market On Ice-Point Carbon. (Corrects last name of specialist to Costantino in 17th paragraph). Washington - A California judge has suspended the implementation of an emissions cap-and-trade scheme till air regulators can examine alternatives, dealing another setback to an ambitious program that could serve as a model for other states. Posted. http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFN2318104120110523 http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/Legal/News/2011/05_-_May/California_carbon_market_put_on_ice/ California Judge Puts Carbon Market On Hold. Los Angeles - A California judge ruled on Friday that state air regulators must halt the implementation of a cap-and-trade scheme until they examine alternatives to emissions trading to meet the state's aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith said in a decision that the California Air Resources Board (ARB) should "take no action" …Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/20/california-carbon-idUSN2028317420110520 California: Judge Blocks Cap-and-Trade Plan. A California judge ruled on Friday that state air regulators must stop carrying out a cap-and-trade plan until they examine alternatives to emissions trading to meet the state’s aggressive greenhouse gas-reduction targets. The judge, Ernest Goldsmith of the Superior Court of California in San Francisco, said that the California Air Resources Board should “take no action” to put its cap-and-trade plans into effect until it completes the analysis of the alternatives. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/21/us/21brfs-JUDGEBLOCKSC_BRF.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print S.F. Judge Puts State's Cap And Trade Plan On Hold. California must put an immediate halt to work on its cap and trade program until it completes a review of alternative approaches to reducing climate change, a state judge said Friday. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith ruled in March that the California Air Resources Board failed to conduct such a review but left open the question of whether the agency could conduct rule-making, environmental studies or do any other work while the legal issues were being resolved. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/21/v-print/3642941/sf-judge-puts-states-cap-and-trade.html Most Of Calif.'S Carbon Law Unaffected By Court Ruling; Trading Date Could Slip. California regulators still might be able to start their greenhouse gas trading program in January 2012, despite a court decision last week to stay the first trading system in the United States for greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, oil and gas refineries, transportation fuels and other heavy industries. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/23/2 Court: Most of AB 32 May Go Forward. But the Cap & Trade Program Remains on Hold. Friday provided another blip in a confusing court fight over California's centerpiece climate law, known as AB 32. A "final" ruling from a Superior Court judge in San Francisco allows most implementation of the 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act to go forward, except for the carbon trading plan known widely as "cap & trade." Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/05/21/court-most-of-ab-32-may-go-forward/ Judge Halts Cap-And-Trade Rules. So reports the Bee. The reason? California must put an immediate halt to work on its cap and trade program until it completes a review of alternative approaches to reducing climate change, a state judge said Friday. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith ruled in March that the California Air Resources Board failed to conduct such a review but left open the question of whether the agency could conduct rule-making, environmental studies or do any other work while the legal issues were being resolved. Posted. http://blogs.redding.com/bross/archives/2011/05/judge-halts-cap.html Judge Halts California's Carbon Market Plan. California's plans to establish one of the world's largest carbon markets have been dealt a serious blow, after a judge ruled last week that state regulators must put the plans on hold until they have formally examined alternative means of cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.businessgreen.com/print_article/bg/news/2072888/judge-halts-californias-carbon-market-plan Court Halts California Cap-And-Trade Program Pending Revision. San Francisco (Dow Jones)--A California judge on Friday ordered the state's pollution regulators to suspend the state's cap-and-trade program until they revise their environmental review for the program. In a decision issued Friday, Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith told the state Air Resources Board that it had to stop all activities associated with the cap-and-trade program until the court determines that the agency has complied with state environmental rules. Posted. http://research.tdameritrade.com/public/markets/news/story.asp?docKey=1-BT20110520007416-0M1IV3SOI3LDRGDRJT3PGK95D9&clauses= Cap-and-Trade Setback In California. California Superior Court judge Ernest Goldsmith ruled on Friday that the state’s Air Resources Board (ARB) must halt “any futher rulemaking and implementation of cap-and-trade” until the agency examines alternatives policies to meet the greenhouse gas-reduction targets established by Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act. Posted. http://www.globalwarming.org/2011/05/22/cap-and-trade-setback-in-california/ CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Traders Ask California Agency for Protection From Fake Offsets. Companies that unknowingly buy fake carbon-offset credits in California’s planned cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases shouldn’t be forced to replace them with real ones, according to emissions traders. The proposed carbon market, which is scheduled to start next year, “cannot work” if the state doesn’t change the “buyer liability” rules for offset credits, …Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-20/carbon-traders-ask-california-agency-for-protection-from-fake-offsets.html U.K. Drops CO2 Offset Quality Program, Carbon Retirement Says. The U.K. has canceled its program to assure the quality of carbon-dioxide offsetting, according to Carbon Retirement, a company that helps polluters cut emissions. The Department of Energy and Climate Change said it was discontinuing the system on May 20 in letters to companies accredited to the program, including EON AG and British Airways Plc, London-based Carbon Retirement said today in an e-mail. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-23/u-k-drops-co2-offset-quality-program-carbon-retirement-says.html ADB Invests in Climate Funds That Seek to Raise $700 Million. (Updates with fund-raising target in second paragraph.) The Asian Development Bank is spending $60 million to help set up three venture capital funds developing climate-change technology in China and India, the Manila-based lender said in an e-mailed statement today. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-23/adb-invests-in-climate-funds-that-seek-to-raise-700-million-1-.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/22/bloomberg1376-LLMRHQ6KLVR401-6N1DBDSTI3013KNKEHV67EKVQ8.DTL&type=printable A City Prepares for a Warm Long-Term Forecast. Chicago — The Windy City is preparing for a heat wave — a permanent one. Climate scientists have told city planners that based on current trends, Chicago will feel more like Baton Rouge than a Northern metropolis before the end of this century. So, Chicago is getting ready for a wetter, steamier future. Public alleyways are being repaved with materials that are permeable to water. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/23/science/earth/23adaptation.html?_r=1&ref=general&src=me&pagewanted=print In Australia, a Tempest With Echoes of a Tea Party. Sydney — A plan by the Australian government to introduce the biggest emissions trading scheme outside of the European Union has unleashed a wave of partisan fighting that is threatening to sink the agenda of a second consecutive Labor government. A call in February by the opposition leader, Tony Abbott, for a “people’s revolt” against the plan has incited one of the most raucous protest movements the country has seen in decades. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/23/world/asia/23australia.html?sq=carbon&st=cse&scp=4&pagewanted=print EPA And Others Announce New Climate Change Awards Program. U.S. EPA last week announced a new national awards program aimed at recognizing corporate and individual efforts in addressing climate change. The awards program will be co-sponsored by the Climate Registry, the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and the Association of Climate Change Officers. It will offer awards in four categories. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/23/6 Challengers Fire Opening Shots In 'Endangerment' Legal Battle. States and industry groups challenging the Obama administration's climate rules outlined their legal arguments in opening briefs filed late Friday with a federal appeals court. First in three related cases on the rules that are being considered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is the legal fight over the "endangerment" finding, in which U.S. EPA concluded that carbon emissions are harmful and therefore could be regulated. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/23/2 FUELS Growing Biofuels, and Shrimp. A group of students at Texas A&M University has hit upon a way to farm shrimp and grow a new biofuel crop in a combined process. The project comes from the AgriLife program, which draws from diverse parts of the school including the Texas Forest Service and the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory as well as the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. It's a broad approach that mirrors our transition to a more interconnected and sustainable way of harvesting energy. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/23/idUS367255699620110523 VEHICLES Hydrogen Fuel Cells Are Down, but Perhaps Not Out . With nearly every major auto maker promising to launch a battery-powered electric car of some kind in the next couple of years, it would be easy to presume that hydrogen fuel cells are dead. All the rage just a decade ago as the wave of the future, hydrogen-powered cars have found their thunder—and much of their funding—stolen by battery-powered vehicles. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703778104576286620950028178.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Toyota, Salesforce.com to Build Social Network for Customers. Toyota Motor Corp. and Salesforce.com Inc. will build a private social network for customers who will own electric cars and plug-in hybrid vehicles being introduced by the Japanese carmaker next year. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/23/bloomberg1376-LLMYZV0D9L3501-1BQM7CO0I6V5Q3N8QAU6M8PI1C.DTL&type=printable Roadshow: A Prius Party! Q Maybe you should get together with other Prius users and have a tailgate party to remove your carpool stickers. Jerry L.A What a great idea. Carpool stickers for hybrid owners will no longer be valid as of July 1, tossing 85,000 solo drivers out of the carpool lane. This will be a sad, sad day for so many. So what shall we do? Jerry has the right idea: Let's hold a party! A Prius party! Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadshow/ci_18105499?nclick_check=1 DOWNEY: Car-Pool Privilege Coming To An End. Ever pinch yourself for not buying a gas-electric hybrid sooner ---- before the state ran out of those yellow stickers that gave vehicle owners who possessed them the green light to drive in car-pool lanes without a partner? Well, it's not going to matter much longer. The special commuting privilege afforded those drivers who snatched up the limited number of stickers is about to come to an end. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/columnists/downey/article_dc4b5f97-5aff-5093-8fbb-a30bf07da11e.html GREEN ENERGY Wave Power A Lost Cause For Now. Wave power always seems to be 10 years down the road. At least. Despite the best efforts of engineers, the idea of generating electricity from ocean waves has proven hard to execute. Companies here and abroad have tested a variety of devices to do it, but the sea keeps chewing them up. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has been an enthusiastic wave-power backer for years, studying several locations along the California coast as possible sites for wave-power devices. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/20/BU5K1JIE1M.DTL&type=printable Nature Bowl Puts Kids Through A Green Wringer In Sacramento. So thick was the tension, so palpable the anticipation, that you could cut it with a knife – but certainly not a disposable, plastic knife that would clog landfills, never degrade and, thus, threaten countless habitats. Yes, folks, This … is … Jeopardy! Eco-Jeopardy, that is, at Saturday's 27th Nature Bowl, the annual environmental science competition for 150 top elementary school students throughout the region. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/22/v-print/3644603/nature-bowl.html Md. Firm Proposes Solar Farm At State Prison. Hagerstown, Md. -- A private firm announced a $70 million plan Friday to build Maryland's largest solar energy project on the grounds of a state prison near Hagerstown to generate electricity for the wholesale market. Maryland Solar LLC of Easton said it is seeking speedy approval by state utility regulators and a long-term lease on 250 state-owned acres surrounding the medium-security Maryland Correctional Institution. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/20/1696866/md-firm-proposes-solar-farm-at.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/20/2395675/md-firm-proposes-solar-farm-at.html#storylink=misearch The Answer Is (Artificially) Blowing in the Wind. Nathan Lewis, left, and Daniel Nocera, right, have been developing artificial leaves that make fuel from sunlight. A sample from work at Caltech is at center. ONLY God can make a tree, the poem says. But scientists are working on making artificial leaves that can produce fuels directly from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide, just as real leaves do. One day, the new leaves could help people heat their homes and drive their cars. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/business/22novel.html?scp=2&sq=fuels&st=cse&gwh=772BF8E8D9E3318FB424B6A8F6FCEDE5 Wood Biomass Could Be Next World Commodity. Wood, one of the world's oldest energy sources, could become a hot commodity again. But wood fuel must first overcome supply limits and green concerns as demand for renewable energy ramps up. Experts say supply constraints are putting it into competition with the paper industry. Burning wood and crop waste emits less carbon than fossil fuels, in theory, because it returns carbon accumulated by growing plants to the air. But that balance stops if stock is not replanted or natural forests are logged. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/23/9 OPINION Editorial: Pull Plug On High-Speed Rail? Why? News about California's high-speed rail project has taken on a Dr. Jekyll-and-Mr. Hyde quality. On one side, there's never been more momentum. Headlines tout California's new billions in unexpected federal funds, as other states have turned back high-speed rail funds. The federal $3.9 billion is more than was ever anticipated at this stage of the project. That follows voter approval in 2008 of a nearly $10 billion bond to help develop and construct high-speed rail. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/22/v-print/3642782/pull-plug-on-high-speed-rail-why.html Viewpoints: Don't Give Away Carpool Lane Access – Sell It. While California struggles to close a $15.4 billion budget gap, there is an easy $68 million that is being wasted. To encourage purchases of next-generation hybrid vehicles, California plans to practically give away up to 40,000 green Clean Air Access stickers that will allow plug-in hybrid vehicles access to HOV lanes even when the car contains only one person. Another program provides similar white stickers to electric, natural gas and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Giving away stickers is a mistake. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/22/v-print/3642785/dont-give-away-carpool-lane-access.html EDITORIAL: Say Goodbye To Yellow Hybrid-Carpool Stickers. Come July 1, we bid a fond farewell to the yellow hybrid carpool-lane stickers, even though some bothersome green ones are coming in their wake. Starting in 2005, California began handing out 85,000 yellow stickers to owners of hybrid cars, as an incentive to boost purchases of fuel-efficient vehicles. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/20/2396048/editorial-say-goodbye-to-yellow.html#storylink=misearch BLOGS Cities Embrace the Adaptation Imperative. Leslie Kaufman has written an excellent story on how one great city, Chicago, has vaulted past stale debates over the causes and consequences of disastrous weather to begin boosting its resilience to conditions that are most likely to dominate in coming decades. In many parts of the world, prospering cities are making climate-resilient design a priority. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/23/cities-embrace-the-adaptation-imperative/ Congressmen Seek To Block Pollution Controls On Navajo Coal Plant. The massive coal-powered Navajo generating station in Page, Ariz., spews tens of thousands of tons of nitrogen oxide a year into Western skies, spreading haze across the Grand Canyon and other national parks. By law, the 40-year-old plant is supposed to install the "best available retrofit technology" to scrub emissions from its smokestacks. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/coal-fired-power-plants-national-parks.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Decoding the Final Decision in the AB 32 Lawsuit. A Superior Court in San Francisco issued a final judgment today in a lawsuit filed in 2009 by environmental justice (EJ) groups concerning California’s groundbreaking 2006 law, the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), which sets limits on global warming pollution in the state. As expected, the ruling establishes a new timeline and preconditions for continued implementation and final approval of the AB 32 cap-and-trade regulation. Posted. http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream/2011/05/20/decoding-the-final-decision-in-the-ab-32-lawsuit/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 24 May 2011 12:42:42 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 24, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 24, 2011. 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 EPA Hearing In Philly On Coal Plant Pollution. Philadelphia—Federal environmental officials are holding a public hearing in Philadelphia on proposed standards for toxic air pollution from power plants. The Environmental Protection Agency wants the public's input on rules to curb emissions of mercury, arsenic, lead, nickel, chromium and acid gases from coal plants. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18126717 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18126717 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/24/epa-hearing-in-philly-on-coal-plant-pollution/ Texas Lawyer Wants Foreign Pollution Addressed. Houston—A lawyer who previously represented the energy industry has filed a petition with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality seeking a relaxation of rules governing air-borne pollution that he says compel Texas businesses to pick up the tab for foreign polluters. Attorney Jed Anderson said states should not be forced to make deeper cuts in smog-forming emissions to meet federal limits because of wind-borne pollution from places such as Mexico. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18120239 State Working With Feds On National Car Pollution Standards. California has been at the forefront of toughening pollution standards for cars, due in part to its dirty air. Now state officials are working with federal agencies to align standards for the rest of the nation, improving fuel efficiency and tailpipe emissions. State regulations, also known as the Pavley law, set emissions standards for cars made from 2012 to 2016. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/state-working-feds-national-car-pollution-standards-10380 CLIMATE CHANGE Jobs and Savings Help Regional Carbon Market Survive GOP Attacks. New Hampshire, Delaware and Maine have decided to stay in RGGI for now, but New Jersey's exit is still possible. Efforts to unravel a regional carbon trading program have hit a wall in recent weeks after lawmakers in New Hampshire, Delaware and Maine moved to reaffirm their states' participation in the market. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/23/idUS62011457620110523 Getting Wise to the Owl, a Charismatic Sentry in Climate Change. For 19 years, the owl researcher Denver Holt has journeyed to Barrow, Alaska, each summer to map out the predator-prey relationship between the lemmings that crawl across the tundra and the white owls that hunt them from above. As he prepares for his 20th field season in the Arctic, he says that the snowy owl has a role to play in understanding ecological changes in one of the fastest changing places in the world. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/science/24owl.html?scp=4&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Calif. Appeals Decision Blocking Cap-And-Trade Plan. California regulators have appealed last week's court decision staying their cap-and-trade program for industrial greenhouse gas emissions. The state Air Resources Board (ARB) filed a notice of appeal with San Francisco's Superior Court yesterday. Environmental justice advocates had sued over a provision in the California Environmental Quality Act requiring state agencies to analyze the environmental consequences of their policies. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/24/14 Misguided Objection to Progressive Policy: The EJ Lawsuit Against Implementation of California’s AB 32 Climate Policy. On May 20th, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith ruled that the California Air Resources Board had not adequately explained its choice of a market-based mechanism – a cap-and-trade system — to achieve approximately 20 percent of targeted emissions reductions by 2020 under Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Posted. http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/analysis/stavins/?p=1090 Climate Commission Finds Climate Change Evidence 'Beyond Doubt' After calling the evidence for global warming "exceptionally strong and beyond doubt," the first big report from Australia's Climate Commission said actions this decade will determine its impact for the rest of the century. Designed to quell the political debate about the government's carbon tax, the report outlines the latest research on the impact of climate change on Australia. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/24/6 FUELS Chevron To Try Again To Upgrade Richmond Refinery. After Chevron's last attempt to upgrade its aging Richmond oil refinery bogged down in court, the company has decided to try again. Chevron Corp. on Monday reported that it will once again ask Richmond officials for permission to renovate the refinery, improving its ability to process high-sulfur crude oil. Richmond's City Council narrowly approved the upgrade in 2008, despite complaints from environmentalists that the changes could lead to more air pollution in a community that already had too much. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/24/BUVF1JJVEO.DTL&type=printable Ethanol Declines Most in More Than Week on Economic Concerns. Ethanol dropped for the first time in more than a week, falling with other energy commodities on signs of economic weakness that may curb fuel demand. The gasoline additive slumped as Greece stepped up austerity measures to keep pace with its deficit and after the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s gauge of economic activity dropped below zero in April. Ethanol, concocted from corn in the U.S., is blended with gasoline to augment supply. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/23/bloomberg1376-LLNY5M0YHQ0X01-6HDOJDJOKQF11Q4S7U4G60TFT5.DTL&type=printable BIOfuel From Algae Technologies Project Launched. A new international project is kicking off to produce biofuels from algae. The BIOfuel From Algae Technologies (BIOFAT) project is supported by nine partners based in seven countries and the goal is to show that ethanol, biodiesel and bioproducts call all be produced at large scale from algae. Posted. http://domesticfuel.com/2011/05/24/biofuel-from-algae-technologies-project-launched/ UK Lawmakers Give Green Light To Shale Gas Drilling, Highlight Vast Offshore Reserves. London — British lawmakers said Monday that shale gas resources in Britain should be developed to reduce the country’s reliance on imported supplies. A report from the cross-party Energy and Climate Change Committee released on Monday rejected calls for a moratorium on the controversial energy source amid concerns about its impact on public health and the environment. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/uk-lawmakers-give-green-light-to-shale-gas-drilling-highlight-vast-offshore-reserves/2011/05/23/AFvS509G_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/23/2399385/uk-lawmakers-green-light-shale.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/23/1700998/uk-lawmakers-green-light-shale.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18122703 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18122703 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/23/uk-lawmakers-green-light-shale-gas-drilling/ Multi-Nation Partnership Develops Production Guidelines. The United States, China and 23 other nations agreed yesterday on the first-ever set of biofuel production guidelines. The policies, introduced by the Rome-based Global Bioenergy Partnership, suggest ways to produce and use biofuels and biomass in ways that do not add to climate change or affect food prices. Palm oil is one biofuel source that has grown especially popular in recent years. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/24/13 House GOP Accuses Obama Admin Of Deliberately Raising Gas Prices. House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) today suggested that the Obama administration is intentionally trying to boost oil and gas prices as part of a concerted effort to force the green agenda that it was unable to achieve through its failed cap-and-trade effort. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/24/1 VEHICLES Ford Sees Chance To Woo Japanese Buyers. Ford sees a big chance to snatch buyers away from Japanese automakers battling production delays caused by the March earthquake and tsunami, and vehicles in the works could help deliver it growth in a long-difficult market. "The opportunities for Ford in Japan have never been greater," Ford Japan Chief Executive Tim Tucker said Tuesday of the products planned for Japan. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/24/ford-sees-chance-to-woo-japanese-02/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_51102aff-ba28-58c5-9fc9-4122eedc7ac2.html Chrysler To Pay Back U.S. On Tuesday As Fiat Hikes Stake. Chrysler Group LLC plans to pay off its remaining debt to the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday, clearing the way for partner Fiat SpA to increase its stake in the No. 3 U.S. automaker. Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said today Chrysler raised enough money in a debt offering to pay back the loans. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110523/OEM/305239773/1306 GREEN ENERGY Greenstart: New Bay Area Tech Incubator Homing In On Green Technology. By some estimates, there are more than 100 tech incubators around the world, ranging from those affiliated with top universities to the fast-growing cluster of Bay Area venues like Y Combinator, 500 Startups and Plug and Play Tech Center. Joining the mix Tuesday is a San Francisco outfit called Greenstart. Like its peers, the "startup accelerator" aims to help entrepreneurs get their young companies off the ground. But Greenstart is focusing on just one slice of the technology pie: so-called "clean" tech. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_18126512?source=rss&nclick_check=1 Wind Energy Industry Demands Bonneville Fix Problems Forcing Shut-Off Of NW Wind Generators. Grants Pass, Ore.—The wind energy industry demanded Monday that the Bonneville Power Administration fix problems that have forced the shut-off of Northwest wind generators while hydroelectric dams fill the grid with power produced from a heavy spring runoff. The complaints voiced by the American Wind Energy Association and U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., at a wind energy…Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/wind-energy-industry-demands-bonneville-fix-problems-forcing-shut-off-of-nw-wind-generators/2011/05/23/AFPFy09G_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/23/1700994/wind-industry-demands-nw-grid.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/23/2399383/wind-industry-demands-nw-grid.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18122675?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18122675 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/23/wind-industry-demands-nw-grid-overload-solution/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_05a0692b-6c74-5fa6-a2f1-fc6d374bf3a5.html Siemens Executive Says Bipartisan Clean Energy Push Could Start With Efficiency Bill. With Congress bogged down over high gasoline prices, the head of U.S. operations for Siemens AG said proposals to increase energy efficiency are a "no-brainer" and a doable next step to advance U.S. energy policy. "It's thousand-dollar bills lying on the ground. People just need to bend over and pick them up," said Eric Spiegel, president and CEO of Siemens Corp., the U.S. arm of the Munich-based conglomerate. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/24/2 FWS Wind Turbine Guidelines Ruffle Feathers Of Both Enviros And Industry. The Interior Department's draft guidelines for the responsible siting and operation of wind farms fail to protect at-risk species like the sage grouse and prairie chicken and could result in the deaths of more than a million birds a year within the next 20 years, a leading bird advocacy group says. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/24/11 Are Home LEDs Ready For Prime Time? Some might say this is the year of the LED. A slew of new light bulbs relying on light-emitting diodes have come out in recent weeks as manufacturers prepare to battle for residential customers drawn to efficiency but fed up with their other options. LED bulbs are being marketed -- at least in the residential space -- as replacements for energy-hungry incandescent lights and as pleasing, but still efficient alternatives to the curly compact fluorescents that consumers link with chilly blue tones and trace amounts of mercury content. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/24/12 MISCELLANEOUS Has the Monorail's Future Finally Arrived? It's gaining traction as a solution in areas where mass-transit needs are surging. The train of the future may be turning a corner—but you'll have to look up to see it. Long hailed as a model for future public-transportation systems, monorails in reality have been largely written off as theme-park attractions—too slow and too small to serve as urban transit systems. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703567404576292914218923744.html?mod=WSJ_business_LeftSecondHighlights Bay Toxic Fish Warnings Updated. In the first update to a 17-year-old guide on how safe it is to eat fish caught in San Francisco Bay, state health leaders have relaxed some warnings but caution that children and women of childbearing age should not eat perch, white sturgeon, shark or striped bass. Mercury and PCBs have rendered some of the Bay's most popular sport fish unsafe in any amount for children and woman younger than 45, according to the guidelines. And perch from San Francisco Bay are unsafe for anyone to eat, the guidelines say. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_18123623?source=rss&nclick_check=1 http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/officials-warn-high-mercury-pcb-levels-some-sf-bay-fish-10410 UN Probes Japan Nuke Plant; More Melted Fuel Found. A major international mission to investigate Japan's flooded, radiation-leaking nuclear complex began Tuesday as new information suggested that nuclear fuel had mostly melted in two more reactors in the early days after the March 11 tsunami. That would mean that all three of the most troubled reactors at the plant have suffered partial meltdowns. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/24/un-opens-probe-into-japans-crippled-nuke-plant/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_61bf9e1b-6f1a-59ac-9d15-6d8a2d6a8c1b.html UK Outlines Plans For Green Bank. The British government outlined plans for the world's first state-backed green investment bank on Monday - a key plank of its pledge to transition the country into a low-carbon economy. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the bank will open for business next April and will likely focus initially on investing in areas such as offshore wind, waste and non-domestic energy efficiency. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/23/uk-outlines-plans-for-green-bank/ OPINION WAYNE KIRKBRIDE: If It's Spring In Mother Lode, There Must Be Smoke. "I moved to the mountains to have fresh, clean air and I have to close my doors and windows on some days to keep the smoke out," said one newcomer to the Mother Lode. As much a part of the springtime ritual as bringing out patio furniture and having outdoor parties, so is the annual cleaning up the accumulation of leaves, pine needles and branches from fall and winter and burning the piles. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/24/1701015/if-its-spring-in-mother-lode-there.html Let Hybrid Cars Save For Themselves. If you bought a hybrid vehicle thinking it would save you time and money on your daily commute, one of the favorite perks is about to end. Back in 2005, California began handing out 85,000 yellow stickers to owners of hybrid cars, as an incentive to boost purchases of fuel-efficient vehicles. Motorists with the stickers were allowed to drive solo in carpool lanes — which are found primarily in the Bay Area, Sacramento and other metro areas. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/23/1701175/let-hybrid-cars-save-for-themselves.html Keep Calm and Carry On. Caution: It is vitally important not to make connections. When you see pictures of rubble like this week’s shots from Joplin, Missouri, you should not ask yourself: I wonder if this is somehow related to the huge tornado outbreak three weeks ago in Tuscaloosa, or the enormous outbreak a couple of weeks before that—together they comprised the most active April for tornadoes in our history. But that doesn’t mean a thing. Posted. http://action.350.org/signup_page/connections BLOGS Court Orders Majority of California's Climate Law to Proceed; Cap and Trade to Get Fresh Look. Last week, Judge Ernest Goldsmith of the San Francisco Superior Court ruled to keep the bulk of California’s climate law, AB 32, moving ahead without delay, and narrowed the scope of an ongoing dispute to one piece of the puzzle – California’s cap and trade program. The decision cleared up an outstanding question in a lawsuit challenging the California Air Resources Board’s approval of the AB 32 Scoping Plan, California’s groundbreaking blueprint to cut global warming pollution statewide. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ajackson/bulk_of_californias_climate_la.html Fracking All Over The Place -In UK As Well. Fracking , that same word and process that inspires fear and loathing in the US, is under way in the UK. Apparently under the very hard rock of Lancashire is a lot of natural gas. But here’s the bother. The only way to get at it is to use a method called "hydraulic fracturing", or "fracking" for short. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/fracking-all-over-place-uk-well/ Clean Air is a Fundamental Right. Clean air is a fundamental right -- our lives depend on it. But air pollution threatens that right, and with it all of the little moments that make life special: blowing out candles on a birthday cake, spending a day outside with friends, or playing with our kids in the front yard. Recently, after more than a decade of delay, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed health protections that will ensure coal-fired power plants, some of the worst air polluters in the country, have to limit mercury and other toxic pollution that damages our health. Posted. http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/clean-air-is-a-fundamental-right/ Climate Policy For Conservatives. Suppose you believe, as I do, in basic conservative principles (free enterprise and a market economy, limited government, and minimal change in established institutions that work well), but also acknowledge that anthropogenic climate change presents a sufficient danger that something needs to be done about it. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-policy/2011-05-24-climate-policy-for-conservatives Five Hot, Rockin’ Geothermal Companies. Like the natural gas sector, which has experienced an incredible boom due to new drilling techniques that allow companies to cost-effectively access unconventional gas, the geothermal sector is going through a renaissance that may open up a vast new set of resources. Traditional utility-scale geothermal, often called hydrothermal, utilizes hot water or direct steam beneath the earth to run a turbine and generate electricity. Posted. http://www.grist.org/cleantech/2011-05-23-five-hot-rockin-geothermal-companies Sunfire Acquiring Staxera To Support Development Of Technology To Generate Synthetic Fuels From Renewable Energy Sources, Water And CO2. Bremen, Germany-based SunFire is acquiring staxera, a developer and manufacturer of SOFC high-temperature fuel cells sited in Dresden, from Webasto, a supplier to the automotive industry. The acquisition will enable SunFire—the developer of a process to generate renewable fuels from CO2 and H2O ... Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/05/sunfire-20110523.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 12:51:52 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 25, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 25, 2011. 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 WASHINGTON: Mecca Students Press For End To Foul Odor. Washington - A contingent of Mecca sixth-graders upset about the "nasty" smell in their community met Tuesday with Sen. Barbara Boxer, urging her to remain aggressive in her efforts to crack down on the soil recycling plant that has been blamed for the odor. Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Western Environmental Inc. to stop accepting gasoline-contaminated soil at the Mecca site, Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/politics/stories/PE_News_Local_D_mecca25.40446ad.html CLIMATE CHANGE Car Labels Add Fuel Use, Savings Comparisons. U.S. cars and light trucks will carry labels comparing estimated five-year fuel costs with those of the average new vehicle following industry opposition to adding fuel-economy letter grades to the window stickers. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-05-25/u-s-redesigns-car-fuel-economy-labels-to-rate-for-fuel-use.html New Car Labels In US Feature More On Fuel Savings. Washington - U.S. fuel economy labelling unveiled on Wednesday includes information on plug-in electric cars and highlights other advanced technologies aimed at reducing oil use and tailpipe emissions. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/25/uk-autos-fuel-idUSLNE74O06T20110525 http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/05/new-fuel-savings-stickers-for-new-cars-unveiled/1 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/business/energy-environment/26label.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/24/bloomberg1376-LLR12907SXKX01-2KL43R8IV307FN0CEE7A0PP8IH.DTL&type=printable http://detnews.com/article/20110525/AUTO01/105250417/U.S.-unveils-new-fuel-economy-labels--but-drops-grades#ixzz1NO22S59Y http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110525/CARNEWS/110529886 http://www.ttnews.com/articles/printnews.aspx?storyid=26790 http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/25/fuel.economy/ http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/25/autos/new_fuel_economy_labels/?section=money_latest http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/05/25/us-fleet-goes-alternative-epa-drops-vehicle-letter-grades/ http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/22459 http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/05/25/epa-nhtsa-unveil-new-fuel-economy-labels/ http://www.torquenews.com/766/epa-releases-new-fuel-economy-new-car-window-stickers-2013-model-year-vehicles http://www.fastcompany.com/1755230/new-fuel-economy-stickers-provide-actually-helpful-information-to-car-buyers http://www2.wspa.com/news/2011/may/25/epa-dot-unveils-next-generation-fuel-economy-label-ar-1888355/ http://www.freep.com/article/20110525/BUSINESS01/110525017/New-fuel-efficiency-labels-announced-details-fuel-costs-emissions Explaining The Science Of This Spring's Tornadoes. With the devastating Joplin, Mo., twister arriving on the heels of April's deadly outbreak in the Southeast, many are wondering just what's in the air this spring. Are we in for more? As residents of Joplin, Mo., continued digging out from Sunday's deadly tornado, researchers prepared to visit the stricken city to assess the storm's intensity. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-tornado-qa-20110525,0,4448583,print.story Climate Change Causing Allergies, Researchers Say. Apocalyptic images of global climate change include drought, rising sea levels, suffocating coral reefs and emaciated, drowning polar bears. But a new study points to some of the more immediate and mundane side effects of global warming: runny noses, itchy eyes and persistent coughs. Researchers say allergies are on the rise, and it's the result of warmer temperatures and happier allergens, like ragweed and mold. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/climate-change-causing-allergies-researchers-say-10428 In U.K., Obama Invokes Global Risks Of Warming. During a rare speech to both houses of Britain's Parliament, President Obama today called climate change one of the world's principal threats, while reaffirming the United States' commitment to addressing greenhouse gas emissions through international collaboration. "In a world where the prosperity of all nations is now inextricably linked, a new era of cooperation is required to ensure the growth and stability of the global economy," Obama said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/05/25/1 FUELS Boosters In Seattle See Future In Aviation Biofuel. Seattle—Boosters of aviation biofuel say the Northwest could lead the way in developing the new industry. Aviation and government officials called a news conference Wednesday at Sea-Tac Airport to call attention to a biofuels feasibility study. The study was conducted by Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest. Members include Alaska Airlines, Boeing, Washington State University and the Sea-Tac, Spokane and Portland airports. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18136153?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com Biodiesel Industry Applauds Federal Flex-Fuel Fleet Directive. The National Biodiesel Board applauded the White House's directive Tuesday ordering the federal government to move toward alternative-fuel vehicles, pointing out biodiesel's unique position as a widely available advanced biofuel that significantly reduces emissions and can be used in existing vehicles. Posted. http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/7812/biodiesel-industry-applauds-federal-flex-fuel-fleet-directive VEHICLES Auto Makers Sweeten the Recipe for Small Cars Goodbye, Hand-Crank Windows and Hello, iPod Docks; Car Buyers' Interest in Compacts Rises Along with Gas Prices. The cheap-looking, cramped, "econobox" car is dead. Auto makers are reinventing small, fuel-efficient cars for American drivers, just in time for another bout of angst caused by gasoline prices of $4 a gallon and up in many cities and forecasts that oil prices will rebound from their recent dip. The new crop of small cars aim for 40 miles per gallon on the highway, while borrowing technology, styling ideas and creature comforts from luxury cars. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304066504576343201704359810.html?KEYWORDS=fuel+standards US Faces 74mpg Eco Target. US President Barack Obama is being pressured by environmental groups to enact tough new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) figures that would require new cars to return 74mpg (62mpg in US conversion) by 2025. Influential US groups, including the California Air Resources Board, want to see the 74mpg target proposal as law by next year. The ruling could have a big impact on European premium car makers, who would have to hit the 74mpg as an average across their entire ranges. Posted. http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/257149/# GREEN ENERGY Google Invests $55 Million In Mojave Desert Wind Farm. The Internet search giant's efforts could help California regain its status as the world's wind power capital, industry experts say. Google Inc. is investing $55 million in a large Mojave Desert wind farm, pumping fresh air into California's struggling wind power industry. The Internet search giant made the announcement in Anaheim at the industry's largest gathering,... Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wind-power-20110525,0,7466621,print.story Report Predicts 236,000 New California Jobs From Tougher Fuel Standards. Tougher fuel economy standards that will put more electric cars, hybrids and other fuel-efficient models on California's roads will create up to 236,000 new jobs in the state over the next 14 years, according to a new report. Next 10, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that promotes the growth of the state's clean tech sector …Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/25/v-print/3651787/report-californias-clean-tech.html State's Energy System Will Need Major Overhaul. California can meet its mandate to slash greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels within the next 40 years - but only with a virtual revolution in energy production and use, said a report released Tuesday. Fossil fuel use must drop dramatically in California, and reliance on renewable energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal power will have to rise significantly, according to the report by the independent California Council on Science and Technology. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/25/BA541JKAP7.DTL&type=printable Report: Better Fuel Efficiency, Emissions Could Lead To New Jobs. A new study finds that cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles will lead to thousands of new jobs, consumer savings and economic growth in California. The report by nonprofit research organization, Next 10, projected the effects of future fuel economy and emissions standards and new vehicle technology. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/05/25/report-fuel-efficiency-emissions-jobs.html Greenpeace Says Cash, Technology Key For Developing Countries Trying To Cut Greenhouse Gas. Johannesburg -- Greenpeace has ambitious plans for how South Africa, which hosts international climate change talks this year, can cut greenhouse gas emissions. Greenpeace experts told reporters Wednesday the key for developing countries like South Africa will be getting cash and clean technology from industrialized countries. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/greenpeace-says-cash-technology-key-for-developing-countries-trying-to-cut-greenhouse-gas/2011/05/25/AGP2PGBH_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/25/2401841/greenpeace-cash-technology-key.html#storylink=misearch Smart Grid Costs Are Massive, but Benefits Will Be Larger, Industry Study Says. Deployment of smart grid technology from U.S. utility control centers and power networks to consumers' homes could cost between $338 billion and $476 billion over the next 20 years, but will deliver $1.3 trillion to $2 trillion in benefits over that period. The benefits will include greater grid reliability, integration of solar rooftop generation and plug-in vehicles, reductions in electricity demand, and stronger cybersecurity, according to a new study by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/05/25/25climatewire-smart-grid-costs-are-massive-but-benefits-wi-48403.html?scp=8&sq=green%20vehicles&st=cse&gwh=945691CD727DF8C85E79C5AFBFE01278 New Natural Gas Plant From GE Ramps Up Quickly To Balance Intermittent Solar, Wind Power. New York — General Electric Co. has developed a large new natural gas-fired power plant designed to balance increasing amounts of electricity generated by intermittent power sources like wind and solar as it flows into an electricity grid. GE says the power plant, which can produce 510 megawatts of peak power, ramps up twice as quickly as the fastest existing big plants. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/natural-gas-plant-ramps-up-quickly-to-balance-grid-when-wind-dies-or-clouds-hide-the-sun/2011/05/25/AGBdqFBH_story.html GE Introduces Power Plant To Complement Renewables. New York -- General Electric Co. has developed a large new natural gas-fired power plant designed to work with electric grids balancing increasing amounts of intermittent power sources like wind and solar. GE says the power plant, which can produce 510 megawatts of peak power, ramps up twice as quickly as the fastest big plants. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/25/2401796/ge-introduces-power-plant-to-complement.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/25/1703722/ge-introduces-power-plant-to-complement.html Developers Want U.S. To Push Energy Diversity, Not Least-Cost Power. Advocates for building up U.S. wind power capacity are urging Congress to extend tax incentives before deadlines run out in 2012 so developers can get a better handle on long-term project financing. "Relying strictly on market signals is not going to be successful in promoting energy diversity," said Ned Hall, president of AES Wind Generation. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/25/3 Developing Nations Are Expanding Wind And Solar. As the United States and other industrialized countries struggle to decide how to help developing nations expand their renewable energy capabilities, countries from Tanzania to Sri Lanka are surging ahead without the West's help, a new study finds. Still, the report out this week by the German Marshall Fund and World Resources Institute (WRI) notes, while developing countries are showcasing a growing number of renewable energy plans, most, if not all, still need significant financial resources to succeed. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/25/5 Power-Monitoring Program Trims Electric Bills. A program in 11 cities across the country suggests that educating people about their home power use could save them hundreds of dollars a year, utility representatives said this week. Virginia-based company OPower set up the 18-month pilot program with utility providers to increase efficiency by giving customers detailed data on their energy consumption. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/25/9 OPINION Head To Head: Should California Go Back To The Drawing Board With AB 32? THE ISSUE: A Superior Court judge ruled last week that state air regulators must stop carrying out a cap-and-trade plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Judge Ernest Goldsmith's ruling requires the Air Resources Board to examine alternatives to emissions trading to meet targets under a 2006 law, Assembly Bill 32. Ben Boychuk: Yes - New rules won't fix a misguided law. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/25/v-print/3651761/should-california-go-back-to-the.html Californians Will See Similar Benefits When It Comes To Clean Cars. If the U.S. had stronger policies that put cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars, trucks and SUVs on the roads, thousands of jobs would be created in California and the nation, according to a new study released Tuesday night by Next 10, an independent, nonpartisan research organization focused on innovation. The study, “Driving California's Economy: How Fuel Economy and Emissions Standards Will Impact Economic Growth and Job Creation,” …Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=18495 California and The Ridiculous State of Law in America. There’s reason to rejoice that a California state judge issued an injunction on Friday against the state cap-and-trade scheme (C&T) proposed in 2006. For one thing, the case’s citation name is Association of Irritated Residents v. California Air Resources Board, and how often does that come along? Irritated v. CARB would make an awesome name for a rock band. Posted. http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2011/05/24/california-and-the-ridiculous-state-of-law-in-america/ BLOGS EPA Rolls Out New Fuel-Economy Labels. For years consumers have demanding ever more extensive, useful information on food labels, bank and credit-card statements, and even restaurant menus. Now the reading of new-car window stickers promises to be more engaging. The Environmental Protection Agency today unveiled its latest revision of new fuel-economy labels that are to appear on vehicles beginning with the 2013 model year. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/05/25/epa-rolls-out-new-fuel-economy-labels/?mod=google_news_blog http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/05/25/fuel-economy-question-remains-whats-the-number-for-2025/ http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/05/new-fuel-economy-lables-for-cars-and-trucks-unveiled-by-dot-epa.html http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/epa-fuel-economy-labels-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/05/obama-administrations-revamped-fuel-economy-labels-highlight-gas-costs.html http://www.care2.com/causes/global-warming/blog/EPA-DOT-reveal-new-fuel-economy-label/ http://www.globalwarming.org/2011/05/25/next-generation-fuel-economy-sticker-to-boldly-label-what-no-agency-has-labeled-before/ U.S. Government Buys Its First Electric Vehicles. The federal government handed over the keys to a handful of electric vehicles it purchased Tuesday. The 116 cars -- a mixture of Chevrolet Volts, Nissan Leafs and Think Cities -- are the first electric vehicles to be purchased by the U.S. government for the federal fleet. They will be distributed to 20 agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Defense, in five cities across the country. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/us-government-electric-vehicles-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Navajo Coal Plant Pollution And Grand Canyon Haze Subject To Hearing. Leaders of several Indian nations urged a House subcommittee Tuesday to stall plans to tighten emission standards at the Navajo Generating Station in northeastern Arizona, which is partly owned by Los Angeles' Department of Water & Power. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/navajo-coal-plant-pollution-and-grand-canyon-haze-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Energy Department Challenges Students, Encourages Home Energy Conservation. In an effort to simultaneously encourage energy conservation and increase students' interest in science, the Department of Energy announced its Home Energy Education Challenge on Tuesday. Administered by the National Science Teachers Assn., the challenge encourages third- through eighth-grade students in individual schools and classrooms to compete against each other by monitoring their homes' energy use for three months and comparing it with the same period one year earlier. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/energy-education-initiative.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 26 May 2011 12:30:10 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 26, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 26, 2011. 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 White House Unveiling Plans to Curb Regulations. The White House would eliminate requirements for trapping polluting vapors at gasoline stations and let employers and hospitals file fewer reports as part of a plan it is announcing Thursday to ease regulatory burdens on business. More than four months after President Barack Obama ordered agencies to weed out rules that stifle economic growth, the administration was releasing some details of its proposals. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/26/1705203/white-house-unveiling-plans-to.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18144167 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18144167?nclick_check=1 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/26/white-house-unveiling-plans-to-curb-regulations/ http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/26/white-house-unveiling-plans-to-curb-regulations/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_b85a1fdd-3331-54b9-8393-8c91fc356df9.html http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110526/WIRE/110529652 Calif. Can Meet 75% Of Its Clean Energy Goals With Existing Technologies – Study. California regulators are jumping hurdles to meet their target of 1990 emissions levels by 2020, but they still have the long view in their sights. A report released this week by the California Council on Science and Technology, a state-founded think tank, theorizes on how to reach 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, as mandated by an executive order signed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) in 2005. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/26/5 CLIMATE CHANGE New Mileage Stickers Include Greenhouse Gas Data. The federal government unveiled new fuel economy window stickers on Wednesday, for vehicles starting with the 2013 model year, that for the first time include estimated annual fuel costs and the vehicle’s overall environmental impact. The new labels, which replace a five-year-old design that provided only basic information about estimated fuel economy, represent the broadest overhaul in the sticker program’s 35-year history. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/business/energy-environment/26label.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Obama Issues Presidential Memorandum on Federal Fleet Performance. One million alternative fueled vehicles by Dec 31 2015. President Barack Obama has issued a Memorandum requiring the Federal fleet, the largest fleet of light duty vehicles in America, to lead by example to help meet national goals of reducing oil imports by one-third by 2025 and putting one million advanced vehicles on the road by 2015. Posted. http://www.ngvglobal.com/obama-issues-presidential-memorandum-on-federal-fleet-performance-0525 http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=73825 http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iQThWFvjmz9-KnZnXIctshwVP5AA?docId=CNG.ff6c6872dda334a10bad01b3f3ae9c35.a51 Christie To Pull NJ From Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Trenton, N.J. -- Republican Gov. Chris Christie announced Thursday that New Jersey will withdraw from a 10-state regional greenhouse gas reduction program by the end of the year, saying the program is ineffective at combating global warming. "The whole system is not working as it was intended to work. It is a failure," the governor said. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/26/v-print/3656512/ap-nj-to-pull-out-of-greenhouse.html Tornadoes! Floods! Droughts! Scientists Say It's Global Warming. Washington -- The deadliest tornadoes in decades. Severe flooding on the Mississippi River. Drought in Texas, and heavy rains in Tennessee. What's up with the weather? Scientists say there are connections between many of the severe weather events of the past month and global warming. "Basically, as we warm the world up, the atmosphere can hold more moisture in it," said Anne Jefferson, an assistant professor in the geography and Earth science department at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/25/1704471/tornadoes-floods-droughts-scientists.html Ruling Throws Doubt On California Cap And Trade Start. It is not yet clear whether a California court ruling will prevent cap and trade starting on time in the state in January next year. A final court judgement last Friday is a setback to the implementation of the emissions trading component of California’s multi-faceted climate change action bill AB32, preventing the state’s Air Resources Board (ARB) from continuing preparations for the scheme which are well under way. Posted. http://www.carbonpositive.net/viewarticle.aspx?articleID=2330 California Bounces Back After Judge Orders AB 32 Review. California’s carbon markets have responded positively to a San Francisco judge’s ruling that ordered further analysis from the California Air Resources Board (ARB) on alternatives to the state’s cap-and-trade scheme, say brokers. On Monday, the ARB appealed the decision and the office of the state attorney general simultaneously issued a stay to allow the agency to continue preparations for the scheme while the case is with the appeal court. Posted. http://www.environmental-finance.com/news/view/1738 CARB Announces Winners Of High School Climate Change Project. California winners of the first annual Climate Generation Program competition were announced yesterday by the California Air Resources Board (ARB). First prize was awarded to Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton. Arroyo High School in El Monte and Ukiah High School in Ukiah won second and third prize, respectively. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/environmental-news-in-bakersfield/carb-announces-winners-of-high-school-climate-change-project Award-Winning Business. ECO-PRIZE—The California Air Resources Board acknowledges Thousand Oaks-based Conejo Awards for taking proactive steps to reduce its impact on the climate and for communicating that information to employees and customers. Actions included shutting down equipment at the end of the work day, using refillable bulk-ink cartridges and converting to 100 percent e-invoicing. Posted. http://www.theacorn.com/news/2011-05-26/Business/Awardwinning_business.html M-A High Wins Top Prize In Climate Competition. Menlo-Atherton High School has been awarded the top prize in the 2011 Climate Generation competition, it was announced Tuesday, May 24. Climate Generation is an annual statewide competition sponsored by the California Air Resources Board that challenges high school students to address climate change, clean energy and sustainability with innovative outreach projects. Posted. http://www.almanacnews.com/news/show_story.php?id=8962 DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB Amendments To On-Road Rule Could Affect Long-Haul Trucks. The California Air Resources Board has proposed several amendments to its on-road rule, also known as the truck and bus rule. The amendments are described here. The on-road truck and bus regulation requires all trucks to meet 2010 model year engine emissions standards by the year 2023. Fleets will be required to begin meeting other diesel emission standards by 2014 through a variety of compliance options. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/May11/052311/052511-04.shtml Clean Diesel Technologies (CDTI) Announces $2.0 Million in Orders for its Verified Emission Reduction Products. Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDTI) announced today that its Heavy Duty Diesel Systems division has received nearly $2.0 million in orders for its verified emission reduction products. More orders are expected following the announcement on April 6, 2011 by the State of California's Air Resources Board of a special compliance option for California on-road diesel fleets pertaining to the current Truck and Bus Regulation. Posted. http://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Clean+Diesel+Technologies+%28CDTI%29+Announces+$2.0+Million+in+Orders+for+its+Verified+Emission+Reduction+Products/6540360.html FUELS New Study Released – Driving California’s Economy. Maybe a coincidence, but on the same day the EPA and DOE released new fuel economy labels, Next 10 released a new study, “Driving California’s Economy: How Fuel Economy and Emission Standards Will Impact Economic Growth and Job Creation.” The study found that policies that support fuel efficiency will drive consumer savings, drive job creation and spur economic growth. Posted. http://domesticfuel.com/2011/05/26/new-study-released-driving-californias-economy/ VEHICLES Republican Sees Electric Car Bill As A Climate 'Step' A member of the Senate Republican leadership believes a major expansion of electric cars is one way to address climate change, illustrating the party's fractured views on climate science. As some lawmakers search for a bipartisan agreement on clean energy, others see no reason for it. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/05/26/26climatewire-republican-sees-electric-car-bill-as-a-clima-79979.html?pagewanted=print http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/26/1 Va. Motor Fuel Program Helps More Than 80 Local Governments, Universities Reduce Costs. Richmond, Va. — The Department of General Services says Virginia’s State Motor Fuel Program is helping more than 80 universities and local governments reduce costs. The program uses its buying leverage to obtain the best fuel prices. Participants can buy fuel in bulk, by consignment or with the state’s fuel card. The bulk fuel program has 72 participants, while the fuel card program has 40. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/va-motor-fuel-program-helps-more-than-80-local-governments-universities-reduce-costs/2011/05/26/AGtxc1BH_story.html Honda Sees Near-Normal American Production In Aug. Honda's North American factories will return to near-normal production in August, the automaker said Thursday, much faster than had been expected. The announcement is another sign of improved parts supplies flowing from Japanese suppliers, whose factories were either damaged by the earthquake and tsunami there, or hit hard by ensuing electric power outages. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_7f2cbdd7-b7d3-5da8-9249-94f05b09bfca.html GE Opens Solar-Powered Car Charging Port In Conn. General Electric Co. has built a new solar-powered carport for charging electric vehicles in the parking lot of its facility in Plainville. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy planned to help open the charging stations on Thursday morning. The 216-by-40-foot carport includes multiple hook-ups for plugging in electric cars, and all the power will come from an array of solar panels. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/26/ge-opens-solar-powered-car-charging-port-in-conn/ Do Trees Cause Global Warming? Looking for a solution to global warming? Maybe start clear-cutting many of the world's forests, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher says. The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs oversight subcommittee made it clear during a Wednesday hearing that he doesn't believe in man-made global warming. But if it were true — and most of the world's scientists agree it is — Rohrabacher said he's hit on an answer by tackling the 80 to 90 percent of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions "generated by nature itself": Namely, yank down old trees and get rid of the rotting wood in rainforests. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55731.html Reports Tout Jobs And Other Benefits Of Fuel Efficiency, Alternative Fuels. A new report from a California nonprofit seeks to make the case that the stricter the fuel efficiency standards, the better off everyone will be economically. The study, commissioned by the group Next 10, found that if drivers save money on fuel, they will spend about 70 percent of that money on mostly local goods and services, spurring job creation in sectors further afield. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/26/7 GREEN ENERGY Company Seeks To Add Turbines To Longhorn Dam. Austin, Texas—Hydro Green Energy is seeking to add three underwater turbines to Longhorn Dam in Central Texas. The Houston-based company would then sell electricity to the city of Austin, as power being created by the flow of Lady Bird Lake through the turbines. The Austin American-Statesman reported Thursday that Hydro Green has filed preliminary paperwork with the federal government for the project. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18144377 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18144377 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/26/company-seeks-to-add-turbines-to-longhorn-dam/ 'Step Change' Has Occurred In Opportunities For Gas – GE. General Electric Co. is upping its investment in natural gas to counterbalance the variability in its wind and solar energy capacity. The group is "looking at a 25-year, very bullish market" for gas, said John Krenicki, president and CEO of GE. Gas supplies are becoming increasingly cheaper in the United States, and prices may drop around the world, as well. Low carbon dioxide emissions compared with coal are also a draw. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/05/26/11 BLOGS Obama Wants Agencies To Buy Greener Wheels. The Obama administration is buying 101 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid cars and 15 battery-powered electric vehicles as it moves closer to its goal of greening the federal vehicle fleet. The White House has ordered that all new cars or light trucks leased or purchased by federal agencies run on alternative fuels by Dec. 31, 2015, whether their power source is hybrid, electric, compressed natural gas, biofuel or fuel cells. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/obama-wants-agencies-buying-greener-wheels/2011/03/23/AGiM21BH_blog.html U.S. Government Adds Hybrids and E.V.’s to Car Fleet. As part of its effort to make the federal fleet greener and put a million hybrid and electric vehicles on the road by 2015, the Obama administration took a relatively small step Tuesday by purchasing 101 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrids, as well as 15 battery-powered E.V.’s. The White House also announced that it expected federal agencies to use “midsize or smaller sedans” in lieu of the beefy black S.U.V.’s commonly associated with federal executive fleets.http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/u-s-government-adds-hybrids-and-e-v-s-to-car-fleet/ http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/05/obama-issues-new-directive-for-federal-vehicles/ http://www.tecca.com/news/2011/05/26/obama-electric-cars/ http://www.executivegov.com/2011/05/sustainability-gurus-sound-off-on-obamas-memo-greenifying-federal-fleet/ Are Tornadoes Caused By Climate Change? This spring, the U.S. has experienced the deadliest single tornado on record and the deadliest single day of tornadoes on record — and, no, they weren't the same event. Yesterday brought still more tornadoes and still more deaths. But don't stop there: The Mississippi is flooding at near-record levels and Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas are experiencing a drought almost as bad as the one John Steinbeck wrote about. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=89735 Study Concludes California Economic Growth And Employment Will Rise With The Degree And Scope Of Transport Fuel Efficiency Standards. Aggressive federal fuel economy and California emissions standards will enable California to enjoy a significant reduction in energy dependence and global warming emissions while stimulating statewide economic activity and employment with substantial fuel savings, according to a new study by Dr. David Roland-Holst of UC Berkeley’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, published by the group Next 10. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/05/next10-20110526.html Critical List: U.S. Imported Less Than 50% Of Its Oil In 2010; Congress Not So Into Climate Aid. We're off foreign oil! More or less. One price we'll pay for that: ads with blue skies and green fields and a man with a reassuring voice saying that natural gas is totally, totally safe. The price of renewable energy will go down. So naturally, you should bet against its success. Unless you're a venture capitalist. Greenpeace found radiation 50 times higher than legal limits in sea creatures off the coast of Japan. Also, the plant's leaking radioactive waste water. Three-eyed Simpsons fish, here we come! Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-05-26-critical-list-u.s.-imported-less-than-50-of-its-oil-in-2010-cong Pro-Fracking Ad Accidentally Reveals Dangers Of Fracking. ExxonMobil has been running full-page ads that make underground hydraulic fracturing operations -- the same ones responsible for massive environmental problems all over the U.S. -- look about as threatening as a World Book encyclopedia illustration of a water pipe. The ads highlight the multiple layers of steel and concrete used to protect shallow aquifers. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-05-26-pro-fracking-ad-accidentally-reveals-dangers-of-fracking University Of Virginia Agrees To Release Some Global Warming Documents. In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, The University of Virginia agreed yesterday to turn over documents related to the work of Michael Mann, one of climatologists who put together the "hockey stick graph." Mann and other scientists, using a variety of measures, estimated global temperatures going back 1,000 years and what they found was that there has been a sharp increase in Northern Hemisphere temperatures during the last century…Posted. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/05/26/136682426/university-of-virginia-agrees-to-release-some-global-warming-documents DOE Funds Nevada Solar Project Worth $737 Million. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a $737 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy (DOE) for the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project. The project is being developed by Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC, a subsidiary of SolarReserve, LLC. The project is located 14 miles northwest of Tonopah, Nevada on 2,250 acres leased from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/doe-loans-737-million-nevada-solar-project/ Exxon Mobil Beats its Own (Oil) Drum in Latest CSR Report. When you are as big as ExxonMobil, you will issue a sustainability or corporate social responsibility (report) on your own terms: that was the theme of the energy behemoth’s 2010 Corporate Citizenship Report. The report follows the guidelines of the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association and APIOGISR (American Petroleum Institute Oil and Gas Industry Guidance on Sustainability Reporting). Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/exxonmobil-beats-oil-drum-latest-csr-report/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 27 May 2011 11:41:01 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 27, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 27, 2011. 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 Greens threaten to sue EPA over leaded airplane fuel. Environmental groups warned U.S. EPA yesterday that they will go to court if the agency doesn't start to phase out the last type of leaded gasoline still on the market in the United States. The notice, which was filed by Earthjustice on behalf of Friends of the Earth, asks EPA to make a formal declaration that people are being put in danger by the lead emissions from general aviation gasoline, or avgas, which is used by smaller piston-powered airplanes. If the agency has not acted within 180 days, the groups may decide to file a lawsuit, said Marcie Keever, legal director at Friends of the Earth. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/05/27/19/ Expansion of wood stove program recommended. AIRBANKS, Alaska—A Fairbanks North Star Borough commission is recommending additional incentives for people to trade in inefficient home heaters in Fairbanks, where the borough could receive millions of dollars to reduce air pollution. The borough's year-old pollution-prevention program involves a combination of cash and tax breaks for people who swap older or inefficient heating systems—including wood-fed and coal-fed outdoor boilers—for cleaner models. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18154974 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18154974?nclick_check=1 CLIMATE CHANGE Christie Pulls New Jersey From 10-State Climate Initiative. Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday that New Jersey would become the first state to withdraw from a 10-state trading system, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, declaring it an ineffective way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The decision delighted Republicans who have introduced bills in the New Jersey Legislature to repeal a law authorizing the state’s participation in the program. But it dismayed environmental advocates, who called it a serious blow to the state’s efforts to reduce emissions from power plants and foster a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/nyregion/christie-pulls-nj-from-greenhouse-gas-coalition.html?scp=6&sq=climate%20change&st=cse&gwh=24157973CF4E94C769C679CD78768863 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/05/26/national/a080825D37.DTL http://online.wsj.com/article/APed66bd8a7290458d8b24a90f243b47ff.html?KEYWORDS=climKEYWORDS%3Dclimate+change http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/26/3656512/ap-nj-to-pull-out-of-greenhouse.html#storylink=misearch http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/05/27/2/ http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/26/ap-nj-to-pull-out-of-greenhouse-gas-initiative/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_ea3b0f3e-06da-5893-a0bf-98d1c290e15e.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/26/1705563/ap-nj-to-pull-out-of-greenhouse.html GOP presidential hopefuls shift on global warming. For Republican presidential contenders who once supported combatting global warming, the race is heating up. Faced with an activist right wing that questions the science linking pollution to changes in the Earth's climate and also disdains big government, most of the GOP contenders have stepped back from their previous positions on global warming. Some have apologized outright for past support of proposals to reduce heat-trapping pollution. And those who haven't fully recanted are under pressure to do so. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/APd51b461e499545a8a28a13f05b4a7599.html?KEYWORDS=climKEYWORDS%3Dclimate+change http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/05/27/national/w004134D77.DTL http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18153413?nclick_check=1 http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/27/3658465/gop-hopefuls-once-hot-now-cold.html#storylink=misearch DIESEL EMISSIONS Program helps companies buy cleaner diesel vehicles, heavy equipment. The state has launched a loan-guarantee program to help construction companies and other heavy-equipment users replace aging off-road diesel vehicles with cleaner models. The program is a joint effort between the California Air Resources Board and the California Capital Access Program, or CalCAP, which uses federal economic stimulus money. In addition to construction, it focuses on the agricultural, mining and industrial sectors. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/print-edition/2011/05/27/program-helps-companies-buy-cleaner.html GREEN ENERGY Small-Cap on Fire; Clean Diesel Technologies Soars. Clean Diesel Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: CDTI), a Stamford, Connecticut-based vertically integrated manufacturer and distributor of emissions control and products, announced earlier this week the receipt of almost $2 million in orders for verified emission reduction products. Shares of the company are surging more than 30% in today’s early trade. Clean Diesel said that its Heavy Duty Diesel Systems division received nearly $2 million in orders for its verified emission reduction products. The orders come on the back of an April 6, 2011, announcement by the State of California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) of a special compliance option for California on-road diesel fleets pertaining to the current “Truck and Bus Regulation. Posted. http://www.beaconequity.com/small-cap-on-fire-clean-diesel-technologies-soars-2011-05-27/ Facing legal pressure, Pentagon shrinks backlog of challenged renewable energy projects. Clashes between military radar and renewable energy catapulted into the limelight last year when plans for a massive Oregon wind farm snagged on Pentagon objections. Military brass eventually approved the project, but lawmakers did not forget the outrage wrought by that showdown -- or similar conflicts that preceded it. And in the fiscal 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, they did something about it. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/05/27/1/ VEHICLES EcoMotors Chief Don Runkle: “Electric Vehicles Are Not Zero Emissions”. The chief executive officers of two very different clean tech startups, Brammo and EcoMotors, discussed the relative merits and limitations of clean vehicle technology today, at TechCrunch Disrupt in New York on Wednesday. Oregon-based Brammo designs and manufactures all-electric motorcycles and the battery technology and software that powers them, while Michigan-based EcoMotors designs and makes more efficient combustion engines. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/ecomotors-chief-don-runkle-electric-vehicles-are-not-zero-emissions/2011/05/26/AGpwGHCH_story.html OPINION Viewpoints: Let's get it right on pricing carbon emissions. Put the brakes on cap and trade. That was the clear message delivered by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith last week when he ruled that the state's Air Resources Board must refrain from any activity related to setting up a pricing mechanism for carbon until alternatives to cap and trade are fully explored. Some environmentalists may see Goldsmith's ruling as a setback on climate policy, but I see it as an opportunity to get it right. And if California is going lead the nation in curbing the heat-trapping gases that put our state and our world at risk, it's important that we lead in the right direction. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/27/3657808/lets-get-it-right-on-pricing-carbon.html#storylink=misearch BLOGS Republican’s Climate Solution: Clear-Cut the Rain Forest. Representative Dana Rohrabacher, Republican of California, needs to hit the science books, forestry experts suggest. They reached that conclusion after hearing Mr. Rohrabacher declare during a Congressional hearing on Wednesday that clear-cutting the world’s rain forests might eliminate the production of greenhouse gases responsible for climate change. On the witness stand was Todd Stern, the Obama administration’s climate change envoy, who was questioned on whether the nation’s climate policy should focus on reducing the more than 80 percent of carbon emissions produced by the natural world in the form of decaying plant matter. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/26/republicans-climate-solution-clearcut-the-rain-forest/ http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/lawmaker-explores-climate-solution-in-clearing-rain-forests/ Confused Chris Christie embraces climate science, rejects climate action. Christie: "In the past I've always said that climate change is real and it's impacting our state. There's undeniable data that CO2 levels and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere are increasing. This decade, average temperatures have been rising. Temperature changes are affecting weather patterns and our climate. "In order to to best deal with climate change you have to understand its causes ... I've taken the time to develop a better understanding of the role that humans play in global warming and what impact human activities has on our climate.” Posted. http://www.grist.org/politics/2011-05-27-confused-chris-christie-embraces-climate-science-rejects-action New maps give Europeans close-up picture of air pollution from diffuse sources. New online maps published by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency, in close cooperation with the Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES) of the Joint Research Centre, allow citizens to pinpoint the main diffuse sources of air pollution, such as transport and aviation. The new set of 32 maps allows Europeans to see on a scale of 5 km by 5 km where pollutants are released. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/05/eprtr-20110526.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 31 May 2011 10:32:43 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 30 - 31, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for May 30 - 31, 2011. 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 EPA exempts Calif. plant from pollution standards. AVENAL, Calif. -- The Environmental Protection Agency has approved a natural gas-fueled power plant in California's agricultural San Joaquin Valley, exempting the facility from current air quality standards. The permit authorizes Avenal Power Center, LLC to build and operate a 600-megawatt plant near the rural communities of Avenal and Kettleman City, about 70 miles south of Fresno. The area already houses the biggest toxic waste dump in the West. The plant won't be held to air pollution requirements adopted in 2009 for nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/05/30/state/n142420D97.DTL http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/05/31/1/ http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/30/2408073/epa-exempts-calif-plant-from-pollution.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/30/3664443/epa-exempts-calif-plant-from-pollution.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_32f325ab-98f1-5b92-aebd-f5283336d7ad.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18171263 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18171263 http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/30/1710976/epa-exempts-calif-plant-from-pollution.html CLIMATE CHANGE Global carbon output spikes to record high. Greenhouse gas emissions jumped to a record high last year, resulting in the highest carbon output in history, according to unpublished estimates from the International Energy Agency. Most scientists agree the threshold for potentially "dangerous climate change" is a temperature rise of more than 2 degrees Celsius. But given the IEA's findings, preventing this is likely to remain just "a nice Utopia," said Fatih Birol, chief economist of the IEA. A record 30.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide was emitted into the air last year, mostly from burning fossil fuel. It amounted to a rise of 1.6 gigatons from 2009, according to IEA estimates. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/05/31/7/ Record rise in CO2 output is an 'inconvenient truth,' U.N. climate chief says. The fact that carbon dioxide emissions rose by a record amount last year, according to new estimates from the International Energy Agency, is an "inconvenient truth" the world must face, the United Nations' climate change chief said. The IEA figures, which show that efforts to control greenhouse gas emissions have had little effect, are likely to add pressure to already strained relations between developed and developing countries at this week's climate meetings in Bonn, Germany. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/05/31/7/ New York, Portland Tap Efficiency to Beat UN to Climate Fix. May 31 (Bloomberg) -- Cities from Johannesburg to Los Angeles are changing street lights, insulating buildings and promoting bicycling to slash carbon emissions as envoys at United Nations talks bicker about binding greenhouse-gas goals. "While national governments continue their excruciatingly frustrating dialog on climate change, we in the cities are acting," Portland, Oregon Mayor Sam Adams said in an interview. "It's sheer common sense. Becoming more efficient with your city's energy needs means you're also more economically secure." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/31/bloomberg1376-LM11776K50Y601-42URRSLS5B3P27EI1EJL5932NS.DTL DIESEL EMISSIONS APL Singapore begins cold-ironing. The technology, being used occasionally at the US ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, connects the ship to a shore-side electric power source. The port of Oakland received a US$5 million grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District in April for its shore-side power programme. Shore power provides grid-based electric power from land to vessels, allowing those vessels to turn off their diesel-fuelled auxiliary engines when they are at dock. http://www.ifw-net.com/freightpubs/ifw/index/apl-singapore-begins-cold-ironing/20017876616.htm In Oakland's port, ships plug in to cut emissions. In a clean-air milestone for the Port of Oakland, the APL Singapore, a 900-foot container ship, plugged into shoreside power Thursday night for its 24-hour stay in port, eliminating the hundreds of pounds of noxious emissions its diesel engines ordinarily would spew into the air. "This is the beginning of a new era on the Oakland waterfront," said Gene Seroka, president of the Americas for APL, a cargo-ship line based in Singapore. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/28/BUIL1JL3OH.DTL http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18157200?nclick_check=1 GREEN ENERGY Ceramic Fuel Cells Rises Most in Year After Getting Contract. May 31 (Bloomberg) -- Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd., an Australian developer of low-carbon energy systems, rose the most in more than a year in Sydney trading after getting a contract to supply 25 natural-gas fuel cells. The shares advanced as much as 23 percent on the Australian stock exchange, their biggest gain since March 22, 2010. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/30/bloomberg1376-LM1MPF1A74E901-58QSQ80PQOUBO04COVD7OBE6N9.DTL MISCELLANEOUS School programs inspire teens to go green. Not many students plant corn in their spare time. Not many students grow organic kale, broccoli and potatoes. But not many students are Diego Garcia. Garcia, a 15-year-old student at Media Academy in Oakland, is part of his high school garden club, a program aimed at encouraging students to grow organic produce on school grounds. Environmental programs for teens have sprung up around the nation to promote healthy green living. Many teachers have even incorporated the environment into their curriculum -- but do these programs actually change the habits of teens who participate in them? Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/teens/ci_18149265 OPINION When we will stop denying climate change? Regarding Bill McKibben’s thoughtful May 24 op-ed, “See no climate change”: While Mr. McKibben took a rather witty approach to the linking of weather disasters and climate change, there’s nothing humorous about Americans’ (and especially American lawmakers’) continued insistence that nothing out of the ordinary is going on. Mr. McKibben covered a lot of points, but he could have included more: declines in the number of migrating songbirds, or extinctions of climate-sensitive animals such as amphibians, among other alarming environmental trends. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/when-we-will-stop-denying-climate-change/2011/05/25/AGiel0CH_story.html Harassing climate-change researchers. FREEDOM OF information laws are critical tools that allow Americans to see what their leaders do on their behalf. But some global warming skeptics in Virginia are showing that even the best tools can be misused. Lawyers from the Environmental Law Center at the American Tradition Institute (ATI) have asked the University of Virginia to turn over thousands of e-mails and other documents written by Michael E. Mann, a former U-Va. professor and a prominent climate scientist. Another warming skeptic, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II (R), recently demanded many of the same documents to determine whether Mr. Mann somehow defrauded taxpayers when he obtained research grants to study global temperatures. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/harassing-climate-change-researchers/2011/05/27/AG1xJMEH_story.html BLOGS 60 MPG by 2025? It’s Going to be a Big Fight. The EPA and the Department of Transportation dropped the other shoe Friday, announcing a framework for long-range, much tougher fuel economy/greenhouse gas 2017-2025 standards for cars and trucks that build on the 35.5 mpg for 2016 announced just last May. It proposed a range of reductions, from an annual three percent cut in greenhouse gases (translating to 47 mpg by 2025 for the auto fleet) to a six percent cut (62 mpg by then). Auto dealers called the new proposals a rush to judgment prodded by over-ambitious California regulators, but a coalition of environmental groups is already campaigning hard for a holy grail 60-mpg standard. Posted. http://www.bnet.com/blog/electric-cars/60-mpg-by-2025-it-8217s-going-to-be-a-big-fight/2414 Humans Emitted a Record Breaking 30.6 Gigatonnes of Carbon in 2010. According to unpublished estimates from the International Energy Agency (IEA), we humans emitted a historically high level of carbon last year, pushing our output to 30.6 gigatonnes (up 1.6 gigatonnes from 2009). This estimate debunks the rumors flying around that the global recession would aide in the mission to reduce carbon emissions, and has scientists saying that we’ve now only a miniscule chance of turning global climate change around. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/humans-emitted-a-record-breaking-30-6-gigatonnes-of-carbon-in-2010/ Tracking Economy, CO2 Emissions Hit New High. The International Energy Agency has reported that global emissions of carbon dioxide from energy use, tracking the recovering world economy, hit a new high of 30.6 billion metric tons of the gas last year. (Emissions from deforestation and activities like cement manufacturing are not included.) That’s 5 percent above the previous peak, measured in 2008. The agency added that 80 percent of the growth in emissions projected through 2020 is already essentially guaranteed, coming from power plants that have already been built or are being constructed now. Most of the new construction and emissions are in developing countries. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/30/tracking-economy-co2-emissions-hit-new-high/ IEA estimates energy-related CO2 emissions in 2010 highest in history; 80% of projected 2020 emissions from the power sector are already locked in. Energy-related carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2010 were the highest in history, according to the latest estimates by the International Energy Agency (IEA). After a dip in 2009 caused by the global financial crisis, emissions are estimated to have climbed to a record 30.6 Gigatonnes (Gt), a 5% jump from the previous record year in 2008, when levels reached 29.3 Gt. In terms of fuels, 44% of the estimated CO2 emissions in 2010 came from coal, 36% from oil, and 20% from natural gas. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/05/iea-20110530.html Record carbon emissions show world has not been listening to a thing we’ve said. Despite a global recession, high oil prices, a growing awareness of the seriousness of carbon emissions, those reusable grocery bags you bought, and constant scolding from Grist et al., the world managed to put out a record amount of greenhouse gases last year. The International Energy Agency estimates that burning fossil fuels added 30 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere in 2010. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-05-31-record-carbon-emissions-show-world-has-not-been-listening-to-a-t 43 “Green” Companies Called Out for Anti-Environmental Stance. A GreenBiz article asks, “Can a company take on sustainability initiatives — and promote their green credentials — while also lobbying behind the scenes to halt, slow or weaken environmental legislation?” That question is one that the 43 major companies on the board of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) need to answer. NAM, the largest manufacturing association in the U.S., launched on March 28 what it calls a “multi-state, multi-million dollar initiative” to stop the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/company-promote-green-creds-lobby-against-environmental-legislation/# Buildings that make more energy than they use gain steam. If every building made more energy than it uses, would all the world's power plants pack up and go home? Maybe education would be fully funded and the military would be forced to have a bake sale! But really: There is a building in Bellenberg, Germany that produces more energy than it consumes, mostly by being super energy efficient in the first place. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-05-31-buildings-that-make-more-energy-than-they-use-gain-steam Germany Ups the E-Car Targets. Match Obama and Up 4 million. President Obama reiterated his goal of making the United States the first country to put 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 in his second State of the Union address. To achieve that he is supporting advanced technology vehicle manufacturing and adoption in the U.S. through new consumer rebates, investments in R&D, and encouragement to communities that invest in advanced technology vehicle infrastructure. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/germany-ups-e-car-targets-match-obama-and-4-millio/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2011 11:16:31 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 1, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 1, 2011. 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 Texas Legislature has mixed environmental results. HOUSTON -- The Texas Legislature ended its regular session with a mixed bag of environmental rules, passing some bills that put it ahead of the nation and others that are bound to infuriate the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Texas, an oil and gas powerhouse as well as one of the largest polluters in the nation, can only change and pass new laws once every two years, so the legislative session is meaningful. Federal agencies and other states often watch closely to see what energy and environmental rules are passed or changed in Texas, a state that has often set precedent in these areas - for good and bad. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/05/31/national/a110045D76.DTL http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/31/1712009/texas-legislature-has-mixed-environmental.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/31/texas-legislature-has-mixed-02/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_3f43309e-37a7-5a54-ab0b-b1a759bb0e2d.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/31/2408951/texas-legislature-has-mixed-environmental.html#storylink=misearch Hearings to begin on NM pollution controls. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—The state was scheduled for hearings Wednesday on a plan to reduce the rate hikes New Mexico electric customers will face for federally mandated pollution controls at a coal-fired plant near Farmington. The state Environmental Improvement Board has proposed a $77 million plan for improvements to meet new Environmental Protection Agency directives, which it estimates will cost the Public Service Company of New Mexico customers about $11 a year, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18176698 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18176698 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18176698?nclick_check=1 First ship ‘plugs-in’ at Port of Oakland. APL flipped the switch last week on a clean-air effort that’s part of California’s maritime future. The Singapore-based container shipping line became the first to shut down, or, “cold-iron,” a vessel’s engines to eliminate exhaust emissions at the Port of Oakland. As others follow suit – and regulators say they must – cold-ironing will become a staple on California’s coast. “We have brought cold-ironing to the port,” proclaimed APL Americas President Gene Seroka. “When others do as well, we can further reduce vessel emissions and re-enforce that global trade growth is sustainable.” Posted. http://gcaptain.com/ship-plugs-in-port-oakland?26199 Redding air gets quality marks. While Shasta County again fared poorly on air grades handed out by the American Lung Association, Redding was in the top 10 when it came to cities with the cleanest air. The seemingly contradictory results show that although Redding and Shasta County generally have good air, there are days when pollution levels spike and make for poor air quality, said Will Barrett, air quality and global warming policy coordinator for the American Lung Association in Sacramento. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2011/may/31/redding-air-gets-quality-marks/ CLIMATE CHANGE Tackling Climate Change: New Reports Underscore Role Of Local Leaders. WASHINGTON -- More than 40 of the world's largest cities have reported their greenhouse gas emissions along with a comprehensive analysis of any climate change-related reforms in studies released Tuesday night. Gathered from areas representing 300 million people and ten percent of global CO2 emissions, the reports show the impact participating cities have on climate change and outline the role local leaders could play in reducing their cities’ carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/31/local-leaders-fighting-climate-change_n_869449.html Carbon Market Shrinks for First Time in Hottest Year on Record. June 1 (Bloomberg) -- The global carbon market shrank for the first time in 2010, snapping five years of growth as a lack of clarity about the future climate framework hurt investment in the hottest year on record, a World Bank report showed. The value of the market for greenhouse-gas permits and credits for cutting pollution fell to $141.9 billion last year from $143.7 billion in 2009, also because of fading prospects for the introduction of emissions-trading programs in countries including the U.S., according to the report published today during the Carbon Expo conference in Barcelona, Spain. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/06/01/bloomberg1376-LM3S2B07SXKX01-0N8THF6A7OHC257GQFE9VCT1SD.DTL Airline maneuvers intensify as E.U. cap on jet emissions looms. While American airlines are heading to a court battle with the European Union over including their European flights in the European Union's carbon dioxide emissions cap-and-trade program, their Chinese competitors are trying to fly under the regulatory radar by pushing for an exemption. The European Union is examining China's plan to cut domestic aviation carbon emissions to see if it qualifies Chinese airlines for an exemption from the E.U. Emissions Trading System (ETS). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/05/31/1/ GREEN ENERGY Obama Draws on Business Expertise in Picking Bryson for Commerce Agency. President Barack Obama named former Edison International (EIX) Chief Executive Officer John Bryson as his choice for commerce secretary, drawing on business expertise for a job central to his goal of doubling U.S. exports. The choice of a private sector executive for the commerce post is the latest move by Obama to repair relations between the White House and the business community that were frayed by disagreements over the administration’s overhaul of health-care and financial regulations. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-31/obama-to-nominate-energy-executive-john-bryson-to-lead-commerce-department.html President Obama nominates John Bryson as commerce secretary. President Barack Obama on Tuesday nominated businessman John Bryson as the next commerce secretary, touting his expertise that “will help us create more jobs and make America more competitive.” Bryson, 67, is the former chairman and CEO of Edison International, a California-based utility company. He also co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council and serves on the boards of several large companies and institutions, including Boeing, Walt Disney and the California Institute of Technology. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55926.html GOP plan slashes renewable energy. House Republicans unveiled a scaled-back $30.6 billion energy and water budget Wednesday that makes deep cuts from energy efficiency and renewable energy programs while trying to stabilize science and defense investments within tighter spending caps. Total energy and water appropriations would drop another $1.06 billion on top of the more than $2 billion in reductions already enacted in April. And the cumulative effect is to push back annual spending –measured in real dollars— to levels not seen since early in President George W. Bush’s first term. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56020.html US builds electric vehicle charging stations. In electric vehicle research, the US Government is to build 125 solar-assisted charging stations from Knoxville to Memphis in Tennessee. 25 have been completed in the state so far. "These join six Electric Power Research Institute stations that were completed in Knoxville earlier this year. The remaining 94 stations are scheduled to be finished by the spring of 2012," said the US Department of Energy (DoE). "As a demonstration project, these charging stations will provide information about station performance, customer charging preferences, component reliability and the impact on the electric grid." Posted. http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/2011/05/31/51151/US-builds-electric-vehicle-charging-stations.htm Dustup over Florida wind farm. Florida is the latest battleground for greens anguished about the ecological costs of green power. This time, a proposal for a sprawling wind farm just north of the Everglades is facing blowback from environmental groups that worry it could become an avian Cuisinart for the wading birds, raptors and waterfowl that teem in the sprawling marshes nearby. At least one statewide conservation organization has come out against the project by the St. Louis-based Wind Capital Group, which would feature as many as 100 turbines as tall as the Statue of Liberty stretched across a 20,000-acre swath of sugar cane and vegetable farms in western Palm Beach County. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/55947.html VEHICLES Hybrids' yellow stickers program expires July 1. For the past six years, those mustard-yellow stickers affixed to the haunches of 85,000 California hybrid vehicles have been golden. Not only have they granted solo drivers free admission to the carpool lane, they have also boosted the resale value of the vehicles by thousands of dollars. But in little more than a month, the stickers will lose their luster. On July 1, with hybrid cars no longer an unusual sight in the Golden State, the decals will expire, becoming worth no more than a fading, peeling bumper sticker. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/29/MNLT1JMBO0.DTL MISCELLANEOUS Car-free commute day at Lake Tahoe. STATELINE, Nev. — Friday will be car-free commute day at Lake Tahoe. More than 60 staff members of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and neighboring offices are biking, walking or using alternative transportation to get to work that day. The event originally was scheduled for Wednesday, but TRPA officials pushed it back two days to coincide with the end of the Tahoe Bike Challenge. Posted. http://web.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jun/01/car-free-commute-day-at-lake-tahoe/ OPINION New Energy Policy is the Key to Economic Renewal. Creative destruction is the term the economist Joseph Schumpeter used to describe how capitalism stays vital and strong through constant evolution. Innovation allows for the replacement of old industries with new one, creating new markets and employment opportunities. There is actually a revolution within the system where new technologies and sectors replace old ones. Schumpeter writes in Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, “The fundamental impulse that sets and keeps the capitalist engine in motion comes from the new consumers, goods, the new methods of production or transportation, the new markets, the new forms of industrial organization that capitalist enterprise creates.” Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/energy-economy-renewables-efficiency/ McCarthy bill a bad idea for valley air. When the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District governing board meets, it is incumbent upon the members to base their decisions on accurate information as it is their duty to protect public health. In that light, it was extremely irritating to attend the air district board meeting on May 19. A little background is necessary. Most people know we have a serious ozone (or smog) problem in the valley, especially from Fresno down to Kern County. Exposure to ozone damages the lungs and reduces breathing capacity. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/community/x504581517/McCarthy-bill-a-bad-idea-for-valley-air Alternative energy. I applaud Das Williams and our representatives for their wise direction to convert at least one-third of our electricity to renewable sources. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently reported that renewable sources can provide up to 80 percent of electricity supply required by the year 2050. Advantages include mitigating greenhouse gases, climate benefits, plus bringing about more security in our nation's energy supply, improving public health and creating new jobs. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/31/alternative-energy/ BLOGS Did Chris Christie just doom U.S. climate policy? Maybe that title’s a tad hyperbolic, but hear me out. Over the past five years, covering the climate debate in Washington, my working assumption (or delusion, if you’d prefer) has always been that some big shift in U.S. energy policy was inevitable — and soon. Maybe Democrats would use their big congressional majorities to pass a cap-and-trade bill or, at the very least, a renewable-energy standard. If not that, then Obama’s EPA could use its Clean Air Act authority to start cracking down on greenhouse-gas emissions. And if not that, well, circa 2008, a whole bunch of states were undertaking all sorts of notable climate initiatives — surely that would get things started, no? Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/did-chris-christie-just-doom-us-climate-policy/2011/05/31/AGQicWFH_blog.html Cargo ship plugs in at the Port of Oakland to reduce diesel emissions. Gigantic 10-story tall ships that stretch three football fields long line the wharf at the Port of Oakland. There's constant movement as big white cranes load and unload colorful shipping containers on and off the boats. Most of the ships look pretty much the same, equipped with lifeboats, pulley systems and flags hoisted on the decks. But one vessel has something different: two thick cables, which look like over-sized extension cords, that hang off the side of the boat and connect to the dock. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inoakland/detail?entry_id=90067 Turning Garbage Into Car Fuel? Venture Gains Momentum. The most challenging yet potentially most profitable part of alternative energy –- making fuel for cars and trucks -– is attracting attention from a mainstream fuel supplier and a trash hauler. Enerkem, a Montreal company that makes ethanol from old utility poles and household garbage, will announce Wednesday that a major independent oil refiner, Valero, is raising its investment in the company, along with Waste Management, a trash-hauling company. With $60 million in new financing, total investment in Enerkem will reach $130 million. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/01/garbage-to-energy-venture-gains-momentum/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2011 11:42:06 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 2, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 2, 2011. 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 World Bank, cities pledge greenhouse gas reduction. SAO PAULO -- The World Bank and 40 cities from around the world joined forces Wednesday with a pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The bank reached the agreement with the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a coalition founded in 2005 with the aim of reducing carbon emissions. Its chairman is New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. Bloomberg, World Bank President Robert Zoellick and former President Bill Clinton announced the new partnership during the opening session of the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/01/financial/f105659D95.DTL http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/01/1713606/world-bank-cities-pledge-greenhouse.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18183399 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18183399 World Bank Approves Carbon-Trade Plan Grants for Eight Nations. June 2 (Bloomberg News) -- The World Bank approved grants for eight countries to help them analyze and design greenhouse- gas trading programs. Chile, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Mexico, Thailand and Turkey each received an initial grant of $350,000, the bank said today in a statement. The grants are the first under the Partnership for Market Readiness, a World Bank initiative started at the last United Nations climate summit in Cancun, Mexico. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/06/02/bloomberg1376-LM5R1Q1A1I4H01-75QM6VJUAHBFVP5AODT3UTPCR2.DTL After explosive growth, global carbon markets stall and begin to shrink. UNITED NATIONS -- After five years of rapid growth, the global carbon market has stalled. From an estimated market value of about $15 billion in 2005, the practice of trading in greenhouse gas emissions allowances and carbon emission offsets credits has enjoyed rapid growth, exploding tenfold to reach a record value of close to $144 billion in 2009. Emissions trading doubled in 2008 alone. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/02/2/ FUELS Biofuel businesses protest new protections for kitchen grease. RALEIGH, N.C. -- Yellow kitchen grease has become as good as gold as gasoline prices soar and biodiesel fuel becomes more appealing. Just as one industry's waste becomes a hot commodity for another, a slippery underworld of fry crooks - kitchen-oil rustlers who strike stealthily with siphon and hose - has emerged. North Carolina state Rep. John Torbett, a Republican, has proposed a bill aimed at reining in the banditry. But the proposal has kicked up a fuss among small businesses that see more than a hint of green in the alternate fuel source. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/02/3671367/biofuel-businesses-protest-new.html#storylink=misearch Cleaner fuels may eventually 'cap' fossil fuel prices – analyst. Alternative and zero-carbon sources of energy will put a cap on prices for oil, coal and natural gas, the CEO of Bloomberg New Energy Finance said yesterday. "Those who think there's going to be an oil price of $200 because of the rise of China or the rise of India, they're just wrong," said Michael Liebreich at a forum in Washington sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/02/7/ VEHICLES Automakers, Obama on collision course. Two years after a federal bailout saved Detroit from a complete collapse, U.S. automakers are trying to put the brakes on President Barack Obama’s hopes of raising fuel economy standards for cars and light-duty trucks to as high as 62 miles per gallon by 2025. Auto industry officials are pressing everyone from White House chief of staff Bill Daley to House Speaker John Boehner and California Gov. Jerry Brown in a late lobbying blitz to make sure they don't get the short end of the stick. Posted BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. https://www.politicopro.com/go/?id=3711 Electric car fast-chargers coming to I-5 in Ore. GRANTS PASS, Ore. -- A series of fast-charging stations for electric cars will be installed this year along Interstate 5 in Southern Oregon to become one of the first links in a Green Highway stretching down the West Coast from Canada to Mexico. The Oregon Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that AeroVironment has been chosen to build eight level-3 DC fast-charging stations between Eugene and the California border under a $700,000 federal stimulus grant. The Monrovia, Calif.-based company manufactures unmanned aircraft and industrial charging stations for electric forklifts and aircraft tenders. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/01/1713258/electric-car-fast-chargers-coming.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/01/2410062/electric-car-fast-chargers-coming.html#storylink=misearch China launches pure electric vehicle production hub. The company will produce 3,000 vehicles annually along with 10,000 core components on a 300,000 square meter complex in Wuhan, China, expecting revenues amounting to 11 billion yuan per year. Yuanda Ruihua’s models combine lithium-ion batteries and super capacitors.The super capacitor stores energy statically and discharges the energy when a circuit breaker is removed. Super capacitors operate with batteries to ensure faster discharge, greater acceleration and consistency in energy transmission to the drivetrain. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/59420110602.php?AlertDate=2011-06-01 Plug-in and Hybrid Locomotives; Another Sweet Spot for Axion Power. I'm a cynic and a heretic when it comes to plug-in vehicle schemes because most defy the laws of economic gravity and violate a cardinal rule that Ford engineers developed for the EcoStar light delivery vehicle program in the early '90s: – The unloaded weight of a plug-in vehicle should never exceed 70% of its loaded weight. Investors who pay attention to this simple rule can easily distinguish between pipe-dream vehicle electrification schemes that are nothing more than feel-good eco-bling and realistic vehicle electrification projects that make economic sense. Posted. http://www.altenergystocks.com/archives/2011/06/ Feds follow Calif. on fuel economy labels for cars. The nation's lead environmental agency is again following in California's footsteps – or tire tracks – when it comes to cars. The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation unveiled new fuel economy labels for vehicles last week that resemble those used in the Golden State. This is another step toward more closely aligning federal policies with California's strict pollution standards for cars and trucks. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/feds-follow-calif-fuel-economy-labels-cars-10543 Shortages drive up costs; fewer cars drive off lots. U.S. auto sales cooled off in May as dealers started running short on some popular, fuel-efficient models and buyers were turned off by sharply lower incentives. Deals aren't likely to come back until the end of this summer. Some experts are advising people to delay their purchases if they can. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011106020303 BLOGS If we need taxes, why not pollution taxes? Let's start with the obvious: Most Democrats (and, for that matter, most of the bipartisan deficit panels that are churning out endless white papers right now) agree that we can't tackle our long-term debt issues through spending cuts alone. Some sort of tax reform that raises revenue will have to get thrown into the ring. So why not do that through a tax on carbon pollution or other assorted environmental unpleasantries? After all, if we have to raise revenue, we may as well slap higher taxes on behavior we'd like to discourage (like pollution and congestion) rather than, say, labor, no? Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/if-we-need-taxes-why-not-pollution-taxes/2011/06/01/AGRH9UGH_blog.html Despite Lawsuit, California Business Leaders Support a State Cap-and-Trade System. California CEOs and business leaders sent a letter to Governor Jerry Brown urging him to not revise California’s cap-and-trade system. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is developing the details of the system, which has come under fire from environmental justice groups. The groups went as far as filing a lawsuit to stop CARB from implementing the system, claiming that CARB didn’t explore alternatives to cap and trade and that the systems allows the worst polluters to keep polluting, which can have a serious impact on local air quality. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/ca-cap-and-trade/ Cities Reach Climate Pact with World Bank. In Thursday’s Times, Alexei Barrionuevo reports from Brazil on an agreement signed by the World Bank and mayors of the world’s biggest cities to finance projects aimed at limiting the impact of climate change. (Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, attending the mayors’ climate conference in São Paulo, is among the signatories.) Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/cities-reach-climate-pact-with-world-bank/?scp=10&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Costs Impede City’s Switch to Clean Boiler Fuel. This year New York City took a big step toward improving air quality by requiring that buildings phase out use of the most polluting grades of heating oil. But a report released on Wednesday by the Manhattan borough president’s office notes that the conversions could be slowed by challenges related to costs, especially from rent-controlled buildings with low operating incomes. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/costs-impede-citys-switch-to-clean-boiler-fuel/?scp=3&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Where’s the carbon? NASA maps it. Half of it is held in the forests of Latin America. Brazil alone has nearly as much as all of sub-Saharan Africa. For the first time, NASA scientists have mapped precisely how much carbon is locked in the world’s tropical forests — a key to understanding climate change. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2011/06/01/wheres-the-carbon-nasa-maps-it/129169/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2011 11:53:18 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 3, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 3, 2011. 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 Mecca toxic shipments trigger audit. The new director of the state Department of Toxic Substances Control said Thursday that she has ordered an outside audit to determine why the agency allowed thousands of hazardous materials shipments to a plant in Mecca that had no permit to accept such waste. The new director, Debbie Raphael, made the announcement during a news briefing at an elementary school in the rural community, where residents say strong odors from the plant sickened some people, including schoolchildren. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_mecca03.3ae234a.html Home Depot sued over sale of illegal paints. LOS ANGELES -- As part of a crackdown on pollutants blamed for causing much of the region's smog, air regulators and several local governments have sued Home Depot Inc. for selling illegal paints and other products. Two related lawsuits filed Thursday allege that from 2007 to 2010, the nation's largest home improvement chain sold paints, wood lacquers and other coatings that contained excessive levels of smog-forming chemicals. According to the lawsuits, the illegal products were sold at more than two dozen stores across Southern California, even after the company was notified that it was breaking local air regulation laws. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0603-home-depot-20110603,0,5502587.story http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/02/3673572/home-depot-sued-over-sale-of-illegal.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/02/1716036/home-depot-sued-over-sale-of-illegal.html http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/06/03/20/ http://www.ocregister.com/news/filed-303079-air-quality.html Government does a fine job not cleaning the air. A couple of air related issues caught my attention recently via the newspaper, emails and phone tips. Let me boil it down for you -- CRAZY. There is no other way to explain what's going on in California. Lets start with the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Did you all read where they OK'd a new natural gas fired power plant in the San Joaquin Valley and exempted it from current air quality standards? Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/columnist/henry/x1898680550/Government-does-a-fine-job-not-cleaning-the-air CLIMATE CHANGE GREEN CARBON: FORESTRY OFFSETS IN CALIFORNIA’S NEW CAP & TRADE PROGRAM. The first U.S. market for forest carbon offset projects implemented anywhere in the U.S. will open in 2012. The state of California, as in so many things, is poised for a first. Under its Global Warming Solutions Act, known as AB32, the Golden State will establish the nation’s first compliance carbon market to allow forest carbon offsets. When it opens, California’s carbon market will be the second largest in the world, after the European Union, and the largest in North America. New England’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, is currently North America’s only compliance market for carbon emissions but does not allow forest carbon offsets. Posted. http://www.lumber.org/pdf/The_Link_-_May_2011.pdf As carbon emissions trading begins to shrink, the voluntary market expands. NEW YORK -- The market for voluntary trades in greenhouse gas emissions offsets expanded by an impressive margin last year, even as the compliance market shrank globally over the same period. A survey of voluntary carbon traders found that the volume of voluntary credits trading hands in 2010 expanded by almost 34 percent over the prior year. Offset traders also say they expect the voluntary carbon market to remain healthy in the short term, with most anticipating activity to expand by about 60 percent over the course of 2011. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/03/4/ Soaring emissions. ISN’T it odd, asks Henry Waxman, a Democratic congressman from California, how the same Republicans who make such a fuss about abortion do not seem to care if the unborn are poisoned by toxic chemicals such as mercury? Isn’t it strange, Republicans retort, that people like Mr Waxman, who profess to care about working Americans, cheer on bureaucrats determined to smother business and destroy jobs? It may be hard to discern amid the melodramatic rhetoric, but the two sides are talking about the Environmental Protection Agency, and the various new rules it has in the works to curb pollution. Besides the endless toing and froing about government spending, it has become the most fiercely debated topic in Congress. Posted. http://www.economist.com/node/18775131/print Using West's oil shale would pump up greenhouse gases. WASHINGTON — Oil shale in the American West might contain three times the oil of Saudi Arabia, but getting it out of the ground would require much more energy than drilling for conventional oil does, and the result would be more greenhouse-gas emissions. Department of Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced proposed regulations last week to start a commercial oil-shale program on public lands in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. He said that with gasoline around $4 a gallon, "we need to be doing more to develop our own energy here at home, through resources such as oil shale." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2008/07/28/3396216/using-wests-oil-shale-would-pump.html#storylink=misearch DIESEL EMISSIONS Inhaling Port of Oakland. When I moved to Alameda several years ago, no one mentioned the significant air pollution here. I expected fresh air from onshore breezes coming in from the bay but discovered that I cannot sleep with my windows open at night due to the horrid stink that would suddenly come streaming across into my bedroom. And far too often, upon opening my front door in the morning, I walked out into a wall of stink. "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" quickly became my joke at 6 a.m. on weekdays as I headed down my Victorian's stairs. But this is not funny. Posted. http://alamedasun.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8617&Itemid=11 FUELS CARB: Clean Fuel Use by Ships Reduced Coastal Pollution. SACRAMENTO (LOG NEWS SERVICE) — A major 2010 state-federal atmospheric research project has found that California’s first-in-the-nation regulation requiring oceangoing vessels to use clean fuel when near the coast has been extremely effective in reducing sulfur dioxide pollution from ships. The data were gathered during a study organized by the California Air Resources Board and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “These scientific findings clearly demonstrate that ships off our coast are now emitting significantly less sulfur pollution than in the past,” said CARB Chairwoman Mary D. Nichols. Posted. http://www.thelog.com/news/logNewsArticle.aspx?x=12355 Biofuels Future That U.S. Covets Takes Shape -- in Brazil. Amyris, perhaps the hottest biofuel company around, seems like the model American startup. Few can match its pedigree. Several years ago, Amyris helped create a landmark achievement in medicine, engineering microbes to produce an expensive antimalarial drug. Related tricks, it later found, can create a liquid fuel similar to diesel. Well-heeled partners lined up at its door. The company went public last fall, and its stock has only risen since. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/06/01/01greenwire-biofuels-future-that-us-covets-takes-shape-in-b-1741.html?scp=3&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse Local Propel stations offering diesel fuel made with recycled vegetable oils. Redwood City-based Propel Fuels, a retailer of clean, renewable fuels, today began selling B20 biodiesel at two of the company's Sacramento area stations. Propel is now selling B20 at 8090 Folsom Blvd., in Sacramento and 999 Sunrise Ave., in Roseville. Propel's B20 is a blend of 20 percent, American-made biodiesel and 80 percent petro-diesel. It's sourced from recycled vegetable oils and touted as promoting longer engine life and reduced emissions. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/02/1715273/local-propel-stations-offering.html GREEN ENERGY A 'Big Thumbs Up' for Renewable Energy. BRUSSELS — Governments around the world have pledged emissions cuts aimed at keeping global warming below levels that could set off runaway climate change. So what proportion of the low-carbon energy needed to meet those goals will come from sources like the wind, sun and waves? Most renewable sources are abundant, practically inexhaustible and far more climate friendly than fossil fuels. Some companies making equipment to harness these energies are growing rapidly. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/business/energy-environment/03iht-RBOG-Kanter03.html?_r=1&scp=7&sq=climate%20change&st=cse U.K. 'zero emissions' housing development misses target, but satisfies most residents. LONDON -- Nine years after opening its doors as the United Kingdom's first carbon-neutral housing development, the "Beddington Zero Emissions Development," known as BedZED, is underperforming its carbon targets but easily meeting the expectations of its residents. There is a long list of people waiting to move in. With its visually striking and brightly colored weather-vane ventilation cowlings, rooftop gardens, photovoltaic (PV) panels and unique building design, the community of 100 apartments stands out from the usual two-up, two-down suburban red-brick houses about 10 miles south of Central London. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/03/2/ VEHICLES Barack Obama, Detroit on collision course. Detroit’s major automakers are ready for Round Two in their battle with the Obama administration over fuel economy standards, and this time, they’re hoping new leverage will give them the punching power they need. In 2009, President Barack Obama pushed through the first increase in gas mileage standards in decades, signing a rule that will raise fuel economy standards to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. Now he’s back for more, with plans that could raise standards for cars and light-duty trucks as high as 62 mpg by 2025. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56137.html Electric-vehicle technology accelerates toward tipping point. When oil hit a record price of $147 a barrel in July 2008, it was a game-changing moment that sparked a serious push to create electric cars and hybrid electric engines that could help wean Americans off oil. Today, crude is back over $100 a barrel and the payoff is the first generation of mass-produced electric cars rolling off production lines. Interest in electric vehicles has ebbed and flowed with the price of oil over the past three decades, but something new is clearly afoot. General Motors and Nissan already have electric cars on the streets of major U.S. cities, and intensified battery research is bringing down costs. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18195343?nclick_check=1 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18195343 Tesla’s Tightrope: Making Electric Cars for the Masses. Tesla Motors, the most prominent electric-car start-up in the field, is fighting to survive as an independent company. That’s pretty much what’s behind its drive to raise more money for its new-car programs. Without a more diverse and profitable product line, including cheaper — and cheaper to make — cars, Tesla will get swallowed up by a bigger player, and probably soon. Posted. http://www.bnet.com/blog/electric-cars/tesla-8217s-tightrope-making-electric-cars-for-the-masses/4321 BLOGS A Geographer Pushes Climate Panel and Academia to Reach Out. Edward Carr, a geographer at the University of South Carolina, took umbrage last year when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change urged him and more than 800 other authors contributing to the next batch of climate assessments by the group to “keep a distance from the media.” (That same mailing included a three-page brochure prepared by consultants that, among other things, advised the scientists not to use terms including uncertainty, risk and significant. “To avoid the risk of being misunderstood, avoid them,” the scientists were advised.) Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/03/a-geographer-pushes-climate-panel-and-academia-to-reach-out/ Yep, it’s safe to start fretting about carbon again. In 2008 and 2009, the world was in the grips of a brutal recession and there wasn't much to be cheerful about. There was, however, one tiny consolation: Greenhouse gas emissions were plummeting, thanks to reduced energy use, and it looked like all those worries about global warming could be put on hold for a bit — or at least temporarily postponed. But the reprieve turned out to be more temporary than expected. The International Energy Agency has just released new data showing that carbon dioxide emissions shot way back up in 2010, thanks to rapid growth in developing countries. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/yep-its-safe-to-start-fretting-about-carbon-again/2011/06/02/AGw96VHH_blog.html Carbon President: Why does Obama keep OK’ing big fossil-fuel projects? In our globalized world, old-fashioned geography is not supposed to count for much: mountain ranges, deep-water ports, railroad grades -- those seem so 19th century. The Earth is flat, or so I remember somebody saying. But those nostalgic for an earlier day, take heart. The Obama administration is making its biggest decisions yet on our energy future and those decisions are intimately tied to this continent's geography. Remember those old maps from your high-school textbooks that showed each state and province's prime economic activities? A sheaf of wheat for farm country? Posted. http://www.grist.org/fossil-fuels/2011-06-02-barack-obama-carbon-president-massive-oil-tar-sands-projects ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2011 13:53:22 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 6, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 6, 2011. 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 Western Environmental Soil Recycling Plant Seeks To Deflect Blame For Strange Smell In Mecca. After months of bruising criticism and scrutiny, taken mostly in silence, the operators of a Mecca soil-recycling facility are openly challenging assertions by air quality inspectors that the plant is responsible for the noxious odors drifting through the area. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110605/NEWS07/106050342/Soil-recycling-plant-seeks-deflect-blame-Mecca-odor?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFrontpage%7Cs Eye On The Environment: State Continues To Move Toward Cleaner Air. A report released in April by the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association details the state's progress toward clean air. The association represents all 35 local air quality agencies in California. The report provides objective information for California residents regarding the state's remarkable journey toward cleaner air and the challenges that remain. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/04/state-continues-to-move-toward-cleaner-air/ CLIMATE CHANGE Rising Forest Density Offsets Climate Change: Study. Rising forest density in many countries is helping to offset climate change caused by deforestation from the Amazon basin to Indonesia, a study showed on Sunday. The report indicated that the size of trees in a forest -- rather than just the area covered -- needed to be taken into account more in U.N.-led efforts to put a price on forests as part of a nascent market to slow global warming. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/06/us-climate-forests-idUSTRE75411K20110606 Natural-Gas ‘Golden Age’ May Boost Use 50%: IEA. Global natural-gas use may rise more than 50 percent by 2035 from last year to overtake coal as the second-most used fuel, the International Energy Agency said. While a surge in gas use will improve air quality in many cities, cut coal use and lower energy costs, climate-change targets would be missed and temperatures would rise beyond a goal of 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), the Paris-based organization said today in a report. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-06/natural-gas-use-may-increase-50-percent-by-2035-in-golden-age-iea-says.html http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/06/8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Hit Record Highs _ Bad News For Delegates At Climate Accord Talks. Bonn, Germany — Bad news awaits delegates from about 180 countries at the start of two weeks of climate talks beginning Monday to debate a new global warming accord. Greenhouse gas emissions are going up instead of down despite 20 years of effort, hitting record highs, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency.http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/greenhouse-gas-emissions-hit-record-highs-_-bad-news-for-delegates-at-climate-accord-talks/2011/06/05/AGNndTJH_story.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/6/greenhouse-gas-emissions-hitting-record-highs/ http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/06/3680058/greenhouse-gas-emissions-hitting.html http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18215013?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/06/1720298/greenhouse-gas-emissions-hitting.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/06/greenhouse-gas-emissions-hitting-record-highs/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_b8c134ee-0265-5539-a335-3b244a42fd3c.html Climate Change Picks Up With Faster Carbon Emissions. Carbon is now being released into the atmosphere 10 times faster than during a period of high temperatures 55.9 million years ago, and ecosystems may not be able to adapt quickly enough, an international team of geologists reports. The scientists used a computer model to calculate emission rates based on rock cores discovered in Spitsbergen, Norway, from the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), an era when global temperatures had also spiked. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/06/carbon-emissions-10-times-faster-climate-change/1 Researcher Says Climate Change May Be Cooling California. Spring passed California by, and summer remains in hiding. Nine tornadoes have torn up the Sacramento Valley from Oroville to Fairfield. A giant Sierra snowpack, still frozen fast, has put innumerable summer adventures on hold. The Golden State's weather has gone haywire. And it's not over yet: Sacramento can expect as much as another 1.4 inches of rain this weekend and temperatures 20 degrees below normal, with more mountain snow. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/04/v-print/3676297/researcher-says-climate-change.html Australian PM Faces Toughest Test On Carbon Tax. Canberra, Australia (AP) - Australia's leader faces her toughest political test to date as she tries to sell the nation on a carbon tax that would lead to higher power prices while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Increasingly vociferous debates on the issue is dominating headlines and talk radio and could make or break the center-left government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who ruled out putting a price on pollution during her campaign and has slumped in opinion polls since she floated the proposal in February. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/04/australian-pm-faces-toughest-test-on-carbon-tax/ Biodegradable Products May Do More Environmental Harm Than Good, Study Shows. Biodegradable products may do more harm to the environment than they do good, contradicting the beliefs of many consumers, according to a recent study by researchers at North Carolina State University. Using Federal Trade Commission guidelines, which state that a product should be labeled biodegradable if it degrades in one year or less, researchers found that fast-degrading products emit methane gas when sent to landfills, a potent greenhouse gas that leads to global warming. Posted. http://eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/06/6 VEHICLES Electric Vehicles Become Electronic. About 80% of the value of a military jet aircraft lies in the circuitry, up from almost nothing a century ago. Civil airliners are about 50% electric and electronic, whereas the family car is around 30% so far, all these percentages steadily rising. The point is that an aircraft has far more than the radar, communications and other instruments accessed by the pilot: it is a sea of sensors, fuel controls and servo systems in the engines, wings and elsewhere. Posted. http://www.lowcarboneconomy.com/profile/idtechex/_news_and_press_releases/electric_vehicles_become_electronic/14431 Chrysler's New Kind Of Hybrid: Gasoline And Diesel. Gasoline and diesel are like cats and dogs – put them together and disaster ensues every time. Yet, during a presentation given by Chrysler during the Department of Energy’s 2011 Merit Review in Washington D.C., the automaker announced the development of a radical prototype engine that burns a combination of gasoline and diesel, in an effort to make its fleet more fuel-efficient. Posted. http://www.auto123.com/en/news/car-news/chryslers-new-kind-of-hybrid-gasoline-and-diesel?artid=132122 GREEN ENERGY E-Waste Law Reaches A Milestone: 1 Billion Pounds Of Computer Junk Recycled In California. Mountains of broken TV sets, obsolete computer monitors and outdated laptops that once piled up in California's garages, attics and basements have achieved a milestone. The state's electronic-waste recycling program has reached its 1 billionth pound of unwanted electronics. That's more than any other state has recycled -- and amounts to roughly 20 million TVs and computers kept out of landfills. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/politics-government/ci_18210254?source=rss&nclick_check=1 Waxman Sees Some Merit In GOP Reverse Auction Proposal. The top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee warmed today to a Republican proposal for creating a billion-dollar reverse auction to fund renewable energy projects. Rep. Henry Waxman of California initially criticized the proposal to create the auction, part of a sweeping "American Energy Initiative" bill that also calls for expanding offshore drilling, fast-tracking nuclear development and ramping up oil and gas production. http://eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/06/03/2/ MISCELLANEOUS U.S. Court Rejects GE Challenge To EPA Cleanup Orders. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected General Electric Co's legal challenge to part of a federal law that gives the Environmental Protection Agency the power to order companies to clean up hazardous waste. The justices let stand a U.S. appeals court ruling that upheld a provision of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, known as the Superfund law, that seeks to ensure polluters pay for environmental hazards they created.http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/06/us-ge-epa-court-idUSTRE75534D20110606 EPA Awarding $76 Million For Cleanups In 40 States. Lansing, Mich.—Federal grants will help clean up and redevelop 214 polluted sites such as abandoned gas stations and shuttered factories in 40 states, Environmental Protection Agency chief Lisa Jackson said Monday. Three tribal nations also will receive federal money under the EPA's "brownfield" program, which is designed to spur growth in cities where contaminated industrial and commercial sites have been a drag on the economy while contributing to joblessness and crime, agency officials said. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18215671?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com OPINION League Of Women Voters Goes Too Far With Ads. The League of Women Voters wanted to be heard with its hard-hitting TV spots on air quality. It certainly succeeded, but at what cost? Its tactics are a big mistake, putting at risk its hard-won reputation as a nonpartisan arbiter that sponsors debates, analyzes issues and promotes civic participation. The controversial ads are very unlike the league. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/05/1719645/league-going-a-little-too-far.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/02/2412462/editorial-league-political-ads.html#storylink=misearch BLOGS A ‘Golden Age’ for Gas? Two Caveats. Are we entering a golden age of gas? The answer is yes, according to a report with just that title released on Monday by the International Energy Agency — as long as the price for natural gas remains low and governments adopt strong regulations to overcome environmental concerns about hydraulic fracturing. The report projects that natural gas could make up 25 percent of the global energy mix in 2035, up from 21 percent now, replacing coal, nuclear and some power from renewable sources like wind and solar. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/a-golden-age-for-gas-2-caveats/ Farming in a Challenging Climate. The deep, almost inherent, adaptability and resilience of the world’s farmers makes them well suited to deal with a changing climate. But they are also dealing with limits to usable land and water, rising populations and the near-insatiable appetites of the world’s fast-expanding middle class. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/farming-in-a-challenging-climate/ The Monster Raving Loony Party. Via Steve Benen, I see that Haley Barbour has the explanation for higher gas prices. It’s not demand from China and instability in the Middle East; it’s a deliberate conspiracy on the part of the Obama administration (pdf): BOB SCHIEFFER: Somebody told me that you actually said this week you think that the President is trying to drive up energy policy, energy prices on purpose. Posted. http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/the-monster-raving-loony-party/ The Carbon Tipping Point Draws Near. Such warming would disrupt the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people across the planet, leading to widespread mass migration and conflict. That is a risk any sane person would seek to drastically reduce." Lord Stern I've been waiting for this one. Most stories about global climate change refer to the importance of keeping our emissions low enough that we never exceed that all-important 2°C -- …Posted. http://blogs.redding.com/dcraig/archives/2011/06/the-carbon-tipp.html MIT’s New Liquid Flow Batteries Could Make Refueling EVs as Fast as Pumping Gas. A team of researchers at MIT set out to “reinvent the rechargeable battery” and succeeded by creating a liquid-flow battery, suitable for electric vehicles that can be recharged as quickly as simply pumping gas and could halve the cost of current EV batteries. The new batteries involve a semi-solid, liquid electrolyte material which holds suspended positive and negative electrodes that provide needed electricity. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/new-liquid-flow-batteries-from-mit-could-make-refueling-evs-as-fast-as-pumping-gas/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 7 Jun 2011 12:48:08 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 7, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 7, 2011. 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 Environmental Groups Contend Villages Of Lakeview Development Would Be Harmful. Four environmental groups and the city of Riverside have fired a new salvo against Riverside County over its approval of one of the area's largest housing developments. In an opening legal brief filed Friday, the groups said the proposed Villages of Lakeview development will "inflict significant and irreversible harm on the environment and exacerbate already severe hazards to public health." Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/politics/stories/PE_News_Local_D_lakeview07.3b746e6.html Avoid Indoor Air Pollution. Imperial, California (NAPSI) - Many Americans may be breathing easier once they learn how simple it can be to keep their homes cleaner and more comfortable. Airborne contaminants such as mold can be a big headache for homeowners. Research published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology suggests that cleaning air ducts can go a long way toward reducing them. Posted. http://imperialvalleynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10520&Itemid=23 CLIMATE CHANGE Island States Hint At Climate Talks Compromise. Bonn, Germany (Reuters) - Small island states, at risk from rising seas due to climate change, hinted on Tuesday at a compromise in order to kick-start U.N. talks on reaching a binding deal to curb global warming. The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), which represents 43 countries, said it could consider pledges on emissions cuts made voluntarily by rich nations if they were made into legally-binding targets. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USTRE75525E20110607 Free Carbon Permits, Aid Will Protect EU Industry, Envoy Says. Free carbon allowances and state aid to steelmakers and big electricity users will protect European Union companies from competitors without emission caps, the European Commission’s climate envoy said. The 27-nation EU is looking at the possibility of a law to allow state aid to companies that would kick in once electricity prices reach a certain level, the envoy, Artur Runge-Metzger, said today in an interview in Bonn. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-06-07/free-carbon-permits-aid-will-protect-eu-industry-envoy-says.html Massive Wallow Blaze Incinerates Ariz. Forests, but Climate Change Link Remains Unknown. Arizona's third-largest forest fire in history was fostered by drought conditions tied to La Niña, strong winds and parched soils and vegetation. But experts say its role as an example of the consequences of climate change is tenuous. The Wallow fire in Arizona's Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest has spread throughout the south and west of Alpine, Ariz., incinerating close to 250,000 acres. It began on May 29, and authorities believe it was ignited by human activity. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/06/07/07climatewire-massive-wallow-blaze-incinerates-ariz-forest-23395.html?pagewanted=print Calif. Appeals Court Lifts Injunction On State Warming Law -- For Now. A California appeals court has temporarily reversed an injunction that had effectively frozen implementation of the state's climate change law. In a terse, three-sentence decision issued Friday; the 1st Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal stayed a lower court's ruling that found the climate law, known as A.B. 32, needed a more thorough environmental review before proceeding. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/07/2 Density Of Woods Helps Offset Climate Change From Deforestation – Study. Increasing forest density across the globe is helping mitigate climate change caused by deforestation in Indonesia and the Amazon, according to a recent report. The report found that it is not just the amount of space a forest covers, but how large the trees within it are, that determines how much carbon the forest can absorb. "Higher density means world forests are capturing more carbon," says the research, conducted by experts in Finland and the United States. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/07/9 DIESEL EMISSIONS Trucks in Europe Will Face EU Toll Charges for Air Pollution, Noise. The European Union decided to let governments charge trucks for air pollution and noise, a step that may shift some cargo from roads to railways. The European Parliament approved a law allowing environmental costs to be included in truck tolls, which may rise 12 percent to 27 percent as a result. Current EU rules prohibit environmental surcharges on the fleets of companies such as Deutsche Post AG (DPW) except in mountain regions such as the Alps to avoid fragmenting the European market. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-07/trucks-in-europe-will-face-eu-toll-charges-for-air-pollution-noise.html http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/07/us-eu-environment-trucks-idUSTRE75640Z20110607 VEHICLES Advanced Battery Technologies Inks Deal In China. Advanced Battery Technologies Inc. signed a $14.7 million deal to supply batteries to a Chinese electric vehicle maker. The company said Monday that it signed the contract through its Chinese subsidiary, Wuxi Zhongqiang Autocycle Co. The deal calls for Advanced Battery Technologies to provide batteries for 24,000 electric vehicles, including bikes and scooters, to Wuxi Hao Jie Vehicle Co. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/07/advanced-battery-technologies-inks-deal-in-china/ Ford, GM, Honda See Mixed China Sales In May. Foreign automakers are seeing mixed sales trends in China as the world's biggest market for new vehicles cools after years of torrid growth. General Motors Co. said Tuesday that its total sales in China fell 3 percent in May from a year earlier to 190,674 vehicles. Its sales in the first five months of the year edged up nearly 5 percent to 1.08 million. GM's flagship joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corp. fared well. Its sales climbed 11 percent to 92,519 on robust demand both for fuel-efficient Chevrolet models and for pricier Buicks and Cadillacs. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_1dd18005-51be-5440-b65e-19617e2007b7.html Ford Says Its Global Sales Will Increase 50% By 2015. Ford Motor Co. said global sales will rise 50 percent by 2015 to 8 million annually, driven by expansion in Asia and growing demand for small cars. The automaker expects that by 2020, 55 percent of vehicle sales will be small cars and a third of sales will be in Asia, spokesman John Stoll said in an e-mail. Ford CEO Alan Mulally confirmed the target during an interview with CNBC this morning. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110607/RETAIL01/110609907/1254 GREEN ENERGY Ethanol Company Completes Grain Elevator Purchase. Green Plains Renewable Energy has purchased a grain elevator in Missouri with the capacity to store 2 million bushels of grain. The purchase of Horizon Grain of Hopkins, Mo., was announced Monday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Green Plains President and CEO Todd Becker says the deal makes sense because Horizon Grain is 45 miles from one of the company's ethanol plants in Shenandoah, Iowa. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/07/ethanol-company-completes-grain-elevator/ Santa Barbara County Looks At Fracking For Oil. Los Alamos, Calif.—The petroleum industry claims a controversial drilling technique used in the heart of Santa Barbara wine country has been safely used for decades. But critics worry it can contaminate groundwater, cause air pollution and trigger small earthquakes. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors wants to learn more about fracking, or hydraulic fracturing—a method of extracting hard-to-reach gas and oil by pummeling rocks deep underground with high-pressure water, sand and chemicals. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_18221203 http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_4d23db77-d5aa-5b25-9c39-2267264ff1de.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/07/santa-barbara-county-looks-at-fracking-for-oil/ A 'Sludge' Battery Could Propel Future Electric Cars. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are developing a revolutionary electric car battery that could slice half the size and cost off current models. Professor Yet-Ming Chiang knows plenty about those current models -- he helped invent them. His work in materials science helped spin off A123 Systems Inc., now one of the most powerful firms in lithium-ion batteries. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/07/4 Planning To Shut Down Nuclear Energy, Germany Also Creates Clouds For Solar. Munich -- The German solar industry was left to lick its wounds yesterday after the country's new government-proposed energy legislation emerged. It favors wind in the race to replace the power generation capacity that will be lost by the shutdown of all German nuclear reactors. The 39-point update of the German Renewable Energy Act envisions accelerated cuts in preferential tariffs for solar power that increase with capacity installed, while subsidies for wind energy were cut by less than expected. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/07/5 Dubai Looks To Create Emissions Credits. Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is looking to create tradable emissions credits, part of an effort to rely more on solar power for the city's energy needs, as well as to increase energy efficiency. Dubai's government-run utility Dubai Electricity & Water Authority is one of the companies looking to receive credits, which could reach an estimated $211 million in value over the next decade, according to Waleed Salman, chairman of the Dubai Centre for Carbon Excellence. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/07/10 MISCELLANEOUS GE and Partners Secure Financing For 800 MW Thermal Plant in Riverside County. GE Energy Financial Services, Competitive Power Ventures, Inc. (CPV) and Diamond Generation Corporation (DGC) announced that they secured financing for an 800 megawatt (MW) thermal power plant in Riverside County, California. The three companies are co-owners of the Sentinel Facility, a $2 billion project which will produce enough power for 239,000 homes when completed. CPV owns 25 percent, DGC owns 50 percent and GE 25 percent. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/ge-cpv-dgc-secure-financing-thermal-power-plant-riverside-county/ Proposal Filed To Put Speed Limits On Big Ships In Channel. A coalition of environmental groups filed a petition asking that a mandatory speed limit be imposed on ships passing through the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary in an effort to curb the number of whales hit by ships. The petition, filed Monday by the Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Defense Center, Pacific Environment and Friends of the Earth, demands that ships slow their speed to 10 knots when passing through any of California's four National Marine Sanctuaries. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/06/proposal-filed-to-put-speed-limits-on-big-ships/ Green Burials Are Gaining Traction In The Washington Area. Live eco-conscious, die eco-conscious. People who drive hybrid cars, recycle, compost and eat vegetarian are showing increased interest in leaving this world in an equally Earth-friendly way: a green burial. “Baby boomers who define themselves as environmentalists don’t want to go out with a final act of pollution,” says Joe Sehee, executive director of the Green Burial Council, headquartered in Santa Fe, N.M. “A lot of people find solace in returning to the earth naturally.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/green-burials-are-gaining-traction-in-the-washington-area/2011/04/26/AGLfhZKH_story.html OPINION Viewpoints: Case For High-Speed Rail Grows Only Stronger. The last time many Californians thought about high-speed rail was in the voting booth. On that day, Nov. 4, 2008, more than 6 million of us voted to tell the state to get going, to build high-speed rail in California. Now, 2 1/2 years later, the second guessing is in full swing. In recent weeks some have suggested that we should put the project on hold. We couldn't disagree more. California will need high-speed rail in the coming years to do something about the gridlock on our roads and at our airports. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/07/v-print/3681606/case-for-high-speed-rail-grows.html BLOGS Oil Drilling Off Cuba Raises Specter of What-If. Florida voters have long opposed offshore oil drilling along their coasts, and given that Florida is a swing state in presidential elections, they have gotten their way. But it looks as if drilling is coming to nearby Cuban waters as early as the fall when the Spanish oil company Repsol is due to drill an exploratory well. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/oil-drilling-off-cuba-raises-specter-of-what-if/?scp=7&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Ethanol Subsidies: Dumping Corn In The Ocean Would Be A Better Idea. Imagine if the U.S. Congress were to mandate subsidies for the dumping of 40% of the U.S. corn crop into the ocean every year. That would certainly boost prices, which would be a boon for corn farmers and a menace to everyone else. Such a program would lead to widespread inflation, more hunger and political instability in poor countries around the world, and slower global economic growth. Posted. http://blogs.forbes.com/henrymiller/2011/06/07/ethanol-subsidies-dumping-corn-in-the-ocean-would-be-a-better-idea/ Germany -Stepping Away From Nuclear into a Leadership Role on Renewables? In announcing that it intends to close all nuclear power plants by 2022, the German Government now faces a major challenge to find the energy to replace nuclear and meet its ambitious carbon emission targets at the same time. But Angela Merkel has been one of the rocks of European politics in the last 6 years. As Germany's first female Chancellor she has steered the country through interesting times. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/germany-stepping-away-nuclear-leadership-role-rene/ Three Energy Developments That Are Changing Your Life—And Not In A Good Way. Here's the good news about energy: Thanks to rising oil prices and deteriorating economic conditions worldwide, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that global oil demand will not grow this year as much as once assumed, which may provide some temporary price relief at the gas pump. In its May "Oil Market Report," the IEA reduced its 2011 estimate for global oil consumption by 190,000 barrels per day, pegging it at 89.2 million barrels daily. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-energy/2011-06-07-three-energy-developments-changing-your-life-not-in-a-good-way Carbon Sciences To Produce First Samples Of Diesel Fuel From Methane And CO2 Using Catalytic Dry Reforming Process. Carbon Sciences, Inc., a technology developer focusing on the conversion of carbon dioxide and methane to fuels, plans to produce samples of diesel fuel in an end-to-end process demonstration. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/06/csi-20110606.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 8 Jun 2011 15:51:17 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 8, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 8, 2011. 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 EPA Honors Placer County's Forest Debris System. Placer County was honored Tuesday by the Environmental Protection Agency for its work to create cleaner air. The EPA Clean Air Excellence Award recognizes the work of the county's air pollution control district in diverting Lake Tahoe area forest debris from burn piles. "By transporting this forest residue out and instead of burning it in burn piles we are reducing pollution put into the atmosphere," said Supervisor Jim Holmes, who is in Washington, D.C., to accept the award. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/08/v-print/3684520/fdsgffsdjfgdshfdsgfdh.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/07/1722119/placer-county-clean-air-efforts.html http://www.rocklintoday.com/news/templates/community_news.asp?articleid=9979&zoneid=4 Federal Court Won’t Dismiss Lawsuit Accusing Exxon’s Texas Refinery Of Violating Clean Air Act. Houston -- A federal court will allow environmental groups to pursue a lawsuit that accuses the largest U.S. refinery of violating federal air pollution laws thousands of times in the past five years. The U.S. District Court Southern District on Tuesday dismissed a request by Exxon Mobil Corp. to dismiss the lawsuit regarding its Texas facility. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/federal-court-wont-dismiss-lawsuit-accusing-exxons-texas-refinery-of-violating-clean-air-act/2011/06/08/AGT9szLH_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/08/2419292/federal-court-wont-dismiss-lawsuit.html#storylink=misearch Utility Groups Trade Blows On New EPA Emissions Rules. Coal-heavy power companies and their cleaner cousins are continuing to spar over new air pollution regulations from U.S. EPA, releasing competing analyses this week on the effects of a pair of rules that would make coal plants spend billions of dollars to control toxic chemicals and emissions that lead to soot and smog. Those two regulations -- the Clean Air Transport Rule, which would cap key emissions that travel across state lines …Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/08/1 People of Faith Should Join Campaign to Fight Asthma in Their Communities. The Center for American Progress Action Fund Pushes for Cleaner Air. The Center for American Progress Action Fund, a sister organization of CAP, is leading a campaign to curb asthma and other harmful health effects from coal-fired power plants. This campaign is already underway, and it will continue until July 5, 2011. It provides a new opportunity for faith communities to expand their environmental stewardship advocacy efforts at the federal level. Posted. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/06/faith_asthma.html CLIMATE CHANGE EU Needs Stricter CO2 Target, Cap-and-Trade Rules, Report Shows. The European Union should move to a stricter emissions-reduction target for 2020 to attain its 2050 climate goal in a cost-effective way, a report by a network of climate experts and a research group showed. Standing by the current EU goal to cut emissions by 20 percent in 2020 compared with 1990 levels would mean a “rapidly accelerating reduction effort” to attain the 2050 goal of at least 80 percent, according the report by Climate Strategies …Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-08/eu-needs-stricter-co2-target-cap-and-trade-rules-report-shows.html Aviation Has to Contribute to Fighting Climate Change, EU Says. The inclusion of the aviation sector in the European Union’s emissions trading system is a “practical example” of steps that need to be made to prevent global warming, EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said. “‘If we had only done that for European airlines only it wouldn’t be fair,” Hedegaard told a seminar in Brussels today. “Everyone agrees the aviation sector has to contribute.” Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-08/aviation-has-to-contribute-to-fighting-climate-change-eu-says.html Solano Plans For Climate Change, Possible Floods From Rising Oceans. The debate on the validity of rising sea levels and climate change continues as Solano County agrees on strategic plans to address both in the future. Two public hearings Tuesday attracted several Solano residents to hear what supervisors had to say about the two contentious issues. Posted. http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_18228952 State Climate Law Back On Track Following 'Baffling' Court Overlap. Dueling court orders over the last few days that served to confuse many insiders have left the California Air Resources Board (ARB) just where it wants to be: implementing the state's climate change law and back on track to go live with a cap-and-trade market for greenhouse gas emissions by Jan. 1. For now, anyway. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/08/4 Climate Change Creates Health Risks Indoors, Too. Weatherizing buildings to increase their energy efficiency could backfire by creating new health risks for occupants, according to a new report that warns climate change and efforts to combat it could worsen indoor air quality. "New building materials and equipment arrive on the market every day, and experience suggests that some may bring unforeseen problems of indoor environmental quality with them," the Institute of Medicine analysis says. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/08/5 EPA Sends Final Rule On GHG Emissions From Trucks To White House. The Obama administration is advancing its plan to finalize greenhouse gas emissions standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, although an announcement may not come until later this summer. U.S. EPA and the Department of Transportation have sent the first emissions standards for trucks and buses to the White House Office of Management and Budget for final approval, according to a website that tracks federal rulemaking. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/08/2 FUELS A Carbon Tax To Fund Renewable Fuels Could Help Countries Meet Mandates – Study. A new World Bank policy paper says a carbon tax could help buoy biofuels development more effectively than subsidies alone. Lead author and World Bank Senior Research Economist Govinda Timilsina suggests that the most effective strategy for boosting biofuels is to use revenue culled from a tax on fossil fuels in transportation to buttress subsidies. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/08/7 VEHICLES Porsche Reveals More Details About the All-Electric Boxster E. More information has been shared by Porsche about their prototype eclectic cars and the best news is they are being tested out on the roads today. The Porsche electric prototype cars are being used as part of the government-funded "Model Region Electro-Mobility Stuttgart", which is a large-scale trial to study the everyday reasonableness of using all-electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/08/idUS105292943120110608 State Electric-Car Rebate Fund Runs Low On Cash. California's rebate program for people who buy electric cars has grown so popular that it's about to run out of cash. The state offers rebates of up to $5,000 to clean-car buyers, on a first-come, first-served basis. So many have applied during the current fiscal year, however, that the program's $5 million annual funding will probably be used up before the next fiscal year begins in July, state officials reported Tuesday. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/07/BUOS1JQRCA.DTL http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/06/08/california-running-out-money-for-electric-car-rebates/ http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=18616 GREEN ENERGY Turkey To Use GE Natural-Gas Plant Design With Renewable Features. General Electric Co. (GE) unveiled Tuesday a new power-plant design that integrates natural-gas generation with intermittent sources of solar and wind power as a way to tap into the broader trends toward cleaner sources of energy. GE has a long history in the power business, tracing back to Thomas Edison, who invented the light bulb. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110607-711963.html Blustery States Boost Wind Power Over Gas With U.S. Tax Break. A U.S. tax break has helped wind power stem the growth of natural gas as a power-plant fuel in blustery states. The natural-gas share of electricity generation increased by less than 1 percent over the past decade in states such as North Dakota that have strong winds to drive turbines, a Bloomberg Government Study found. It grew 17 percent in states such as Florida, where there was no wind to compete with gas. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-08/blustery-states-boost-wind-power-over-gas-with-u-s-tax-break.html Calling for ‘Achievable’ Target, Christie Plans Cut in State’s Renewable Energy Goals. Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday that he planned to scale back New Jersey’s goals for renewable energy as he looked for an “achievable” approach to generating electricity in the state. His change is part of an overhaul of the state’s 10-year energy master plan, which had been expected since last year, when he asked the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to evaluate renewable energy targets he found too aggressive. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/08/science/earth/08christie.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print MISCELLANEOUS Former Interior Secretary Calls Out Obama On The Environment. Bruce Babbitt says Obama has failed to defend against Republican and industry attacks on environmental safeguards. President Obama has failed to answer Republican attacks on environmental safeguards "forcefully and persuasively" and to articulate his own vision for conserving American wilderness and water, former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt charged Tuesday. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-environment-babbitt-20110608,0,3529847,print.story OPINION The Gas Is Greener. IN April, Gov. Jerry Brown made headlines by signing into law an ambitious mandate that requires California to obtain one-third of its electricity from renewable energy sources like sunlight and wind by 2020. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia now have renewable electricity mandates. President Obama and several members of Congress have supported one at the federal level. Polls routinely show strong support among voters for renewable energy projects — as long as they don’t cost too much. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/08/opinion/08bryce.html BLOGS Reimagining Auto Retail for Electric Cars. For independent electric car companies, it’s so long, automobile row. Some electric vehicle manufacturers have jettisoned the old model of franchise auto dealerships in an effort to change not only how we drive, but also how we buy cars. “Because we’re ushering in a new powertrain, it’s an opportunity to say, ‘Should we shake up everything?’ ” Steve Burns, president of Amp Electric Vehicles, wondered in a telephone interview. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/08/reimagining-auto-retail-for-electric-cars/?pagemode=print A Hybrid Power Plant Takes Shape in Turkey. General Electric. A hybrid electric plant designed by General Electric. Mirrors focus sunlight on power towers, top right, that make steam that is injected through pipes into a turbine, center, to make electricity. Wind turbines, rear, make electricity to either help run the plant or to feed the grid. How can the electric system take intermittent energy sources like wind and sun and integrate them with conventional fuels for electricity, like natural gas? Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/a-hybrid-power-plant-takes-shape-in-turkey/?pagemode=print Global Warming As A Heat Wave Enhancer. Any time it’s hot or hotter than average, the subject of global warming invariably arises. The usual question I hear is: Is this global warming (or climate change)? The answer I give is that global warming is not causing hot weather but almost certainly intensifying it. In other words, think of the greenhouse gases building up in the atmosphere from human activities as steroids. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/global-warming-as-a-heat-wave-enhancer/2011/06/08/AGnsFCMH_blog.html Program Offers Homeowners Cash Rebates For Energy-Efficiency Upgrades. Bay Area residents may soon begin to see ads for a new program that allows homeowners to better insulate their houses while getting a considerable of rebate for doing the upgrade. After an 11-month pilot program, the full version of Energy Upgrade California -- a statewide effort to promote energy efficiency -- is now going full throttle. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inoakland/detail?entry_id=90493 California’s Small Businesses Need AB 32 To Stay Strong. Some people might be skeptical if they were told a bunch of CEOs got together and agreed that restrictions on pollution are good for business. After all, environmental regulations and economic success are mutually exclusive, right? Wrong.California’s Global Warming Solutions Act, AB 32, is under assault from opponents trying to delay implementation of this landmark legislation. Posted http://www.smallbusinessmajority.org/blog/small-business-majority/healthcare/california%E2%80%99s-small-businesses-need-ab-32-to-stay-strong/ First-ever Fuel Efficiency and Carbon Pollution Standards for Heavy Trucks Move Closer to Adoption. This week, the Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency took one of the final steps toward adopting the first-ever standards to improve fuel-efficiency and cut carbon pollution from highway trucks by seeking final approval from the White House Office of Management and Budget. This is a welcome development toward cleaning up our freight transport and easing the pain at the pump for truckers and businesses. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ltonachel/first-ever_fuel_efficiency_and.html Summers Will Keep Getting Hotter, Stanford Researchers Say. While California experiences cooler-than-expected temperatures for early June, the rest of the country is reeling under a blazing heat wave. According to a team of Stanford University researchers, those furnace-hot temperatures soon may become the summer norm for North America. Nations in more tropical zones could experience “the permanent emergence of unprecedented summer heat.” And the researchers say this is not a centuries-long forecast. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/summers-will-keep-getting-hotter-stanford-researchers-say-10697 California Energy Commission Extends Clean Vehicle Rebates in California. Today the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the Air Resources Board (ARB) officially finalized an agreement that will make many EV early adopters in California smile. The interagency agreement, which was publicly announced on Plug In Cars in January, puts an extra $2 million dollars in the state rebate program, known as the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP). Posted. http://www.plugincars.com/california-energy-commission-extends-clean-vehicle-rebates-california-107278.html Double Standard For Fuel Efficiency Is Literally Killing Americans. An economist at UC San Diego has made a startling finding: The peculiarly American system of having one fuel efficiency standard for cars and a different, less stringent one for SUVs and trucks is increasing highway fatalities. The problem is that under the existing, two-tiered system, increases in fuel efficiency standards force car makers to shrink cars even faster than they shrink trucks and SUVs (which by law have to remain above a certain weight, anyway). Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-08-double-standard-for-fuel-efficiency-is-literally-killing-america EPA Critics Are Hogging The Air Time. According to a Media Matters report, cable news channels are flooding the airwaves with people who oppose the EPA's rules regulating greenhouse gases: They get four times as much airtime as supporters. Of 199 guests discussing EPA rules on cable news shows between December 2009 and this April, 152 opposed the rules, and only 35 supported them. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-08-epa-critics-are-hogging-the-air-time ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2011 12:51:14 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 9, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 9, 2011. 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 EPA's Tests Of Air Outside Schools Find Problems. Washington — The federal government's first attempt to assess the dangers from air pollution around schools is nearing completion, and the findings underscore the need for more extensive air monitoring, especially in pollution hot spots, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency says. "There is work to be done still on air quality," EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson says. "The best result would be to find that all of our concerns were overblown, but we're not finding this in every case." Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2011-06-09-air-pollution-schools_n.htm# Air-Quality Regulators To Study Health Effects Of San Bernardino Rail Yard. The in-depth examination will try to determine whether the inland shipping hub has caused an increase in cancer and asthma in nearby low-income communities. Southern California air-quality regulators are sponsoring an in-depth study to determine if the San Bernardino Rail Yard, a major inland hub of goods shipped across the U.S., has caused an increase in cancer and asthma in the neighboring low-income communities. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-air-quality-20110609,0,3759929,print.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/09/state/n023908D85.DTL http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/09/2420321/air-regulators-to-announce-rail.html http://www.sbsun.com/breakingnews/ci_18229679 http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/09/1724684/air-regulators-to-announce-rail.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/09/air-regulators-to-announce-rail-yard-study/ http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18237274?nclick_check=1 http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/inland_empire&id=8180099 Pollution Worsens Kids' Asthma, But Efforts To Cut It Split Congress. Washington -- Summer air pollution could trigger more asthma attacks for children who live in industrial cities, and the Environmental Protection Agency would like stricter rules to cut smog. Congress is split on the agency's proposal, however, with some Republicans saying the EPA's regulatory agenda could cost businesses as well as drive up energy expenses for families. Clean air advocates counter that low standards for pollution cost families by endangering children's health. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/08/1723948/pollution-worsens-kids-asthma.html Study: Trucks, Cars Valley's Big Polluters. Greenhouse gas survey gives baseline for reduction efforts. Cars and commercial traffic barreling down Interstate 10 likely spew about two-thirds of the greenhouse gases generated in the Coachella Valley, undermining efforts by local residents and industries to roll back carbon emissions. The findings are in the Coachella Valley Association of Governments' long-delayed regional greenhouse gas inventory, which is to be released today. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110609/NEWS07/106090310/Study-Trucks-cars-valley-s-big-polluters Southern California Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Conspiring to Violate the Clean Air Act During Asbestos Removal. The owner of a San Fernando Valley condominium complex was sentenced June 6 to four years in federal prison for conspiring to violate the Clean air act's asbestos work practice standards during the renovation of the 204-unit apartment building – work that caused asbestos to be released into the complex and the surrounding community. Posted. http://www.sanfernandosun.com/sanfernsun/news/6820-southern-california-man-sentenced-to-four-years-in-prison-for-conspiring-to-violate-the-clean-air-act-during-asbestos-removal CLIMATE CHANGE Romney Draws Early Fire From Conservatives Over Views On Climate Change. It seemed like a straightforward question on a second-tier issue: Would Mitt Romney disavow the science behind global warming? The putative Republican presidential front-runner, eager to prove his conservative bona fides, could easily have said what he knew many in his party’s base wanted to hear. Instead, the former Massachusetts governor stuck to the position he has held for many years — that he believes the world is getting warmer and that humans are contributing to that pattern. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romney-draws-early-fire-from-conservatives-over-views-on-climate-change/2011/06/08/AGkUTaMH_story.html Law Would Force Bay Area Cities To Plan For Sea Level Rise. Bay Area cities and counties whose jurisdictions contain the San Francisco and Oakland airports and the ports of Oakland and Redwood City would be required to prepare action plans to deal with rising sea levels under a trailblazing bill passed by the state Assembly last week. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_18232093 Mitt Romney: No Apologies On Climate Change Stance. Mitt Romney won't be doing any apology tours on climate change. The early GOP presidential front-runner has broken with his party's conservative ranks to declare global warming a real threat to the planet that merits some sort of action to curb heat-trapping emissions. But the former Massachusetts governor is also quick to trash cap and trade, carbon taxes and other controversial policies that have been kicked around over the last decade in Washington. Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=02DA52B3-49B4-4219-8B14-822FAE21F8D8 Rick Santorum: Climate Change Is ‘Junk Science'. Rick Santorum is no Mitt Romney when it comes to global warming science. Appearing Wednesday on Rush Limbaugh's radio show, the former Pennsylvania GOP senator jumped at the chance to distinguish himself from his Massachusetts rival by displaying his climate skeptic credentials. "I believe the earth gets warmer and I also believe the earth gets cooler," Santorum said. “Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56599.html New Degree Program For Carbon Traders Aims To Boost Résumés And Restore Credibility. New York -- Two organizations that train emissions monitors and offset credit generators are moving to put an end to the "carbon cowboy" days of the global carbon markets. This week, the Greenhouse Gas Management Institute and the Environmental Careers Organization of Canada launched a new professional certification program for individuals pursuing careers in greenhouse gas management. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/09/4 Cow Farts And Snowboarders Teach Student 'Troops' About Climate. Climate change advocacy is taking after-school activities to a new level. The Alliance for Climate Education has held hundreds of "assemblies" over the past two years to teach students about global warming and to get them to act. The group mixes hip presentations with modern technology, like texting, to turn a lesson on climate science into a lasting lifestyle relying on less energy and more fun. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/09/3 USDA Funds 9 Projects To Mitigate Greenhouse Gases. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is disbursing more than $7.4 million in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating new revenue streams for farmers. The money will go to nine projects in 24 states that center on creating income opportunities through carbon markets. "It helps stimulate better bottom lines for farmers," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in announcing the awards. "It allows us to refine targets and strategies for various types of market practices." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/09/5 FUELS Getting On The Propane Train. Local firm leads way with how-to classes on converting engines and gas stations to eco-friendly propane. Most discussions about alternative automotive fuels revolve around hybrid, electric or other emerging, expensive technologies, but Bill Gaines believes there’s a better answer the general public may not be aware of—propane. “It’s the low-hanging fruit of all the alternative fuels,” Gaines said, and he should know—he is a senior engineer (and co-founder) at Transfer Flow Inc., a Chico company that manufactures fuel-tank systems. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/chico/getting-on-the-propane-train/content?oid=2266694 Biomass Diversity and Supply Chain Approach Will Boost Green Jet Fuel. A new report from aviation and renewable energy interests in the Pacific Northwest has found that an emerging market for sustainable aviation fuels is eminently plausible. The Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest consortium concludes that no single feedstock or technology pathway is likely to provide sustainable aviation fuel at the scale or speed needed to produce and maintain jet fuel supply. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/biomass-diversity-supply-chain-approach-will-boost-green-jet-fuel/ VEHICLES REGION: State Seeks Boost In Clean Car Rebates Program. State air pollution regulators want to increase the amount of funding used to pay rebates to those who purchase electric cars and other low-emission vehicles. With high gasoline prices and cars such as the Nissan Leaf in demand, a fund that pays state rebates ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 per vehicle is expected to run out next month. The California Air Resources Board staff, however, is proposing replenishing funds by $12 million to $17 million for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_cleancars09.3f752bb.html Veggie-Powered Road Trip. A Frank Gehry design whiz creates biofueled Volkswagens. Nick Pisca lives in a comfortable home in a middle-class area of Inglewood, where he and his pregnant wife, Erika, have something in their garage none of the neighbors can match: a veggie fuel–powered Jetta he takes on cross-country road trips to show that converting to vegetable oil isn't just for aging hippies. Posted. http://www.laweekly.com/content/printVersion/1292566/ Roadrunner Shuttle First Ventura County Business to Adopt ROUSH CleanTech Propane Autogas Technology. California ground transportation company Roadrunner Shuttle and Limousine Service is driving ‘green' airport service home as it becomes the first of its kind in Ventura County to adopt propane autogas as its alternative fuel of choice. Propane autogas is a cleaner-burning, domestically produced fuel choice that reduces harmful emissions that contribute to poor air quality. Posted. http://www.benzinga.com/press-releases/11/06/p1153340/roadrunner-shuttle-first-ventura-county-business-to-adopt-roush-cleant Electric Vehicle Lifecycle Emissions Undercut Conventional Cars. Electric vehicles (EVs) produce more emissions than conventional cars in production, but still have far lower carbon footprints over their lifetimes, according to a new study that "dispels the myth" that low carbon cars transfer emissions from exhaust to manufacture. The research conducted by UK advisory group LowCVP calculates that a typical medium-sized family car will pump out 24 tonnes of CO2 compared to just 19 tonnes for EVs and plug-in hybrids, and 21 tonnes for standard hybrids. Posted. http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2077537/electric-vehicle-lifecycle-emissions-undercut-conventional-cars Group Calculates Big U.S. Oil Savings With 62-Mpg Standard. The United States could save as much as 1.6 million barrels of oil a day by 2025 and 4.4 million barrels a day by 2040 if the Obama administration sets the highest fuel economy standards under consideration for new cars, according to a report released yesterday by an advocacy group. The report by Securing America's Future Energy -- a group of corporate executives and retired military personnel dedicated to reducing U.S. oil use -- says the benefits of a 62-mpg standard are clear. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/09/15 GREEN ENERGY U.S. Is Falling Behind in the Business of ‘Green’. Leicester, England — The Mark Group started hunting for a new untapped market when it realized that its core business — insulating old homes using innovative technology — would drop off in coming years. Based in this rust-belt city, the company had grown rapidly over the last decade largely because of generous and mandatory government subsidies for energy conservation that impelled the British to treat their homes. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/09/business/09subsidies.html?_r=1&ref=earth&pagewanted=print Hydrocarbon Lobby Puts Roadblock In Russia's Clean Energy Goals. Russia's goal to quadruple the amount of renewable energy used in the country by 2020 may be thwarted by the country's powerful hydrocarbon lobby, which is currently obstructing progress and has no plans to back down. Russia's current goal is to increase the amount of power coming from renewable sources from 1 percent to 4.5 percent by the end of the decade. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/09/8 U.S. Energy Efficiency Market 'Nearly Untouched' When it comes to green business, the United States has fallen behind its foreign competitors. Thanks to government incentives, many European and Asian countries have saturated the market with carbon-reducing technologies, solar and wind developments and energy efficiency. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/09/19 OPINION The Earth Is Full. You really do have to wonder whether a few years from now we’ll look back at the first decade of the 21st century — when food prices spiked, energy prices soared, world population surged, tornados plowed through cities, floods and droughts set records, populations were displaced and governments were threatened by the confluence of it all — and ask ourselves: What were we thinking? How did we not panic when the evidence was so obvious that we’d crossed some growth/climate/natural resource/population redlines all at once? Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/08/opinion/08friedman.html?_r=2&ref=thomaslfriedman Opinion: Thomas L. Friedman: Climate Crisis Will Force Drastic Economic Change. You really do have to wonder whether, a few years from now, we'll look back at the first decade of the 21st century -- when food prices spiked, energy prices soared, world population surged, tornadoes plowed through cities, floods and droughts set records, populations were displaced and governments were threatened by the confluence of it all -- and ask ourselves: What were we thinking? Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_18232007?nclick_check=1 Green Energy Initiative A Good Step For The Valley. Whether you believe that climate change is the beginning of the end of Mother Earth or if you think it's all a lot of hooey, it makes sense to build buildings that are as efficient as possible. Not only does it reduce air pollution that threatens the Coachella Valley's iconic blue skies, it reduces dependence on fossil fuels and saves money on electric bills. The Coachella Valley Association of Government's Green Government Initiative is a step in the right direction. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110609/OPINION01/106080384/Green-Energy-Initiative-good-step-valley?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFrontpage%7Cp The EPA’s New Move. Is The NAT GAS Act An EPA Trojan Horse? The debate over the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011, or NAT GAS Act, has focused mostly on the question of whether the federal government should use hefty subsidies — $64,000 per truck — to interfere with the free-market allocation of resources. On that point, a surprisingly large number of Republicans are siding with their central-planning-advocate colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Posted. http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/269175/epa-s-new-move-phil-kerpen Seeing Through The Haze Not Always Easy Here. The skies in the mountains are amazingly blue, a deep solid color. On a good day, the clarity of the ridges against this blue is deeply rewarding. Yet all too often in our area, the clarity is diminished by haze. Sometimes it is smoke from forest fires, usually caused by people. Or, when the wind blows hard through northern Arizona or southern Utah, we can get a lot of dust. More common is a bluer haze. Posted. http://durangoherald.com/article/20110609/COLUMNISTS37/706099974/-1/s BLOGS Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Gains Traction in Oregon. Oregon soon could become the second state to allow peer-to-peer car sharing. Legislation establishing standards for personal vehicle sharing programs was approved this week by the House of Representatives and the Senate. HB 3149 paves the way for residents to rent their cars directly to other people through vehicle sharing programs like GetAround or the Google-backed RelayRides. California passed a similar law last year. HB 3149 passed with bipartisan support and little opposition. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/09/peer-to-peer-car-sharing-gains-traction-in-oregon/ San Bernardino Rail Yard Communities Targeted For Health Study. Southern California air quality regulators are sponsoring an in-depth study to determine if the San Bernardino rail yard, a major inland hub of goods shipped across the U.S., has caused a rise in cancer and asthma in the neighboring low-income communities. The study comes two years after the California Air Resources Board determined that diesel emissions from locomotives…Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/low-income-communities-around-san-bernardino-rail-yard-targeted-for-health-study.html Latino Groups Push Obama On Ozone Standards. On the heels of a scathing critique by former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt on Wednesday, President Obama faced pressure from a burgeoning environmental justice coalition demanding stronger action on ozone, a component of smog, in predominantly Latino communities. Fourteen groups sent a letter to Obama expressing dismay at missed opportunities and delays in bringing permissible ozone levels down to between 60 and 70 parts per billion: Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/latino-groups-push-obama-on-ozone-standards.html Steve Jobs Pitches New Apple 'Spaceship' Campus To Cupertino City Council. Apple CEO Steve Jobs revealed plans for a new headquarters for the company that "looks a little like a spaceship" at a City Council meeting in Cupertino, Calif., on Tuesday. In his trademark black turtleneck, jeans and gray New Balance running shoes, Jobs said at the meeting the new building would hold 12,000 employees, and even house its own green-energy power plant. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/06/steve-jobs-pitches-new-apple-spaceship-building-to-cupertino-city-council.html San Francisco Most 'Climate-Ready' City In U.S. Climate-ready appears to mean doing the most to reduce carbon emissions, not best equipped to ride out the storms of climate change. The listing considers the political commitment of city leadership, the number of transit riders per capita, and number of green buildings per capita, the amount of investment in cleantech and GHG reduction targets. (It also, for reasons I don't understand, includes university memberships in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.) Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=90582 Investors, Workers: Strong Fuel Economy Standards Will Fuel America’s Economy. Capital doesn’t flow in a vacuum. And big investors are telling us that’s exactly what we have right now with uncertain U.S. energy policies. This spring, California’s Air Resources Board (ARB) is working jointly with federal officials on one of this year’s biggest energy and environmental decisions – stronger nationwide automobile fuel economy and emissions standards starting in 2017. It shouldn’t need saying that those standards have huge economic implications. Posted. http://blogs.forbes.com/mindylubber/2011/06/08/investors-workers-strong-fuel-economy-standards-will-fuel-americas-economy/ If Kids Could Vote, Clean Air Would Rule the Day. Our society goes to great lengths to protect children’s health, from fancy car seats to an elaborate system of recalls on any faulty children’s products. And why shouldn’t we take extra precautions to protect the most vulnerable among us and our future? Somehow when it comes to protecting children from the very well-known health hazards of air pollution, however, we continually fall short. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dbailey/if_kids_could_vote_clean_air_w.html How Bad Is Climate Change For Your Lungs? A new study puts a hefty price tag on climate change by linking it to the air you breathe. The report, published last Thursday by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), concludes that CO2-induced temperature increases will worsen ground-level ozone concentrations (the kind coming from power plants and exhaust pipes, not the kind that shields the Earth from UV rays). Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-06-08-how-bad-is-climate-change-for-your-lungs No Way: Auto Lobbyists Make Up a Scary Job-Loss Number Linked to Mileage Plans. The surest way to kill a bill today is to tag it as a job killer. While is why auto lobbyists have taken it upon themselves to, let’s say, creatively interpret some government data to make it look like a proposed 62 mpg federal fuel economy/greenhouse gas standard would spark an employment holocaust, deep-sixing a quarter million jobs. Posted. http://www.bnet.com/blog/electric-cars/no-way-auto-lobbyists-make-up-a-scary-job-loss-number-linked-to-mileage-plans/4399 First Wood-Digesting Enzyme Found In Bacteria Could Boost Biofuel Production. Researchers funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)-led Integrated Biorefining Research and Technology (IBTI) Club have identified an enzyme in bacteria which is important in breaking down lignin. This research, carried out by teams at the Universities of Warwick and British Columbia, could make sustainable sources of biofuels, such as woody plants and the inedible parts of crops, more economically viable. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/06/ahmad-20110609.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:43:30 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 10, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 10, 2011. 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 Health study targets major Calif. rail yard. Southern California air quality regulators announced a major study Thursday focusing on the San Bernardino rail yard, a national trade gateway that has been found to pose the greatest health risk of any rail yard in the state. The two-year Loma Linda University study on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail yard will cost an estimated $846,000, to be funded by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The study will include reporting on environmental health risks, and surveys of respiratory diseases and health issues among children and adults. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9NOK7A80.htm Study: Trucks, cars valley's big polluters. Cars and commercial traffic barreling down Interstate 10 likely spew about two-thirds of the greenhouse gases generated in the Coachella Valley, undermining efforts by local residents and industries to roll back carbon emissions. The findings are in the Coachella Valley Association of Governments' long-delayed regional greenhouse gas inventory, which is to be released today. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011106090310 CLIMATE CHANGE Climate talks make little headway, as poor countries accuse rich of ducking emissions pledges. AMSTERDAM -- Developing countries said Friday that rich nations are refusing to negotiate an extension of their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, charging that they sought to "maintain their privileges and levels of consumption" at the expense of the poor. Two-week climate negotiations among 183 nations in Bonn, Germany, which reached their halfway point Friday, were stalled for three days this week in a fight over the agenda. Structured in four bodies, formal talks only began in two of them on Thursday as countries haggled over what should be discussed. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/climate-talks-make-little-headway-as-poor-countries-accuse-rich-of-ducking-emissions-pledges/2011/06/10/AG1HVgOH_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/09/2421588/expiry-of-emissions-pact-in-2012.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18246517 Fight over RGGI appears headed for a stalemate in N.H. New Hampshire's governor vowed yesterday to veto a bill that would remove the state from the nation's only operating cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases. In an unexpected move this week, the state Senate approved an amendment to a larger bill that would pull New Hampshire out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, which caps the carbon dioxide emissions of utilities in 10 Northeastern states. The state House moved earlier in June to pass a parallel amendment, which was attached to a bill affecting state shorelands. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/10/10/ Analysts see expanding market for carbon footprint-measuring software. NEW YORK -- The market for carbon emissions management software and related consulting services will expand eightfold over the next five years, according to a new analysis by a clean-tech market research firm. From an estimated $705 million globally in 2010, the industry will grow in value to $5.7 billion by 2017, says market intelligence firm Pike Research. Despite the slow pace of international climate change negotiations, Pike analysts believe that corporations will show strong demand for software applications that let them manage their systemwide greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years, creating an enormous market opportunity for information technology (IT) firms and carbon management consultancies. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/10/9/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Unplugged Supertankers and the Diesel Death Zone at LA’s Port. ENVIRONMENT - Residents of the South Coast Air Quality Basin are caught in a Catch 22 with regard to the new Plains All American supertanker berth: No air quality agency regulates the plugging into shore-side power by the supertankers that will soon dock in Los Angeles; not the South Coast Quality Management District (AQMD) nor the California Air Quality Board (CARB). Despite neighborhood protests, the Port of Los Angeles has agreed to allow dirty docking of more than three-a-week of these supertankers for the next 15 years, and 40 annually forever after. As a result, these massive ships will run their auxiliary engines night and day while at dock instead of plugging in and using electric power (also called alternative marine power--AMP). For the first 10 years of operations, fully 85% of all tanker calls (up to 170 a year) will not plug in. Posted. http://www.citywatchla.com/lead-stories/1774-unplugged-supertankers-and-the-diesel-death-zone-at-las-port FUELS Coburn amendment targeting subsidies draws wrath of ethanol groups. The rhetorical pitch of ethanol subsidy debates rose today as Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) filed an amendment that would end industry tax breaks by month's end, spurring cries by industry groups that the move would put Americans under the thumbs of hostile governments abroad. "Sen. Coburn clearly doesn't see the danger of letting Iran, Venezuela and Libya control our economy, but there are other senators who do," said Tom Buis, CEO of ethanol group Growth Energy, in a statement describing domestic ethanol as "the only viable alternative we have to foreign oil." Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/06/10/5/ VEHICLES Are EVs greener than ICEs? Ricardo’s report says “Yes”. The report “Preparing for a Life Cycle CO2 Measure”, presented at the LowCVP Annual Conference on 9 June 2011, was prepared by Ricardo in collaboration with the partnership’s expert membership which includes major manufacturers and oil companies. Ricardo results show hybrids and EVs will have lower life cycle CO2 emissions, but emissions embedded in the production will be more significant. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/60120110610.php GREEN ENERGY Merkel Must Change Wind Energy Aid Law, German Opposition Says. June 9 (Bloomberg) -- Germany's opposition Social Democrats and Green Party called for Chancellor Angela Merkel's government to make changes to planned renewable energy subsidies to promote onshore wind and repowering projects. Onshore turbine operators will see aid slide by an additional 1.5 percent in 2012, the Environment Ministry said in a draft law published June 6 on its website. The bonus for repowering, replacing turbines with new models with higher generation capacity, will be limited to units that started by 2001 and pose a problem to the network, it said. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/06/09/bloomberg1376-LMIPPH07SXKX01-21O4OE3R9URSGORJIRRV729SO8.DTL Google looks to make renewable energy more cost-effective than fossil fuels. Internet giant Google is looking for ways to make clean, renewable energy cheaper than fossil fuels, the company's CEO announced earlier this week. Larry Page, the founder and CEO of Google, said the company is recruiting five new employees to its Renewable Energy Engineering department in Google's California headquarters, employees who will seek to capitalize on Google's investments in clean energy companies. Page made the announcement at the company's annual shareholder meeting. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/10/14/ OPINION EPA unveils new mileage stickers as drivers ask why fuel economy 'may vary'. Michael Nier of Boca Raton, Fla., is one of many Florida drivers questioning how the federal government arrives at the Environmental Protection Agency fuel mileage numbers. "I've asked many people in the car industry," Nier says, "and not one of them knows the answer." When a gallon of regular gasoline was $2 a gallon, the question was merely interesting. As gas approaches $4 a gallon, the question is downright compelling. At lower prices, fuel mileage may be an incidental consideration when we buy a car or a truck, but at near-record prices, gas mileage may be the driving factor in a purchase decision. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/10/1726427/epa-unveils-new-mileage-stickers.html BLOGS Americans Still Split on Global Warming, Poll Shows. Judging from an annual survey by researchers at Yale and George Mason universities, the American public is roughly as fractured in its attitudes toward climate change today as it was last year. In the first of four reports based on the poll, the researchers estimate that 64 percent of American adults now believe that the planet is warming, up slightly from 61 percent last year. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/09/americans-still-split-on-global-warming-poll-shows/?scp=9&sq=climate%20change&st=cse How will UK achieve 50% Carbon Cut by 2027- By getting Someone Else to Make our Stuff. Not for the first time, the Prime Minister was happily promoting the irreconcilable. “By stepping up, showing leadership and competing with the world,” he announced last week, “the UK can prove that there need not be a tension between green and growth.” It could have been worse. After the Treasury and the business department tried to scupper the UK’s long-term carbon targets, David Cameron stepped in to rescue them. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/uk-carbon-cuts/ Tri Delta Transit Fined $17,000 for Polluting Buses. Tri Delta Transit has been fined $17,000 by the state's Air Resources Board for failing to meet state air quality standards for its vehicles. The agency, which is also known as the Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority, provides local bus service in Bay Point, Pittsburgh, Antioch, Oakley and Discovery Bay. Diesel exhaust includes a number of harmful gases, as well as 40 other known cancer-causing compounds, according to the state's air board. "In 1998, California identified diesel particulate matter as a toxic air contaminant based on its potential to cause cancer, premature death and other health problems," said the statement announcing the fine against Tri Delta Transit among others. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/blogs/quality-of-life/tri-delta-transit-fined-17000-polluting/ Are green buildings bad for your health? Brace yourselves! The greens are sneaking dangerous materials into your home and office with the help of the EPA's energy retrofits program! Or at least that's what Fox News is reporting. The reality is a bit different. In a study commissioned by the EPA, the Institutes of Medicine analyzed the effects climate change may have on people inside, where they spend most of their time. Climate change — which Fox News has vociferously and systematically doubted — will cause more people to use air conditioning, which can generate indoor air pollution. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=90691 Why you’ll soon have solar panels, in 3 easy graphs. By the time new coal-fired power plants come on-line in the U.S., solar will already be cheaper. If you want to understand what kind of revolution this will bring about in power production, check out this analysis from Jonathan Koomey of Stanford University: Here's an interesting thing for people to contemplate: As solar reaches grid parity based on retail prices we'll start to see big changes in what is now called the peak demand period in most regions (summer afternoons, when air conditioners run full blast). The system is now set up to meet that peak demand with lots of inefficient gas combustion turbines that we can either retire or repurpose once [solar photovoltaic] comes in full force. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-10-why-youll-soon-have-solar-panels-in-3-easy-graphs ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:28:33 -0700 Subject: -- newsclips--News Clips for June 13, 2011 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 13, 2011. 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 Report: Ventura waste plant plagued with problems. Officials say a much-touted waste processing plant in Ventura County has been plagued with problems and has operated at just 10 percent to 15 percent capacity since opening two years ago. The Ventura County Star reports Sunday that the $10 million biosolids plant at the Toland Road Landfill has failed air emissions tests and has been hobbled by equipment troubles. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/12/state/n150047D65.DTL http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/12/report-ventura-waste-plant-plagued-with-problems/ http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18259626?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com&nclick_check=1 http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jun/12/report-ventura-waste-plant-plagued-with-problems/ http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18259626?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18259626?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18259626?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com&nclick_check=1 http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/12/2424470/report-ventura-waste-plant-plagued.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/12/1729346/report-ventura-waste-plant-plagued.html Fire spewing toxic smoke in Arizona, New Mexico. An eye-stinging, throat-burning haze of smoke spewing from a gigantic wildfire in eastern Arizona is beginning to stretch as far east as central New Mexico, prompting health officials to warn residents as far away as Albuquerque about potential respiratory hazards. The 672-square-mile blaze was no longer just an Arizona problem on Saturday as firefighters moved to counter spot fires sprouting up across the state line and lighting their own fires to beat it back. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/huge-arizona-wildfire-enters-new-mexico-as-it-spews-unhealthy-air-eastward/2011/06/12/AG1HPYRH_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/12/MNT51JSQHM.DTL http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/12/huge-az-wildfire-spreads-health-conditions/ http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jun/11/huge-az-wildfire-spreads-health-conditions-worsen/ http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/11/1727987/huge-az-wildfire-spreads-health.html Cap and trade sparks renewed political debate. California is the leader in the fight against climate change in the United States, instituting groundbreaking measures as the federal government's efforts have floundered. But a central piece of the plan to reduce greenhouse gases is now under fire by an unlikely source: environmentalists in the state. The outcome of the dispute will have national and international implications for combatting climate change. Gov. Jerry Brown, who holds the largest sway in the fracas, has yet to weigh in. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/12/MNVT1JQNB3.DTL Australia's Risky Plan on Emissions. Almost a year since former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was ousted by his own party as he tried to introduce a controversial mining tax, his successor, Julia Gillard, risks the same fate. She is pushing for a tariff on greenhouse gases and an emissions-trading system that she hopes will shrink the nation's disproportionately big carbon footprint. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303714704576381281541431192.html?KEYWORDS=fuels Another Climate Change Concern: Indoor Air. Add another one to the list of unintended consequences. As we try to button up our workplaces and homes for better energy efficiency, we may be creating or exacerbating other problems. Sure, it saves on heat and air-conditioning to seal leaks. But if there's a damp and moldy basement, or radon seepage, those problems could worsen. Indeed, officials in this region, where radon is a problem, recommend retesting for radon if a home's air leaks are sealed significantly. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/13/3696586/another-climate-change-concern.html#storylink=misearch East Contra Costa transit agency fined for emissions violation. The agency that runs East Contra Costa's bus service has been fined $17,000 by the state for not complying with diesel-emissions standards. The Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority has paid the fine, agreed to several terms, including sending employees to training classes, and has since complied with state standards, said Steve Ponte, Tri Delta Transit chief operating officer. The Air Resources Board monitors the emissions of transit companies and requires them to report their emissions every year, spokeswoman Karen Caesar said. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18247654?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18247654?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18247654?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com INLAND: Air quality officials outline 20-year clean-air strategy. Most Southern California workers recharge their cars at night to handle the morning commute. Rooftops just about everywhere harness solar power. And trains and trucks tap power from electrical grids installed below railroad tracks and freeway lanes. These and other changes that would require more electricity and clean air sources to move goods and people in Southern California are now the official vision and goal of regional and state air quality and planning agencies. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_future11.2c935b2.html CLIMATE CHANGE Small nations pledge carbon neutrality; big ones haggle over Kyoto future. Ethiopia, a country that has become nearly synonymous with famine and poverty, has pledged carbon-neutral growth by 2025. Fiji, Cook Islands and more than two dozen other small island nations with what one diplomat called "a truly, truly negligible share of emissions" have banded together to increase energy efficiency and develop renewable energy alternatives. And Vietnam, where the Mekong Delta area will be one of the world's hardest hit by climate change, aims to reduce about 516 million tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions by 2030. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/13/3/ FUELS D.O.E. Grants $83 Million To Biofuels Startups (Not One Of Them In Silicon Valley). Maybe it’s just a biofuels thing this year, but it seems like the feds are giving cleantech grant money to companies and institutions that are based anywhere but in the nation’s capital of venture capital. The U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced six recipients of $36 million in total grant funding via the Department of Energy’s Biomass Program on Friday. That non-dilutive funding went to organizations working to make the production of “drop-in” biofuels and plant-based chemicals better, and to ultimately bring affordable alternatives to petroleum-based products mainstream in the U.S. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/doe-grants-83-million-to-biofuels-startups-not-one-of-them-in-silicon-valley/2011/06/13/AGNKK8SH_story.html 1st natural gas fueling station opens in Nebraska. Nebraska has opened its first natural gas fueling station, and two more are expected to be in operation soon. The Metropolitan Utilities District unveiled the first station Friday afternoon at I-80 Fuel in Omaha, which already offers unleaded and diesel fuel. The Omaha-based utility is scheduled to open a second station in Omaha in July, and the Lincoln Airport Authority is planning one that will open in August. "As more individuals and businesses look to alternative sources of energy, natural gas makes sense," said MUD board chairman David Friend. "It is clean, abundant and American." Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/11/1st-natural-gas-fueling-station-opens-in/ US gas is artificially cheap: What we don't pay for at the pump. California has some of the dirtiest air in the nation. Consequently, it has some of the strictest rules for gasoline, meaning it burns cleaner than it does in many other states. But cleaner fuels are more expensive. Clean air requirements, combined with supply and refining constraints, make the price of California gas consistently among the highest in the nation. Turmoil in the Middle East is another factor that pushes up the global price of crude oil. Even though the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas in California fluctuates around $4, some experts argue that $4 a gallon is much less than the real cost. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/us-gas-artificially-cheap-what-we-dont-pay-pump-10692 VEHICLES Electric, if Not Electrifying: Cars for Short-Range Commutes. Is there a need for a new breed of tiny gas-free commuter cars that match the old stereotypes of electric vehicles — that they are puny, plasticky and incapable of going very far? In recent weeks I’ve driven three such vehicles, all smaller and less substantial than the well-publicized Nissan Leaf, an electric compact, and Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid with a gasoline engine to back up its batteries Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/12/automobiles/autoreviews/12ELECTRIC.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=vehicles&st=cse# Nissan Aggravates Customers Attempting to Turn New Leaf: Cars. Nissan Motor Co. is aggravating the customers it needs most. Nissan, which wants to become the top seller of electric cars, repeatedly delayed deliveries to some U.S. buyers who reserved the first 20,000 Leaf plug-in hatchbacks, according to interviews with customers. They said Nissan unexpectedly dropped some from the waiting list temporarily, asking that they reapply if they couldn't prove they'd arranged installation of home- charging units that can cost more than $2,000. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/06/13/bloomberg1376-LMLKH00UQVI901-3QLO7KDMF6S089FGGDFU7JSOGA.DTL Ford to introduce hybrid minivan. Ford Motor Co. said Thursday that it plans to introduce a smaller, five-passenger hatchback minivan as either a hybrid or a plug-in hybrid, canceling plans to re-enter the traditional minivan onto the market in the United States. Called the C-Max, the automobile is Ford's first hybrid-only model in North America. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/13/9/ GREEN ENERGY Obama admin launches campaign to help states, utilities deploy smart grid projects. Obama administration officials, joined by electric power industry executives and state regulators, will unveil a new campaign today to push deployment of smart grid and clean energy technologies. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, head the administration officials at today's conference. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/13/2/ Manure Entreprenuer Turns Dairy Waste into Green Energy. SEATTLE -- The back end of a cow provides the front end of the green-energy business that Kevin Maas is slowly expanding in Western Washington and Oregon. With missionary zeal, he and his brother Daryl build modest electricity-producing projects that help family-owned dairy farms preserve their key role in the agricultural ecosystem. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/13/3696439/manure-entrepreneur-turns-dairy.html#storylink=misearch HEMET: Workshops to teach about solar, wind power. Mt. San Jacinto College will be conducting solar and wind workshops this month for Hemet Unified School District students to help provide awareness of "green" technology careers in renewable energy, a growing and innovative field. Participants will be exposed to solar and wind energy and electricity fundamentals, and to the MSJC Solar/Wind/Manufacturing Employee Concentration Certificates. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/hemet/stories/PE_News_Local_E_egreen12.432d8ca.html MISCELLANEOUS NM site called model for nuclear waste disposal. A half-mile under the flat, scrubby desert in southeastern New Mexico, a warren of rectangular chambers is chiseled into a 250 million-year-old salt formation. For the last dozen years, forklifts have been filling these tombs with radioactive waste left over from the country's efforts to build nuclear bombs. Sometime this year, the 10,000th shipment will arrive at the Waste Isolation Pilot Program, or WIPP, sealed in steel casks the size of elephants on the back of a flatbed truck hailing from one of 10 government nuclear development sites around the country. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/12/national/a210144D00.DTL http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18260968?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18260968?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18260968?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18260968?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/12/1729707/nm-site-called-model-for-nuclear.html NRC chief in hot seat for scrapping work on dump. In the two years that Gregory Jaczko has led the nation's independent nuclear agency, his actions to delay, hide and kill work on a disputed dump for high-level radioactive waste have been called "bizarre," `'unorthodox" and "illegal." These harsh critiques haven't come just from politicians who have strong views in favor of the Yucca Mountain waste site in Nevada. They've come from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's own scientists and a former agency chairman. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/article_23cde63e-3b1e-5b8f-bfbc-70cc5ddfac16.html SAN BERNARDINO: Dump pump, take bus -- for free. With the economic recession hanging on and gas prices still around $4 per gallon, Omnitrans urges commuters to "Dump the Pump" and ride the bus for free on Thursday. Omnitrans joins public transportation systems nationwide in the sixth annual Dump the Pump Day, sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_N_ndumppump11.38e5942.html OPINION America Needs the Shale Revolution. The U.S. is on the verge of an industrial renaissance if—and it's a big if—policy makers don't foul it up by restricting the ability of drillers to use the technology that's making a renaissance possible: hydraulic fracturing. The shale drilling boom now underway in Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and other states is already creating jobs, slashing natural-gas prices, and spurring billions of dollars of investment in new production capacity for critical commodities like steel and petrochemicals. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304432304576369140191493636.html?KEYWORDS=greKEYWORDS%3Dgreen+energy When wind and solar power don't add up. In April, Gov. Jerry Brown made headlines by signing into law an ambitious mandate that requires California to obtain one-third of its electricity from renewable energy sources like sunlight and wind by 2020. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia now have renewable electricity mandates. President Obama and several members of Congress have supported one at the federal level. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110612/WIRE/110619929 BLOGS Saving Electricity on a Philadelphia Subway Line. Subway trains need a lot of electricity to get going, turning electricity into kinetic energy, the energy of movement. When they pull into a station, many of them can do the opposite: generate electricity from their momentum. They turn their motors into generators to slow the train, producing current. But in many systems, some of that energy goes to waste because of a bottleneck: the third rail, which carries current to the train, cannot handle as much energy as the train is generating during deceleration. Too much current pushes up the voltage, and when the voltage gets too high, the electricity is dissipated by running it through a piece of metal that converts it into heat. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/batteries-will-save-juice-on-a-philadelphia-commuter-line/?scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Is natural gas becoming a cover for the same old dirty fossil fuels industry? One of the great ironies of the transition to renewable energy is that it's going to require a great deal of fossil fuels to build all those wind turbines, solar panels, and smart grids -- because we simply don't have enough renewables already in the mix to bootstrap them up to the level we need to continue even a semblance of our 21st century civilization. So why not make that transition with the "cleanest" fossil fuel available, goes the argument -- namely, natural gas. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-13-is-natural-gas-becoming-a-cover-for-the-same-old-dirty-foss Obama administration to put $250 million towards smart grid. As exciting as alternative energy is, all the wind turbines in the world are not going to replace dirty energy unless the power they generate can get to consumers. That requires a better, smarter power grid than the U.S. has now. The Obama administration has been reasonably supportive of that goal, packing $4.5 billion for improving the grid into the stimulus bill back in 2009. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-13-obama-administration-to-put-250-million-towards-smart-grid California Legislature Fueling the Future of Electric Vehicles. The Obama administration’s well-publicized goal of 1M electric vehicles on U.S. roads by the year 2015 is heavily dependent upon the adoption rate of such vehicles in California – an assertion supported by a variety of studies from various stakeholders. The California Energy Commission estimates 1.5M electric vehicles could be on state roads by 2020. Additionally, a recent study published by Pike Research determined that Los Angeles will lead the way in the purchase of electric vehicles from both fleet and consumer perspectives. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/california-legislature-fueling-future-electric-vehicles/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 10:30:04 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 13, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 14, 2011. 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 It’s not just CO2: Cutting soot and smog will limit climate change quickly, says new UN report. AMSTERDAM — The struggle to contain climate change usually focuses on reducing carbon dioxide. But black carbon and ozone, the main ingredients of soot and smog, also add to global warming, and controlling them will act quickly to slow rising temperatures, a U.N. agency said Tuesday. Black carbon comes from solid particles from tailpipes, forest fires or wood-burning stoves and brick kilns commonly found in poor countries. It absorbs sunlight, and is most damaging when it settles on the Arctic snow or mountain glaciers, causing ice packs to melt more rapidly. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/its-not-just-co2-cutting-soot-and-smog-will-limit-climate-change-quickly-says-new-un-report/2011/06/14/AGNQgLUH_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/14/un-report-cut-soot-smog-to-limit-climate-change/ Cap and trade rated higher than air alternatives. Under orders from a judge, California air quality regulators released a study Monday of potential greenhouse-gas-cutting measures, including alternatives to a controversial cap-and-trade system due to begin operations in the state next year. But the analysis, from the California Air Resources Board, still gives cap and trade higher marks than any of the alternatives, including a carbon tax. As a result, the study is unlikely to settle the lingering debate over the state's cap-and-trade system, which will set a limit on greenhouse gas emissions and create a market for trading the right to produce those gases. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/14/BUTQ1JTD7A.DTL State releases new cap-and-trade alternatives analysis. California regulators have revised their analysis of alternatives to cap and trade in the wake of last month's court decision that found the groundwork for the nation's first economywide greenhouse gas trading system insufficient. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith's May 20 decision handed back the California Air Resources Board's cap-and-trade program, the cornerstone of its efforts to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Environmental justice groups had sued over the market-based model, which they alleged would increase air pollution in some spots by allowing companies to buy their way to compliance. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/14/6/ FUELS Senate to vote on repealing ethanol tax credits. WASHINGTON -- With lawmakers desperately working to shave federal budget deficits, the Senate is debating a measure to eliminate ethanol tax credits that pay the oil industry $5 billion a year. The biggest defenders of the subsidies, however, include farm belt conservatives leading the charge for less government. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., is forcing a vote on a measure Tuesday that would repeal the credits. Coburn says they are wasteful subsidies for an industry that no longer needs them. "The days of placing spending programs in the tax code and giving them holy status are over," Coburn said. "Ethanol is bad economic policy, bad energy policy and bad environmental policy." Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/14/1731338/senate-to-vote-on-repealing-ethanol.html GREEN ENERGY EPA chief Lisa Jackson says Sacramento is on the right track to attract clean tech. The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that the Sacramento region is on the right track in its effort to attract green jobs and clean tech industry. Making her first visit to the capital region, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said she was impressed by the commitment of local business and political leaders to developing Sacramento into a hub for the green economy. "There is another gold rush coming to Sacramento, and your commitment to an emerald community and green will make that happen," she said. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/14/1731321/epa-chief-lisa-jackson-says-sacramento.html Google invests $280 million to spur home solar. NEW YORK -- Google is investing $280 million to help private homeowners put solar panels on their rooftops. It's Google's latest - and largest - investment in clean energy. The money will allow installer SolarCity to offer solar systems to homeowners for no money up front. In exchange, customers agree to pay a set price for the power produced by the panels. Google earns a return on its investment by charging SolarCity interest to use its money and reaping the benefits of federal and local renewable energy tax credits. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/14/google-invests-280-million-to-spur-home-solar/ http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/14/google-invests-280-million-to-spur-home-solar/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_272425a2-b4a7-5425-a4cf-04dd7903a481.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/14/1731547/google-invests-280-million-to.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18269725?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18269725 Wind power and water power collide in the Northwest. Reporting from Rufus, Ore.— The wide, green gorge where the majestic Columbia River begins its final push to the sea generates so many stiff breezes that windsurfers from around the world make their way to Hood River, not far from here, to ply their colorful sails atop the churning whitecaps. Lately though, electricity, not recreation, has become the big-ticket wind client in the Columbia Gorge. Wind turbines have sprung up all over the blustery hilltops in eastern Washington and Oregon, an area soon to become home to the largest wind farm in the world, developed for customers of Southern California Edison. Indeed, half the massive new wind power generated in the Pacific Northwest goes down the grid to California. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-adv-wind-energy-20110614,0,1852355.story BLOGS Critical List: EPA delays rules on carbon emissions; Bachmann hates the EPA. The EPA is delaying until September rules that would regulate power plants' greenhouse gas emissions. Michele Bachmann has a great plan for the agency, should she become president: Rename it "the job-killing organization of America." That will solve everything! Fukushima clean-up has been a comedy of errors when it comes to safety protections. Many aren’t getting training to use their protective gear, and others aren’t getting enough gear at all. Some people say that when they were recruited, they weren’t even told that they’d be cleaning up radiation at the plant. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-14-critical-list-epa-delays-rules-on-carbon-emissions-bachmann-hate Air Board Hands in its Homework. In response to a court ruling (which it's still appealing), the California Air Resources Board today issued a new analysis of its proposed carbon trading program, weighed against several alternative means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The fresh look includes the original five options, including cap & trade and the option of doing nothing at all. It does not add any new options but rather seeks to flesh out the other three. The non-trading options include regulating emissions at the source, implementing a straight-up tax on carbon emissions, and a mixed bag of actions. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/06/13/air-board-hands-in-its-homework/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Air Resources Board Releases New Environmental Assessment of Cap and Trade to Comply with Judge’s Order. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is covering all its bases in responding to a judge’s order that CARB violated the California Enviornmental Quality Act (CEQA) in adopting its scoping plan to implement AB 32 (the state’s climate change legislation). As I reported last week, CARB has won an order from the appeals court allowing the state to go forward in implementing its challenged cap and trade program. But to hedge its bets, the staff of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) today released an analysis that is meant to bring CARB into compliance with the judge’s ruling while supporting CARB’s decision to adopt a cap and trade program. Posted. http://legalplanet.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/air-resources-board-releases-new-environmental-assessment-of-cap-and-trade-to-comply-with-judges-order/ Global warming’s cause, effect and solution. Leave it to the esteemed President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to put his finger on the global warming problem. “The main factor behind the destruction of the environment is the greed and ceaseless avaraice and insatiable hunger of the world’s capitalists.” There you have it, authoritatively. Well, sort of authoritatively. The Iranian nutcase has laid the blame for global warming squarely at the door of capitalism. We’re shocked. What to do? How about suing? Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2011/06/13/global-warmings-cause-effect-and-solution/45751/ U.S. (finally) Labels Formaldehyde "Known Human Carcinogen." After decades of debate, the Obama administration last week classified formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen, a label that is likely to advance regulatory steps to restrict this widely used hazardous chemical. The move came as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the long-awaited 12th Report on Carcinogens, a Congressionally mandated report assembled by the National Toxicology Program of the National Institutes of Health. Posted. http://www.enviroblog.org/2011/06/formaldehyde-finally-labeled-known-human-carcinogen.html Triple Threat: New Generator Harnesses Energy from Sun, Wind and Rain. One thing that's known for sure about the future of renewable energy is that it will take all types to fulfill our energy needs. The wind isn't always blowing and the sun isn't always shining, but if wind, solar, geothermal, wave/tidal and any other type of renewable energy generation are all utilized and all feeding the grid, then we'll be more than covered. But what about devices that can harness more than one of these renewable energy sources at once? Posted. http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3529 GM Boss Wants Gasoline Tax Hike – Is This Good Policy To Meet Fuel Efficiency Goals? The Detroit News reported last week that General Motors CEO, Dan Akerson, would like to see the federal gasoline tax boosted by as much as $1 per gallon in order to encourage drivers to choose more fuel efficient vehicles. If you are a politician in office today, it’s of course anathema to talk about raising fuel taxes – unless of course you harbor some sort of political suicide agenda – and it’s at least mildly surprising that a Republican CEO would be a proponent of raising taxes on a product which directly, and potentially adversely, impacts the company he is running. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/gm-boss-gas-tax-hike-good-policy-meet-fuel-efficiency/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:05:58 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 14, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 14, 2011. 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 It’s not just CO2: Cutting soot and smog will limit climate change quickly, says new UN report. AMSTERDAM — The struggle to contain climate change usually focuses on reducing carbon dioxide. But black carbon and ozone, the main ingredients of soot and smog, also add to global warming, and controlling them will act quickly to slow rising temperatures, a U.N. agency said Tuesday. Black carbon comes from solid particles from tailpipes, forest fires or wood-burning stoves and brick kilns commonly found in poor countries. It absorbs sunlight, and is most damaging when it settles on the Arctic snow or mountain glaciers, causing ice packs to melt more rapidly. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/its-not-just-co2-cutting-soot-and-smog-will-limit-climate-change-quickly-says-new-un-report/2011/06/14/AGNQgLUH_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/14/un-report-cut-soot-smog-to-limit-climate-change/ Cap and trade rated higher than air alternatives. Under orders from a judge, California air quality regulators released a study Monday of potential greenhouse-gas-cutting measures, including alternatives to a controversial cap-and-trade system due to begin operations in the state next year. But the analysis, from the California Air Resources Board, still gives cap and trade higher marks than any of the alternatives, including a carbon tax. As a result, the study is unlikely to settle the lingering debate over the state's cap-and-trade system, which will set a limit on greenhouse gas emissions and create a market for trading the right to produce those gases. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/14/BUTQ1JTD7A.DTL State releases new cap-and-trade alternatives analysis. California regulators have revised their analysis of alternatives to cap and trade in the wake of last month's court decision that found the groundwork for the nation's first economywide greenhouse gas trading system insufficient. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith's May 20 decision handed back the California Air Resources Board's cap-and-trade program, the cornerstone of its efforts to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Environmental justice groups had sued over the market-based model, which they alleged would increase air pollution in some spots by allowing companies to buy their way to compliance. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/14/6/ FUELS Senate to vote on repealing ethanol tax credits. WASHINGTON -- With lawmakers desperately working to shave federal budget deficits, the Senate is debating a measure to eliminate ethanol tax credits that pay the oil industry $5 billion a year. The biggest defenders of the subsidies, however, include farm belt conservatives leading the charge for less government. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., is forcing a vote on a measure Tuesday that would repeal the credits. Coburn says they are wasteful subsidies for an industry that no longer needs them. "The days of placing spending programs in the tax code and giving them holy status are over," Coburn said. "Ethanol is bad economic policy, bad energy policy and bad environmental policy." Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/14/1731338/senate-to-vote-on-repealing-ethanol.html GREEN ENERGY EPA chief Lisa Jackson says Sacramento is on the right track to attract clean tech. The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that the Sacramento region is on the right track in its effort to attract green jobs and clean tech industry. Making her first visit to the capital region, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said she was impressed by the commitment of local business and political leaders to developing Sacramento into a hub for the green economy. "There is another gold rush coming to Sacramento, and your commitment to an emerald community and green will make that happen," she said. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/14/1731321/epa-chief-lisa-jackson-says-sacramento.html Google invests $280 million to spur home solar. NEW YORK -- Google is investing $280 million to help private homeowners put solar panels on their rooftops. It's Google's latest - and largest - investment in clean energy. The money will allow installer SolarCity to offer solar systems to homeowners for no money up front. In exchange, customers agree to pay a set price for the power produced by the panels. Google earns a return on its investment by charging SolarCity interest to use its money and reaping the benefits of federal and local renewable energy tax credits. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/14/google-invests-280-million-to-spur-home-solar/ http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/14/google-invests-280-million-to-spur-home-solar/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_272425a2-b4a7-5425-a4cf-04dd7903a481.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/14/1731547/google-invests-280-million-to.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18269725?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18269725 Wind power and water power collide in the Northwest. Reporting from Rufus, Ore.— The wide, green gorge where the majestic Columbia River begins its final push to the sea generates so many stiff breezes that windsurfers from around the world make their way to Hood River, not far from here, to ply their colorful sails atop the churning whitecaps. Lately though, electricity, not recreation, has become the big-ticket wind client in the Columbia Gorge. Wind turbines have sprung up all over the blustery hilltops in eastern Washington and Oregon, an area soon to become home to the largest wind farm in the world, developed for customers of Southern California Edison. Indeed, half the massive new wind power generated in the Pacific Northwest goes down the grid to California. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-adv-wind-energy-20110614,0,1852355.story BLOGS Critical List: EPA delays rules on carbon emissions; Bachmann hates the EPA. The EPA is delaying until September rules that would regulate power plants' greenhouse gas emissions. Michele Bachmann has a great plan for the agency, should she become president: Rename it "the job-killing organization of America." That will solve everything! Fukushima clean-up has been a comedy of errors when it comes to safety protections. Many aren’t getting training to use their protective gear, and others aren’t getting enough gear at all. Some people say that when they were recruited, they weren’t even told that they’d be cleaning up radiation at the plant. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-14-critical-list-epa-delays-rules-on-carbon-emissions-bachmann-hate Air Board Hands in its Homework. In response to a court ruling (which it's still appealing), the California Air Resources Board today issued a new analysis of its proposed carbon trading program, weighed against several alternative means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The fresh look includes the original five options, including cap & trade and the option of doing nothing at all. It does not add any new options but rather seeks to flesh out the other three. The non-trading options include regulating emissions at the source, implementing a straight-up tax on carbon emissions, and a mixed bag of actions. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/06/13/air-board-hands-in-its-homework/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Air Resources Board Releases New Environmental Assessment of Cap and Trade to Comply with Judge’s Order. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is covering all its bases in responding to a judge’s order that CARB violated the California Enviornmental Quality Act (CEQA) in adopting its scoping plan to implement AB 32 (the state’s climate change legislation). As I reported last week, CARB has won an order from the appeals court allowing the state to go forward in implementing its challenged cap and trade program. But to hedge its bets, the staff of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) today released an analysis that is meant to bring CARB into compliance with the judge’s ruling while supporting CARB’s decision to adopt a cap and trade program. Posted. http://legalplanet.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/air-resources-board-releases-new-environmental-assessment-of-cap-and-trade-to-comply-with-judges-order/ Global warming’s cause, effect and solution. Leave it to the esteemed President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to put his finger on the global warming problem. “The main factor behind the destruction of the environment is the greed and ceaseless avaraice and insatiable hunger of the world’s capitalists.” There you have it, authoritatively. Well, sort of authoritatively. The Iranian nutcase has laid the blame for global warming squarely at the door of capitalism. We’re shocked. What to do? How about suing? Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2011/06/13/global-warmings-cause-effect-and-solution/45751/ U.S. (finally) Labels Formaldehyde "Known Human Carcinogen." After decades of debate, the Obama administration last week classified formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen, a label that is likely to advance regulatory steps to restrict this widely used hazardous chemical. The move came as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the long-awaited 12th Report on Carcinogens, a Congressionally mandated report assembled by the National Toxicology Program of the National Institutes of Health. Posted. http://www.enviroblog.org/2011/06/formaldehyde-finally-labeled-known-human-carcinogen.html Triple Threat: New Generator Harnesses Energy from Sun, Wind and Rain. One thing that's known for sure about the future of renewable energy is that it will take all types to fulfill our energy needs. The wind isn't always blowing and the sun isn't always shining, but if wind, solar, geothermal, wave/tidal and any other type of renewable energy generation are all utilized and all feeding the grid, then we'll be more than covered. But what about devices that can harness more than one of these renewable energy sources at once? Posted. http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3529 GM Boss Wants Gasoline Tax Hike – Is This Good Policy To Meet Fuel Efficiency Goals? The Detroit News reported last week that General Motors CEO, Dan Akerson, would like to see the federal gasoline tax boosted by as much as $1 per gallon in order to encourage drivers to choose more fuel efficient vehicles. If you are a politician in office today, it’s of course anathema to talk about raising fuel taxes – unless of course you harbor some sort of political suicide agenda – and it’s at least mildly surprising that a Republican CEO would be a proponent of raising taxes on a product which directly, and potentially adversely, impacts the company he is running. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/gm-boss-gas-tax-hike-good-policy-meet-fuel-efficiency/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:26:18 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 15, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 15, 2011. 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 Study Looks At Air Quality Of West LB Rail Yard. Researchers are wrapping up work on a detailed two-year study of health impacts from pollutants emitted by trains, trucks and cranes at a massive rail yard bordering West Long Beach. The Intermodal Container Transfer Facility, or ICTF, moves about 750,000 containers annually through a roughly 150-acre facility on Willow Street just west of the city’s border. Posted. http://www.presstelegram.com/fdcp?unique=1308164817244 Air Quality Exec's Compensation: Nearly $400,000. You might want to take a deep breath before reading this. The executive officer at the South Coast Air Quality Management District – the air pollution control agency for Orange County and the urban parts of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, which happen to be one of the smoggiest in America – had $386,423 in total compensation in 2009, according to figures from the state controller’s office. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/quality-304441-air-exec.html AEP's Shutdown Claims Are 'Misleading At Best' – Jackson. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson had harsh words for American Electric Power Co. Inc. this morning, a week after the utility shook up the debate over new emissions rules by announcing it would shut down 6,000 megawatts of coal-fired plants in the next few years. The Columbus, Ohio-based company's claims were "misleading at best, scare tactics at worst," Jackson said after a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on the Clean Air Act. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/15/3 CLIMATE CHANGE A Green Solution, or the Dark Side to Cleaner Coal? The six massive silos standing beside this industrial port in northeastern China hold seemingly contradictory promises: They could help improve the quality of China’s polluted air, but they might also contribute to faster global warming. The silos, which are scheduled to start operation in July, are designed to blend cleaner-burning imported coal with China’s own high-polluting domestic coal, which is contaminated with sulfur and dust. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/business/energy-environment/15iht-sreCHINA15.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Doctors Prepare Their Professions to Explain and Treat Climate-Related Symptoms. Dr. Anthony Szema is used to seeing patients with red eyes and runny noses. But in the past couple of years, the New York-based allergist has been faced with an onslaught of patients complaining their symptoms are starting earlier and hitting harder than ever before. Szema believes climate change is a culprit in the extended severe allergy seasons. And he is one of a small number of physicians who are beginning to talk to their patients about it. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/06/15/15climatewire-doctors-prepare-their-professions-to-explain-8660.html?pagewanted=print Climate Change Link to Fires Ignites Senate Committee. Climate change crept into the discussion of fire management at a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing yesterday, despite Republicans' tiptoeing around the issue. As fires like the voracious Wallow Fire spread throughout the Southwest, the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Interior are being pressed to offer solutions. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/06/15/15climatewire-climate-change-link-to-fires-ignites-senate-26892.html?pagewanted=print UN: Tackling Smog Key To Limiting Global Warming. Tackling smog and soot could provide a cheap and effective way of slowing global warming in the short term as well as benefiting agriculture and respiratory health, according to a new UN report. Combating ground-level ozone and limiting so-called 'black carbon' particles from vehicles, cooking stoves and inefficient biomass burning could cut as much as 0.5 degrees Celsius off the projected two degrees Celsius rise by 2050, the study says, echoing a UN paper published in February. Posted. http://www.businessgreen.com/print_article/bg/news/2079015/-tackling-smog-key-limiting-global-warming FUELS Obama Hydrogen Fuel Failure Conceded by Chu Paring Budget: Cars. Bloomberg June 14 --Energy Secretary Steven Chu, whose mandate includes getting more fuel-efficient cars on U.S. roads, is disregarding advisers in his own department and seeking to cut almost half the federal funding for hydrogen-powered autos. A Nobel Prize-winning physicist who also researched advanced biofuels, Chu says hydrogen fuel-cell technology developed by carmakers such as General Motors Co., Daimler AG and Toyota Motor Corp. isn’t yet practical. Auto companies and members of a government panel say he’s wrong and that they will be ready to market such cars by 2015. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. (Bloomberg) Effort to End Tax Credit for Ethanol Fails in Senate. The Senate beat back a challenge to ethanol fuel subsidies on Tuesday in a demonstration of how the drive to cut the federal deficit can run headlong into a favored interest on Capitol Hill. At the same time, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. expressed confidence about bipartisan talks aimed at producing a budget deal that would clear the way this summer for an increase in the federal debt ceiling. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/us/politics/15senate.html?scp=9&sq=fuels&st=cse Ethanol Subsidy Faces More Senate Tests. On Tuesday afternoon after the Senate failed to back an amendment that would have put an abrupt end to $6 billion a year of subsidies for corn ethanol, the president of the Renewable Fuels Association, Bob Dinneen, savored the moment. “Sometimes your opponents give you a gift,” he said, referring to the strategy of Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who introduced the amendment and unsuccessfully pressed for an end to debate on the matter. “The way Coburn went about this didn’t help his cause,” Dinneen said. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/ethanol-subsidy-faces-more-senate-tests/2011/06/14/AGNaw2VH_story.html Biodiesel Sets Sail. A high percentage of biodiesel is used by consumers on land, and marine operators are trying to match that same level of usage by sea. Encountering red tape isn’t new for alternative fuels such as biodiesel on their journey to acceptance as viable, on-road fuel. The same could be said for its off-road applications, specifically in maritime use. Posted. http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/7858/biodiesel-sets-sail DTE Energy’s Coal-To-Biomass Conversion Approved. DTE Energy has received approval from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District in California to convert a coal-fired power plant to biomass fuel. In July 2010, DTE bought the plant, which was closed in April 2009 after operating for 20 years. It is located at the Port of Stockton, a major deepwater port in Stockton, Calif., that is situated on the San Joaquin River. Posted. http://www.biomassmagazine.com/articles/5586/dte-energyundefineds-coal-to-biomass-conversion-approved VEHICLES Electric Vehicle Batteries As Energy Storage Devices. In some years, lithium-ion batteries may become determinant to supply energy to households during energy peak consumption periods. Presently, utilities and distributors recur to generators that are activated during peak consumption to compensate for load fluctuations. Frequency regulation, as the practice is known, is a market valued at $1bn. (€700 m.) and could benefit from the introduction of electric vehicles as smart grid energy components. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/60220110614.php First Customers are Key to EV Sales Success, Execs Say. Word of mouth is a key element to generating buyers for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Today, it's the early adapters, tech-savvy buyers who are embracing the technology and buying the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt and the battery-powered Nissan Leaf. But for these vehicles and similar models to go mainstream, anxiety about the technology needs to be eliminated. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110614/OEM05/110619929/1186 GM Investing In Electric Bus Company. General Motors Co. announced a partnership Monday with Proterra Inc., a company that makes zero-emission electric buses and the automated bus recharging stations that service them. Proterra, based in Golden, Colo., has already shipped a fleet of its buses to Pomona, Calif., last September, and San Antonio and Tallahassee, Fla., have already placed orders, with deliveries set for later this year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/15/10 GM Expresses Optimism For Volt Sales Despite Slow Start. Next year, Chevrolet will make its extended-range electric Volt available in all 50 states and lower the sticker price to $39,995, but whether the changes can overcome a sluggish start to its sales remains to be seen. General Motors Co. reported 481 Volts sold last month, down from 493 in April and 608 in March -- a total of 2,184 sales in three months. By contrast, the company reported 22,711 sales in May of the Chevy Cruze, a fuel-efficient compact. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/15/22 GREEN ENERGY Comments Sought On Solar Farm. The public can comment Thursday evening on the solar electricity system proposed for 160 acres just north of Modesto. The Modesto Irrigation District will take comment on the draft environmental impact report for the project. Although solar is seen as an alternative to more polluting power sources, the planners have to document the project's effects on the environment. They include the loss of farmland and the aesthetics of the solar panels. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/14/1732782/comments-sought-on-solar-farm.html Calif. Energy Efficiency Guru To Spread The Word In Russia. When Arthur Rosenfeld joined the California Energy Commission in 2000, the state electric power system was teetering on the verge of an energy crisis. "It was clear we were going to crash," Rosenfeld explains. "Utilities didn't know how to predict future demand. There hadn't been enough power plants built." Rosenfeld, an 85-year-old scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, is considered the godfather of energy efficiency in California. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/15/3 2 More DOE Loan Guarantees Awarded To Calif. Projects. Two more concentrated solar power projects yesterday won big-money loans from the U.S. Energy Department. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced conditional offers of nearly $2 billion to NextEra Energy Resources LLC and Abengoa Solar Inc. for plants to be built in an arid, open section of Southern California that has become a target for large-scale solar development. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/15/7 MISCELLANEOUS Mary Nichols. Mary D. Nichols is Chairman of the California Air Resources Board, a post she has held since 2007. Nichols has devoted her entire career in public and private, not-for-profit service to advocating for the environment and public health. In addition to her work at the Air Board, she has held a number of positions, including: assistant administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air and Radiation program under the Clinton Administration, Secretary for California's Resources Agency from 1999 to 2003, and Director of the University of California, Los Angeles Institute of the Environment. Posted. http://www.theclimategroup.org/our-news/interviews/2011/6/14/mary-nichols/?dm_i=6R6,FY6G,46NH5I,1AKE3,1 BLOGS California Redoes Its Greenhouse Gas Analysis. California Air Resources Board A summary of how various approaches to controlling emissions are expected to meet 20 objectives set by California air regulators. Nothing focuses the mind like being told by a thesis adviser (or a judge) that your analysis is inadequate and that your degree (or your carefully constructed policy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions) will be on hold until you provide a better one. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/14/california-redoes-greenhouse-gas-analysis/?pagemode=print Environmentalists Unhappy With Latest CARB Revision. The first article in this series questioned whether environmentalists will stand in the way as California gears up to meet the requirements of Assembly Bill 32, more commonly known as the Global Warming Solutions Act. With some research, it would appear that answer is “yes.” The first round of reductions mandated by AB 32 are scheduled to be in place in slightly over six months. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-los-angeles/environmentalist-unhappy-with-latest-carb-revision Fast Action On Black Carbon, Ozone And Methane Could Help Limit Global Temperature Rise To 2 Degrees C. Fast action on pollutants such as black carbon, ground-level ozone and methane may help limit near term global temperature rise and significantly increase the chances of keeping temperature rise below 2 °C (3.6 °F)—and perhaps even 1.5 °C (2.7 °F), according to a new assessment released today in Bonn, Germany, during a meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/06/unep-20110615.html Science Connects Climate Change And Wildfires. Why Won’t The Media? One of the least controversial impacts of the climate crisis is more frequent, severe, and damaging wildfires in America's West. Why won't reporters say so? It's been a scary spring for wildfires in places like Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Global warming caused by human-made carbon pollution is fueling perfect conditions, with longer fire seasons, drier conditions, and more lightning strikes. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-06-14-science-connects-global-warming-arizona-wildfires-the-media ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:58:00 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 16, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 16, 2011. 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 Sen. Barbara Boxer Lauds Action To Curb Mecca Odor During Capitol Hill Hearing. U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, arguing for the tougher safeguards under the federal Clean Air Act, discussed Mecca’s recent odor woes at a committee hearing Wednesday on Capitol Hill. Boxer, a Rancho Mirage Democrat who chairs the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, cited the intense, gas-like stench, which has sickened scores of Mecca residents since December, …Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110615/NEWS07/110615013/On-Capitol-Hill-Boxer-lauds-action-curb-Mecca-odor?odyssey=nav|head Attacks Haven't Sapped Support For Smog Rules -- American Lung Association Poll. Despite heavy political pressure on U.S. EPA since the start of the Obama administration, about 70 percent of Americans don't want to stop the agency's plan to crack down on smog, according to a poll released this morning by the American Lung Association. It found that 72 percent of likely voters in the 2012 election -- up from 68 percent in a similar poll last year -- don't want Congress to stop EPA from setting stricter rules on ground-level ozone, as the agency is expected to do this summer. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/16/19 AEP's Shutdown Claims Are 'Misleading At Best' – Jackson. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson had harsh words for American Electric Power Co. Inc. this morning, a week after the utility shook up the debate over new emissions rules by announcing it would shut down 6,000 megawatts of coal-fired plants in the next few years. The Columbus, Ohio-based company's claims were "misleading at best, scare tactics at worst," Jackson said after a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on the Clean Air Act. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/15/3 Congressional Fix Needed For Boiler Rule – Alexander. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), a moderate Republican who has worked closely with Democrats on air pollution issues, said today that the Obama administration won't be able to fix its controversial new standards for industrial boilers without some help. "That rule belongs on another planet somewhere," he told EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson this morning during an Environment and Public Works Committee hearing. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/15/6 CLIMATE CHANGE EU Climate Chief Confronts Riddle Of Deeper CO2 Cut. The European Union can still deepen planned cuts to greenhouse gases beyond 20 percent, but the task is complex and has not been helped by controversy over nuclear power, the EU's climate chief said on Wednesday. Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard is planning to reveal new research in July on the costs and benefits of deepening carbon emissions cuts to 30 percent by the end of this decade, from the current target of 20 percent. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/15/us-eu-climate-idUSTRE75E40120110615 California Set To Overcome CO2 Market Lawsuit: Point Carbon. San Francisco - Lawyers following the twists and turns of a legal challenge to California's planned carbon market said it looks increasingly likely the state will win. Several California-based attorneys told Point Carbon News on Wednesday there are a number of reasons to believe that the widely-discussed lawsuit will not delay the start of the market in January 2012. Posted. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/yourmoney/sns-rt-us-carbon-point-cartre75f31j-20110616,0,5941766.story Rethinking Cap And Trade. Gov. Jerry Brown could swap out California’s carbon-trading scheme. Of all the tools in California’s toolbox to fight global warming, “cap and trade” is probably the most controversial. The complicated carbon-trading scheme is set to begin at the beginning of next year. It’s aimed at reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse-gas emissions from power plants and large industrial facilities, but a lawsuit from environmental-justice groups has put the program into legal limbo. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/rethinking-cap-trade/content?oid=2342647 Traders And Experts Say Regional Cap-And-Trade Systems Will Proliferate. New York -- Regional cap-and-trade systems will continue to spread in the United States and Canada and are poised to converge on each other, in spite of troubles experienced at the Northeast's government-run program, experts confidently predicted yesterday. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/16/5 FUELS Del. Lawmakers Work To Land Fuel Cell Company. Dover, Del.—Delaware lawmakers are fast-tracking legislation to accommodate the state's effort to land a fuel-cell manufacturing facility. Gov. Jack Markell's administration is working to bring California-based Bloom Energy to Delaware, where it plans to create a manufacturing hub with hundreds of jobs at the former Chrysler factory in Newark. The administration is pushing for legislation establishing a regulatory framework for fuel cells. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18287057 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18287057 Tax Credits For Producing Ethanol Put To Test In Senate For Second Time This Week. Washington — Subsidies for ethanol are being put to the test again in the Senate as budget cutters try to demonstrate a growing appetite in Congress to end special interest tax breaks to help reduce government borrowing. The Senate is scheduled to vote Thursday on two measures that would end subsidies for producing ethanol, a renewable, liquid fuel additive that comes mainly from corn in the U.S. One measure would repeal a tax credit that provides 45 cents a gallon to oil refiners who mix ethanol with gasoline. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/tax-credits-for-producing-ethanol-put-to-test-in-senate-for-second-time-this-week/2011/06/16/AGUQRSXH_story.html VEHICLES No More Free Parking. Come July 1, those driving hybrid cars with the yellow "clean air" decals will no longer be able to park for free at meters in Santa Monica, city officials announced Wednesday. The change comes as a result of the legislature abandoning a program that allowed drivers of those hybrids to use car pool or high-occupancy lanes even though they had no other passenger in the car. Those hybrid vehicles no longer meet strict California emission standards, officials with the Department of Motor Vehicles said. Posted. http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2011-06-15-72010.113116-No-more-free-parking.html Ford Starts Building $500 Million Engine Plant For China Sales. -- Ford Motor Co. broke ground today on a $500 million engine factory in southwest China as the automaker seeks to expand in the world's largest market and boost global sales by 50 percent in four years. The plant in the western Chinese city of Chongqing will more than double engine capacity for joint venture Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co. to 750,000 units when output starts in 2013, according to an e-mailed statement. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110616/GLOBAL03/306169849/1131 Q&A: Renault-Nissan CEO Pledges $5.6 Billion for EVs. Carlos Ghosn is either a brilliant visionary or crazy as a loon. The CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance is easily the auto industry’s biggest advocate of electric vehicles, possessed of an enthusiasm bordering on fanaticism. Others may speak with louder voices, but no one is placing a bigger bet on cars with cords. Ghosn is going all in with an investment of 4 billion Euros ($5.6 billion) in electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/06/qa-with-carlos-ghosn/ OPINION Ethanol's Wasteful Tax Credit. The battle over the subsidy, which goes to deep-pocketed oil firms rather than farmers, shows how rigid party orthodoxy continues to trump common sense in Congress. It isn't too often that Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a pro-environment Democrat from California, and Sen. Tom Coburn, a "drill, baby, drill" Republican from Oklahoma, agree on energy issues. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-ethanol-20110616,0,1952488,print.story Viewpoints: Ivanpah Solar Project Balances Jobs, Environment. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently issued its revised biological opinion for the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in eastern San Bernardino County. With this opinion, the project is moving forward and providing an example of how utility-scale solar power plants can be built in an environmentally responsible way, while bringing much needed economic benefits to our state. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/16/v-print/3704219/viewpoints-ivanpah-solar-project.html BLOGS Celebrating a City’s Solar Muscle. Given that New York City has been falling behind some of its municipal counterparts in new solar power installations, renewable energy advocates are happy to hear that its rooftops can hold more than water tanks and lounge chairs. As I report in Thursday’s paper, two-thirds of the city’s one million or so buildings are suitable for solar panel installations. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/celebrating-a-citys-solar-muscle/?scp=7&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Who Will Step Up to Meet Oil Demand? For those of you who use gasoline or diesel to get to work in the morning, you may have a problem, in case you haven’t noticed prices at the pump lately. According to a report released this week by the International Energy Agency, total oil production each year from 2010 to 2016 will have grown by an average of 1.1 million barrels a day. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/who-will-step-up-to-meet-oil-demand/?scp=8&sq=green%20energy&st=cse California Drought Drove Up Energy Costs. One of the biggest costs of California's recent drought went largely unnoticed, according to a report that estimates state ratepayers paid $1.7 billion to replace lost hydropower with natural gas generation that also pumped millions of tons of pollutants into the atmosphere. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/california-drought-hydropower.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Attempts to Undermine California's ZEV Program Would Only Set the U.S. Electric Vehicle Industry Back. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that automakers and their trade associations are now fighting California’s next revision to its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program, a long-standing air quality program and technology-forcing standard to bring plug-in electric and fuel cell vehicles to California. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/smui/attempts_to_undermine_californ.html Greening The Military It’s Not Very Often That You Think Of The Military Being Green. However according to a latest report by the Sierra Club entitled Blood and Oil, the US military has very firm plans of becoming more eco-friendly. We reported on green ambassadors within the military last month. Two days ago the Pentagon announced the Operational Energy Strategy that talks about moving towards alternative energy. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/greening-military/ The Cleantech Revolution- The Second Industrial Revolution - Is Under Way. As governments and major industries announce plans to cut carbon emissions, Ernst & Young's research indicates that the move to Cleantech may represent a second industrial revolution which may have effects as great as the first. They came to a number of interesting signposts which may help companies on that journey. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/cleantech-revolution-second-industrial-revolution/ How We’ll Get Ultra-Efficient Solar Cells By Copying Plants’ ‘Quantum Biology’. Some day solar cells will be as cheap as house paint, and the renewables vs. fossil fuel debate will seem as quaint as Whigs vs. Jacksonian Democrats. Getting there has inspired all kinds of crazy ideas, and the craziest, perhaps, is to do it exactly like plants do. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-16-how-well-get-ultra-efficient-solar-cells-by-copying-plants-quant Mass. Transit Bans Ad On Scott Brown’s Vote To Gut Clean Air Act. "Too controversial? Too controversial is voting to gut the Clean Air Act, for 40 years the bulwark of our environmental policy," said Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org. "Maybe the 'T' thinks spreading that news will scare people too much -- it's sweet of them to be so protective of their riders, but Brown's vote is the real horror." Posted. http://www.grist.org/politics/2011-06-16-mass-transit-bans-ad-on-scott-browns-vote-to-gut-clean-air-act Maxwell Technologies Introduces Ultracapacitor-Based Engine Start Module For Commercial Trucks And Other Heavy Vehicles. Maxwell Technologies, Inc. is introducing a 12-volt ultracapacitor module that ensures reliable engine starting for commercial trucks and other heavy vehicles. The new product, designed to complement batteries, was first displayed in March at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY. Maxwell developed the engine start module incorporating its patented ultracapacitor technology in consultation with heavy truck manufacturers and fleet operators. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/06/maxwell-20110616.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:24:06 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 17, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 17, 2011. 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 Sewage Pile, Illegal Dump On Calif Toxic Tour List. Community activists in Southern California's Coachella Valley have been toiling for years along the eastern rim of this crescent-shaped breadbasket to spread the word about the abandoned waste dumps, shoddy migrant housing and overburdened recycling facilities that are a fact of life in this poor, farmworker community. Their work paid off last month, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state regulators cracked down on a soil recycling plant that was blamed by air quality officials for a putrid stench that sickened dozens of children and teachers at a nearby school. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_a775c2e0-1fd7-5744-bee5-6a8268a18027.html CLIMATE CHANGE EU to Watch Carbon Prices to Gauge Fallout of Energy-Efficiency Push. Regulators will watch carbon prices to gauge whether new energy efficiency measures cut demand for emission permits, a senior official at the European Union said. EU commissioners are scheduled June 22 to consider a directive to improve energy efficiency as part of their effort to fight climate change. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-16/eu-to-watch-co2-price-to-gauge-fallout-of-energy-efficiency-push.html UN Climate Chief Calls On World Leaders To Step In. Bonn, Germany -- World political leaders must step into climate negotiations in the next few months to unlock disputes over reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the U.N.'s top climate official said Friday. Wrapping up a two-week negotiating session among more than 180 countries, Christiana Figueres said it will take "high-level political attention" to resolve mutual demands between industrial countries treaty-bound to reduce carbon emissions …Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/17/v-print/3708192/un-climate-chief-calls-on-world.html http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/17/3707970/mexicans-try-to-break-climate.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/un-climate-chief-says-world-leaders-must-make-political-decision-to-advance-climate-talks/2011/06/17/AGFJufYH_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/17/1736592/un-climate-chief-calls-on-world.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/17/2430796/un-climate-chief-calls-on-world.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18299144 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18299144?nclick_check=1 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/17/mexicans-try-to-break-climate-talk-deadlock/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/article_adb75990-cfc6-5fd0-8f9d-fd7a72e3d382.html Japan Says It Won't Extend Carbon Reduction Pledge. Bonn, Germany -- Japan affirmed Thursday it will not extend its legal commitments under the Kyoto Protocol to cut greenhouse gases after they expire in 2012. Japan has said it aims to reduce carbon emissions 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, but it will not make that pledge part of a binding agreement unless all other major economies join in an emissions-reduction treaty. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/16/1735269/japan-says-it-wont-extend-carbon.html Drilling Down Deep On Fracking And Our Nation's Energy Future. Right now natural gas is the new big thing when it comes to solving our nation's energy challenges. With gasoline hitting $4 a gallon and coal- and nuclear-based power reeling from environmental and safety concerns, many see cheap, plentiful supplies of homegrown natural gas as the latest answer to our energy dreams, especially as hydraulic fracturing technology opens up vast new reserves. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/17/v-print/3708081/drilling-down-deep-on-fracking.html New Online Tool Allows Users To See Climate Change In California. Ever wonder just how hot it’s going to get in your town if the climate changes as scientists predict? Or whether your beachfront house is going to be underwater if sea levels rise? The answers to those questions – and more – can now be accessed through a nifty interactive Internet tool designed by Google, in collaboration with the California Energy Commission, the U.S. Geological Survey, several California universities and others. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/new-online-tool-allows-users-see-climate-change-california-10856 Emissions Trading Progress On The Pacific Rim. Despite the significant prevailing obstacles to emissions trading initiatives around the world aimed at cutting greenhouse-gas emissions and fighting climate change, this week has seen some modest forward progress in California, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia. The South Korean government’s push to implement cap and trade in 2015 appears to have passed a major hurdle – achieving bipartisan political support. Posted. http://www.carbonpositive.net/viewarticle.aspx?articleID=2340 Budget Remedies Could Prevent Climate Plans For More Than A Decade. Spending caps proposed by Republicans would make it "virtually impossible" to enact climate legislation for a decade or longer, according to an analysis released yesterday. Automatically triggering widespread funding cuts if federal spending exceeds a percentage of the gross domestic product is a popular theme in Congress and in presidential campaigns. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/17/2 Study Says Humans Outproduce Volcanoes In Terms Of CO2. Volcanoes may be more impressive visually in terms of carbon dioxide production, but in terms of sheer volume, they're no match for the greenhouse gas output of humans. A recent U.S. Geological Survey study that compared volcanic carbon dioxide emissions to those with human origins found that annual output produced by volcanoes was a fraction of the man-made output. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/17/9 DIESEL EMISSION EPA Proposes Tougher Guidelines for SCR Engines. The pollution control systems most engine manufacturers used to meet 2010 emission standards have been effective, but technical developments justify tougher guidelines, says the Environmental Protection Agency. The proposed guidance on selective catalytic reduction systems specifies requirements for warning drivers when they are running low on diesel exhaust fluid. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-print.asp?news_id=73993 FUELS French Activist Bove Pushes Green Agenda In Poland. French environmental activist Jose Bove urged Poland's government Thursday to abandon its plans to build nuclear power plants and explore for shale gas. Bove said he was pressing his case on the issues because Poland will take over the European Union's rotating presidency in two weeks. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/article_26aad21b-bccc-5537-a554-4b9a8da6c82b.html VEHICLES Stockton Firm Takes Charge With Electric Trucks. Air quality board OKs $1.4M deal for truck subsidy. San Joaquin Valley clean air officials Thursday approved a $1.4 milliongrant that should bring 50 electric delivery vans - to be built in the Valley - to the streets of Stockton, Fresno and Bakersfield. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110617/A_BIZ01/106170305/-1/a_biz&template=printart Germany Steering Towards Electric Vehicles. Joerg Wind, Manager EC Projects and Energy Systems Analyses, presented Daimler's findings on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of different drive trains. The Daimler lifecycle assessment (LCA) finds different propulsion systems apply to different scenarios, supporting plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs) for long distances, interurban and city traffic distances, but considering pure electric vehicles (EVs) to be advisable for interurban and city traffic only. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/60520110617.php Nissan’s Ghosn on the Future of the Zero-Emission Car. I attended a media roundtable and a lecture with Nissan-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn at Stanford University's Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) on Monday. Forbes called Ghosn "the hardest-working man in the brutally competitive global car business." Ghosn was on the Stanford campus to attend his daughter's graduation. Posted. http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/nissans-ghosn-on-the-future-of-the-zero-emission-car/ GREEN ENERGY U.S. Market For Solar Thermal Energy Begins To Heat Up. Munich -- Shiny arrays of solar panels are sitting on the roof of a PepsiCo plant in Phoenix, Ariz. They are not making electricity; they are heating up 30,000 gallons of water to be used for soft drink production. Similar technology provides air conditioning to a high school elsewhere in the city. Meanwhile, in New York, solar panels built to withstand hurricane-force winds heat water used to wash the city's famed subway cars at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's depot in Coney Island. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/17/1 Study Says Cable Boxes Are Sneaky Source Of Wasted Energy. Most environmentally conscious consumers have learned to unplug their cellphone chargers when not in use as a way to cut down on energy consumption, but an even bigger drain on your electric bill may be lurking next to your television. In a new study released Tuesday, the Natural Resources Defense Council said that cable and satellite boxes, often called set-top boxes, are cumulatively draining energy at the rate of about $2 billion per year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/17/10 Del. Bill Would Define Fossil Fuel-Burning Fuel Cell As Renewable Source. State lawmakers in Delaware are looking to loosen restrictions on what can be classified as a renewable energy source in their state, paving the way for energy companies to fulfill renewable energy requirements by using fuel cells that run on fossil fuels. The new definition of renewable energy is part of a Delaware bill that recently made its way through a crucial committee test. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/17/11 MISCELLANEOUS Much To Be Gained If California Drivers Just Drove Less. In California in the year 2000, according to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the annual number of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reached 280 billion, up from 242 billion VMT just a decade earlier. That’s an increase in VMT of 38 billion miles over a ten-year time frame or an average 3.8 billion miles yearly. Total number of state registered vehicles went from roughly 17 million in 1980 to 23 million in 1990, and from 23 million to 23.4 million between 1990 and 2000, respectively. Posted. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/print/9084 OPINION Ford Offers A Taste Of Europe. I had been driving the 2012 Ford Focus for four days when I pulled into the driveway of a friend. Parked there was her late-model Audi A3. Like the Focus, it is a five-door hatchback. Both are designed in Europe. And despite the Audi name, the A3 actually starts with the humble Golf platform, with which the Focus competes on the continent. Then, a question entered my mind: Could this new Ford, designed and engineered in Germany, be competition for the Audi A3? Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/17/3708093/ford-offers-a-taste-of-europe.html JARDINE: Harnessing Nature To Power Life: Some folks talk a good game when it comes to protecting the environment. Recycle? Of course. Then they throw the bags of soda cans and plastic bottles into a bin and drag it out to the curb for pickup, leaving it just a few feet away from the 14-mpg SUV parked in the driveway…….That day came a couple of weeks ago, when they picked up their brand new, all-electric Nissan Leaf. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/15/1734249/headline-goes-here.html Taxes And Congress: The Wasteful Ethanol Fuel Tax Credit Survives. It isn't too often that Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a pro-environment Democrat from California, and Sen. Tom Coburn, a "drill, baby, drill" Republican from Oklahoma, agree on energy issues. Yet when it comes to the ethanol tax credit, an egregious form of corporate welfare that unites liberals and conservatives in opposition nationwide, they are of one mind. Posted http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/17/1736575/taxes-and-congress-the-wasteful.html BLOGS Partners in Wind Power Bridge a Mideast Divide. Muhammad, a Palestinian engineer who designs and installs small wind turbines for homes in the territories, had recently forged an unusual alliance: he partnered with an Israeli engineer, Yanir Avital, with the goal of manufacturing and selling wind turbines together in both Israel and the Palestinian territories. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/partners-in-wind-power-bridge-a-mideast-divide/ Out On a Limb. PG&E green program helps preserve forests already saved by state taxpayers. California’s largest utility company promises its customers green salvation through its ClimateSmart program. For every bit of energy a PG&E ratepayer uses – turning on a vacuum cleaner, powering up a computer or heating up an oven – a little part of a tree or forest is saved to erase the carbon sins of the customer. The voluntary program costs ratepayers an average of $60 a year. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/06/16/out-on-a-limb/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Asbestos-Common Roofing Supply in India. Asbestos pollution may not be an issue in Europe and US but it still remains a big issue in India. Richer nations like the UK and Germany banned asbestos decades ago after it was discovered that it leads to a condition called asbestosis which was first identified in 1906. Asbestos consists of six natural fibers about 1,200 times smaller than a strand of human hair that can be woven like fabric. The material is resistant to fire, heat and chemicals and is therefore well-suited to construction and auto industries. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/asbestos-common-roofing-supply-india/ Debate Over Ethanol Subsidies Heats Up in Washington. Washington currently provides approximately $5 billion worth of annual tax credits to U.S. farmers growing crops for ethanol production. The question of ending the subsidies is fracturing the Republican leadership in Washington, National Public Radio reported. Kentucky Republican Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, "This is a very controversial subject. We have members in our conference on both sides of this issue." Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/debate-over-ethanol-subsidies-heats-washington/ US Gas Is Artificially Cheap: What We Don't Pay For at the Pump. California has some of the dirtiest air in the nation. Consequently, it has some of the strictest rules for gasoline, meaning it burns cleaner than it does in many other states. But cleaner fuels are more expensive. Clean air requirements, combined with supply and refining constraints, make the price of California gas consistently among the highest in the nation. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-terrycobo/us-gas-is-artificially-cheap_b_878764.html A Better Transportation Vision for Los Angeles. An important report was released today about transportation in Los Angeles. The Vision Los Angeles report is the product of extensive work by business representatives, the environmental community, and local government. Spearheaded by Environmental Defense Fund and the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation …Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/amartinez/a_better_transportation_vision.html Sciam Op-Ed: Kill Biofuels To Solve The Food Crisis. With the Senate, on a second attempt, successfully passing an amendment to end the 45 cent per gallon ethanol subsidy for American refiners and the 54-cent tariff on imported ethanol, I thought I'd point to this terrific op-ed in Scientific American on how to solve the food crisis. Posted. http://www.grist.org/biofuel/2011-06-16-sciam-op-ed-kill-biofuels-to-solve-the-food-crisis 1 Million Bangladeshis Use Solar As Sole Source Of Electricity. It's the fastest expansion of solar power ever, says the government of Bangladesh: From 7,000 households in 2002 to 1 million in 2011. Ninety million of Bangladesh's 150 million people have no access to electricity at all, so access to small-scale solar is transformative for this population. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-17-1-million-bangladeshis-use-solar-as-sole-source-of-electricity Ditch the Car, Ride the Train: Today is ‘Dump the Pump’ Day! When you left your house this morning, did you grab your car keys or your bus pass? We certainly hope it was the latter. After all, today is the sixth annual National Dump the Pump day. Created by the American Public Transportation Association, the Sierra Club, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, ‘Dump the Pump’ day is a simple way to encourage drivers to forgo their personal metal machines and hop on public transit. A lot. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/ditch-the-car-ride-the-train-today-is-dump-the-pump-day/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:59:23 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 20, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 20, 2011. 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 EPA Deal Calls For Haze-Reduction At Western Coal Plants. Billings, Mont.—Aging coal-fired power plants across the West could be forced to install costly pollution control equipment under an agreement between federal regulators and environmentalists aimed at jump-starting a delayed clean air initiative. Many utilities already cut air pollution emissions sharply over the last decade to meet federal health standards. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/epa-deal-calls-for-haze-reduction-at-western-coal-plants/2011/06/19/AGi6EwbH_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/19/2432980/deal-would-speed-cuts-in-western.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18310633 Deal Would Speed Cuts In Western Coal Pollution. Aging coal-fired power plants across the West could be forced to install costly pollution control equipment under an agreement between federal regulators and environmentalists aimed at jump-starting a delayed clean air initiative. Many utilities already cut air pollution emissions sharply over the last decade to meet federal health standards. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/19/1739049/deal-would-speed-cuts-in-western.html UAF Researcher Studies Iraq Air Quality. Fairbanks, Alaska—Cathy Cahill has never been to Iraq, but the grimy DRUM Aerosol Sampler in her lab at the University of Alaska Fairbanks provides her with a vivid portrait of downtown Baghdad. The device, which looks like a bulky black plastic suitcase, is covered with anonymous bird droppings and a layer of fine red dust. But it's the eight drum-shaped air filters inside that make it truly remarkable. The sampler is back at UAF from a tour in Iraq, where it tested the air at Camp Victory in Baghdad. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18311278 Day Of Reckoning On Mecca Odor As Lawmakers Make Visit. Angry residents demand answers as agency cops to 'mishandling' of permitting process. California lawmakers, holding an oversight hearing in a rural school in Thermal, heard impassioned testimony from residents Friday as well as the concession from a state official that her agency's mishandling of toxic waste permitting at a Mecca processing plant was “embarrassing.” Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110618/NEWS01/106180317/Day-reckoning-Mecca-odor-lawmakers-make-visit?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage Deal Would Speed Cuts In Western Coal Pollution. Aging coal-fired power plants across the West could be forced to install costly pollution control equipment under an agreement between federal regulators and environmentalists aimed at jump-starting a delayed clean air initiative. Many utilities already cut air pollution emissions sharply over the last decade to meet federal health standards. Next up are even deeper cuts, to improve visibility in 156 national parks and wilderness areas by clearing the air of pollutants that cause haze. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_de38aada-81f0-56c5-992c-7245e8bc0ef6.html CLIMATE CHANGE US Top Court Rejects Global Warming Lawsuit. Washington - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a global warming lawsuit against five big power companies, its most important environmental ruling since 2007 and a victory for the utilities and the Obama administration. The justices unanimously overturned a ruling by a U.S. appeals court that the lawsuit now involving six states can proceed in an effort to force the coal-burning plants to cut emissions of gases that contribute to climate change. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/20/usa-climate-lawsuit-idUSWAT01515620110620 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-20/climate-change-suit-against-utilities-rejected-by-top-court-1-.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts-law/supreme-court-blocks-states-global-warming-suit-against-power-companies/2011/06/20/AGKBJpcH_story.html http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/sc-dc-court-global-warming-20110620,0,6629506.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/20/national/w071324D97.DTL&type=printable http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/20/3713948/high-court-blocks-states-climate.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/20/2434092/high-court-blocks-states-climate.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/20/1740305/high-court-blocks-states-climate.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18314989 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18314989 http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_a32c93e4-11a5-5237-bfd6-e362c31330a7.html http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/20/1?breaking_news=bn Australia And New Zealand Leaders Agree To Investigate Linking Carbon Gas Trading Schemes. Canberra, Australia — Australia and New Zealand leaders agreed Monday to investigate linking the near neighbors’ greenhouse gas emissions trading schemes in the future as a means of reducing global emissions and bringing their economies closer. New Zealand recently introduced a national scheme in which polluters trade permits allowing them to emit carbon dioxide and other gases, while Australia’s plan to introduce a similar scheme is bogged down in a bitter political row. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/australia-and-new-zealand-leaders-agree-to-investigate-linking-carbon-gas-trading-schemes/2011/06/20/AGRU1OcH_story.html Rich Nations Break $30 Billion Climate Promise, Poor World Says. Richer countries have failed to supply the $30 billion of climate financing they pledged at the Copenhagen summit in 2009, developing world officials and non- governmental organizations said. Only about $5 billion of the funds due to be delivered through next year are "new and additional" as promised, with the rest of the so-called Fast Start money diverted from other aid budgets or previously announced …Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/06/20/bloomberg1376-LN2U2B1A1I4H01-7G5R8H3NB23RAE2P00SISE14S9.DTL&type=printable Napa County To Address Concerns In The Climate Plan. Napa County — As a county government plan takes shape to streamline evaluation of development projects in unincorporated areas under state environmental protection law, the draft document has come under fire from both sides for lack of clarity and supporting data. Environmental-protection groups and agriculture groups have taken issue with the methods and greenhouse gas emissions targets in the first draft of the Napa County Climate Action Plan, released around the beginning of this year. Posted. http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/35495/napa-county-to-address-concerns-in-the-climate-plan/print/ Calif., Google Collaborate On Climate Data Website. A new one-stop shop for climate data in California is aimed at everyone from homeowners to regional planners trying to avoid sea-level rise, wildfires and other damaging effects associated with climate change. Cal-Adapt, as the site is known, displays data on snowpack, precipitation, temperature, wildfire risk and sea-level rise from 1950 to 2100. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/20/7 FUELS Valley Plants Plan To Make Corn-Free Ethanol. Visalia -- With corn prices up and demand rising, work is under way in the Valley to develop two biorefineries to make ethanol without using the golden grain. In Visalia, fast-growing grasses and cornstalks could be the fuel of the future. EdeniQ, a local biofuel technology company, and Virginia-based Logos Technologies are building a plant to demonstrate the commercial promise of fibrous and woody materials. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/18/2432725/2-valley-plants-refine-ethanol.html#storylink=misearch Paris Air Show Spotlights Fuel Cost Fears. Paris—Airlines will be seeking a cleaner, cheaper way to fly and planemakers will be angling for billions in new contracts Monday at the Paris Air Show, which stars a solar plane, biofuel jet engines and the Boeing-Airbus rivalry. The search for more environmentally friendly aircraft is shaping up as one of the major themes of this year's Paris Air Show, the world's largest and oldest aviation showcase. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18311891 VEHICLES Ask Angie: Regular Vs. Synthetic Motor Oil. Dear Angie: Can I switch from using regular to synthetic motor oil in my car without damage? Dear Margaret: You sure can. In fact, many new car manufactures now recommend only synthetic engine oils and will actually void engine warranties if petroleum oil is used and a malfunction occurs due to its use. All vehicle engines, though, regardless of age, can benefit from switching to synthetic oil. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/20/2433843/ask-angie-regular-vs-synthetic.html#storylink=misearch Hybrid Cars And Stickers. As of July 1, those yellow "clean-air" stickers will no longer allow drivers of hybrid vehicles to travel solo in California's carpool lanes. A 2004 law rewarded owners of hybrid vehicles for their cars' low emissions by giving them the privilege of driving in the carpool, or high-occupancy vehicle lanes, even with no passengers in the car. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_traffic20.39ce6fa.html California Clean Idle Sticker Certifies You Can Do Exactly That. Need to idle the diesel engine in a late-model medium-duty truck longer than five minutes in California? Then you'll need to find a rig with this sticker. Truck drivers idle their engines for lots of reasons, but often it's to stay comfortable when they're parked at a job site for extended periods. But while an idling engine can keep a truck's occupants warm or cool, idling engines running at low rprm aren't very efficient when it comes to clean emissions. Posted. http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2011/06/california-clean-idle-sticker-certifies-you-can-do-exactly-that.html EVs Rev Up For Act 2. After years of preproduction buzz, the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf are generating interest among the people who count most: buyers. Most owners are charging their cars at home without any issues. They brag about cruising past the gas station. They're buying, not leasing. Drivers of the plug-in hybrid Volt are averaging 900 miles between fill-ups of the 9.3-gallon tank, General Motors says. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110620/RETAIL07/306209975/1261 GREEN ENERGY Fossil Fuel Subsidies Need 'Reforms,' OECD's Mountford Says. Fossil fuel subsidies should be "reformed" because they contribute to climate change and benefit middle- and high-income people, an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development official said. Governments in emerging countries provided $312 billion in subsidies for fuels such as oil and natural gas in 2009, disrupting the growth of renewable-energy industries …Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/06/20/bloomberg1376-LN2T8C1A74E901-2MFR7VLAVJDU97P4IGV9PDVIL7.DTL&type=printable Gov. Jerry Brown Sees Future In Massive Solar Plant Near Blythe. California Gov. Jerry Brown, just a day after vetoing the Democrat-backed state budget, on Friday used the backdrop of the future site of one of the world's largest solar plants to issue a call for fiscal responsibility and investment in a green economy for the state's future. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011106180318 SDG&E's Big Solar Failure. In late August 2005, San Diego Gas & Electric proposed a $1.9 billion power line to connect the region to a green future in Imperial County, the land of constant sunshine and endless renewable energy promise. A week later, SDG&E announced what that green future would look like, unveiling a landmark deal with an upstart, unproven solar dish company that promised to turn the desert sun into a major renewable energy source for San Diegans. Posted. http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/environment/muck/article_e06051be-994c-11e0-b2af-001cc4c03286.html MISCELLANEOUS China 3 Gorges Corp. Defends Huge Dam From Critics. The operator of China's gargantuan Three Gorges Dam is defending it from deepening criticism over its environmental and economic impact. In a social responsibility report released over the weekend, China Three Gorges Corp. says the dam has proven its worth by helping to control flooding and boosting the country's supply of clean energy. It also claims it has helped with poverty alleviation, earthquake relief and other social priorities. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/19/international/i212539D42.DTL&type=printable OPINION A.E.P. Protests Too Much. American Electric Power, one of the nation’s largest utilities, warned last week that new air quality rules could force it to “prematurely” shut down about two dozen big coal-fired units and fire hundreds of workers. This is a deceptive and particularly cynical claim. The utility is making a business decision that has little to do with the rules. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/20/opinion/20mon1.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse# Contra Costa Times Editorial: Vote Against Subsidies For Corn Ethanol A Step In Right Direction. THE U.S. Senate finally mustered enough votes to end one of the federal government's most ineffective special-interest subsidy programs, giving new hope that there can be bipartisan progress on reducing unsustainable federal deficits. The Senate voted 73-27 last week to repeal the $5 billion annual subsidy just a couple of days after turning down a similar measure. The bill also would repeal a harmful 54-cent-a-gallon tariff on imported ethanol, most of which comes from Brazil. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18301129 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18301129 Sen. Barbara Boxer: Fight Against Mecca Odor Shows Why We Need The EPA. Two weeks ago, I visited with children, teachers and parents in Mecca who have been struggling with harmful pollution from a local waste recycling plant. That day, as I sat at a table talking to officials from federal, state, local and tribal governments, as well as representatives from the community, I realized that Mecca serves as a shining example to the nation of working together for the good of all our families. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110619/COLUMNS26/106180361/Boxer-Fight-against-Mecca-odor-shows-why-we-need-EPA?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage BLOGS Supreme Court Says States Can’t Regulate Greenhouse Gases. The Supreme Court just ruled that regulating greenhouse gases is the Feds' job, as spelled out in the Clean Air Act. Good thing the Federal government is all over that one. (Sarcasm!) The decision was as unambiguous as they come: All eight justices on the case agreed that states cannot sue utility companies or other polluters for their greenhouse gas emissions under federal common law. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-20-supreme-court-says-states-cant-regulate-greenhouse-gases Debunking Myths: How a Robust Cap-and-Trade System is Vital to California’s Economy. Since passage of AB 32 in 2006, a deliberate and collective effort in California by legislators, government agencies, advisory committees, academia, the business community, NGOs, and the general public has created a comprehensive portfolio of policy strategies to meet the law’s emission targets in the most effective way. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/cap-and-trade-california-economy/ Is The Sun Causing Global Warming? The sun is a key driver of the Earth's climate, but it isn't behind the strong recent warming trend. Over the very long term, variations in Earth's orbit that shape where and when sunlight reaches the planet are the main cause of ice ages, but this doesn't apply to our current situation. It's true that the Sun has produced more sunspots in recent decades than it did in the early 1800s. However, this mainly reflects an increase in the ultraviolet range of sunlight, which is only a tiny part of the solar spectrum. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/apr/06/sun-cause-climate-change EADS Seaweed-Powered Zero Emission ZEHST Plane Could Travel from London to New York in an Hour. Before the official opening of the Paris Air Show, Airbus parent company EADS revealed what it has in the works to be the successor to the Concorde jet: the Zero Emission Hypersonic Transportation plane, which could reach 3,125 miles per hour or 4 times the speed of sound (Mach 4) while producing only water. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/eads-seaweed-powered-zero-emission-zehst-plane-could-travel-from-london-to-new-york-in-an-hour/ Price of Solar Energy Predicted to Fall to $1 Per Watt by 2013. According to a report released today from the independent consulting firm Ernst & Young, the price of solar energy per watt is expected to fall to $1 by 2013, down from $2 in 2009. The association says in a recent report that the price per watt of solar energy is already down to $1.50 in 2011 and should continue to fall in the near future reflecting reductions in the cost of materials and advancements in efficiency. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/price-of-solar-energy-predicted-to-fall-to-1-per-watt-by-2013/ Critical List: Rich Countries Renege On Copenhagen Promise; Solar Panels Get Cheaper. Remember when, at Copenhagen, richer countries responsible for most carbon pollution promised to supply aid to poorer countries suffering the consequences? Yeah, that's not happening. People want to give Tony Hayward, the ex-BP head, money to buy oil and gas firms in emerging markets, perhaps because the idea of rich people fiddling with the economies of less-wealthy nations gives them warm fuzzy nostalgic feelings of colonialism. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-20-critical-list-rich-countries-renege-on-copenhagen-promise-solar- 7 Airlines Sign Letters Of Intent To Negotiate Purchase Of Biomass-Derived Jet Fuel From Solena Fuels; Up To 16M Gallons Of Fuel Per Year. A core group of airlines has signed letters of intent with Solena Fuels, LLC for a future supply of jet fuel derived exclusively from biomass to be produced in northern California. Solena’s “GreenSky California” biomass-to-liquids (BTL) facility in Northern California (Santa Clara County) will utilize post-recycled urban and agricultural wastes to produce up to 16 million gallons of neat jet fuel …Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/06/7-airlines-sign-letters-of-intent-to-negotiate-purchase-of-biomass-derived-jet-fuel-from-solena-fuel.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:22:28 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 21, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 21, 2011. 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 Court Blocks States' Greenhouse-Gas Suit. The Supreme Court blocked six states from suing power-plant operators over greenhouse-gas emissions, ruling Monday unanimously that pending federal regulation under the Clean Air Act pre-empts the case. But the justices split 4-4 on related legal questions, leaving open the possibility that states could revive their action if the Obama administration fails to issue a final emissions rule by May 2012. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304070104576397570856062518.html?KEYWORDS=climate+change Supreme Court kills global warming suit. Reporting from Washington— The fight over global warming and whether to limit carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants must be resolved by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Supreme Court said, killing a suit in federal court brought against the nation's five largest electric power companies. The 8-0 decision Monday was a setback — but not a surprise — for environmentalists. The outcome puts more pressure on the Obama administration and the EPA to follow through with promises to propose new regulations in the fall that will restrict carbon pollution from power plants. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-na-court-global-warming-20110621,0,3932178.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fscience%2Fenvironment+%28L.A.+Times+-+Environment%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Commerce secretary nominee John Bryson becomes pawn in political chess match. Tapping a respected Southern California businessman as the next Commerce secretary seemed an astute move by President Obama to mend fences with corporate America, but former Edison International Chief Executive John Bryson still faces a rocky road for confirmation. Heading into a Senate hearing Tuesday, Bryson, 67, has become a pawn in a hyper-partisan Washington political chess match that has left dozens of nominees on hold. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bryson-commerce-20110621,0,4093161.story Climate Change: Public Skeptical, Scientists Sure. The American public is less likely to believe in global warming than it was just five years ago. Yet, paradoxically, scientists are more confident than ever that climate change is real and caused largely by human activities. Something a bit strange is happening with public opinion and climate change. Anthony Leiserowitz, who directs the Yale University Project on Climate Change Communication, delved into this in a recent poll. He not only asked citizens what they thought of climate change, he also asked them to estimate how climate scientists feel about global warming. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/06/21/137309964/climate-change-public-skeptical-scientists-sure China says it's committed to low-carbon economy. BEIJING—Chinese officials announced Wednesday a three-day international conference to discuss how to address climate change, while conveying to the world that China is determined to develop a low-carbon economy. Representatives from 30 international organizations and 10 areas and countries will attend the conference in Beijing starting Wednesday, said Huang Wenhang of the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planning body. She told a news conference that delegates would focus on policy measures for green carbon development, adapting to climate change and capacity building, including how to widen fundraising channels. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/21/china-says-its-committed-to-low-carbon-economy/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18320006 http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/20/1741485/china-says-its-committed-to-low.html FUELS NATURAL GAS: Texas passes fracking disclosure law. A law signed Friday by Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) takes the state one step closer to complete disclosure of the chemicals used in the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing. The law will require companies to publicize the chemicals used for hydraulic fracturing jobs in the Lone Star State. In the past, companies have protected that information, arguing that the chemicals they use to carry out the shale gas drilling technique constitute trade secrets. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/06/20/9/ US military ready to buy affordable, homegrown jet biofuels. ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. -- Maj. Aaron Jelinek of the Air Force Thunderbirds flies his F-16 upside down, rolls it, thunders past his teammates in breathtaking close charges and joins five other fighter jets in precision formation. And for the first time in the 58 years of Thunderbird air shows, Jelinek's flight last month was fueled by a 50-50 blend of conventional jet fuel and biofuels. "Flying is a blast," he said after the show at Andrews Air Force Base, outside Washington. As for the biofuels blend, he said: "There is no difference that I can tell." Biofuels have buzz in the military because the Air Force and the Navy are taking a lead role in creating a U.S. market for them. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/21/3716102/us-military-ready-to-buy-affordable.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/21/1741801/us-military-ready-to-buy-affordable.html GREEN ENERGY PROMISES, PROMISES: White House misses own deadline for installing solar panels on roof. WASHINGTON (AP) -- Last October, the Obama administration announced plans to install solar panels on the roof of the White House by the spring of this year, returning the power of the sun to the pinnacle of prominence a quarter-century after Jimmy Carter's pioneering system was taken down. Spring has come and gone, and the promised panels have yet to see the light of day. Administration officials blame the complexities of the contracting process, and say the solar project is still an active one. But they can't say when it'll be complete. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/promises-promises-white-house-misses-own-deadline-for-installing-solar-panels-on-roof/2011/06/21/AGMjcydH_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/21/national/w000801D18.DTL http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18320511?nclick_check=1 http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jun/21/promises-promises-wh-solar-panels-are-no-shows/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18320511 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/21/promises-promises-wh-solar-panels-are-no-shows/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_e15a6637-e9a3-52f4-b716-6404ffae1a88.html NATIONS: Middle East's push toward renewable energy spurred by rising oil prices. There's a revolution sweeping the Middle East that has nothing to do with street uprisings or Twitter protests. It's a clean energy upheaval with international implications that could transform the Arab world from North Africa to the Persian Gulf. Solar plants are cropping up in Jordan and Morocco. Wind farms are being built in Egypt and Tunisia. Eight Arab nations and the Palestinian territories have a renewable energy target, and at least five more are taking serious steps to promote the domestic use of clean energy. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/21/1/ VEHICLES EU project focuses on electric car batteries. With €3.5million in funding, a two-year research project has been launched by an EU consortium with the aim of developing fast rechargeable zinc-polymer batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles. The research programme looks at fundamental material and process advances in ionic liquids, ultra-fast pulse charge injection techniques, conducting polymers, rechargeable zinc electrodes and constructing prototypes battery units for industry standard testing. It is hoped that the research will help create a battery device that will be low cost, with low environmental impact, while having the energy and power density to compete with alternative battery technologies. Posted. http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2011/06/21/eu-project-focuses-on-electric-car-batteries/ MISCELLANEOUS Lake Mohave: Houseboat center floats eco-friendly ideas. A floating building, decked out with environmentally friendly features, is open for business in southern Nevada. The facility at Cottonwood Cove on Lake Mohave, 14 miles east of Searchlight, Nev., serves as the new operations center for Forever Resorts, which rents a variety of watercraft, from WaveRunners to houseboats. The decking of the new building is made from rice hulls, and recycled tires form much of the outer shell. With its somewhat unconventional materials, the structure cost $642,000 -- more than the cost of traditional construction, the operators say. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-forever-resorts-building-20110617,0,4717599.story Protected bike lanes will change the fearful realities of urban cycling. I have seen the potential future of biking in cities across the country. And friends, our heart-pounding, car door-fearing, bus-dodging urban rides may never be the same. In Chicago, you can get a glimpse of it. It is a protected bike lane, the first of its kind in Chicago, under construction as part of a federally funded test. But I recently saw and rode a fully operational version in New York, where 4.9 miles of protected bike lanes have been built over the last few years. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/20/3715563/protected-bike-lanes-will-change.html#storylink=misearch BLOGS How politicians intimidate global warming scientists. Politics and science make for a dangerous brew, Raymond S. Bradley reveals in his book “Global Warming and Political Intimidation: How Politicians Cracked Down on Scientists as the Earth Heated Up,” to be released next month by University of Massachusetts Press. Bradley, director of the Climate System Research Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, describes how politicians who disagree with findings on global warming have intimidated him and his colleagues. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/political-bookworm/post/how-politicians-intimidate-global-warming-scientists/2011/06/20/AGWcQReH_blog.html Implications of Today’s U.S. Supreme Court Decision in AEP v. Connecticut for Climate Change Regulation. Thank you so much for the warm welcome. I really look forward to being part of the dialogue and am honored to be joining this interesting group. As a first post, I wanted to share some reflections on today's Supreme Court decision in AEP v. Connecticut. In an 8-0 decision authored by Justice Ginsburg (with Justice Sotomayor recusing herself), the U.S. Supreme Court held that “the Clean Air Act and the EPA actions it authorizes displace any federal common law right to seek abatement of carbon-dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel fired power plants. Posted. http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/environmental_law/2011/06/implications-of-todays-us-supreme-court-decision-in-aep-v-connecticut-for-climate-change-regulation.html Electric Vehicles: Federal Funding and Bi-Partisan Support. Advocates of electric vehicles are found throughout our political spectrum from environmentalists seeking to address climate change issues to national security analysts endorsing a reduction in the import of foreign oil. Whether the motivation is the environment or national security, one of the most noteworthy accomplishments of the burgeoning electric vehicle industry is its ability to transcend traditional, partisan lines. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/electric-vehicles-house-resolution-1685/ Do we have to choose between big or small clean energy projects? A recent Colorado news story captures the tension between two visions of renewable energy, with a quote that illustrates the conventional wisdom: "It's not an either or choice, that we only put solar on rooftops or on people's homes or do utility scale, large projects," said Pete Maysmith, executive director of the Colorado Conservation Voters. "As we move forward toward energy independence, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, on dirty, polluting sources of energy like coal, we need to move forward on all fronts with renewable [energy], and that includes rooftop solar and community solar gardens, local power. It also includes utility-scale solar that is properly sited, and that’s really important." On the contrary, we may have to choose. Posted. http://www.grist.org/energy-policy/2011-06-20-we-may-have-to-choose-between-big-and-small-on-renewable-energy ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:51:03 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 22, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 22, 2011. 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 Railroads Threatened With Lawsuit. Los Angeles (AP) — An environmental group threatened to sue two of the nation's biggest rail owners Tuesday under a novel legal theory that would classify diesel exhaust as hazardous waste. The Natural Resources Defense Council sent letters to Union Pacific Corp. and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, saying it will file a lawsuit within 90 days under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which regulates hazardous solid waste disposal. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jCbK7oMF67z4dECNP4pVKujAYVFg?docId=a4b47c3c2592496baf3ad5d2179e9a05 http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/environmental-group-threatens-2-us-rail-companies-with-lawsuit-over-particulate-air-pollution/2011/06/21/AGreGUeH_story.html http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9O0C2QO0.htm http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/21/2435498/nrdc-threatens-us-railroads-with.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/21/1742100/nrdc-threatens-us-railroads-with.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18322255 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18322255 http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18322255?nclick_check=1 Study Will Track Valley Air Pollution Coming From Asia. From a wind-blasted ridge high above the Pacific Ocean, scientists will begin learning how much of the San Joaquin Valley's air pollution can be blamed on coal power plants and ferocious dust storms in rapidly developing Asian nations. As United States air quality standards get even stricter, the amount of pollution blowing in from overseas becomes a more significant hindrance to meeting those standards. And failure to meet them endangers our health and costs us money. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110622/A_NEWS14/106220329&template=printart Take Precautions, Valley Air District Officials Say. Quality expected to decline over next few days. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District said a prediction of deteriorating air quality Valley-wide for the next few days prompted air officials to remind the public to take appropriate precautionary measures as conditions dictate. "It's important to learn how to protect yourself from high ozone, and also to reduce emissions that cause it," said Samir Sheikh, director of the air district's strategies and incentives department, which includes air quality analysis. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/06/22/1940994/take-precautions-valley-air-district.html Air Quality Concerns Threaten Natural Gas's Image. Massive stores of natural gas that lie underneath big portions of the United States offer a cleaner source of electricity to a country that relies heavily on coal, but producing all that gas also can pump lots of pollution into the air. Gas production already has caused unhealthy air in Wyoming's Sublette County and Utah's Uintah Basin. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/06/21/137197991/air-quality-concerns-threaten-natural-gas-image Pollution And Climate Change Accelerate Ocean Degradation – Report. United Nations -- A scientific panel issued a report to U.N. member states yesterday indicating that the health of the globe's oceans may be in much worse shape than is widely appreciated. A combination of factors are threatening a new mass extinction event in the oceans similar to earlier extinctions recorded in the paleontological data, warns a group of marine biologists and climatologists who met recently at Oxford University to share research. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/22/4 CLIMATE CHANGE Gore Criticizes Obama on Climate. Washington — Former Vice President Al Gore harshly criticizes President Obama for lack of leadership on climate change in a magazine essay published online Wednesday, saying that he had barely moved American policy on global warming since assuming the presidency from George W. Bush. In the 7,000-word article in Rolling Stone, Mr. Gore says that Mr. Obama clearly understands the threat to the planet posed by global warming and that he has appointed a number of qualified and committed advocates to key positions. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/23/science/earth/23gore.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/22/al-gore-obama-lacks-bold-action-on-global-warming/ http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/06/gore-blasts-obama-for-lack-of-action-on-global-warming/1 http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/22/1743454/gore-faults-obama-on-global-warming.html Impact of Supreme Court's Greenhouse Gas Ruling Likely to Be Felt in Other Cases. The Supreme Court's ruling yesterday finding that states cannot invoke federal common law in an attempt to limit greenhouse gas emissions has left several key legal questions unanswered. Lawyers say the remaining issues are likely to be litigated in short order. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/06/21/21greenwire-impact-of-supreme-courts-greenhouse-gas-ruling-41463.html?pagewanted=print Justices Rebuff States on Utilities’ Gas Emissions. Washington — The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously rejected a lawsuit that had sought to force major electric utilities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions without waiting for federal regulators to act. The suit was brought by six states, New York City and several land trusts. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/science/earth/21warming.html?pagewanted=print Road Map Identifies Immediate Measures To Address Climate Change. The United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization reported June 14 that widespread implementation of just 16 measures to reduce emissions of black carbon and ozone (principally the precursors methane and carbon dioxide) can give the world a fighting chance of limiting global temperature rise to 2 degrees or less. Posted. http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/22/2278647/road-map-identifies-immediate.html A Region With Big Climate Vulnerability And Bigger Distractions. The third in a series. Click here to read the first story and here for the second in the series. Climate change may be the last thing that leaders of revolution-riddled countries in the Middle East want to deal with now. But before long, experts say, the problems caused by rising global temperatures could disfigure the land they are fighting over. From disappearing snow in Lebanon to rising seas threatening Bahrain to flooding in Tunisia and Egypt, climate change already is giving the Middle East and North Africa a good deal to worry about. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/22/1 Lab-Grown Meat Could Cut GHG Emissions By More Than 95%. New research suggests that artificial meat grown in a lab could be an environmentally friendly way to cut greenhouse gas emissions without forcing meat eaters to sacrifice their favorite foods. The study, produced jointly by researchers from Oxford University and Amsterdam University, found that meat cultured in a lab reduced greenhouse gas emissions by up to 96 percent compared to conventional livestock methods. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/22/8 FUELS Dutch Airline KLM To Use Old Cooking Oil As Biofuel To Fuel KLM Flights To And From Paris. Amsterdam—Dutch airline KLM plans to use recycled cooking oil as biofuel to power flights to and from France in a move aimed at cutting carbon emissions. Starting in September, KLM will begin more than 200 flights between Paris and Amsterdam using biofuel made from used cooking oil, the company said Wednesday. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/used-cooking-oil-to-be-used-as-biofuel-to-fuel-klm-flights-to-and-from-paris/2011/06/22/AGfpLVfH_story.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/22/klm-to-turn-used-cooking-oil-into-aviation-biofuel/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/22/2436639/klm-to-turn-used-cooking-oil-into.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/22/1743466/klm-to-turn-used-cooking-oil-into.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18328627 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18328627?nclick_check=1 http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/article_36ab20e1-ee58-55fe-a5f8-41398e2e86b1.html VEHICLES Sales Of Electric Vehicles Are Set To Take Off Soon, Panelists Say. Novi, Mich. -- While initial sales of the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan LEAF were lower than expected, those figures are expected to rise at a very fast pace. High gas prices and the choice to "go green" will drive consumers to take home EVs very soon. Experts discussed that very topic at the Automotive News Green Car Conference on Tuesday at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich. Posted. http://americajr.com/news/EVsalesup0617.html Battery Update - Emerging Technologies. University of Texas' Dr. John Goodenough, holder of the patent for the LiFePO4 design, tested LiFePO4 batteries and concluded lithium-iron batteries maintain energy availability until 2,000 cycles. A durability assessment performed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology places batteries as able to perform 6,000 deep cycles for a Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/60920110622.php GREEN ENERGY China's 'Solar City' Rushes To Catch Power Boom. Baoding, China—Solar panels jut out of streetlights in China's self-proclaimed Clean Energy City. Tiny wind turbines twirl atop public buildings. Schools are due to teach students about "green living." In the scramble to profit from demand for clean energy, this city southwest of Beijing is promoting itself as a manufacturing center for solar, wind and other gear by transforming into a living showcase of environmental technology. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/21/2436424/chinas-solar-city-rushes-to-catch.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/21/1743183/chinas-solar-city-rushes-to-catch.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18328445 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18327386 New Company Hopes To Help Solar Plants With Capital. CleanPath, a new green energy company, is looking to fund 1,000 megawatts of solar power over the next five years, but rather than hanging around once the projects are completed, CleanPath CEO Matt Cheney says his company will sell its stake and reinvest in new solar ventures. The new company, Cheney said, will provide another option for solar projects that could run into financial trouble in the coming years as the number of federal tax incentives for solar energy declines. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/22/9 Southern Calif. Energy Hub Eyed For Clues To U.S. Green Economy. San Diego -- A small company that developed a $1 billion wind farm works out of a pink-hued building near the Pacific Ocean here. Down the hill, an investment firm decides how to spend $6.5 billion on energy ventures. Two traffic lights away sits a company that is building one of the world's largest wind projects. Renewable power developers, biofuel researchers and clean technology entrepreneurs have flocked to this coastal city, making it a growing hub of energy-sector interests. Posted. http://eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/22/1 MISCELLANEOUS Scientists Discover Toxic Dishwasher Fungus. Once rarely found in nature, the potentially deadly black yeast fungi have begun to expand their territory. And the new frontier could be your kitchen. A team of European scientists sampled nearly 190 dishwashers in family homes around the world. They found black yeasts living on 62 percent of the rubber seals surrounding the dishwasher door. The study appears in the journal Fungal Biology. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/scientists-discover-toxic-dishwasher-fungus-11004 OPINION . . . And the Climate Tort Cashiered. Justice Ginsburg's finest hour. Yesterday's other important Supreme Court decision (see above) came in a case that joined the green lobby and the trial bar, if that isn't redundant. The Court unanimously struck down one of the legal left's most destructive theories, and not a moment too soon. In American Electric Power v. Connecticut, eight states and various other environmental activists sued a group of utilities, claiming that their carbon emissions were a "nuisance" under federal common law and that therefore the courts should set U.S. global warming policy. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303936704576397673915105838.html?mod=googlenews_wsj The Carbon Ruling. The Supreme Court’s decision on greenhouse gases on Monday is a disappointment to the states and environmental groups that had hoped to use federal common law to curb carbon dioxide pollution from power plants. It would also appear to be a setback in the fight against global warming. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/22/opinion/22wed2.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Gore: Obama Lacks `Bold Action' On Global Warming. Former Vice President Al Gore is doing what few environmentalists and fellow Democrats have done before, criticizing President Barack Obama's record on global warming. In a 7,000-word essay for Rolling Stone magazine that was posted online Wednesday, Gore says Obama has failed to stand up for "bold action." Gore contends that Obama has made little progress on the problem since Republican President George W. Bush. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/22/al-gore-obama-lacks-bold-action-on-global-warming/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/article_f9679495-c3dd-5050-b393-db632bd4a8d5.html OUR VIEW: Justices Curb States' Global Warming Power Grab. The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a sensible ruling concerning the regulation of pollution and the supposed threat of global warming. The ruling directly affects California, which was one of eight states that sued four electric power companies, the main one being American Electric Power Co. of Ohio, for causing global warming. The court's summary of Monday's 8-0 decision, written by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, says the plaintiff "alleged that public lands, infrastructure and health were at risk from climate change." Posted. http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/power-107772-warming-global.html Editorial: Senate Regains Sanity On Ethanol Subsidies. Corn ethanol not so long ago was the darling of the green movement, and Congress responded by lavishing on growers and blenders of the alternative fuel lucrative tax credits and favored tariff protections. So much for the free market. But that was then. Now, by a huge bipartisan margin, the U.S. Senate has voted to end the tax credits. It's likely that tariff protections are at risk, too. Is this a free market revival? " Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/ethanol-305361-tax-government.html We Can Definitely Change The Future. Lately I have heard about global warming and how this affects the weather and the air we breathe. I have heard adults talk about how the weather is changing, and how global warming and climate changes are related. It seems that the climate is changing and that the earth is warming up. The warming of the earth causes increases in temperatures and decreases the natural habitat of many species. In fact, many species are losing their ability to adapt to the changes in temperatures and we are losing a number of ecosystems. Posted. http://www.lodinews.com/learning_link/article_c7cc20e0-9cd7-11e0-ad9b-001cc4c002e0.html BLOGS Shrugs Over High Court Decision. Immediate impact of greenhouse gas ruling on California seems minimal. The silence is deafening since the US Supreme Court ruled this week that states can't take utilities to court over greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on their own. NPR's reporting of the decision calls it "the court's most important environmental ruling in years." Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/06/21/shrugs-over-high-court-decision/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader The House Passes Bill to Cut 40% of Energy Efficiency Programs Budget. The House Appropriations Committee just passed their appropriations bill for next year’s Department of Energy that slashes $1 billion from current spending for the department putting them at a cash equivalent of what they were allotted in 2006. The bill was passed out of committee with a 26-20 vote — with just one Republican voting against — and totals a whopping $5.9 billion less than what President Obama had requested for the DOE earlier this year. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/the-house-passes-bill-to-cut-40-of-energy-efficiency-programs-budget/ Life Cycle Assessment of EVs Reveals Startling Results. A number of articles and blogs published this week paint a negative picture of electric cars based on a British study published earlier this month. The study attempts a comparative life-cycle assessment (LCA) of conventional, hybrid and electric cars and prompted “downer” headlines such as, “Electric Cars May Not Be So Green After All” and “More Bad News For The Chevy Volt”. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/full-life-cycle-assesment-electric-cars-compares-co2-impact-conventional-cars/ American Airlines To Be Launch Customer For Boeing Ecodemonstrator Program; Flight Testing A Range Of New Technologies To Reduce Fuel Consumption, Emissions And Noise. American Airlines will be the launch customer for Boeing’s evolutionary ecoDemonstrator Program, in which a Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft will be used to flight test and accelerate the market readiness of emerging technologies to help reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions and community noise. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/06/aa-20110622.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2011 11:47:29 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 23, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 23, 2011. 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 Oil Drilling Approvals by EPA Expedited Under House-Passed Bill. The Environmental Protection Agency would have to issue or deny air permits for offshore oil drilling within six months under legislation passed by the U.S. House. As oil prices climbed 23 percent over the past year, Republicans have pushed legislation that would expand drilling off the Alaska coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. The bill to tighten environmental deadlines passed the Republican-led House yesterday on a vote of 253 to 166. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-23/oil-drilling-approvals-by-epa-expedited-under-house-passed-bill.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18332548 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18332548 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/22/house-votes-to-ease-rules-for-offshore-drilling/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_a6ac56db-64f8-5df2-b768-ff13a10fab45.html INLAND AREA: Hot Weather Kick-Starts Smog Season. People who have been feeling a bit fatigued and headachy may be suffering from the unhealthful levels of air pollution reported in the past week. With the warm weather, smog season 2011 has kicked into gear. Air quality officials expect most of the remaining summer days to be smoggy ones, making life more difficult for people already coping with cardiac ailments, asthma or other respiratory conditions. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_ozone23.3f87bcc.html Heat, Pollution Pose Dangers To Sensitive Groups. Heat and pollution combined Wednesday to give Bakersfield residents an exhausting day, as the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District posted its air pollution index to "unhealthy for sensitive groups" and temperatures reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The air district forecasts Thursday's air to be moderate. The National Weather Service forecasts a high of 100 for Thursday and 95 for Friday. County health officials stressed that while the general public is not likely to be affected by the poor air quality, "sensitive groups," which can include children, the elderly, and those who suffer from pulmonary diseases, should limit their outdoor exposure. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x468147586/Heat-pollution-pose-dangers-to-sensitive-groups Fresno Just Shy Of Record Heat; Air Quality Unhealthy. It wasn't just hot in the Valley on Wednesday – it was unhealthy. Fresno's air quality may have been the worst in the state Wednesday, air officials estimated, as a stagnant weather pattern allowed pollution to build up and cook. The level of ozone – which forms best in hot, sunny weather – prompted air officials to estimate Fresno's air-quality index at 159, a figure considered unhealthy for everyone. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/22/2437277/fresno-could-be-headed-for-heat.html#storylink=misearch TEMECULA: Experts Weigh In On Quarry Report. Experts hired by interests opposed to Liberty Quarry spent all day Wednesday attacking, point by technical point, a massive study of the open-pit mine proposed for the hills just outside of Temecula. Their testimony came during the Riverside County Planning Commission's third public hearing on the quarry, proposed for a site between Temecula and San Diego County. Posted. http://www.pe.com/reports/2011/quarry/stories/websquarry.3e73c0c5e.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/temecula/article_da1ab82b-a4bb-5d20-af7f-4cbffb00757a.html More Evidence Air Pollution May Trigger Heart Attacks. Day-to-day spikes in air pollution seem to be followed by an uptick in hospital admissions for heart attacks, a new study in Italy finds. The findings, reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology, add to evidence that high-pollution days may trigger heart attacks in some people. And, like other studies, the new one suggests that the elderly and people with existing heart or lung disease are most vulnerable. Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/06/23/more-evidence-air-pollution-may-trigger-heart-attacks/#ixzz1Q7NLXhvV Head of County Air Pollution Control District to Retire. Terry Dressler, who has worked for the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) since 1987, the last seven years as the department’s head, is retiring. Dressler, who came to Santa Barbara from the San Luis Obispo County APCD, was in charge of implementing strategies to control air quality throughout the county. Posted. http://www.independent.com/news/2011/jun/23/head-county-air-pollution-control-district-retire/ CLIMATE CHANGE A Region With Big Climate Vulnerability and Bigger Distractions. The third in a series. Click here to read the first story and here for the second in the series. Climate change may be the last thing that leaders of revolution-riddled countries in the Middle East want to deal with now. But before long, experts say, the problems caused by rising global temperatures could disfigure the land they are fighting over. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/06/23/23climatewire-a-region-with-big-climate-vulnerability-and-32441.html?pagewanted=print California Cap-and-Trade Wars. The California legislature passed AB 32 and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Global Warming Solution Act of 2006, which aims to reduce current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The law requires the Scoping Plan, which was approved on Dec. 12, 2008, and provides a road map and timeline for actions to reduce GHGs in California via regulations, market mechanisms and other actions. Posted. http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/5607/california-cap-and-trade-wars/ House Science Panel Chairman Asserts NOAA Climate Service Move Is Illegal. House Republicans yesterday assailed the Obama administration's plan to reorganize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's climate change portfolio, accusing the agency of disobeying an appropriations rider that prevents NOAA from spending any money this year to make the changes. NOAA proposed creating a new "climate service" last year, to handle what agency officials said was an overwhelming increase in requests for data and forecasts to help communities and businesses adapt to climate change. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/23/5 FUELS Group Of Moderate Republicans Backs Tough Fuel Efficiency Targets. A group of more than a dozen moderate Republicans, including four former Environmental Protection Agency administrators, urged President Obama in a letter Wednesday to set tough new standards to curb carbon emissions from cars and light trucks. The letter comes as the administration is debating what sort of greenhouse gas emission limits it should impose on vehicles that will be sold in the United States for the model years 2017 to 2025. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/group-of-moderate-republicans-backs-tough-fuel-efficiency-targets/2011/06/22/AGADGJgH_story.html Study: Biodegradable Plastics Can Release Methane. Raleigh, N.C. -- New plastics designed to break down naturally have been hailed as environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional plastics. Instead of taking decades or even centuries to decompose, they vanish in a few years. But new research at North Carolina State University suggests they may not be so green after all. The study, led by NCSU doctoral student James Levis, found that biodegradable plastics can release large amounts of methane gas when they break down in landfills. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/23/v-print/3721845/study-biodegradable-plastics-can.html VEHICLES California's Green Car Rebate Program Runs Out Of Gas. California runs out of rebate money for state residents who have purchased a new green car, such as the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. If you're in California and shopping for an environmentally-friendly car, there's a bit of bad news. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) said on its website that the $11.1 million in state funding for its Clean Vehicle Rebate Program (CVRP) "has been completely distributed." Posted. http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/06/california-green-car-rebate-program-out-of-cash.html EUROPE: Consumer Groups Voice Concerns About EV Labeling. In May of this year, the US government took a decisive step to overhaul its federal fuel economy labelling system, forcing all new passenger cars to display energy use and cost comparisons between vehicles that use electricity and conventional fuels. The new labels – which must now be affixed by adhesive onto the windows of all new cars and trucks for sale – have given Europeans pause for thought. Posted. http://analysis.evupdate.com/industry-insight/europe-consumer-groups-voice-concerns-about-ev-labelling-0?utm_source=http%3a%2f%2fcommunicator.evupdate.com%2flz% GREEN ENERGY States On Track To Meet Efficiency Goals, But Challenges Remain. The majority of U.S. states with efficiency standards are on track to meet their goals, but looming "barriers" could pose challenges for the programs in years ahead, according to two new reports from an efficiency group. In a sweeping analysis, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) examined the 19 states that have had energy efficiency resource standards in place for more than two years. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/23/4 U.N. Conference Studies How To Broaden Reach Of Low-Carbon Power. International leaders meeting in Austria this week are calling for universal energy access and work between the public and private sectors to help end energy poverty. The Vienna Energy Forum -- where former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) gave his first public speech since the scandal over his affair and love child with a household maid erupted -- has brought together more than 1,000 heads of state, ministers and energy experts. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/23/6 MISCELLANEOUS Los Angeles Official Opposes Easing Environmental Rules For Downtown Stadium. Los Angeles' top policy advocate supports a resolution to fight legislation that would subvert state law for developer of proposed facility. Los Angeles' top policy advocate has recommended that the City Council oppose any attempts to bend state environmental rules for a football stadium proposed next to the Convention Center downtown. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-stadium-20110623,0,1653420,print.story Benicia Seeks Professional Opinions On Climate Website. Benicia -- The city is seeking ideas from professional web designers to revive Benicia's dormant environmental action website by Thanksgiving. City officials formally issued the request last week, asking qualified individuals and firms to respond by July 1 with proposals that don't exceed $12,000. The city says it plans to interview project applicants in July, hire one in August and complete the website within 12 weeks of the start date. Posted. http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_18336302 OPINION Long-Range Forecast Is For Relentless Heat. The second day of summer seems about right for musing on what kind of weather we can expect this season around the Moremstead in the Valley of the Bears. I’ll go out on a limb and forecast that we’ll have morning fog, burning off by late morning to partly sunny skies with highs in the upper 60s to mid-70s and afternoon northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. (Whew, I should be charging for such oracular insights.) As I’ve noted previously, I like weather, real weather. Posted. http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/06/22/v-print/1654045/long-range-forecast-is-for-relentless.html BLOGS Bill To Reveal What Chemicals Used In "Fracking" Process. A bill forcing oil and gas companies to reveal what chemicals they use when using hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," to extract natural gas in California passed the California Senate Natural Resources Committee earlier this month and is set to go before the Environmental Quality Committee next week. Hydraulic fracturing involves injecting rock formations with high-pressure water, sand and a combination of chemicals, to release tightly-packed hydrocarbons. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/fracking-hyraulic-fracturing-california-oil-natural-gas-shale-wieckowski.html California Tells Ships To Stop Bypassing Clean Fuel Zone. California’s Air Resources Board meets tomorrow to close a major loophole undermining clean shipping fuel requirements adopted two years ago. NRDC has been to court to defend these important rules several times (here and here), and the court agrees that California has the right to protect its coastal residents from major health hazards associated with ocean going vessels burning toxics-laden bunker fuel. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dbailey/california_tells_ships_to_stop.html What Should Ford’s New Focus EV Sound Like. Ford will now roll out its new Focus EV, and the silent electric sedan will be available in 14 selected markets. Before the car makes it that far, however, Ford could be changing the “silent” part. Posted. http://www.autoblog.com/ Life Cycle Assessment Proves Electric Vehicles are a Cleaner Choice. A report released earlier this month took into account the entire life cycle of hybrid, electric and gas powered cars — analyzing everything from gathering resources to disposing of used vehicles — and revealed definitively that hybrid and electric vehicles are greener from a whole systems approach. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/life-cycle-assessment-proves-electric-vehicles-are-a-cleaner-choice/ Globally Renewable Energy is Outstripping Coal and Nuclear. It's lovely to read of sanity in a world of chaos so a new analysis of the global power plant market launched today by Greenpeace International is well worth sharing. It shows that since the 1990s, installations of wind and solar grew faster than any other power plant technology [1]. In addition, renewable energy expanded rapidly, to reach its biggest market share in 2010 and providing enough capacity to supply electricity to the equivalent of one third of Europe. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/globally-renewable-energy-coal-and-nuclear/ Which Cities Can Best Adapt To Climate Change? Earlier this month, 35 mayors from major cities around the world convened for the Resilient Cities 2011 Conference and released a declaration [PDF] that highlighted the recent rise in natural disasters and the imperative for cities to increase their resiliency and ability to adapt to climate change. But what does it mean for a city to be "resilient" to climate change? Which cities are most resilient -- and what makes a city vulnerable? Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-06-23-which-cities-adapt-most-resilient-to-global-warming Siemens And Partners Build First Aircraft With Series Hybrid Electric Drive. Siemens, Diamond Aircraft and EADS have built an aircraft equipped with a series hybrid electric drive system. The partners are presenting the two-seater motor glider DA36 E-Star at the Paris Air Show Le Bourget 2011 (until 26 June) in daily flight shows. The aircraft was built to test the hybrid electric drive concept. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/06/siemens-20110622.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:59:36 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 24, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 24, 2011. 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 California Air Board Expands Clean-Fuel Shipping Zone. After the Navy complained that cargo ships were traveling through its testing area to avoid pollution regulations closer to shore, the California Air Resources Board votes to extend the clean-fuel zone. More than half of oceangoing vessels serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have been skirting traditional shipping lanes to avoid air pollution curbs, prompting California officials Thursday to extend the state's clean-fuel zone beyond the Channel Islands. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-ships-20110624,0,3918582,print.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/24/state/n051749D52.DTL http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/24/3724802/calif-regulators-extend-clean.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/24/1746932/calif-regulators-extend-clean.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18345148 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18345148?nclick_check=1 http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/24/2439805/calif-regulators-extend-clean.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/24/calif-regulators-extend-clean-fuel-shipping-zone/ NASA To Fly Over Baltimore-Washington Region To Help Satellite Study Of Air Quality. NASA will be sending aircraft over the Baltimore-Washington region starting next week to help improve how satellites track air pollution. Satellites already monitor many components of air pollution, but researchers said Thursday that it is difficult to use measurements from space to detect pollution near the ground. The multi-year study is designed to help improve the ability of satellites to measure conditions near the surface. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/nasa-to-fly-over-baltimore-washington-region-to-help-satellite-study-of-air-quality/2011/06/23/AGxl8zgH_story.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18338947 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18338947 http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/23/2438616/nasa-to-fly-over-region-for-air.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/23/1745612/nasa-to-fly-over-region-for-air.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/23/nasa-to-fly-over-region-for-air-quality-study/ Study: Spike In Birth Defects Near Mountaintop Mining. Birth defects are more likely to occur in Appalachian counties with mountaintop removal coal mining — including Eastern Kentucky — than in other counties in the region, according to a new study. The study, published last month in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research, suggests that birth defects could result from air and water pollution created by mountaintop removal, including mercury, lead and arsenic, which have been shown to pose risks to fetal development. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/23/v-print/3722626/study-spike-in-birth-defects-near.html Stress May Worsen Lung Function in Kids Breathing Dirty Air. Traffic pollution combined with stressful home contribute to respiratory problems, study finds. Children who live in stress-filled homes experience more air pollution-related lung damage than kids in less stressful environments, a new study finds. Researchers looked at the effects of traffic-related pollution and parental stress on 1,400 children, aged 10 to 12, in California. There were no significant associations noted between parental stress alone and lung function levels in the children. Posted. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2011/06/24/stress-may-worsen-lung-function-in-kids-breathing-dirty-air Buffer Possible For TI Freeway. Southern Californians pay a high price for air pollution. Each year, air pollution is responsible for more than 5,000 premature deaths, and impacts quality life by causing respiratory illness, cancer and acute bronchitis; financially, air pollution costs the region at least $14.6 million per year, according to the California Air Resource Board. In Long Beach, air quality has been an ongoing issue, particularly because of the pollution generated from the Port of Long Beach. Posted. http://www.gazettes.com/news/buffer-possible-for-ti-freeway/article_7e5d5aea-9de6-11e0-b7e3-001cc4c002e0.html Law Requires Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Homes by July 1. The gas causes between 30 and 40 avoidable deaths annually in California. Beginnig July 1, carbon monoxide detectors will be required in most California single family houses. SB183, the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010, which was passed and signed into law last year, requires “that a carbon monoxide device be installed in existing dwellings intended for human occupancy that have a fossil fuel burning appliance, fireplace, or an attached garage.” Posted. http://moorpark.patch.com/articles/law-requires-carbon-monoxide-detectors-in-homes-by-july-1 Enviro Groups Sue EPA Over San Joaquin Valley Ozone. San Francisco -- California environmentalists sued U.S. EPA yesterday for failing to curb high ozone levels in the San Joaquin Valley. Earthjustice, representing the Sierra Club and other groups, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, invoking the Clean Air Act's protections against ozone, the chief component of smog. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/24/17 EPA Sets New Schedule For Controversial Boiler Rules. U.S. EPA will propose possible changes to its controversial toxic emissions rules for boilers and solid waste incinerators this October and make final decisions by the end of April 2012, the agency said in a court filing today. The Obama administration is reviewing a set of petitions that seek to reconsider the rules, which have drawn an outcry from industry groups and lawmakers since they were proposed last year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/24/3 Court Sides With EPA On Medical-Waste Incinerator Rules. A federal appeals court rejected a challenge today to the toxic emissions limits that U.S. EPA chose for medical waste incinerators in 2009, turning away industry groups who say the rules were stricter than the law allows. EPA may have "dithered" for a decade after the court found that a previous version of the rules was based on inadequate data, but when the agency finally acted, it made a reasonable attempt to base its emissions limits on the best data available, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/06/24/4 Tougher Fuel Standards Not Enough To Cut Emissions And Oil Demand – Study. Simply forcing the U.S. automotive industry to comply with tougher fuel economy standards won't be enough to create substantial cuts in either greenhouse gas emissions or oil use, says a new report from the National Research Council. The study finds that while tougher fuel efficiency standards are a crucial part of any plan to reduce emissions and oil demand, better standards alone would only slow the growth in both categories. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/24/4 Livermore Scientists Find Climate Change Could Make The Southern Ocean Smellier. A pungent organic compound that affects the Earth's heat balance is more reactive to climate change than previously believed, a new study out of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory finds. Dimethyl sulfide (DMS) -- dubbed "the smell of the sea" for its cabbage-like odor -- is produced naturally by marine plankton and is one of the greatest organic sources of sulfur emissions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/24/5 CLIMATE CHANGE Gillard Stares Down 'Electoral Annihilation' With Carbon Tax. A year after ousting her predecessor, Prime Minister Julia Gillard is counting on the same political skills she used then to hold her party together as she pushes a climate-change plan opposed by 60 percent of Australian voters. With the least-liked government in almost four decades and the lowest personal popularity in 13 years, Gillard is wooing legislators across Australia for the package. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/06/24/bloomberg1376-LN7YDU0YHQ0X01-52J7F6JK9FLIJA074ODP59U7LD.DTL&type=printable Agency Lists Science 'Gaps' On Arctic Drilling. Decision makers lack key scientific information on what effect oil and gas drilling would have in Arctic offshore waters, according to a report released Thursday that also acknowledges pro- and anti-development sides in the largely undeveloped region are unlikely to agree on what is a science "gap" and what is sufficient. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/23/agency-lists-science-gaps-on-arctic-drilling/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Getting Mr. Warren Plugged In on the LA Port Supertanker Debate. Talk Back - Some members of the community have criticized the Board of Harbor Commissioners for approving the project without requiring a higher percentage of AMP calls per year. (See Peter M. Warren CityWatch article, “Unplugged Supertankers and the Diesel Death Zone at LA’s Port”) However, the Board of Harbor Commissioners imposed a mitigation measure on the project requiring increasing percentages of AMP (alternative marine power) …Posted. http://www.citywatchla.com/component/content/article/317-8box-right/1837-getting-mr-warren-plugged-in-on-the-la-port-supertanker-debate FUELS Germany's Verbio to Increase Ethanol Output for Use in Gasoline. Verbio Vereinigte BioEnergie AG, an operator of two ethanol plants in Germany, plans to increase production as demand rises for the motor-fuel additive. The company plans to run its ethanol plants in Schwedt and Zoerbig at full capacity in the second half of the year, Frank Struempfel, a Verbio spokesman, said by phone yesterday. That's up from about 50 percent in the second quarter. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-24/germany-s-verbio-to-increase-ethanol-output-for-use-in-gasoline.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/06/24/bloomberg1376-LNAIJ31A1I4H01-4TOSGOR5FA5SE4MAG5FAJIS6FN.DTL&type=printable Historic Anti-Corn Ethanol Amendment Faces Uphill Battle. Almost three-quarters of the Senate approved a measure to end the $6-billion-a-year blenders credit, but its prospects for ultimate passage remain cloudy. Washington—Deficit hawks have practically turned sharpened scissors into a fashion accessory on Capitol Hill. What's shocking some and delighting others is the unexpected pairings of legislators willing to share a whetstone this congressional session. Take ethanol subsidies, for instance. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/23/idUS231965469320110623 Ethanol-Dependent Towns Caught In Middle Of Subsidy Fight. Claremont, Minn -- Claremont, Minn. - The white plume still billows from the smokestack at the ethanol plant off Hwy. 14 here, and the 18-wheelers still screech to a stop at the corn unloading station. Nothing is visibly different this week at the Al-Corn plant, one of Minnesota's oldest ethanol makers - except that an era of nearly unwavering government support for the industry seems to be over. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/24/v-print/3724756/ethanol-dependent-towns-caught.html Herger Bill Takes Aim At Corn Ethanol. Washington — Congressman Wally Herger has joined an attack on ethanol made from corn, winning support from business, agricultural and environmental groups. On Thursday, Herger, R-Chico, and Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., introduced a bill that would reduce government support for ethanol made from corn, which is added to gasoline. Their legislation, The Ethanol Subsidy Repeal Act, would eliminate a tariff as well as a tax credit given to oil companies that blend ethanol with gasoline. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_18340697 VEHICLES Used Gas Sippers, Keeping That New-Car Value. Cars are not supposed to be a good investment. But Spencer Hunter, an Oregon patent lawyer, recently turned a small profit selling his 13-month-old Toyota Prius. “I drove a brand-new car for free for a year,” said Mr. Hunter, who now rides a motorcycle. The rule of thumb says that a car loses at least 10 percent of its value the moment it leaves the dealership. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/24/business/24auto.html?scp=9&sq=vehicles&st=cse Lexus CT Hybrid Is Costly Nonconformist. Last year Honda tried to break the hybrid mold by introducing the CR-Z a two-seater that was meant to differentiate itself from staid hybrid sedans like the Toyota Prius by being fun and different. Now it's Lexus' turn with the CT200h, a compact five-passenger hatchback whose motive – along with sipping gas – is to be a nonconformist. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/car-305728-lexus-prius.html Going Green In The Carpool Lanes Takes Patience. Q. Dear Honk: Perhaps you could do some further research about confusion over the new green stickers that will let solo drivers go into the carpool lanes. In the March 18 column, you stated that "a Toyota Prius has won state approval." I have a 2005 Toyota Prius. What cars, exactly, will qualify?– Joe Ward, Anaheim. A. As you know, Joe, the 85,000 yellow carpool stickers, as of July 1, expire and will be worth far less than "Honk for President'' bumper stickers. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/stickers-305674-honk-carpool.html AUTOMOBILES: California Electric Car Subsidy Out Of Cash, For Now. California is out of rebate money for buyers of electric cars, the California Air Resources Board said Thursday. The $5 million fund saw a rapid run-up in applications in recent months. Officials expect to renew funding in the fall, but with half the rebate amount. Government officials see electric cars and plug-in hybrids as a key way to lower pollution. In 2007, lawmakers passed a law offering rebates to people who purchase the cars. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_91996fd4-6111-53ce-a587-d5213c614a4c.html Toyota To Roll Out New Prius Model This Fall. Toyota will begin offering a Prius hybrid station wagon this fall and could add a third Prius model to its offerings sometime next year. The wagon, which Ed Larocque, marketing manager of advanced technology vehicles at Toyota Motor Sales USA, said would likely hit showrooms sometime in October, will be called the Prius v, and its sales are expected to equal roughly 15 to 20 percent of the current Prius' sales. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/24/7 Experts See Cost Cuts For Electric Cars. Detroit--Although a technological breakthrough for batteries is unlikely before 2020, industry experts say the case for electric vehicles will improve significantly in the next few years. Jon Bereisa, CEO of consulting firm Auto Lectrification, said at the Automotive News Green Car Conference here last week that costs of such items as the lithium ion batteries will drop as automakers boost production and achieve economies of scale. Right now the battery costs are prohibitive for many drivers. Posted. http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20072627-48/experts-see-cost-cuts-for-electric-cars/ GREEN ENERGY Mexico’s $8 Billion Power Projects May Cut California Emissions. Mexico expects foreign investment in renewable energy to almost triple this year to $8 billion, helping U.S. states such as California to slash carbon emissions, said the head of the Latin American nation’s investment promotions agency. ProMexico, as the agency is known, is in talks with European and U.S. wind and solar-power companies for four to five projects this year, compared with four projects totaling $3 billion in 2010…Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-23/mexico-s-8-billion-power-projects-may-cut-california-emissions.html MISCELLANEOUS Beachgoers To Join Hands For Clean Energy Saturday. The Surfrider Foundation's South Orange County chapter invites you to join in "Hands Across the Sand," a linking of hands Saturday on three beaches to promote clean energy as an alternative to fossil fuels and offshore oil drilling. Supporters will meet about 11 a.m. and link hands at noon as part of a worldwide event. In San Clemente north of the pier, a beach cleanup will follow in cooperation with the San Clemente Watershed Task Force's Adopt-a-Beach program. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/beach-305622-hands-san.html Warsaw Airport Hosts Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Hundreds of airplane enthusiasts hoisted binoculars to the skies to watch the Boeing 787 Dreamliner make its first landing at Warsaw's airport. The airplane arrived directly from its showcase at the Paris Air Show. Warsaw is the first commercial airport in Europe to host it. Poland's LOT was the first European airline to purchase the Dreamliner, with the first of eight on order to arrive mid-April. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/24/warsaw-airport-hosts-boeing-787-02/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/article_03790317-7e7f-5549-bbc3-d51183ed2413.html CARB To Host Meeting To Explain All Diesel Truck Rules. Having a hard time keeping up with the California Air Resources Board’s multiple diesel regulations? Have you run out of room on your scorecard marking adjustments and changes during the agency’s never-ending regulation amendment process? You’re not alone. To help explain its diesel rules, CARB is hosting a training course on July 19 in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Jun11/062011/062311-06.shtml OPINIONS Viewpoints: State Should Lead Again On Emission Standards. Despite another round of $4 gasoline and a continuing surge of consumer interest in high-mileage cars, the auto industry is trying to slither out of tougher fuel efficiency and emissions standards. California can put things right. By writing the nation's first global warming emissions rules nearly a decade ago under the Pavley law, the state set a ground-breaking path for the United States in the fight against global warming. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/24/v-print/3723978/state-should-lead-again-on-emission.html Too Much Unsettled Air Around Climate Change. By siding with coal-burning utilities and against environmental groups this week, it would seem the U.S. Supreme Court was issuing a another big-business blessing. The case, after all, was aimed at forcing smokestack power companies to limit greenhouse gas emissions. But the decision deserves a closer look and a less alarming conclusion. It was unanimous, meaning all sides on the divided court agreed, and it was written by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a solid liberal. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/23/EDE71K08M1.DTL&type=printable Put Brakes On Ethanol Gravy Train. The U.S. Senate finally mustered enough votes to end one of the federal government's most ineffective special-interest subsidy programs, giving new hope that there can be bipartisan progress on reducing unsustainable federal deficits. The Senate voted 73-27 last week to repeal the $5 billion annual ethanol subsidy just a couple of days after turning down a similar measure. The bill also would repeal a harmful 54-cents-a- gallon tariff on imported ethanol, most of which comes from Brazil. Posted. http://www.dailybreeze.com/opinions/ci_18339755 Don't Ignore Climate Skeptics – Talk To Them Differently. More scientific data won’t convince doubters of climate change. But reframing the debate as one about values could make a difference. The American debate over climate change turns on two main themes. One is the science of the problem; the other is government measures to fix it. Many believe these themes cover the entire debate. They're wrong. Far more than science is at play on climate change. At its root is a debate over culture, values, ideology, and worldviews. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2011/0624/Don-t-ignore-climate-skeptics-talk-to-them-differently BLOGS California Widens Clean-Fuel Zone for Ships. A ship anchored outside the Port of Long Beach waits to unload some cranes. Noting that cargo ships are traveling longer distances to avoid having to switch as quickly to a cleaner-burning fuel off the California coast, the state’s Air Resources Board has changed its fuel regulations. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/24/california-widens-clean-fuel-zone-for-ships/?pagemode=print Fracking and Water: E.P.A. Zeroes In on 7 Sites. The Environmental Protection Agency has chosen seven natural gas drilling sites where it will conduct case studies to evaluate the impact of hydraulic fracturing on local drinking water. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves freeing of natural gas trapped in shale rock by injecting copious amounts of water at very high pressure. It has become increasingly controversial as companies have turned to drilling horizontally at significant depths. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/23/fracking-and-water-e-p-a-zeroes-in-on-7-sites/?scp=3&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Wanted: Republicans for Responsible Oil Policy. When President Obama announced the release of oil from the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve today, the usual suspects weighed in all around. Iran and other oil exporters, along with the American Petroleum Institute, criticized the move. Joe Romm, who’s directly on his game on such issues, referred readers to his 2008 congressional testimony laying out the logic for such releases if they’re coupled with conservation measures. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/23/wanted-republicans-for-responsible-oil-policy/?pagemode=print California Congressman Tackles Toxic Trade In New Bill. Modern-day alchemy is alive and thriving. Impoverished populations in China, India, Nigeria and Ghana burn old desktop computers, hard drives and circuit boards, breathing in metallic fumes while searching for minuscule amounts of gold and other valuable metals embedded in computer chips. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/modern-day-alchemy-is-alive-and-thriving-impoverished-populations-in-china-india-nigeria-and-ghana-burn-old-desktop-comput.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 The Nine Lives of Ethanol Myths. Do myths have nine lives? In the case of myths about ethanol, one might think so. Pervasive ethanol myths like “ethanol isn’t energy efficient,” and “ethanol raises food prices” – keep coming back to life even though they have been debunked over and over again. Why do these myths continue to resurface? Powerful special interests, such as Big Food and Big Oil, pay millions of dollars in lobbying and advertising every year in order to keep these myths fresh in the minds of American consumers. Posted. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2011/06/the-nine-lives-of-ethanol-myths Bank of America Putting Billions into Solar. This deal is a really big deal. Bank of America announced an agreement this week with ProLogis, and NRG Energy and the US DOE’s Loan Program Office to finance the deployment of up to $2.6 billion of commercial and industrial rooftop solar installations, all across the country. This will be the largest distributed solar deal in history, which will create the equivalent of over 10,000 job-years, while providing 733MW of distributed solar energy, which is enough to power 100,000 homes across 28 states. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/announcement-bank-america-putting-billions-solar/ New Solar Cells Can Be Printed Right Onto Buildings. The world's largest dye-sensitized solar cell has just made an appearance. These cells have a couple of major advantages over traditional solar cells: one, they're incredibly cheap, and two, they can be printed right onto the materials used to make a building. Right now they’re being incorporated into girders manufactured by Tata steel. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-23-new-solar-cells-can-be-printed-right-onto-buildings Study Finds That Linking Increased Transportation Tax To Environmental Or Other Specific Benefits Increases American’s Support For Higher Transportation Taxes. A national phone survey by the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) found that a majority of Americans would support higher taxes for transportation, under certain conditions. The survey results show that very low support levels for a one-time gas-tax increase or a new mileage tax can be raised by modifying how the tax is structured and the way it is described. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/06/mti-20110624.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:50:31 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 27, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 27, 2011. 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 Install Carbon-Monoxide Detector By Friday. The deadline for owners of single-family homes to install carbon-monoxide detectors is this Friday, July 1. A state law passed last year goes into effect that day, affecting homes that have an attached garage, fireplace or appliance that burns fossil fuel, like natural gas. Failure to install a detector can result in a $200 fine, but if caught, a homeowner will get 30 days to install one. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fire-306004-detector-install.html Is Valley Importing Bad Air? Monitor near coast will help UC scientists track Asian pollution. Air-quality scientists have long suspected some of the San Joaquin Valley's notorious brown haze comes all the way from places like China -- taking an amazing wind-blown trip. Now it's time to find out. Years ago, researchers confirmed plumes of east Asian forest fires, airborne dust, industrial pollution and vehicle exhaust float high in the atmosphere to California and the rest of the West. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/26/v-print/2442643/is-valley-importing-bad-air.html TEMECULA: Commission Considers More Quarry Hearings. At least two more hearings seem to be a given, and there's a chance the county Planning Commission's review of Granite Construction's Liberty Quarry proposal could stretch into four or more sessions. Nothing is set in stone yet. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/temecula/article_25d36a4b-a044-5fb7-ab85-bb5c79c0f247.html CLIMATE CHANGE California Gets Carbon Market Court Win. San Francisco (Reuters) - A California appellate court has ruled that state regulators can proceed with plans to implement a carbon cap-and-trade system, a decision that puts them on track to launch the market as scheduled in January 2012. The ruling by the California First District Court of Appeal late on Friday is the latest chapter in a months-long legal battle over plans by the state Air Resources Board to establish a carbon market to help California's biggest greenhouse gas polluters reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, as required by state law. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/26/us-carbon-california-idUSTRE75P01E20110626 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/06/27/calif-cap-and-trade-work-gets-go-ahead/ http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2081816/california-cap-trade-resumes-court-win Obama’s Inaction Disappoints Green Groups. Former Vice President Al Gore’s criticism of President Obama on climate change and the administration’s failure to install solar panels as promised on the roof of the White House are shining a light on growing disillusionment with the president among environmental activists. Posted http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/26/green-groups-disappointed-by-inaction-from-obama/?page=all Two New Business Bills Address Climate Change. Two bills related to climate change that have been flagged by business interests are scheduled to go before lawmakers on Monday. Developers want to see passage of a bill that would streamline the environmental review process for projects that comply under greenhouse gas regulations previously passed under California’s groundbreaking climate-change laws. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2011/06/27/two-key-business-bills-on-tap-today.html ARB's Nichols Claims Governor's Support For Cap And Trade But Predicts 'No Pronouncements'. Stanford, Calif. -- Gov. Jerry Brown (D) supports California regulators' approach to curbing greenhouse gas emissions, although he is not planning on making a public statement to that effect any time soon, the head of the state's chief climate agency said last week. The comments by Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols, made last week at a discussion at Stanford University, comes as the state moves ahead with its cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/27/3 Koch Brothers Fund Assault on Climate Legislation, Seek To Destroy RGGI. After DC failed to enact comprehensive climate change legislation, it was good to see states take the lead on regional cap-and-trade programs. We now have 3 regional initiatives to address greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) involving more than 30 states. That so many states are involved shows that people want to address climate change. Posted. http://theenergycollective.com/asiegel/60160/polluters-war-existing-effective-cap-and-trade-programs FUELS Calif. Regulators Expand Clean-Fuel Shipping Zone. California regulators have expanded a clean-fuel zone to prevent cargo vessels from skirting the world's toughest ship pollution rules. Ship crews had been traveling farther out to sea to avoid the original zone so they could save money by using heavy, sludge-like fuels instead of more expensive, cleaner fuel. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/24/1746932/calif-regulators-extend-clean.html 'Cars 2' Fuels Energy Debate With Green Theme. Director says theme for plot, not politics. Los Angeles — Even the animated world of Lightning McQueen and Mater the tow truck is testing new energy sources to replace fossil fuels. Pixar Animation mastermind John Lasseter says the company has no environmental agenda, but with "Cars 2," the blockbuster outfit does tap into today's eco-mindedness with a plot driven by oil vs. a cleaner alternative. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/25/145cars-2-fuels-energy-debate-with-green-theme/ http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/27/11 VEHICLES White House Proposes Increased Mileage Standards For Cars, Light Trucks. The Obama administration wants cars and light trucks in the United States to average 56.2 miles per gallon of gasoline by 2025, a standard that will cut the nation’s oil consumption and carbon output significantly while also raising each vehicle’s cost by about $2,375. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/white-house-proposes-increased-mileage-standards-for-cars-and-light-trucks/2011/06/25/AGnsv7kH_story.html Bay Area Hybrid Owners Must Go With Flow. For years, Emily Baker Lohr struggled with the decision to buy a new car. She said she could never justify making the $20,000-plus investment. That was, until she heard about California’s yellow-sticker program, an initiative that would allow owners of hybrid vehicles to travel alone in the state’s carpool lanes. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2011/06/bay-area-hybrid-owners-must-go-flow Roadshow: Prius Party Packs 'Em In. There was no crying at Roadshow's Prius Party on Sunday, where a couple of hundred people gathered in the Mercury News parking lot. From throughout the South Bay to as far away as Folsom, they came to peel off their yellow carpool stickers to mark the end of one of the freeway's most divisive perks: This Friday, we're getting booted for good out of California's carpool lanes. Actually, a tear or two was shed. Mine was the first. "You ready?" Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18357656 Prius Clean Air Stickers To Expire July 1. Bay Area Prius owners are mobilizing this weekend. On July 1st they lose the right to use HOV carpool lanes, even if they have those yellow clean air stickers unless they car pool. Some hybrid owners are gathering in San Jose on Sunday for a Prius party and to help them figure out how to peel off the yellow decals. Posted. http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=resources/traffic&id=8213875 As Tesla Model S Is Born, Tesla's Ultra-Expensive Roadster Set To Die. California owners of Priuses and other hybrids are about to get a rude awakening: as of July 1, 2011, they will no longer be eligible for the HOV lane with their yellow stickers. Those who want to get into that lane again are stuck looking for white sticker vehicles, including the Nissan Leaf, but that all-electric vehicle is severely limited in range (Nissan claims 100 miles, but search for "range anxiety" and you'll see real-life is not the same). Posted. http://www.examiner.com/technology-in-national/as-tesla-model-s-is-born-tesla-s-ultra-expensive-roadster-set-to-die GREEN ENERGY Solar Firms Attract Market Interest, but Few Are for Sale. Snatching a well-managed and profitable solar company has been creeping up the agenda of global groups that are hoping to expand their renewable energy portfolios in the post-Fukushima world. But finding a good company in the sector that is also available is not proving to be easy. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/business/global/27iht-green27.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Greenpeace Protesters Dump Coal At South African Electricity Company In Call For Clean Energy. Johannesburg — Greenpeace protesters dumped five tons of coal at the headquarters of South Africa’s power utility company Monday to draw attention to their calls for the country to embrace clean energy. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/greenpeace-protesters-dump-coal-at-south-african-electricity-company-in-call-for-clean-energy/2011/06/27/AGqFcFnH_story.html N.Y. Passes Key Energy Efficiency Law. The New York Legislature has passed an energy bill that supporters say will cut greenhouse gas emissions by jump-starting the state's efficiency program and boosting renewable power. The legislation, which is backed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), overhauls the state's process for permitting new power plants. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/27/7 OPINIONS Spurring The EPA On Greenhouse Gases. The Supreme Court decision to reject a climate-change lawsuit against power plants should be a catalyst for the EPA to work on rules to limit greenhouse gases. When the Supreme Court rules in favor of power plants in a global warming case, the initial reaction is dismay. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-0627-warming-20110627,0,3757353.story Editorial: State Can Lead Fight For Fuel Economy. As deadlines fast approach for setting new clean car standards for California and the nation, the Brown administration can play a pivotal role. California has the power to reduce pollution, slow the growth of climate changing greenhouse gases and shrink America's deadly dependence on foreign oil. But convincing action is needed now. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/26/3726154/state-can-lead-fight-for-fuel.html BLOGS California's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project Runs Out Of Money. The California Air Resources Board ran out of money for its Clean Vehicle Rebate Project this week. The program had doled out $11.1 million over the past 27 months to buyers of zero- emissions vehicles in the state. Almost 2,000 rebates have been issued or are in the process, according to an ARB spokesperson. Rebate amounts ranged from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on the vehicle purchased. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/clean-vehicle-rebate-project-runs-out-of-money.html EPA Reduces Its Cellulosic Ethanol Mandate Again For 2012. Remember five years ago, when cellulosic ethanol was going to fill our tanks without eating into food crops? The Environmental Protection Agency does, because it's had to keep rolling back the minimum renewable fuel standards put into place by the passage of the 2005 Energy Policy Act (H.R. 6). Posted. http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/26/epa-reduces-its-cellulosic-ethanol-mandate-again-for-2012/ Zurich Buses Outfitted with Air Quality Sensors for Mobile Monitoring. Laboratories at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EFPL) in Switzerland and one at ETH Zurich are working on a better way to collect data about cities' air quality. Researchers have started OpenSense, a project that will test out if using the existing infrastructures of public transportation and mobile phone networks could be a smart solution for monitoring pollution. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/06/zurich-buses-outfitted-with-air-quality-sensors-for-mobile-monitoring.php California ARB To Hold Community Meetings On Coming LEV III Combined Tailpipe And GHG Regulations. The staff of California Air Resources Board (ARB) is in the process of developing a proposal for Board’s consideration later this year to amend California’s Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) regulations. The proposed amendments, known as LEV III, ask for more stringent tailpipe and greenhouse gas emission standards for new passenger vehicles sold between 2018 and 2025. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/06/arb-20110626.html Value Of Solar Power Far Exceeds Its Cost. Solar power has a monetary value as much as 10 times higher than its energy value, thanks to its ability to reduce peak demand on the transmission and distribution system, hedge against fuel price increases, and enhance grid and environmental security. The cost of residential-scale distributed solar PV is around 23 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in a sunny climate like Los Angeles, 24 cents in Colorado. Posted. http://www.grist.org/solar-power/2011-06-23-value-of-solar-power-far-exceeds-its-cost Aviation Biofuels About to Take Off. An extraordinary convergence of recent events seems poised shortly to make aviation biofuels the belle of the investor's ball. The first is that on 8 June the follows the international standards certifying body ASTM International announcing its approval of its BIO SPK Fuel Standard, to be made official later in the year, of the use of hydrotreated renewable jet (HRJ) Jet A-1 fuel in commercial aviation. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/aviation-biofuels-about-take/ POTUS The Sneak. Dismissed or rejected by Congress? No problem. Just effect the consequences of the would-be bill by memo to regulatory or enforcement agencies. Cap-and-trade legislation, gun regulation, net neutrality legislation -- all dismissed or rejected by Congress. Undaunted, the Obama has used the EPA to try to effect carbon control, AFT to try to implement gun controls and FCC to try to effect net neutrality. Posted. http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/06/potus_the_sneak.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:49:35 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 28, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 28, 2011. 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 EPA Edges Closer To National Coal Plant Cleanup. Washington — After years of delays and false starts under both Democratic and Republican administrations, the Environmental Protection Agency is close to finishing two measures to reduce pollution from coal-fired power plants. Health experts say the pollution reductions will save thousands of lives every year by sparing people asthma attacks, heart attacks and other health problems. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/28/3733393/epa-edges-closer-to-national-coal.html UC Merced Study Shows Urban Rail Reduces Carbon Monoxide Air Pollution. From reports. The opening of a major urban rail system in Taiwan caused a meaningful reduction in air pollution, according to a study by two UC Merced professors. "Despite the importance of the transportation sector for air pollution, little work has examined the air pollution effects of transportation infrastructure directly," Professor Alexander Whalley and Professor Yihsu Chen wrote in the paper. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/06/27/v-print/1948063/uc-merced-study-shows-urban-rail.html Clean Air Funding Available. Applications are now being accepted by the Tehama County Air Pollution Control District for Year 13 Carl Moyer Grant Funding. Projects that will be considered for funding are remotely located diesel to diesel engine conversions, diesel to electric conversions and replacement of agricultural off-road equipment (i.e. tractors, forklifts, etc.). Other projects may be considered on a case by case basis. The application deadline is July 19. Posted. http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/ci_18369359 CLIMATE CHANGE American Climate Skeptic Soon Funded By Oil, Coal Firms. (Reuters) - Willie Soon, a U.S. climate change skeptic who has also discounted the health risks of mercury emissions from coal, has received more than $1 million in funding in recent years from large energy companies and an oil industry group, according to Greenpeace. Soon, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, has also gotten funding from scientific sources including NASA and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/28/us-usa-climate-skeptic-idUSTRE75R2HD20110628 Court: California Can Proceed With Cap-And-Trade Plan. San Francisco -- A state appeals court has ruled that California can move ahead with its plan to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, refineries and other sources. California's 1st District Court of Appeal on Friday overruled a San Francisco judge who in May ordered the California Air Resources Board to stop work on its cap-and-trade program. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_18368569 Global Gas Flaring Reductions Slash Carbon Emissions. Orange gas flares jutting from pipes and smokestacks are signs of working oil fields across Russia, the Middle East and North Africa. The same gas flares also spew hundreds of millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere each year. In a rapidly industrializing world that is using more oil, this has become one of the biggest environmental issues to crack. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/28/5 Reducing Black Carbon Would Ease Short-Term Warming Impacts. Curbing soot emissions could go a long way toward reducing the near-term effects of man-made climate change, according to a report to Congress being prepared by U.S. EPA. Congress directed the agency to complete the report on soot -- or black carbon -- by April 2012, as part of a fiscal 2010 spending law. Posted. http://eenews.net/eenewspm/print/2011/06/27/1 By Subscription Only VEHICLES Obama Considers Big Boost To Fuel Economy: 56.2 Mpg By 2025. WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is telling American automakers that it would like cars and light trucks to average 56.2 miles per gallon by 2025 -- a boost to fuel economy that would save consumers money at the pump and help with global warming but drive up the cost of automobiles. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_18362542 http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_a7921214-6eb6-53c2-8ae3-a644f5e7985f.html 'Powering the electric vehicle' - ultracapacitors: a burst of energy to electric vehicles. Ultracapacitors have been used for years in electrical appliances. Electric Vehicles integrate ultracapacitors also but with different functionalities: from backup energy sources to load stabilisers, ultracapacitors’ contribute is small but essential to electric vehicle operation. In an ultracapacitor, the energy accumulates in the electrode, not on the electrolyte as in batteries. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/61120110628.php California Green Vehicle Rebates In Jeopardy. California's rebate program for electric and hybrid cars has run out of money for this fiscal year. The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project has been offering California residents who purchase an electric or hybrid vehicle a rebate of $1,500 to $5,000, depending on the type of vehicle purchased. The state budget had allocated $5 million for the program for the 2010-2011 fiscal year with an additional $2 million coming from the state's Energy Commission. Posted. http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20075003-54/california-green-vehicle-rebates-in-jeopardy/ GREEN ENERGY Riverside County May Add Fee To Solar Installations. The proposed levy would require solar developers to pay 2% of their annual revenue to offset the toll the plants could take on local facilities and services. But solar developers say the fee could make their installations unaffordable. Riverside County, home to some of the largest solar energy plants in the state, is considering imposing a development fee on such installations, a move that critics say could chill prospects for the renewable energy business in the region. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-solar-tax-20110628,0,5478662,print.story A Google Search Projects Big Future Economic Gains From Clean Energy Investment. A new study by Google.org projects that breakthroughs in clean energy technologies stemming from aggressive federal and private-sector investment would add $150 billion in additional economic output and 1.1 million new jobs by 2030, with the gains continuing to grow in future years. The study, "The New Prize: Clean Energy Innovation," is based on McKinsey & Co.'s Low Carbon Economics computer modeling. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/28/3 MISCELLANEOUS Landlords Protect Tenants From Secondhand Smoke. Several Tehama County landlords have been teaming up with Public Health staff to protect their tenants from the dangers of secondhand smoke. They, as well as their residents, are reaping the benefits from this collaboration. More than 84 percent of California adults do not smoke, according to a release issued by Tehama County Public Health. Most Californians are aware of the health hazards of secondhand smoke and wish to be protected from it. Posted. http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/ci_18362200?source=most_viewed OPINIONS 'Ode to My Hybrid's Expiring Carpool Lane Stickers'. O little yellow strips of plastic --How you made my drive fantastic. [At least you minimized the pain: With you, I used the carpool lane.] The best eight bucks I ever spent Was for these babies. They were meant To nudge us into hybrid wheels; And thousands flocked to take those deals. It worked too well, and now they must 'As chimney-sweepers, come to dust,' Expiring with the fiscal year --That’s why my R.I.P. is here. Posted. http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2011/06/ode-to-my-hybrids-expiring-carpool-lane-stickers.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OpinionLa+%28L.A.+Times+-+Opinion+Blog%29 Now Is Time For California To Lead The Way On Reducing Emissions. As deadlines approach for setting new clean car standards for California and the nation, the Brown administration can play a pivotal role. California has the power to reduce pollution, slow the growth of climate changing greenhouse gases and shrink America's deadly dependence on foreign oil. But convincing action is needed now. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/27/1751689/now-is-time-for-california-to.html EDITORIAL: More Nanny State For You. California's busy-as-a-bee regulators have taken another step to add to our reputation as a "nanny state." The latest is the requirement that every single-family dwelling in the state must have installed a carbon monoxide detector by Friday. Apartment owners have until July 2013 to get their devices installed. The measure, which was enacted in May 2010, says that failure to install such a device (after an inspector has sent a 30-day warning notice) could result in a $200 fine. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_e47d924a-ef0c-5c19-ac5f-9a4ab53f436b.html Tank Standards Unchanged Since 2008. In her June 1 column, "Government does a fine job not cleaning the air," Lois Henry referred to California's above-ground gasoline storage tank rules and the need for the California Air Resources Board to assist businesses to meet requirements for certification. We couldn't agree more. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x622197749/Tank-standards-unchanged-since-2008 Monkey See, Monkey Do ...It saddens me regularly to attend Solano County Board of Supervisor meetings, as the behavior indicated in Jon Riley's letter ("Criticism is fine", June 26) is too often displayed. It saddens me even more that Mr. Riley resorts to name calling, failure to validate, and innuendo in his letter. Mr. Riley should have stuck to the topic: Poor behavior. Posted. http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_18368483 FORUM: A Better Solution For The Climate. Recent headlines show that our state's efforts to mitigate climate change come not a moment too soon: Thousands fled for higher ground along the Mississippi River as floodwaters from torrential rains reached record levels. Over a million acres have burned in drought-stricken Texas. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/article_ebb8bfbc-72f4-541e-b441-eec17618f852.html The New "30 Years War" A 30-year war for energy preeminence? You wouldn’t wish it even on a desperate planet. But that’s where we’re headed and there’s no turning back. From 1618 to 1648, Europe was engulfed in a series of intensely brutal conflicts known collectively as the Thirty Years’ War. It was, in part, a struggle between an imperial system of governance and the emerging nation-state. Posted. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/28/opinion/main20074960.shtml BLOGS The Driverless Car: Innovation On Autopilot. As one of the great innovators of Silicon Valley, Google is known for regularly testing the waters with unorthodox ideas that appear to have little to do with the company's core business. In just the past two weeks, the company has announced a $280 million solar power initiative and is in the process of conducting a new Google Ideas conference for political extremists to discuss the role that technology can play in de-radicalization efforts around the globe. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/post/the-driverless-car-innovation-on-autopilot/2011/06/28/AGkRoApH_blog.html Chevrolet Beat E.V. Hints at G.M.’s Electric Ambitions for India. Absent the populist bombast that accompanied the introduction of the Tata Nano, General Motors India recently unveiled an electric vehicle prototype here based on the Chevrolet Beat, a microcar related to the Sonic subcompact coming to market in the United States and marketed elsewhere as the Spark. The Beat would be the likely platform if G.M. were to produce a purely electric car for India. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/chevrolet-beat-e-v-hints-at-g-m-s-electric-ambitions-for-india/?scp=4&sq=vehicles&st=cse Google’s Green Energy Wish List. For a moment, re-imagine Aladdin as an engineer. He finds his magic lamp in an industrial park in Silicon Valley or Boston or the Research Triangle in Raleigh-Durham, and the genie who emerges offers him three technological wishes. What should Aladdin wish for? Could any of his wishes go wrong? Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/googles-green-energy-wish-list/?scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Can Biofuels Save Sub-Saharan Africa? When soaring food prices, climate change, growing energy demands, poverty, international politics and social justice are in the mix, you have a tried and true recipe for heated debate with just about anyone. I’m referring, as you may have guessed, to the hot-button topic of biofuels. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/can-biofuels-save-sub-saharan-africa/?ref=earth GE Ad Calls Natural Gas Hot Stuff. A full-page ad in The Washington Post states in big letters, “Natural gas is hot stuff.” A bit of irony if I’ve ever seen one. The smaller print of the ad extols the virtues of natural gas, including its abundance in the U.S. and the energy independence its use will bring. “Natural gas consists mainly of methane,” according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/06/ge-ad-calls-natural-gas-hot-stuff/ Electric Cars Set New Records at Pikes Peak. There were two electric cars on the entrant list for this year's Pikes Peak Hill Climb, and both set new records as they crossed the finish line at 14,110 feet. First up was a 2011 Nissan Leaf, the first production electric car to compete in the event, and – by default – setting the initial record. Veteran Nissan off-road truck racing champion Chad Hord was behind the wheel, and completed the 12.42-mile course in a respectable 14 minutes 33 seconds. Posted. http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/28/electric-cars-set-new-records-at-pikes-peak/ Nissan LEAF Becomes First Electric Class Pike’s Peak Champion. Remember the stock Nissan LEAF that was planning to take on the grueling Pike’s Peak Hill Climb? Well, it may not have had much competition this year to become the Electric Production Class’s first champion (read: any competition), but it did beat several highly modified combustion-engined competitors to the summit. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/nissan-leaf-becomes-first-electric-class-pikes-peak-champion/ Ford Spent $1.65 Million in First Quarter 2011 Lobbying for Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks. It’s old news that automobile companies spend a lot of time and money in Washington DC trying to get what they want, but these days they’ve got their eyes on a new prize - electric vehicle (EV) tax breaks. It was just reported that Ford Motor Company spent $1.65 million in the first quarter of 2011 lobbying for EV tax breaks – an increase of 20% over the last quarter. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/ford-spent-1-65-million-in-first-quarter-2011-lobbying-for-electric-vehicle-tax-breaks/ California Hybrids Will Lose Their HOV Status This Friday. If you live in California, it’s time to trade in your Prius for a Tesla Model S. This Friday, July 1st, the state will strip hybrids of their HOV carpool lane access — six months after originally planned. But plug-in hybrids, fully electric cars such as the Tesla Roadster, fuel cells, natural gas vehicles, and electric cars with range-extending engines such as the Chevy Volt will still have access to these lanes even with one person in the car until 2015. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/california-hybrids-will-lose-their-hov-status-this-friday/ Why Automakers Are Likely to Lose the Fuel-Economy Showdown. We’re heading into a major confrontation on federal fuel economy standards. It’s a question of who blinks first. Given the outsized role that environmentally friendly California plays in these proceedings, it’s very likely to be the automakers — who hold a surprisingly weak hand as the negotiations proceed. Posted. http://www.bnet.com/blog/electric-cars/why-automakers-are-likely-to-lose-the-fuel-economy-showdown/4567 Berkeley Lab Study Finds That Residential Photovoltaic Systems Boost the Sales Price of California Homes. New research by scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) finds strong evidence that homes with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems sell for a premium over homes without solar systems. "We find compelling evidence that solar PV systems in California have boosted home sales prices," says lead author Ben Hoen, a researcher in Berkeley Lab's Environmental Energy Technologies Division (EETDPosted. http://eetd.lbl.gov/newsletter/nl35/eetd-nl35-3-solar.html Obama Mandates a Market for His Green Cars. The Obama administrations reported proposal of a 56 mpg fuel-economy mandate by 2025 sets up an inherent conflict of interest for a government that has given away hundreds of millions of federal dollars to companies manufacturing batteries for electric cars. Posted. http://www.nationalreview.com/planet-gore/270613/obama-mandates-market-his-green-cars-henry-payne U.S. Politicians’ Campaign Of Terror Against Climate Scientists. U.S. politicians aren't just denying that climate change is happening, they're actively using their position and power to try to intimidate climate scientists into keeping silent on the subject, says Raymond S. Bradley, director of the Climate System Research Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In his new book, Global Warming and Political Intimidation: Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-06-28-u.s.-politicians-campaign-of-terro-intimidate-cliamte-scientists Westport To Work With GM To Develop Advanced Natural Gas Engine Technology For Light-Duty Vehicles. Westport Innovations Inc. has entered into an agreement with General Motors to help develop advanced natural gas engine technology for light-duty vehicles. Both General Motors and Westport will bring their expertise to developing natural gas engine controls, emissions and performance strategies. To support OEM programs, Westport plans to add research and development facilities, such as a new Technical Center in Michigan. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/06/westport-20110628.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:14:47 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 29, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 29, 2011. 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 Calif. Town Battles Overpowering Odors. Odors are part of life in Mecca, a small farming community in the Southern California desert 140 miles east of Los Angeles. It's surrounded by miles of pesticide- and fertilizer-laden agricultural fields, and it's on the shores of the notoriously smelly Salton Sea, a large lake that has no outlet and is fed by agricultural runoff water. What's occurred in Mecca since December is something different. Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2011-06-28-mecca-overpowering-odors_n.htm# Residents Rally Against Cupertino Cement Company. About 60 people from No Toxic Air marched to the gates of Lehigh Southwest Cement Co. in Cupertino on June 18. They gathered to protest the company's refusal to allow access to a public road behind the quarry. No Toxic Air is a Silicon Valley-based nonprofit group formed earlier this year. It aims to bring attention to Bay Area health and environmental concerns. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18375021 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18375021 TEMECULA: Next Liberty Quarry Meeting Is July 18. The next Riverside County Planning Commission meeting to review the proposed Liberty Quarry project is set for 9 a.m. July 18 in Temecula. The meeting, like the three before it, will take place in Rancho Community Church, 30300 Rancho Community Way. It will feature a detailed rebuttal by quarry developer Granite Construction to opponents' criticisms of a 6,800-page environmental study of the project. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_squarry29.3982f7c.html SAN MARCOS: Council Approves New Transit District. The San Marcos City Council approved a new community facilities district Tuesday to finance a city-wide shuttle service intended to reduce congestion and air pollution. The council voted 3-1 in favor of the district, with Councilman Hal Martin objecting that the proposal did not receive adequate public input. Councilwoman Rebecca Jones was not at the meeting. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/san-marcos/article_f1886659-ff45-51a6-9000-43a584a23cfc.html CLIMATE CHANGE UN Panel To Release Report In November On Link Between Climate Change And Extreme Events. United Nations — The chairman of a top U.N. climate panel says it will release a new report in November examining the link between climate change and extreme events like floods and drought that are taking place around the world. Rajendar Pachauri, chairman of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, told reporters Tuesday that the panel has already reported that extreme events are increasing. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/un-panel-to-release-report-in-november-on-link-between-climate-change-and-extreme-events/2011/06/28/AGA1jwpH_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/28/1753237/un-climate-panel-to-examine-extreme.html Global Warming Continues As Greenhouse Gas Grows. WASHINGTON (AP) — The world's climate is not only continuing to warm, it is also adding heat-trapping greenhouse gases even faster than in the past, researchers said Tuesday. Indeed, the global temperature has been warmer than the 20th century average every month for more than 25 years, they said at a teleconference. "The indicators show unequivocally that the world continues to warm," Thomas R. Karl, director of the National Climatic Data Center, said in releasing the annual State of the Climate report for 2010. Posted. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/28/ap/politics/main20075270.shtml Temps And Emissions On The Rise, Scientists Say, As Glaciers Fall. The Earth's temperature last year roughly matched the warmest readings on record, and its impacts cascaded around the world to affect glaciers, polar ice sheets, vegetation and more, according to a major report released yesterday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA's State of the Climate report, a technical document of 272 pages with 368 authors, announced that the planet's average surface temperature peaked at over 58 degrees Fahrenheit last year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/29/2 FUELS Senate Trio Works On Ethanol Subsidy Overhaul. Washington (Reuters) - Three senators are working on a legislative framework to replace the $6 billion a year ethanol tax credit with far less costly incentives such as helping retailers pay for so-called blender pumps. The package could terminate the excise tax credit as early as July 1, an industry insider said on Tuesday. He said the challenge for biofuels is how to expand sales and a key way is to introduce pumps that would allow drivers to choose blends from 10 to 85 percent ethanol. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/29/us-energy-usa-ethanol-idUSTRE75R7GE20110629?feedType=RSS EPA Approves E15 Fuel Label Despite Engine Risk. The government has settled on a label for gas stations selling a blend of gasoline and ethanol called E15, which contains more ethanol -- grain alcohol -- than the E10 blend that's replaced pure gasoline at most stations. The Environmental Protection Agency previously approved E15 -- 85% gasoline and 15% ethanol -- for use in vehicles back to 2001 models. The approved label is part of the EPA's final rule spelling out about how E15 can be sold and what standards it must meet. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/06/e15-e10-ethanol-alcohol-pollution-engine-damage-labels-gas-station-pump-epa/1 EPA Finalizes 15% Ethanol Content Label; Critics Vow Challenges. U.S. EPA today issued a final rule on how gasoline stations must label fuel with up to 15 percent ethanol content (E15), marking a step toward legal sale of the fuel and drawing criticism from several groups that said the labels will not do enough to prevent consumers from misusing it. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/06/28/28greenwire-epa-finalizes-15-ethanol-content-label-critics-91669.html?amp=&pagewanted=print VEHICLES California Electric Car Rebate Program Runs Dry. A California program that gives hybrid and pure-electric car buyers a rebate between $1,500 and $5,000 has run out of funding for the remainder of the state’s fiscal year ending June 30. The state of California allocated $7 million last year for rebates to qualified electric car buyers. The popularity of the federally-mandated Cash for Clunkers program sent car buyers out in droves. Spurred on by high gas prices, early adopters were eager to go out and buy electric and hybrid-electric cars. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/28/idUS357955685220110628 Toyota Recalls 82,200 Hybrids In U.S. Toyota Motor Corp. said today it will recall 45,500 Highlander Hybrid and 36,700 Lexus RX 400h SUVs in the U.S. because some transistors were inadequately soldered. The automaker will fix the problem in 85,000 units of the two models in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam, said Shiori Hashimoto, a Toyota spokeswoman. Toyota will also recall 11,164 units of the two models in Japan and 15,000 in Europe, she said. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110629/RETAIL05/110629857/1147 http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_ac30acf5-9970-5917-8a0d-4f953f80d052.html GREEN ENERGY Google Says Delaying Clean Energy Will Cost The U.S. Trillions. Google, a leader of innovation in the digital economy, says that without a private and public focus on innovation in renewables, storage, and electric vehicles, the cost of delaying the clean energy economy could be in the trillions of dollars to the U.S. economy. Google released an analysis of the economic impact of clean energy innovation today, modeling a variety of long-term scenarios and their influence on GDP growth, energy costs, and greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.grist.org/cleantech/2011-06-28-google-sasy-delaying-clean-energy-cost-us-trillions Obama Administration Pushes Clean Energy Exports. Obama administration officials urged Congress yesterday to protect programs that boost U.S. exports, including those of clean energy technology. An interagency report pointed out some $400 million in assistance meant to help federal agencies increase U.S. commerce abroad. That's essential to President Obama's goal of doubling exports by 2015, the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/29/5 IPCC Backs Off Clean Energy Predictions. United Nations -- Has the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change become a cheerleader for alternative energy? Many believed so after the IPCC issued a release in early May that declared renewable energy sources could provide nearly 80 percent of the world's power by 2050, if only governments would let it. A number of news organizations put that claim in their headlines as they alerted readers to the pending publication of the scientific body's "Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/29/4 Venture Capitalists Are Going "Light Green" Venture firms are starting to back green companies again, only this time they're more "light green." The interest in supporting capital-intensive industries, such as solar and ethanol, took a dive during the financial crisis, and investors are still hesitant to get behind new high-cost industries. Instead, there is a shift toward lower-capital companies such as Opower, which creates energy management software, or Amprius, which is making parts for lithium-ion batteries. Posted. http://eenews.net/climatewire/2011/06/29/8/ More People Turning To Wind Energy At Home. A growing number of people are tapping into clean energy and investing in small-scale wind turbines to generate electricity for residential use. The number of small turbines sold reached nearly 10,000 units in 2009, up from 2,100 units in 2001, and they are expected to become even more popular with the advancement of technology. But public acceptance and zoning regulations remain barriers to widespread use. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/06/29/10 Groups Appeal EPA Exemption For Calif. Power Plant. Environmental groups are appealing U.S. EPA's exemption of a proposed gas-fired power plant in California's San Joaquin Valley from new air pollution rules. The 600-megawatt Avenal Power Center, which would be built just north of the towns of Avenal and Kettleman City, should be subject to standards for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide that have gone into effect since developers requested permits in 2008, attorneys argued in an appeal filed yesterday with EPA's Environmental Appeals Board in Washington, D.C. Posted. http://eenews.net/eenewspm/print/2011/06/28/6 MISCELLANEOUS Assembly Approves Hagman's Bill To Add Small Biz Representation To Air Resources Board. A bill by Assemblyman Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills, that would reserve one of 11 seats on the Air Resources Board for small business owners passed out of the Assembly floor by a unanimous vote today. The Air Resources Board currently has 11 members, appointed by the Governor and approved by the State Senate. Some of the eleven seats are reserved for members with certain qualifications, such as an authority on air pollution, a trained chemist, and an automotive engineer. Posted. http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_18369322 Tennessee's Green Economy Small, But Ready To Grow. A pair of recent studies on environmentally friendly jobs in Tennessee shows the state's green economy is small, but poised for rapid expansion. A Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce survey of more than 6,000 businesses found more than 43,000 green jobs statewide last year. That accounts for roughly 1.5 percent of the total public and private employment of 2.7 million people in Tennessee. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/28/tennessees-green-economy-small-but-ready-to-grow/ BLOGS Group Sues to End N.Y.’s Role in Regional Cap-and-Trade. Members of Americans for Prosperity, a group founded and largely financed by oil industry interests, filed a lawsuit this week seeking to end New York State’s participation in the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The suit, filed on Monday in state Supreme Court in Albany against Gov. Andrew Cuomo and two state agencies, asserts that the multistate cap-and-trade system imposes costs on electric utilities that are then passed on to ratepayers in what amounts to an illegal tax. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/29/group-sues-to-end-n-y-s-role-in-regional-cap-and-trade/?scp=4&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Charging Stations On Display And The True Price Of Recharging The Leaf. Nissan has started a survey on his official Leaf Twitter account, asking for Leaf drivers to share how much per month they actually spend on electricity for recharging their car. The Leaf driving twitterers say that if charging with daytime current, they pay around ¥2 (~ €0.02) per km, while they pay less than half of that - ¥0.8 (~€0.007) per km to be exact - when charging with night time current. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/61220110629.php ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:55:50 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 30, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for June 30, 2011. 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 EPA To Approve Air Cleanup For 2 Calif. Regions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday it will approve plans and extend the deadline to clean up the soot-laden air in California's San Joaquin Valley and the Los Angeles region after threatening to reject the same plans last fall. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/29/1754886/epa-to-approve-air-clean-up-for.html http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_18379188 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18379188 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18379188 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/29/epa-to-approve-air-clean-up-for-2-calif-regions/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/article_95bbade5-d1f0-56a9-b5f8-1ae42458cf45.html U.S. Environmentalists Back EU Emission Plan. U.S. environmental groups are attacking the Obama administration's opposition to the European Union's plan to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from airplanes, arguing Washington is reneging on its commitment to fight global warming. American diplomats last week for the first time presented EU officials with formal U.S. objections to the 27-country bloc's plan to regulate airline emissions at talks in Oslo. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303763404576415811045381974.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5 Residential CO2 Detector Law Taking Effect. In recent weeks, Brandon Ruscoe has bought about 100 battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms for the 100 or so homes he takes care of for Yosemite Property Management. He bought them to get ready for the new law, effective Friday, that requires all existing single-family homes with an attached garage or a fossil fuel source to install detectors that monitor the colorless, odorless gas. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/06/30/v-print/1951739/residential-co2-detector-law-taking.html Another Climate Change Concern: Indoor Air. Add another one to the list of unintended consequences. As we try to button up our workplaces and homes for better energy efficiency, we may be creating or exacerbating other problems. Sure, it saves on heat and air conditioning to seal leaks. But if there's a moldy area or radon seepage, those problems could worsen. A report released June 7 by the Institute of Medicine and sponsored by the federal Environmental Protection Agency said people may face unexpected health problems from all this. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18378527 CLIMATE CHANGE Calif. Delays Cap And Trade. San Francisco (AP) — California regulators on Wednesday said they would give power plants, refineries and other major polluters another year to comply with a new state program that provides financial incentives to emit fewer greenhouse gases. Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the Air Resources Board, said in testimony before a state Senate committee that the government is giving California's major polluters until 2013 to comply with its cap-and-trade program. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hHe2A7Cz4GMSq3PZFSKYFDC_VTsQ?docId=9117e4281eb14e0d9573c8baaf651957 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/30/us-california-carbon-idUSTRE75S8C720110630 http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/06/30/30climatewire-california-delays-cap-and-trade-auctions-cit-96440.html?pagewanted=print http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-government/calif-air-regulators-give-polluters-another-year-to-comply-with-new-cap-and-trade-rules/2011/06/29/AGhBZLrH_story.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18379358 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18379358 http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-0630-cap-trade-m,0,5726936,print.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/30/BAHT1K49H5.DTL&type=green http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/29/3737239/calif-delays-compliance-regs-for.html http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18379358?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/29/1754937/calif-delays-compliance-regs-for.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/29/calif-delays-compliance-regs-for-cap-and-trade/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_bde223e8-32ad-5c44-b20c-68e5b082bddc.html Judge Sides With Federal Scientists On Global Warming’s Threat To Polar Bears. Washington — A federal judge is upholding a decision by government scientists that global warming is threatening the polar bear’s survival. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan on Thursday ruled that a May 2008 decision to place the bear on the endangered species list as threatened because of melting sea ice was rational based on science. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts-law/judge-sides-with-federal-scientists-on-global-warmings-threat-to-polar-bears/2011/06/30/AG8sfEsH_story.html NOAA Report Shows Warmer Weather In U.S. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates that the new 30-year normal has raised half a degree Fahrenheit. Some experts call it further proof of global warming. The new normal is warmer. That's the assessment of the nation's top weather agency, which will release data Friday showing the 30-year "normal" temperature in the United States. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-na-climate-noaa-20110630,0,4376067,print.story FUELS Cobalt Technologies Grabs Cheap Waste to Break into Vehicle Fuels. For biofuels startup Cobalt Technologies, the quest to replace petroleum has led to sugary waste water from Decorative Panels International, a wood paneling manufacturer in the small town of Alpena in northern Michigan. Mountain View (Calif.)-based Cobalt and its partner, biorefinery consulting firm American Process in Atlanta, are building an industrial-scale cellulosic refinery -- one of the world’s first -- on Decorative Panels’ campus. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-29/cobalt-technologies-grabs-cheap-waste-to-break-into-vehicle-fuels.html VEHICLES Hybrid Drivers Lose Fast-Lane Privilege In California. For six years, California gave owners of hybrid cars the keys to the fast lane: permission to drive alone among carpoolers. Now hybrids are about to lose the special privilege that was intended as a reward for saving gas and protecting the environment. The vehicles are no longer novel, their key-shaped yellow decals faded from the sun, and transportation officials want to make way for a new generation of even cleaner cars. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jun/29/hybrid-drivers-lose-fast-lane-privilege-in-califor/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/30/v-print/3737658/hybrid-drivers-face-sticker-shock.html http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011106300347 http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Yellow-Sticker-Hybrid-Program-Ends-Friday-124599864.html 15 Governors Warn Against Tough Fuel Economy Rules. The Obama administration needs to ensure it doesn't set fuel economy standards for the 2017-2025 model years that are too aggressive, a group of governors wrote in a letter to the administration today. The governors -- 14 Republicans and one Democrat -- said in a letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson that "overreaching regulations can place a significant cost burden on individuals, families and businesses in our states." Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110629/OEM05/110629847/1179 Who’s Down With (More) MPG? When it comes to sweeping carbon regulation, America often seems like a house divided. But there’s one area where we agree by a wide margin: 78 percent of Americans support efforts by the auto industry to reduce vehicle carbon dioxide emissions, according to this survey [PDF] by the Mellman Group. Their data also finds almost three-quarters of voters strongly in favor of higher fuel efficiency standards… Posted. http://www.grist.org/oil/2011-06-30-whos-down-with-more-mpg GREEN ENERGY 3 Calif Solar Projects In Line For Loan Guarantees. Three California solar projects have been identified as recipients of nearly $4.5 billion in conditional commitments for loan guarantees from the Department of Energy. The announcement Thursday includes $680 million for the Antelope Valley Solar Ranch in Los Angeles County, $1.88 billion for the Desert Sunlight project in Riverside County and $1.93 billion in loans for the Topaz Solar project in San Luis Obispo County. Posted. http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/US_Solar_Funds_581408C.shtml OPINIONS Fire Up the Grill, Not the Atmosphere. FOOD is responsible for 10 to 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. By many estimates, cooking represents more of a meal’s carbon footprint than transport. For certain vegetables, it accounts for more emissions than agriculture, transport and disposal combined. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/30/opinion/30palmer.html?scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse BLOGS CA Cap and Trade Compliance Delayed. California power plants and refineries will likely have an extra year to comply with the state's proposed cap & trade program, according to Mary Nichols, head of the California Air Resources Board. In testimony to the Senate Select Committee on the Environment, the Economy, and Climate Change on Wednesday, Nichols said that the program would still begin in 2012 as planned, but that polluters would not be held accountable during that year. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/06/29/ca-cap-and-trade-compliance-delayed/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/california-cap-and-trade.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 The Slow Roll Of "An Extraordinary Piece Of Work": California Cap-And-Trade Slows, Again. At a California State Senate committee Wednesday, Air Resources Board chair Mary Nichols put the brakes on the centerpiece work of AB 32 - the state's landmark law that sets limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Nichols holds dominion over implementation of AB 32. Did she tap the brakes, or screech the state to a halt? And will reporters ever stop with the tailpipe-emissions-inspired metaphors? Posted. http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/2011/06/30/slow-roll-extraordinary-piece-work-ca-cap-and-trad/ San Francisco Named Greenest City In U.S. And Canada. We at City Insider just love it when San Francisco comes out tops in major rankings - and this is definitely one to crow about. San Francisco has been named the greenest city in the United States and Canada in a study commissioned by Siemens. (Yes, San Franciscans, the occasional annoyances of mandatory composting and not being able to get a plastic bag at the grocery store are paying off.) Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=92012&tsp=1 City Urges Residents To Put Carbon Monoxide Detectors In All Homes. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, invisible nightmare of a gas that kills 500 people a year in the U.S., and injures 20,000 more. San Francisco officials are now pushing people to heed a new state law that requires residential property owners to install carbon monoxide detectors in homes and apartments that have a gas-fueled furnace or other appliance. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/blogs/under-dome/2011/06/city-urges-residents-put-carbon-monoxide-detectors-all-homes EPA Head Says New Fracking Air Quality Regs Coming Soon. As the New Jersey legislature votes to ban fracking, some word on what the EPA is doing to minimize the environmental damage which could be caused with unregulated hydraulic fracturing: Natural Gas Watch reports that EPA head Lisa Jackson has said that there may soon be Federal regulations dealing with air pollution caused by the natural gas extraction process. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/06/epa-head-says-new-fracking-air-quality-regs-coming-soon.php US DOT To Award Up To $101.4M To Transit Projects To Reduce Emissions And To Promote Clean-Fuel Technologies. The US Department of Transportation will award up to total of $101.4 million to transit projects that improve emissions while supporting emerging clean fuel and advanced propulsion technologies. The money is being provided competitively through the Federal Transit Administration’s Fiscal Year 2011 Sustainability Initiative, which includes funding from two programs:… Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/06/dot-20110629.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2011 13:07:02 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 1, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 1, 2011. 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 The Week Ahead: Coal plants must clean up their act. Do you know where the air you breathe comes from? Next week, the Environmental Protection Agency moves to regulate dirty air across state lines. The new limits on power plant emissions are a half-decade in the making. Thirty-one states from Florida to New York, Wisconsin to Texas would be subject to reducing certain chemicals spewed into the air. The agency argues it has to put these limits in place for states to achieve national clean air standards. After all, sulfur dioxide from a smokestack doesn't stop at the state border. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/01/3741032/the-week-ahead-coal-plants-must.html#storylink=misearch CLIMATE CHANGE California delays cap and trade compliance. Californian authorities have announced a one-year delay in the full application of the state’s carbon emissions cap and trade scheme, initially scheduled to start in January. California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols said the regulator now proposes to implement the scheme on time, but to delay by one year compliance obligations for emitters. This effectively means a shadow carbon market would operate during 2012. Posted. http://www.carbonpositive.net/viewarticle.aspx?articleID=2346 Traders see emissions credit delay as 'reassuring'. Those with the most to gain from California's pending carbon market insisted yesterday that the state is still on track to have a robust emissions trading system, despite regulators' announcement this week that enforcement would be delayed by a year. Carbon traders and brokers uniformly expressed optimism about the fact that emitters are getting at least a six-month reprieve from participating in emissions trading. The delay, they said, would give policymakers time to flesh out details of how the nation's first comprehensive cap on carbon dioxide will be monitored and enforced. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/07/01/1/ FUELS N.Y. proposes to allow drilling, with strict frack rules. New York state would have some of the most restrictive rules in the country for shale gas drilling, including the hydraulic fracturing process, under a proposal to be released today by state regulators. The draft would prevent shale gas drilling near the watersheds of New York City and Syracuse, by banning the high-volume fracturing required to pry gas from the rock formation. But implementing the policy, which is at least months in the future, would allow drilling to start elsewhere in the state. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/2011/07/01/4/ Too little, too late? Some Democrats seek investigations of gas industry claims. A group of energy companies -- like, say, the natural gas industry -- would never, ever mislead the public and politicians about how profitable it could be over the long-term. Obviously, we should just believe the natural gas industry's financial projections, which promise that any negative environmental impacts will be worth the jobs, the profits, and the energy security that come with the promised national gas boom. That's basically been the stance of most legislators in Washington when it comes to natural gas. The picture the industry painted of huge supplies of low-carbon fuel proved really compelling. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-01-too-little-too-late-some-democrats-seek-investigations-of-gas-in VEHICLES Hybrid Drivers Lose Special Access To California Carpool Lanes. LOS ANGELES — For six years, California gave owners of hybrid cars the keys to the fast lane: permission to drive alone among carpoolers. Now hybrids are about to lose the special privilege that was intended as a reward for saving gas and protecting the environment. The vehicles are no longer novel, their key-shaped yellow decals faded from the sun, and transportation officials want to make way for a new generation of even cleaner cars. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011106300347 GREEN ENERGY Utah researchers experiment with electric roads to charge electric cars. LOGAN — Electric vehicles have long been touted as the answer for drivers who want to avoid high gas prices and help protect the environment. But the heavy, short-lived batteries are a big obstacle to the vehicles becoming affordable and commonplace. Suppose an electric vehicle could just go on and on, without stopping to recharge batteries. Suppose it was continually charging as it drove along the highway. A technical breakthrough at Utah State University could make that happen. The idea is to make the highways themselves a source of energy. Posted. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705375497/Utah-researchers-experiment-with-electric-roads-to-charge-electric-cars.html BLOGS EPA, Freight Stakeholders Roll Out SmartWay Drayage Program. Freight handling stakeholders in port areas and the Environmental Protection Agency have launched an initiative that’s designed to help clear the air in the nation’s port areas. It’s called the EPA SmartWay Drayage Program and it has potential for a nationwide solution to port pollution. It builds on clean truck programs that have been around at various port regions for several years. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/epa-freight-stakeholders-roll-smartway-drayage-program/ Exxon Cut Financing to Climate Skeptics, Group Says. Greenpeace U.S.A. has issued a report saying that all of the research funding received since 2003 by Willie Soon, an astrophysicist who has been a critic of climate science, came from oil or coal interests like ExxonMobil and the Southern Company, a utility that burns coal. Dr. Soon, who works at the Harvard-Smithsonian Astrophysics Observatory, has researched whether solar variance might be responsible for climate warming. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/01/exxon-is-financing-fewer-climate-skeptics-group-says/?ref=earth Hybrids Rejoin California Gridlock As HOV Stickers Expire Today. The vehicles are no longer novel, their yellow stickers have faded from years of exposure to the sun and, after six years of enjoying the privilege, it's now time for California's hybrid owners to suffer with the rest of us in the state's traffic-clogged non-High Occupancy Vehicle lanes. Posted. http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/01/californias-hybrid-vehicles-lose-access-to-hov-lanes/ CARB to host community meetings to discuss 2018-2025 LEV III regulations. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is in the process of inking out an amendment to the state's low-emissions vehicle (LEV) regulations. The proposed amendments, referred to as LEV III, ask for more stringent tailpipe and greenhouse gas emission standards for passenger vehicles sold between 2018 and 2025. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/06/30/carb-to-host-community-meetings-to-discuss-2018-2025-lev-iii-reg/#aol-comments Obama Calls for 56.2 MPG Fuel Efficiency Mandate by 2025. The Obama administration is currently in talks with the three big automakers — General Motors, Ford and Chrysler — about future fuel efficiency standards, and it looks like the President’s team is calling for an average of 56.2 miles per gallon mandate by 2025. After a failed attempt at climate change legislation, the Obama administration has focused their efforts on more specific ways to reduce our national carbon emissions. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/obama-calls-for-56-2-mpg-fuel-efficiency-mandate-by-2025/ New Labels For a New Ethanol Fuel. This week, the EPA finalized labeling regulations for "E15" fuels--gasoline-ethanol blends that have "more than 10 and up to 15 percent ethanol." The regulations attempt to ensure that drivers of light-duty vehicles with model years older than 2001 will not fill up their gas tanks with E15. Posted. http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/environmental_law/2011/07/new-labels-for-ethanol.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2011 12:54:22 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 5, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 5, 2011. 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 Bad Valley Air Could Travel From Overseas. Air-quality scientists long have suspected some of the San Joaquin Valley's notorious brown haze comes all the way from places such as China, taking an amazing wind-blown trip. Now it's time to find out. Years ago, researchers confirmed that plumes of east Asian forest fires, airborne dust, industrial pollution and vehicle exhaust float high in the atmosphere to California and the rest of the West. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/04/1761629/bad-valley-air-could-travel-from.html CLIMATE CHANGE US airlines take EU to court over emissions cap. BRUSSELS—U.S. airlines took the European Union to court on Tuesday arguing that its imposition of emissions caps on non-European carriers breaches international law. The suit at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg was filed by Air Transport Association of America, which represents the U.S. airlines, together with United/Continental and American Airlines. Air travel is responsible for about 3 percent of greenhouse gases, but their share of global emissions is rising rapidly. Although thousands of airlines will fall under the scheme, 50 major carriers are responsible for about 70 percent of the emissions. Posted. AP Newsbreak Story: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_CLIMATE_AVIATION?SITE=KTVK&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/07/05/financial/f034640D97.DTL http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/05/2452997/us-airlines-take-eu-to-court-over.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/05/1761908/us-airlines-take-eu-to-court-over.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18409931 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18409931 B.C. finds success with controversial carbon tax. At Richmond Plywood Corp., on an arm of the Fraser River just south of Vancouver, a new energy system that burns the company’s own waste has slashed natural gas costs – almost completely insulating the firm from British Columbia’s carbon tax. The carbon tax wasn’t the sole reason Richmond Plywood made the move – high natural gas prices were also a factor – but it was the tax’s introduction that sparked the change. And it’s exactly the type of action that then-premier Gordon Campbell hoped industry and individuals would undertake when he introduced one of the world’s first carbon taxes three years ago. Posted. http://www.ctv.ca/generic/generated/static/business/article2084989.html Crucial Australian Independents Back Gillard's Climate Plan. Australian independent lawmakers whose support Prime Minister Julia Gillard needs to pass a carbon emissions plan, gave conditional backing ahead of a July 10 announcement on how it will be structured. Tony Windsor, who is from New South Wales, said for the first time he would back the trading system as long as it reflects recommendations from the Multiparty Climate Change Commission on which he sits. Tasmanian lawmaker Andrew Wilkie said he would vote for the laws as long as household and corporate assistance is provided. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/07/05/bloomberg1376-LNU6P50D9L3501-72OOFHNJE04HS8F01TPNVT346U.DTL New vehicle rules to curb greenhouse gas emissions spark debate. Heather Zichal, deputy assistant to the president for energy and climate-change policy, makes a forceful case for the need to slash greenhouse-gas emissions and boost the efficiency of cars and small trucks: The moves will cut America’s oil consumption, foster the nation’s energy independence, save consumers money at the pump and help revive domestic auto manufacturers. What she doesn’t volunteer is that they will curb climate change. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/new-vehicle-rules-to-curb-greenhouse-gas-emissions-spark-debate/2011/06/28/AG32hbwH_story.html Study says sulfur from China’s coal-burning caused slight pause in global warming. WASHINGTON -- Scientists have come up with a possible explanation for why the rise in Earth's temperature paused for a bit during the 2000s, one of the hottest decades on record. The answer seems counterintuitive. It's all that sulfur pollution in the air from China's massive coal-burning, according to a new study. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sulfur-pollution-cites-as-cause-of-climate-change-pause-warming-now-seems-to-be-resuming/2011/07/04/gHQAFkAWxH_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/04/2452452/global-warming-plateau-linked.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/04/1761130/global-warming-plateau-linked.html PM Excludes Gasoline From Aussie Carbon Tax Plan. Prime Minister Julia Gillard softened the impact of her unpopular carbon tax plans on Sunday by promising it will not increase Australian gasoline prices. She said the tax would never be applied to gasoline despite transport being Australia's third-largest and fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/02/1759286/pm-excludes-gasoline-from-aussie.html U.S.-E.U. showdown over airline emissions begins today. If European lawmakers have their way, by next year any American flying from Boston to Paris will have to pay for the plane's carbon emissions over Massachusetts, Nova Scotia, the Atlantic Ocean and France. A case before the highest court in the European Union to decide the matter starts today. At stake is this question: Can Europe's climate policy reach the tailpipes of planes flying to and from the continent, even when that plane is over other parts of the world? Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/07/05/2/ EPA grants biomass a final reprieve from CO2 rules. As proposed earlier this year, biomass-burning facilities will be spared from new federal curbs on gases that help cause climate change. The final plan released Friday by U.S. EPA will give biomass a three-year pass while the agency studies the effect of plant emissions on climate change. During that time, industrial plants that burn woody biomass and landfills that release the greenhouse gases from decomposing biomass won't need permits before starting construction and won't need Title V operating permits. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/07/05/2/ FUELS Air France to power planes with cooking oil. In a giant nod to the growing recycled fuel industry, Air France-KLM has announced that it will start flying planes in September using a blend of kerosene and used cooking oil. More than 200 flights between Paris and Amsterdam will be the first to embrace the alternative fuel. "In November 2009 we demonstrated that it was technically possible to fly on biokerosene," said KLM's managing director Camiel Eurlings. "Now, a year and a half after our first demonstration flight on Camelina, a new phase has been entered around the world, that of certification. Authorisation will soon be granted to operate commercial flights on biofuel." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/04/3746301/air-france-to-power-planes-with.html#storylink=misearch GREEN ENERGY UN calls for greener food production to feed world in 2050. GENEVA — World food production will have to increase by up to 100 percent by 2050 and focus on greener methods to sustain an expected 9 billion population, the U.N. said Tuesday in its annual survey of economic and social trends. The U.N.’s annual World Economic and Social Survey called for governments to invest nearly $2 trillion (about 1.3 trillion euros) a year to help small-scale farming and to reduce environmental harm. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/un-calls-for-greener-food-production-to-feed-world-in-2050/2011/07/05/gHQAVnlqyH_story.html India's Rural Poor Give Up On Power Grid, Go Solar. Boommi Gowda used to fear the night. Her vision fogged by glaucoma, she could not see by just the dim glow of a kerosene lamp, so she avoided going outside where king cobras slithered freely and tigers carried off neighborhood dogs. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_0f005099-104a-55ae-a5e1-7a2706e40675.html Frances Arnold: Career path of a Caltech scientist. Chemical engineer and biochemist at Caltech in Pasadena. Frances Arnold, 54, specializes in the creation of new proteins, with a focus on renewable energy. She is co-founder of Gevo Inc., a company that develops liquid fuel from plants that can be used as a substitute for gasoline and jet fuel. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-himi-arnold-20110703,0,6168321.story Antelope Valley residents not fired up over green energy projects. Judy Watson watched as the California Poppy Reserve was established in the 1970s just five miles from her home. She was looking forward to cherishing its vistas forever. But today Watson is among area residents and nature lovers who fear that the state park's annual blaze of orange blossoms will be overshadowed by "green" — energy, that is, in the form of sprawling solar panels and gigantic industrial-size wind turbines. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-wind-turbines-20110704,0,7448120.story VEHICLES Electric cars are right for America. Former Michigan governor and clean/renewable energy missionary Jennifer Granholm stopped by the Sun-Times the other day to tell the Editorial Board that the cost of electric cars could be on par with the price of gas-powered autos as soon as 2017. If that’s actually within the realm of possibility, we are on the cusp of an energy revolution that could advance the cause of energy security and deal a significant blow to the political and economic clout of foreign oil. Posted. http://www.suntimes.com/news/huntley/6283734-417/electric-cars-are-right-for-america.html Dealers See Shift. Automakers saw strong demand for fuel-efficient vehicles in the first part of this year, but with gas prices leveling off, some dealers are seeing a shift back to trucks and other bigger vehicles. Ford saw its biggest month of small-car sales in May since 2008, despite a 0.1 percent drop in overall sales. But foot traffic for F-150s and other large vehicles has increased in June, a San Bernardino dealer said. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18401541?IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com First car2go electric vehicle rental scheme launched in Germany. The southern city of Ulm, Germany is the first to host a rental electric vehicle fleet Daimler affiliate car2go partnered with SWU Stadtwerke, their technology partners Mennekes and the group of companies FG.de to deploy in its fleet five electrically powered smart fortwos. Vehicles rented in the mobility scheme drive for about 135km between charges, covering the distance between two car2go rentals. In case the battery is discharged below a specific threshold, the vehicle is parked at one of the charging stations and the drive is over. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/61720110705.php MISCELLANEOUS Air quality expected to reach unhealthy range today. The first Spare the Air Day of the season is forecast for today for the Sacramento region. The region's air quality index is expected to reach 151, which is just into the unhealthy range. People with respiratory disease such as asthma should avoid long periods of exertion outdoors. Everyone else should reduce outdoor prolonged outdoor exertion. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/05/3748204/air-quality-expected-to-reach.html#storylink=misearch OPINION Viewpoints: State can still lead on climate without cap-and-trade farce. A decision by a California Superior Court may provide the state with a second chance to become a real leader in national and global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Last month, a Superior Court judge directed the California Air Resources Board to conduct an analysis of feasible alternatives to the cap-and-trade program the air board adopted last year. The plan is the blueprint for achieving the ambitious goals of the Global Warming Solutions Act, also known as AB 32 – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Since California is the world's ninth-largest emitter of these emissions, AB 32 is rightly viewed as a pioneering effort to help the world address the problem of global climate change. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/02/3742737/state-can-still-lead-on-climate.html#storylink=misearch EDITORIAL: Wasteful Energy. Self-proclaimed environmentalists dream of a future powered by wind and solar energy. The free market, of course, knows this isn’t going to happen. Every windmill and solar farm on the planet would go bankrupt if the daily truckloads of taxpayer cash ever missed a delivery. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/4/wasteful-energy/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS BLOGS Global Warming And Political Intimidation : How Politicians Cracked Down On Scientists As The Earth Heated Up. Climatologist Raymond Bradley has come out fighting in his new short book Global Warming and Political Intimidation: How Politicians Cracked Down on Scientists as the Earth Heated Up. It’s a lively albeit sobering narrative which recounts his and others’ experience of harassment, character assassination and unfounded accusation from the politicians who serve fossil fuel interests in the US Congress. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/global-warming-political-intimidation-crackdown/ Air Pollution Linked To Impaired Cognition. Long term exposure to fine airborne particulate matter, such as engine exhaust, may alter neuronal morphology, mood, and impair cognition, according to research in mice published online this week in Molecular Psychiatry. These results may shed light into how air pollution exposure in major cities around the globe can alter or impair mental functions. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/air-pollution-linked-impaired-cognition/ Ryder sees increasing demand for heavy-duty natural gas trucks; expanding California program to other states. Ryder System, Inc., a leader in commercial transportation and supply chain management solutions, has already secured lease agreements for 87 heavy-duty natural gas trucks from customers looking to take advantage of the fuel cost savings and environmental benefits of alternative fuel powered vehicles. Sixty-five of those vehicles are part of Ryder’s natural gas fleet in Southern California, made available through the Ryder/San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) Natural Gas Vehicle project. (Earlier post.) Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/07/ryder-20110704.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 6 Jul 2011 12:46:34 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- News Clips for July 6, 2011 From: plingam@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 6, 2011. 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 Arvin air monitoring station moved; results skewed. The San Joaquin Valley's air may suddenly be a little cleaner this summer, if only on paper. The nation's dirtiest air monitoring station over the past decade – Arvin in Kern County – has been moved to an apparently cleaner location two miles away. The move could statistically make the Valley's air cleaner without actually reducing pollution or making the air any healthier to breathe. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/05/2454074/arvin-air-monitoring-station-moved.html#storylink=misearch Inhofe questions EPA science behind new standards. The top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is seeking to use a recent National Academy of Sciences review of formaldehyde to raise questions about U.S. EPA's scientific basis for new air quality standards due out this summer. In a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) linked NAS criticisms of the scientific methodologies used by EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) in evaluating formaldehyde to the process the agency is using to update the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) this month. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/2011/07/06/8/ Neighborhood gags as its economic engine spews pollution. SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- Teresa Flores has lived her entire life surrounded by a tangle of rail lines in this low-income, west-side neighborhood, listening to train whistles and horns and what she calls the "crash bang boom." "Every time a train comes through a road crossing, they blow the whistle three times. You can hear the train coming from Cajon Pass all the way over to here," the 57-year-old said as she surveyed her neighborhood on a recent hot day. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/07/05/archive/1?terms=GAGS CLIMATE CHANGE Court sides with enviro groups on airline emissions. A federal judge has sided with environmental groups on a lawsuit that seeks to limit carbon emissions from airplanes, ruling yesterday that the Clean Air Act requires U.S. EPA to decide whether the emissions pose a threat to human health or welfare. The Obama administration had asked to dismiss the lawsuit from groups such as the Center for Biological Diversity, Oceana and Friends of the Earth. It argued that EPA gets to choose whether to make such an "endangerment finding," as the last administration argued before the Supreme Court after it was presented with a challenge on the emissions from cars and trucks. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/07/06/6/ DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB extends tractor-trailer reporting deadline to Aug. 1. SACRAMENTO — The California Air Resources Board has announced that trailer fleet owners now have an extra 30 days — until August 1 — to register their fleets if they want to take advantage of a flexible phase-in option for a new California regulation designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2011/7/6/CARBextendstractor-trailerreportingdeadlinetoAug1.aspx FUELS Automakers balk at EPA plans for higher-ethanol fuel. WASHINGTON — A dozen domestic and foreign automakers are raising concerns over damage that could be caused by gasoline containing 15% ethanol, which the Environmental Protection Agency plans to allow at U.S. gas pumps. The EPA has released its warning sticker for gasoline containing 15% ethanol, known as E15 — a final step before the higher blend can be cleared for sale in the United States. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ethanol-20110705,0,648239.story Ford, Toyota Criticize EPA Ethanol-Blend Fuel Proposal. Automakers including Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. criticized an Environmental Protection Agency proposal to allow gasoline containing as much as 15 percent ethanol in all cars and trucks in the U.S., saying its use may void warranties. Twelve automakers released letters today sent to Representative James Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin Republican, saying the EPA proposal to sell so-called E15 fuel may damage engines and fuel-supply systems in vehicles made to run on gasoline with lower ethanol content. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/07/06/bloomberg1376-LNVFOB6K50XV01-38SGEBA8L7DJQ9856B7F9GA386.DTL Virgin Australia Researching Eucalyptus Leaves As Jet Fuel. SYDNEY—Eucalyptus leaves might soon be known for being more than just the staple diet of koala bears: Virgin Australia Ltd. plans to turn the foliage into jet fuel. Australia's second biggest airline said Wednesday that it has formed a biofuels joint venture with several energy groups focused on the native mallee species of the tree as it seeks to slash its carbon footprint and reduce costs. The move, with DynaMotive Energy Systems Corp. and closely held Renewable Oil Corp., is significant because eucalyptus trees—commonly known as gum trees—can flourish over the semi-arid parts of Australia's vast, dry landscape. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303544604576429063799381464.html?KEYWORDS=grKEYWORDS%3Dgreen+energy&_nocache=1309977311266&mg=com-wsj GREEN ENERGY Despite recession, Californians install solar panels at record-breaking pace. While the drill-baby-drill contingent was bitching about reliance on foreign oil, that hacky-sack full of smelly Nancy-Pelosi-electing hippies known as California quietly installed more solar in 2010 than any other state, ever. The numbers: Californians installed 194 megawatts of solar in 2010, 47 percent more than they installed in 2009. Granted, 2009 was kind of a crap year, economically. But so was 2010! Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-06-despite-recession-californians-install-solar-panels-at-record-br VEHICLES California policy update for cleaner transport. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve California’s air quality plans for fine particles – also known as PM2.5. According to Jared Blumenfeld, EPA Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest, “Clean air is a critical human health issue in California. In large part, the solution will be found in moving quickly towards zero emission transportation systems”. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/61820110706.php Ask George: What to do when the sirens are blaring. Q: I have a Clean Air Vehicle sticker for my hybrid, but I heard that the sticker will no longer be valid. Is this true? A: All hybrid vehicles that were issued with the Clean Air Vehicle (yellow) sticker through the VC Section 5205.5 Low Emission Vehicle Identification for High Occupancy Vehicle Lane use Tolls will no longer be valid as of July 1, 2011. Posted. http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2011-07-05-72127.113116-What-to-do-when-the-sirens-are-blaring.html Denmark to be electric cars guinea pig. Studies have shown than when prices at the petrol pump rise, there is a corresponding leap in internet searches for the electric car. But that is about the extent of it as far as the consumer is concerned. When petrol prices return to levels that do not hurt the wallet so much, interest wanes. The electric car might be touted – at least at face value - as the silver environmental bullet but its hefty price tag and consumers' natural conservatism when it comes to embracing a wholly new technology has kept it mostly in the showroom. Posted. http://euobserver.com/882/32458 MISCELLANEOUS Ride a scooter, save the world. Not to Al Gore anybody's ox, but a lot of you Whole Foods hipsters think you're green because your Prius gets 50 mpg. My scooter gets 100. I just filled up my tank on the way to work. Total cost: $3.86, about the same price as a Starbucks grande Frappuccino but fueling an adrenaline buzz that will last a lot longer. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-scooters-20110706,0,4064482.story Mayor Ed Lee tries to zero out carbon emissions with Volt. Mayor Ed Lee used the Fourth of July holiday to declare his independence from foreign oil. Lee took his first ride Monday in the new official mayor-mobile: a silver plug-in hybrid electric Chevrolet Volt. He had already been riding in a 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid, but the Volt can run for about 40 miles on electric power alone before needing a charge or having the engine kick in. Lee plans to drive no more than that amount a day, his administration said (looks like no trips to Montana), and charge the car from the city's carbon-free hydropower generated at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=92519 OPINION Support for clean diesel -- it's not an oxymoron -- must continue. Fifteen years ago, there was no such thing as a clean diesel. Today, new diesel buses, trucks and other engines are more than 90 percent cleaner. These diesel engines operate smoke-free, have created thousands of new jobs in the hard-hit engine manufacturing sector and elsewhere, and are helping to save escalating fuel costs by operating more efficiently. Unfortunately, the federal program funding these innovations in California may be coming to an end this week. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18407033?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com BLOGS Report Reveals America Now Receives More Power From Renewable Sources Than Nuclear. A recent report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration reveals that America now receives more of its energy from renewable sources than it does from nuclear generation plants. In the first three months of 2011, the country’s biomass/biofuel, hydropower, wind, geothermal, and solar energy generation plants produced a combined 2.245 quadrillion Btus of energy or 11.73 percent of U.S. energy production. During the same period, nuclear energy plants produced 2.125 quadrillion Btus. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/report-reveals-america-now-receives-more-power-from-renewable-sources-than-nuclear/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 14:10:54 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 7, 2011 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 7, 2011. 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 EPA Clamps Down On Pollution Spoiling Air Downwind. The EPA is clamping down on pollution from power plants in 27 states that contributes to unhealthy air downwind. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced the final rule Thursday. The regulation will clean up smog, soot and acid rain in downwind states - where they add to locally produced pollution, making it impossible for those states to meet air quality standards. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EPA_DOWNWIND_POLLUTION?SITE=ORAST&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak Story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-government/epa-rule-requires-power-plants-in-28-states-to-reduce-pollution-spoiling-air-downwind/2011/07/07/gIQA7WE61H_story.html EPA To Impose New Power Plant Rules. The Environmental Protection Agency will finalize rules Thursday that will compel 28 states and the District to curb air pollution that travels across states, according to sources briefed on the matter, the first in a series of federal restrictions aimed at improving the air Americans breathe. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-to-impose-new-power-plant-rules/2011/07/07/gIQACem11H_story.html http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-dumps-suit-20110707,0,7682583.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Flocal+%28L.A.+Times+-+California+|+Local+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader EPA Will Approve, Not Reject, Area Pollution Plan. A Southern California plan to cut air pollution by particles smaller than the width of a human hair will be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, not rejected, as the agency threatened last year. The EPA says that deficiencies in the state's plan to reduce fine particles to 1997 levels by 2015 have been corrected. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/common/printer/view.php?db=ocregister&id=307284 New Danger Found In Asbestos Town. For a decade, the people of Libby have longed for the day when they will be rid of the asbestos that turned their town into the deadliest Superfund site in America. Now they are being forced to live through the agony all over again, thanks to two giant piles of bark and wood chips on the edge of town. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ASBESTOS_TOWN?SITE=CACRU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak Story: http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18429120 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18429120 CLIMATE CHANGE NH Gov. Lynch Vetoes Plan To Opt Out Of Greenhouse Initiative. Littleton, New Hampshire (Reuters) - New Hampshire Governor John Lynch on Wednesday vetoed a bill that would have ended the state's participation in a regional greenhouse gas reduction program, citing concerns about environmental and economic competitiveness. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/06/us-greenhouse-new-hampshire-idUSTRE76567020110706 Warmer Temperatures May Threaten California Vineyards, Study Says. Scientists project that in the next 30 years, Napa and Santa Barbara counties will be 2 degrees warmer and have more very hot days. That could affect the varietals chosen and methods used at vineyards. In the next 30 years, high-value vineyards in California could shrink by 50% because of global warming, according to a Stanford University study released last week. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-adv-california-vineyards-20110706,0,7994468,print.story Cap-And-Trade System Set To Go. Expected to be passed into law after hearings. Quebec will be a pioneer in North America, along with British Columbia and California, when the province brings in its own cap-and trade system to limit greenhouse gas emissions next year, Quebec Environment Minister Pierre Arcand announced Wednesday. "The cap-and-trade system is recognized as one of the most effective and least expensive ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions," Arcand said at a news conference in Montreal. Posted. http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/trade+system/5062204/story.html Australia Halves Carbon Tax List To 500 Companies. Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced that Australia's proposed carbon tax would apply to half as many carbon gas polluters as promised. Gillard told Parliament on Thursday that 500 companies that are among Australia's worst carbon polluters would pay the tax starting July next year. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/06/australia-halves-carbon-tax-list-to-500/ Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced that Australia's proposed carbon tax would apply to half as many carbon gas polluters as promised. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/06/australia-halves-carbon-tax-list-to-500/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Last Chance For California Trailer Plan Extension. Tractor-trailer fleets using 53-ft. or longer trailers in California have just a few more weeks to take advantage of a phase-in period before they must comply with another state environmental law that will require adding fairings, skirts and low-roll-resistant tires to all trailers traveling in the state. Posted. http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?expire=&title=Last+chance+for+California+trailer+plan+extension&urlID=456164047&action=cpt&partnerID=97626&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffleetowner.com%2Fgreen%2Farchive%2Flast-chance-trailer-plan-extension-0707%2F FUELS U.S. Backs Project to Produce Fuel From Corn Waste. Washington — The Energy Department plans to provide a $105 million loan guarantee for the expansion of an ethanol factory in Emmetsburg, Iowa, that intends to make motor fuel from corncobs, leaves and husks. Experts say that the new factory, being built by POET, a major producer of ethanol derived from corn kernels, could be the first commercial-scale plant to make ethanol from a nonfood, or cellulosic, plant source. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/07/business/energy-environment/us-backs-plant-to-make-fuel-from-corn-waste.html?_r=1&scp=6&sq=fuels&st=cse GREEN ENERGY UN Reports Surging Investments In Renewable Energy. Global investments in renewable energy jumped 32 percent to $211 billion last year, boosted by wind farm development in China and rooftop solar panels in Europe, U.N. officials said Thursday. A report by the U.N. Environment Program shows that solar, wind, biomass and other forms of green energy are gaining momentum, despite the lack of progress in international climate talks aimed at slowing emissions of heat-trapping gases from fossil fuels. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/07/1765088/un-reports-surging-investments.html Calif. Utilities Start Moving Toward Feed-In. The biggest city-run utility in the country will start buying power from people who install solar panels. Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) yesterday said it plans to launch a feed-in tariff, or FIT, a market mechanism that usually pays a premium price for green energy. LADWP is the second utility in the state to begin a FIT, following a California law requiring all utilities to start such a program. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/07/4 MISCELLANEOUS Refinery Official Admits To Violation. A top official at a Lake Charles refinery where investigators found malfunctioning equipment that was supposed to monitor a potentially deadly pollutant has pleaded guilty to violating the federal Clean Air Act. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/06/refinery-official-admits-to-violation/ OPINIONS MILLOY: Last Chance For GOP To Stop EPA Train Wreck. First, Republicans must absorb to their core the notion that it is no longer 1970. In 2011 America, the air, water and the rest of the environment are clean and safe - largely thanks to our wealth, not the roguish EPA. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/5/last-chance-for-gop-to-stop-epa-train-wreck/?page=2 Climate Change And Disaster In Montana. The flooding of the Yellowstone River and the oil spill in the riverbed are connected, and the burning of fossil fuels is the key. "We're a disaster area," Alexis Bonogofsky told me, "and it's going to take a long time to get over it." Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-klein-climate-oil-spill-20110707,0,7782586,print.story Auto Industry Must Meet Tougher Fuel Standards. Two years ago, automakers reluctantly agreed to tougher mileage standards as part of the federal government's rescue of General Motors and Chrysler. But with the industry no longer in need of a financial hand, it's slipped back into its foot-dragging habits. Automakers previously had agreed to increase fuel economy for domestic cars and light trucks to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/07/1765006/auto-industry-must-meet-tougher.html OUR VIEW: Arvin's Air About To Get Better -- For Wrong Reason. Lewis Carroll might have had something to say about the likelihood that Arvin's dreadful air quality will soon be getting significantly better. "... If it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't," Tweedledee declares in "Through the Looking Glass." The worst air in America is expected to improve suddenly and dramatically not because there's less pollution in the …Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/our_view/x481155516/Arvins-air-about-to-get-better-for-wrong-reason BLOGS Senators Push Deal To End Ethanol Subsidies This Month. A bipartisan trio of senators announced Thursday that they have reached an agreement on a way to end ethanol subsidies immediately. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) told Senate leaders that their proposal would repeal the 45-cent ethanol blender credit at the end of July, saving $2 billion through the end of the year. It would also end a tariff of 54 cents a gallon on foreign ethanol this month.. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/senators-push-deal-to-end-ethanol-subsidies-this-month/2011/07/07/gIQAd5i61H_blog.html EPA Will Approve, Not Reject, Area Pollution Plan. A Southern California plan to cut air pollution by particles smaller than the width of a human hair will be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, not rejected, as the agency threatened last year. The EPA says that deficiencies in the state’s plan to reduce fine particles to 1997 levels by 2015 have been corrected. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2011/07/06/epa-will-approve-not-reject-area-pollution-plan/131475/ Electric Car Production Plans Below Sales Targets. If electric cars are to meet ambitious sales targets then there at least needs to be enough of them produced by major car manufacturers – however, a new analysis suggests they are falling well short of their goals. According to the newly updated Electric Vehicle Roadmap report from the International Energy Agency, announcements from major manufacturers in terms of production plans for electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are well short of the sales targets set by countries. Posted. http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2011/07/07/electric-car-production-plans-below-sales-targets/ European Union Says CO2 Emissions Fell 3.7% In 2010. The fuel efficiency of vehicles sold in Europe in 2010 improved slightly versus those sold in 2009, according to provisional European Union data. The EU says that last year's numbers show that CO2 emissions from passenger vehicles fell by 3.7 percent, moving the average emissions down to 140 grams per kilometer. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 8 Jul 2011 14:14:58 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 8, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 8, 2011. 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 Calif. Groups Sue EPA Over Civil Rights Complaint. Kettleman City, Calif. (AP) --Two community groups in California say the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hasn't responded to a discrimination complaint filed more than a decade ago about how California's three toxic waste dumps are all near poor Latino communities. They've filed a federal lawsuit in Fresno that alleges the EPA has failed to address their complaints in a timely manner. The three toxic dumps are still operating. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/07/08/national/a000208D03.DTL&type=printable New EPA Rule Will Clean The Air For 240 Million Americans. Washington -- Pollution that blows hundreds of miles from coal-fired power plants into other states will be reduced under a final plan that the Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday. The rule, a revision of a Bush administration plan, will require pollution reductions in 27 states from Texas and Minnesota on the west to the East Coast. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/07/2456542/new-epa-rule-will-clean-the-air.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/07/1765836/new-epa-rule-will-clean-the-air.html State's Air Pollution Deadline Extended. The federal government has approved plans to curb one of the San Joaquin Valley's most dangerous forms of air pollution while also allowing a few more years to get the job done. The recently approved plans rely on new state rules to clean up trucks, buses and construction equipment. Those diesel-powered vehicles are a primary source of tiny pollution particles, which are responsible for thousands of premature deaths in the Valley and in Southern California. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110708/A_NEWS14/107080311&cid=sitesearch How Many Lives Did The EPA Just Save With Coal Pollution Regulation? The EPA's new rules regulate emissions from coal-fired power plants, limiting air pollution from coal plants in 27 Eastern states. According to the agency, this could result in 34,000 fewer premature deaths per year by 2014, plus preventing 15,000 heart attacks and 400,000 cases of asthma every year. (The above map shows how many early deaths could be prevented in each state.) Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-08-how-many-lives-did-the-epa-just-save-with-coal-pollution-regulat CLIMATE CHANGE CARB Issues Draft Plan On Emission Cap-And-Trade System. San Francisco - The California Air Resources Board late Thursday released a draft proposal that provides details on how it will implement its cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CARB Chairwoman Mary Nichols on June 28 said that while the agency expects the cap-and-trade system to be in place in January, compliance with the regime will be postponed to 2013. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/8099785 Cap-And-Trade Policies Losing Steam. Cap-and-trade policies were once heralded as the most cost-effective way to combat climate change, creating visions of a trillion-dollar global market that would clean up the air and spawn a revolution in new energy technologies. But the concept, originally created by Republican economists, appears to be dying by a thousand cuts. Politicians who once embraced the idea now see it as a third rail, while states and countries are either delaying or rejecting its implementation outright. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/58559.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Cummins Pays $500,000 in Penalties to California, EPA. The California Air Resources Board today announced that Cummins paid $500,000 for failing to properly retest its engines already in use. Cummins violations include: * Not testing at least four engines in selected engine families; * Completing tests after the deadline set in a 1998 settlement agreement for a previous air quality infraction; * Reporting test results more than 30 days after test completion; and, * Testing 10 vehicles at less than the maximum weight, as designated in the terms of a 1998 agreement. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=74128&news_category_id=36 FUELS Ethanol Subsidies Besieged. Federal subsidies for corn ethanol have long been considered untouchable in Washington — not least because politicians want the votes of Iowans, who have traditionally held the first nominating caucuses in the contest for the presidency. Mark Marquis, the president of Marquis Energy, says the ethanol industry understands that times have changed. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/08/business/energy-environment/corn-ethanol-subsidies-may-be-in-jeopardy.html?scp=6&sq=fuels&st=cse VEHICLES Barbara Boxer, House Republicans Both Forgo Earmarks For California Transportation. Washington – California road and rail projects once found a secure home in huge transportation bills passed by Congress. Not any more. On Thursday, key House members rolled out a six-year, $230 billion transportation proposal that omits the kind of local project earmarks long championed by California lawmakers. No Sacramento light rail. No Fresno buses. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/08/v-print/3755274/barbara-boxer-house-republicans.html GREEN ENERGY Abu Dhabi Hosts Africa Meeting On Renewable Energy. Africa's growing economy and reliance on carbon-emitting energy from wood and charcoal could "exponentially" worsen global warming unless the continent steps up its investment in wind, solar and hydro power, the head of a new international energy agency said Friday. The key to ramping up renewable energy resources is to develop a regulatory framework to …Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_AFRICA_RENEWABLE_ENERGY?SITE=OHCIN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/08/2457198/abu-dhabi-hosts-africa-meeting.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/08/1766547/abu-dhabi-hosts-africa-meeting.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/08/abu-dhabi-hosts-africa-meeting-on-renewable/ OPINIONS Editorial: Will Obama Cave On Fuel Efficiency? For more than two years, President Barack Obama has talked tough about the need to bolster fuel economy standards to reduce pollution and dependence on foreign oil. Yet as Obama starts to mount a 2012 re-election campaign, there are disturbing signs he may cave on fuel economy standards to placate Detroit and improve his chances to win Michigan and other states in the general election. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/07/v-print/3484479/obama-fuel.html On Matters of Cleaning the Air, Consensus Is Key. It’s no secret I abhor air pollution. I loathe toxic air and with good reason. I can’t find one thing good about it. Clean air matters. No question, as no one in his or her right mind wants dirty air, but, in reality, what we in Fresno have been seeing over the past several days does not belie our eyes. As a matter of fact, the Air Quality Index for this region has either been in the unhealthful for sensitive groups or the unhealthful range—AQI of 100 and above. Posted. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/node/9146 BLOGS Clean Air, Mortality and Cost: A Thought Exercise. Philip Angell, an old hand at the Environmental Protection Agency, gave me a bit of advice when I became an environmental reporter some years ago. The E.P.A., he said, is a public health agency. Think of it that way. The wisdom and the limitations of that advice became clearer over time. Like the Food and Drug Administration’s standards for new drugs or state mandates for childhood vaccinations, the agency’s air pollution rules are intended to save lives. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/07/clean-air-mortality-and-cost-a-thought-exercise/ Ethanol Industry Welcomes Compromise. Any other year, the ethanol industry would have declared a defeat, not a victory. As I mention in Friday’s Times, three senators — one an ethanol opponent and the other two supporters — came up with a grand compromise on Thursday that would end the $6 billion in annual tax credits that go to blenders of ethanol in gasoline and a tariff designed to keep Brazilian ethanol out of the United States. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/08/compromise-relieves-ethanol-industry/ Trash Trucks Fueled By 'Trash Gas': A Growing Trend. The company that operates the largest trucking fleet in the waste industry is fueling more and more trucks with so-called trash gas. On Tuesday, Houston-based Waste Management Inc. will add its 1,000th truck fueled with natural gas. Powered with captured and converted methane gas from the company's Altamont, Calif., landfill, the new truck will service Long Beach, picking up recyclables. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/07/waste-management-trash-trucks.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Two-Year Drop in California Carbon Emissions. If you're ready for some good news on the climate front: California's carbon emissions from power generation dropped in 2009 and 2010. That's according to a new analysis from Thomson Reuters' Point Carbon that looked at power generated here in California, as well as electricity imported from out of state. According to the report (available by subscription only), emissions were down 12% over the study period. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/07/07/two-year-drop-in-california-carbon-emissions/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 Two Plating Shops Hit With Fines. Two plating shops in California and Arizona are facing huge fines after local officials deemed they violated environmental laws and regulations in storing hazardous waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined TMW Corporation – which operates Crown Chome Plating in Van Nuys, CA ‑ $100,000 for violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act during an inspection conducted by EPA in April 2009. Posted. http://www.pfonline.com/blog/post/two-plating-shops-hit-with-fines ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:50:16 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 11, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 11, 2011. 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 Biking On Busy Streets Linked To Heart Risks. When Ed Campaniello chooses his biking route between his Mission District home and job in downtown San Francisco, traffic is a top consideration. And new research shows that's a smart move - not only because fewer cars mean less of a chance of being hit, but because polluting vehicles may give cyclists heart problems. The 42-year-old solar energy consultant said it makes sense. Occasionally, he gets a funky taste in his mouth after riding behind trucks and buses. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/10/BAGG1K737V.DTL&type=printable Qantas: Australia Carbon Tax To Increase Fares. Australia's tax on carbon emissions will cost Qantas 110 million to 115 million Australian dollars ($118 million to $123 million) for the 2013 financial year and lead to an increase in passenger fares, the airline said Monday. The flagship Australian carrier is one of the first of the nation's major companies to release details of the financial impact of the tax, which will force the 500 worst polluters to pay AU$23 for every ton of carbon they emit. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_31a199ea-fc33-5464-a8e1-efe699266aa8.html Clean Coal Group Spent $940,000 On 1Q Lobbying. The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, which represents industries involved in coal-generated electricity, spent $940,000 in the first quarter to lobby the federal government on legislation related to the environment, according to a recent disclosure report. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/08/1767105/clean-coal-group-spent-940000.html How Dirty Is The Yellow School Bus? Air Pollution: Tailpipe controls on buses don't clear the air inside bus cabins. As iconic yellow buses transport children to and from school, their diesel engines deliver big doses of air pollutants. In response, school districts have started retrofitting their buses to cut tailpipe emissions. Posted. http://pubs.acs.org/cen/email/html/8928scene2.html# Critical List: Australia Will Tax Carbon; U.S. Cars Kill 32.5 Trillion Insects Each Year. This is a carbon tax: Australia is going to put a tax of $23 per metric ton on carbon emissions from 500 companies. Hybrids and electric vehicles may no longer be legally allowed to slink quietly down the street, surprising pedestrians and dogs everywhere. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is proposing a rule requiring that the near-silent cars emit some sort of sound at low speeds. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-11-critical-list-australia-will-tax-carbon-u.s.-cars-kill-32.5-tril CLIMATE CHANGE Australia To Tax Nation's Worst Polluters. Sydney—Australia will force its 500 worst polluters to pay 23 Australian dollars ($25) for every ton of carbon dioxide they emit, with the government promising to compensate households hit with higher power bills under a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions unveiled Sunday. Prime Minister Julia Gillard sought to reassure wary Australians that the deeply unpopular carbon tax will only cause a minority of households to pay more and insisted it is critical to helping the country lower its massive carbon emissions. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AUSTRALIA_CARBON_TAX?SITE=NCASH&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/09/2459238/australia-to-tax-nations-worst.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18450334 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/10/australia-to-tax-nations-worst-polluters/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_0b51bee6-10af-5ba4-a028-4259c01b94b5.html Free Cap-And-Trade System Beats Carbon Tax, Study Finds. As governments try to figure out the best way to get carbon polluters to invest in and produce cleaner energy, two scenarios continue to come forward: cap and trade vs. carbon tax. A new study from UC Merced and the University of New South Wales in Australia suggests that a free and uninhibited cap-and-trade system is the best way to go. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/free-cap-and-trade-system-beats-carbon-tax-study-finds-11395 FUELS Alon: No Impact From Upset At Bakersfield Refinery. Houston - Alon USA Energy (ALJ.N) said there was no impact on production from upsets over the weekend on a sulfur unit at its Bakersfield, California refinery. "Other than a couple of trips on the sulfur unit, everything ran perfectly fine for us in Bakersfield over the weekend," Chief Operating Officer Joseph Israel said. "We are now converting gasoil into CARB diesel and CARBOB gasoline for the California/Bakersfield market in our Bakersfield refinery." Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/11/refinery-operations-alon-bakersfield-idUSWEN520920110711 What Does The Volatile Past Of Natural Gas Tell Us About Its Future? In mid-2000, the chairman of Chesapeake Energy, a beleaguered natural gas producer, was returning on the company's jet to his headquarters in Oklahoma City, buoyed with optimism. He was coming from a meeting with Calpine, a growing California-based power company, and he was encouraged by what he'd heard. Posted. http://www.grist.org/natural-gas/2011-07-11-what-does-volatile-past-of-natural-gas-say-about-its-future VEHICLES As Green As Can Be: Nissan Tests Solar Charging For Leaf. Yokohama, Japan -- Japanese automaker Nissan is testing a super-green way to recharge its Leaf electric vehicle using solar power, part of a broader drive to improve electricity storage systems. Nissan's Leaf went on sale late last year, but the automaker is looking ahead about five years, when aging Leaf vehicles may offer alternative business opportunities in using their lithium-ion batteries as a storage place for electricity. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_JAPAN_NISSAN?SITE=CACHI&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/nissan-works-on-recharging-leaf-electric-vehicle-with-solar-power-mulling-business/2011/07/11/gIQA2d5B8H_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/10/2460053/nissan-works-on-recharging-leaf.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18453296 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_1845364 http://www.mercurynews.com/cars/ci_18455170?nclick_check=1 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/11/nissan-works-on-recharging-leaf-with-solar-power/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_d8b1ec60-e2ce-5606-9c1b-be75de6b9555.html Renault: Ties With Daimler Could Extend To Electric Vehicles. FLINS, France (Dow Jones)--Renault SA's (RNO.FR) cooperation with German premium auto maker Daimler AG (DAI.XE) could eventually be extended to cover production of electric vehicles, the newly appointed chief operating officer of the French car maker said Monday. Carlos Tavares, speaking to journalists at an event where users of electric vehicles related their experiences, said cooperation between the two companies is developing at the pace at which new projects are being agreed on. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110711-708040.html Future Of Electric Cars Hinges On Better Batteries. Electric cars are a game-changing technology with an Achilles’ heel — the battery. Current batteries are expensive and have limited range, making it hard to drive from San Jose to San Francisco and back without stopping to recharge. Experts agree consumers will never fully embrace electric vehicles until they can travel as far as a gas-powered car on a single charge. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_18450778?source=rss Eye On The Environment: Choosing Clean-Burning Car Reduces Pollution. The California coast has always held the allure of sunshine, beaches, jaw-dropping vistas and open roads. Nowhere is this more intoxicating than the famous Ventura Highway, where tourists hum a familiar tune and locals know the same throughway can snarl with traffic and vehicle exhaust. Since the days of tail-finned, chromed-out, choking-on-raw-gas-fumes, lucky-if-you-get-10-mpg cars, California has cleaned up its act. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/09/choosing-clean-burning-car-reduces-pollution/?print=1 Midterm Review Of Mpg Goals Likely. The White House is likely to require an interim review of eventual 2017-25 model year mpg standards in response to automakers' doubts about future electric vehicle sales…automakers have one unlikely ally -- the California Air Resources Board, which says future sales of hybrids vehicles are uncertain. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110711/OEM06/307119953/1186 GREEN ENERGY Orient Green Power to Raise Capacity 38% on Wind-Energy Demand. Orient Green Power Co., the first renewable-energy company to list in India, plans to increase capacity by 38 percent as demand for cleaner electricity grows. Operating capacity for wind-power and biomass projects will rise to 342 megawatts in the financial year through March 2012, the Chennai-based company said today in an e-mailed statement. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-07-11/orient-green-power-to-raise-capacity-38-on-wind-energy-demand.html Texas Aglow With Effort To Save The Incandescent Bulb. Irritated with federal regulation, Republicans hope a state law will get around a national mandate to replace old-fashioned bulbs with more efficient lamps. It doesn't have the ring of "Remember the Alamo," but a new battle cry has gone up in Texas: "Remember the incandescent bulb." Texas has become the first state seeking to skirt a federal law that phases out old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs in favor of more efficient lamps — Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-adv-texas-light-bulbs-20110710,0,1014091,print.story Phoenix Light-Rail Station Is Cooled By The Sun. Passengers using a newly retrofitted light rail station in downtown Phoenix, Arizona can press a button to be showered in cool air, powered by solar energy and cold water from an efficient district cooling system. The system, which was inspired by similar installations in Dubai, uses solar power to run fans that blow cool air. The cool air itself comes from a system of chilled water that has been running in Phoenix's business district since 2001. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-11-phoenix-light-rail-station-is-cooled-by-the-sun MISCELLANEOUS San Joaquin Air District Seeks Funding For Projects. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is requesting proposals for projects that demonstrate bold, innovative and creative emission-reduction technologies as part of the district's Technology Advancement Program. The district is seeking technology demonstrations in the areas of renewable energy, waste solutions and mobile sources to improve valley air quality. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/08/1767722/air-district-seeks-funding-for.html OPINIONS The E.U. Has The Right Idea In Regulating Greenhouse Gases From Airplanes. AVIATION ACCOUNTS for only 2 or 3 percent of the world greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. But that share is rising as air travel increases. So in 2012, the European Union will bring airlines under its carbon cap, requiring them to reduce their emissions by 5 percent over the next decade or to pay for not doing so. Europe, though, doesn’t want to restrict the greenhouse gases planes produce only while flying over E.U. nations. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-eu-has-the-right-idea-in-regulating-greenhouse-gases-from-airplanes/2011/07/08/gIQADGLn7H_story.html An Aggressive Ruling on Clean Air. The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday issued a welcome and overdue rule compelling power plants in 27 states and the District of Columbia to reduce smokestack emissions that pollute the air and poison forests, lakes and streams across the eastern United States. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/opinion/11mon1.html?scp=3&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Word Choice Matters for Energy Policy. When President Barack Obama speaks about the fuels of the future, his term of choice is usually “clean energy.” At the “Twitter Town Hall” last week, where people asked the president questions via Twitter, Mr. Obama referred to “clean energy” five times. The only similar term he used was “alternative energy,” once. Other descriptors, like “renewable,” “sustainable” and “green,” were not mentioned. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/business/global/11iht-green11.html?_r=1 Editorial: Roll Back Bulb Standards? Not A Bright Idea. Unless sharper minds prevail, the U.S. House of Representatives today is expected to eliminate lighting efficiency standards that former President George W. Bush signed into law in 2007. Those standards have helped usher in a new wave of super-efficient, power-saving light bulbs by dimming the switch on incandescent ones, even though those older bulbs remain popular among some Americans. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/11/v-print/3760447/roll-back-bulb-standards-not-a.html Will Obama Cave On Fuel Efficiency? For more than two years, President Barack Obama has talked tough about the need to bolster fuel economy standards to reduce pollution and dependence on foreign oil. Yet as Obama starts to mount a 2012 re-election campaign, there are disturbing signs he may cave on fuel economy standards to placate Detroit and improve his chances to win Michigan and other states in the general election. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/11/1770196/will-obama-cave-on-fuel-efficiency.html Cap-And-Trade Could Spur Faster Cleantech Investment Than Carbon Tax. I am painfully aware that the "cap-and-trade vs. carbon tax" debate, which was never particularly useful, has now become spectacularly pointless. Cap-and-trade is dead at the national level and seems to be slowly dying at the state level. And a carbon tax, despite the eternally brimming hopes of its many apostles, still has no chance in hell. So it's a "unicorns vs. bigfoot" kind of thing at this point. http://www.grist.org/climate-policy/2011-07-07-cap-and-trade-spur-faster-cleantech-investment-than-carbon-tax BLOGS Corporate Giants Add One Million Vehicles to National Clean Fleets Partnership. In a clear case of high bar-setting, earlier this year the U.S. Department of Energy kicked off its National Clean Fleets Partnership with a select group of official partners: AT&T, FedEx, PepsiCo, UPS and Verizon. The program aims to reduce diesel and gasoline pollution from fleet vehicles and with these global A-listers on board others were bound to follow. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/corporate-giants-add-one-million-vehicles-national-clean-fleets-partnership/ When It Comes to Natural Gas Fracking, France Learns from U.S. Mistakes. Last week, France became the first country to ban hydraulic fracturing in gas and oil operations. Known as fracking for short, the practice is associated with serious water contamination issues, and a recent study by Cornell University indicates that it may generate more greenhouse gas emissions than coal mining due to the release of methane gas during the operation. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/france-ban-fracking-natural-gas/ France Expands Nuclear Capabilities by Opening a Nuclear Institute. Instead of abandoning nuclear power, France has opened a nuclear energy institute. France currently generates 78 percent of its electricity from nuclear power plants, the highest percentage in the world. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/france-expands-nuclear-capabilities-opening-nuclea/ What a Difference Some Greens Make in Australian Carbon Politics. The politics of carbon in Australia have been seriously difficult and claimed a number of scalps along the way. Before the last election Julia Gillard had promised there would be no carbon tax after she herself rolled Kevin Rudd after his seriously changed stance on carbon. Then, as elections can and do, she was left with a minority government and needed the support of the Greens and an Independent MP to retain power. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/what-difference-some-greens-make-australian-carbon/ Nissan And 4R Energy Develop New EV Charging System Combining Solar And Li-Ion Batteries. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and 4R Energy Corporation, a joint venture established by Nissan and Sumitomo Corporation in September 2010 to explore second-life applications for automotive battery packs (earlier post), have developed a charging system for electric vehicles that combines a solar power generation system with high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/07/nissan4r-20110711.html Revisiting Historical Ocean Surface Temperatures. Readers may recall discussions of a paper by Thompson et al (2008) back in May 2008. This paper demonstrated that there was very likely an artifact in the sea surface temperature (SST) collation by the Hadley Centre (HadSST2) around the end of the second world war and for a few years subsequently, related to the different ways ocean temperatures were taken by different fleets. Posted. http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2011/07/revisiting-historical-ocean-surface-temperatures/ Boston Consulting Group Says Evs Not Necessary To Meet 2020 Emissions Targets. Internal combustion engines (ICEs) are improving rapidly and their ability to cut CO2 emissions at lower-than-expected costs will continue to make them the auto industry's dominant powertrain technology over the next decade. According to new Boston Consulting Group report entitled, "Powering Autos to 2020: The Era of the Electric Car?," automakers should be able to meet 2020 emissions targets mainly by applying advanced technologies to conventional ICEs – they won't be forced to resort to electric cars. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/ Plug In America Talks Electric Vehicles With The Air Force. Plug In America's Kate Baker interviewed Lt. Col. Brian Rusler and veteran Tim Goodrich of the United States Air Force regarding the military branch's green energy plans. The Air Force has been employing electric vehicles as early as 1997 with the use of electric golf carts for personnel transport within the bases. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/ Repealing Light Bulb Efficiency Standards Would Cost Americans $12.5 Billion. Since the idea was first put forth last fall, we have been closely following the quest of U.S. Republicans to repeal the energy efficiency standards for light bulbs. Introduced by Representative Joe Barton (R-Texas), the Better Use of Light Bulb (BULB) Act (HR 6144) would block parts of the 2007 energy law signed by George W. Bush that calls for phasing out the inefficient incandescent light bulb. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/repealing-light-bulb-efficiency-standards-would-cost-americans-12-5-billion/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:01:42 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 12, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 12, 2011. 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 Defending The Rural Lifestyle. A San Bernardino County supervisor is urging High Desert residents to defend their rural way of life as regional planners seek public comments on how to impose a state law that aims to reduce air pollution by encouraging higher density housing near transit centers, among other strategies to reduce reliance on the automobile. Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt acknowledges that nearly half of the High Desert workers he represents commute 40 or more miles to their jobs. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_ruralair12.3cb6bdb.html California Businesses Get New Ways To Reduce Greenhouse Gases. • Bill could increase use of public transit, vanpooling, and bicycling for commutes • ‘Will reduce workers’ commute costs by up to 40 percent’ Getting to work on the bus, a commuter train, in a van pool or even by bicycle would get new encouragement under a proposal making its way through the California Legislature. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=18860 EPA Closes In On Thrice-Delayed Ozone Decision. U.S. EPA has sent the White House a set of final rules to update the national air quality standards for smog, signaling that the Obama administration will make up its mind soon after pushing back the controversial decision three times. The rules received by the White House Office of Management and Budget yesterday are expected to seek a stricter limit on the acceptable amount of ozone in the air. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/12/3 EPA Proposes Phaseout Of Bulky Vapor Nozzles At Gasoline Pumps. Following through on a promise made by the White House when it released initial agency plans for getting rid of red tape earlier this year, U.S. EPA has come out with a phaseout plan for rules that require gasoline stations to cut down on air pollution by using special nozzles on their gas pumps. EPA originally ordered some parts of the country to use vapor-recovery nozzles to trap chemicals such as volatile organic compounds, which can otherwise escape from gas tanks. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/12/20 Navistar Sues Federal EPA. Company says agency allowing rivals to skirt Clean Air Act. Springfield — In a lawsuit filed July 5, Navistar accused EPA Director Lisa Jackson of not doing her duty to uphold the Clean Air Act, and her agency of not doing its part to protect public health. If Navistar’s claims hold true, trucks from model 2010 and beyond would not have to meet Clean Air Act standards when it comes to nitrogen oxides — chemicals best known to cause the brown haze around smoggy cities. Posted. http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/springfield-news/navistar-sues-federal-epa--1205176.html CLIMATE CHANGE FACTBOX-Carbon Trading Schemes Around The World. Companies and governments are turning to emissions trading as a weapon to fight climate change and join a carbon market worth $136 billion last year. Carbon markets trade rights to emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and are often seen as more politically acceptable than carbon taxes, though some governments struggle to pass enabling laws. Posted. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2010/02/11/carbon-schemes-idUKLC68557920100211 Australia PM: Carbon Tax Won't Kill Coal Industry. Australia's prime minister on Tuesday touted a $5 billion bid for one of the nation's coal miners as proof an unpopular new tax on the country's worst polluters won't cause the collapse of Australia's lucrative coal industry. Prime Minister Julia Gillard said U.S. coal company Peabody Energy Corp. and steelmaker ArcelorMittal's joint bid for Queensland state's Macarthur Coal Ltd. shows companies are not scared off by the tax. It will force the country's 500 worst polluters to pay 23 Australian dollars ($25) for every metric ton of carbon they emit. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AUSTRALIA_CARBON_TAX?SITE=TNJAC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/australian-pm-says-massive-takeover-bid-for-coal-mine-shows-carbon-tax-wont-hurt-industry/2011/07/11/gIQAj4Mn9H_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/11/2461258/australia-pm-carbon-tax-wont-kill.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/11/1771297/australia-pm-carbon-tax-wont-kill.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18459724 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/11/australian-pm-carbon-tax-wont-kill-coal-industry/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_0b51bee6-10af-5ba4-a028-4259c01b94b5.html FUELS Methane Plant To Generate Power For Miramar Marines. A new power plant at the Miramar Landfill will use methane gas to generate almost half of the adjacent air station’s energy needs, Marine officials said. The military, the city of San Diego, and Fortistar Methane Group are slated to break ground Tuesday on the joint project, which is expected to provide enough renewable energy to power about 2,461 homes at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/11/methane-plant-generate-power-miramar-marines/ Ethanol Attacks in California Continue. Policymakers in California are once again attacking its ethanol industry. Led by California Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), she has plans in the works to limit incentives for production and use of biofuels that would cause taxes to be raised, an increase in use of foreign oil, reduce jobs, and increase pollution. According to the California Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (CEVC), Sen. Feinstein has “long harbored what many observers feel is an irrational vendetta against ethanol.” Posted. http://domesticfuel.com/2011/07/11/ethanol-attacks-in-california-continue/ Carbon Tax, Cap And Trade Better Than Current U.S. Biofuels Policies -- AEI paper The United States should drop pro-biofuel policies such as tax credits, the renewable fuel standard and import tariffs on foreign ethanol in favor of alternatives like lump-sum payments to farmers and a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system, according to a paper from the American Enterprise Institute. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/12/8 VEHICLES AP Sources: GM To Sell Diesel Chevy Cruze in US. The Chevrolet Cruze, the most popular car in the U.S. last month, will come in a diesel version that could boost gas mileage to around 50 mpg, two people briefed on General Motors Co. product plans said Monday. A diesel Cruze would help GM meet more stringent government gas mileage requirements. It also would rival the efficiency of the popular Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrid, which gets 51 mpg in the city and 48 on the highway, according to estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/local/stories/PE_Biz_D_webonly_cruze12.3548563.html http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_47f1289b-eb25-5bb2-9e6a-377b0a1e025a.html Volkswagen Studies Twin Drive Plug-in Hybrids. Last year, the Volkswagen Group launched the VW Touareg and the Porsche Cayenne hybrids. This year it will launch two more, the Porsche Panamera and the Audi Q5, followed two more next year, the Audi A6 and A8. All of these cars are regular hybrids. Models with plugs are further away on the horizon, but they are on their way. Posted. http://www.plugincars.com/plug-hybrids-volkswagens-still-studying-twindrive-107353.html Electric Vehicle Range Extenders - A Large New Market. This article shares some of the research in the new IDTechEx report, Range Extenders for Electric Vehicles . We are in the age of the hybrid electric vehicle which is strongly outselling the pure electric vehicle in market value though not in numbers over the next decade. This is mainly due to the hybrid land vehicles replacing those with conventional powertrains for economy and reduction in pollution where performance is demanded that is still not affordably obtainable from batteries alone. Posted. http://www.electricvehiclesresearch.com/articles/electric-vehicle-range-extenders-a-large-new-market-00003576.asp?sessionid=1 GREEN ENERGY Solar Panels Still Rare, Despite Glow of $7 Power Bills. When Ed and Paula Antonio moved from a small home in Marine Park, Brooklyn, to a roughly 3,000-square-foot house in Belle Harbor, Queens, they realized that with all that space and a central air-conditioning system, their electricity costs would run much higher. So after intensive research and analysis and the bids of five contractors, they paid $72,000 to install 42 solar panels on their new roof. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/nyregion/solar-energy-slowly-grows-in-new-york-homes.html?ref=earth Heat And Light Over Incandescent Bulb Ban. Four years ago, Congress had the not-so-bright idea to tell Americans what kind of light bulbs they could buy. The familiar incandescent bulbs, which give off more heat than light, will be phased out beginning in January under new efficiency standards contained in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, we are assured, save us lots of money. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/11/2461287/heat-and-light-over-incandescent.html#storylink=misearch GOP Rep Hopes To Shatter His Own Lightbulb Legislation. Lately it seems that the House Republican leadership is against everything that isn't pre-approved by Big Oil or the Tea Party. Perhaps the most outlandish example of this Groucho Marx approach to public policy is the upcoming vote on the BULB Act, H.R. 2417. It would repeal the energy efficiency standards for lightbulbs established in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 [PDF] (EISA). Posted. http://www.grist.org/politics/2011-07-11-gop-fred-upton-lightbulb-efficiency-standards-legislation MISCELLANEOUS West Valley College Teaching Values With Solar Panel Project. The sun is truly shining upon West Valley College, and the newest addition to the Saratoga campus is soaking it all up. On June 1, construction began on West Valley's solar array system, and the project is expected to be fully functional by mid-October. Students and nearby residents have no doubt noticed the large white structures that now cover parking lots 4 and 5 along Fruitvale Avenue near the main entrance of the school. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18458156 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18458156 Riverdale Teacher Makes Pitch For Renewable Energy. A Fresno County school teacher who helped students to better understand renewable energy got to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the San Francisco Giants' game Sunday night at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Mary Funk, who teaches students in the fifth and sixth grades at Burrel Union Elementary School in Riverdale, was recipient of the PG&E Solar Schools Inspirational Educator of the Year award for her impact in helping students design an outdoor learning center at the school. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/11/2460942/riverdale-teachers-winning-pitch.html#storylink=misearch OPINIONS EDITORIAL: Obama’s Coal Tax. New EPA rules mean 1.4 million fewer jobs, higher electric bills. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday finalized “cross-state air pollution” regulations designed to drive coal-plant operators out of business. This noxious rule will choke job creation and ensure that consumers are stricken with higher utility bills every time they switch on the mercury-filled curlicue light bulbs they also will be forced to buy. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/11/obamas-coal-tax/ Time To Rev Up Mileage Requirements For Nation's Automobiles. The familiar arguments have revved up in Washington over what kind of fuel efficiency standards should be put in place for millions of vehicles scheduled to roll off U.S. assembly lines in the future. Government regulators are aiming at an industry wide average of 56.2 miles a gallon by 2025. It's a laudable goal, designed to conserve oil and protect the environment. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/12/1771591/time-to-rev-up-mileage-requirements.html BLOGS Packed in a Box, Another Transportation Idea for Cities. As car-sharing services continue to evolve, so should the vehicles used in those programs, say James Brooks and Richard Bone, recent graduates of the Vehicle Design program at the Royal College of Art. The former classmates recently opened their own firm, Brooks & Bone, and designed a vehicle specifically for urban car-sharing services that resembles the prototypical box on wheels. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/packed-in-a-box-another-transportation-idea-for-cities/?scp=4&sq=vehicles&st=cse Supply (Not Demand) Explains Sales Differences Between LEAF and Volt. Sales figures for the Nissan LEAF and the Chevrolet Volt are being closely watched. Since both cars represent a new breed of vehicle, the relative success of either one may possibly represent the dominant technology for years to come. Whereas the LEAF is an all-electric vehicle, the VOLT is a plug-in hybrid (more on the differences here), and as both cars …Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/supply-demand-better-explains-sales-figures-leaf-volt/ Michele Bachmann And Fellow Republicans Throw Weight Into “Light Bulb Freedom Of Choice Act.” Michele Bachmann and Fellow Republicans Throw Weight into “Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act.” Republicans in the House of Representatives – in the midst of attempting to raise the debt ceiling and balance our budget – have decided to take on what some are calling the “Light Bulb Freedom of Choice Act”. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/michele-bachmann-and-fellow-republicans-throw-weight-into-light-bulb-freedom-of-choice-act/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:47:12 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 13, 2011 From: mfricke@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 13, 2011. 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 EPA Says All Texas Plants Will Get New Air Permits. Nearly 140 Texas plants, including some of the nation's largest refineries, have reached a deal with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to receive new permits even though a long-standing battle between the Lone Star State and the federal agency is far from over. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EPA_VS_TEXAS?SITE=FLSTU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/12/1771970/epa-says-all-texas-plants-will.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18462048 SCIENCE: Air Pollution Linked To Depression, Forgetfulness. Feeling a bit slow and depressed? It just might be the Inland area's foul air. Neuroscientists at Ohio State University have linked fine-particle air pollution to slow thinking, bad memory and depressive-like behaviors in mice. The exposed animals also were found to have abnormal brain cells, inhibiting the flow of electrical impulses that transmit information. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_mentalair13.38fde16.html Local Air Quality Laurels Awarded. Breathe California Central Coast has recognized three Central Coast organizations and individuals with its 2011 Annual Clean Air Awards. The awards are in three categories: ª Leadership: Janet Brennan of Carmel Valley for her more than 40 years of dedication to air quality advocacy. ª Technology: Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority of Salinas, for reducing greenhouse gas emissions …Posted. http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20110713/NEWS01/107130325 5 Air Pollution Facts And Myths. Ever wonder why air pollution is worse on hot summer days? Extreme heat across much of the U.S. this week is triggering potentially unhealthy levels of air pollution, at least for those especially sensitive to dirty air, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. When air pollution levels rise, people are wise to stay indoors, or at least avoid heavy exertion outdoors when ozone levels are highest (typically in the afternoon and evening on hot summer days). Posted. http://health.msn.com/health-topics/asthma/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100274244>1=31005 CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Debate Buried Under Recent Air Quality Standards In House Markup. A House bill to destabilize U.S. EPA's regulatory authority passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee yesterday, one of the more recent efforts to block recent EPA regulations under the Clean Air Act. Described variously as both a "common-sense approach" and an act "only despots would support," the "Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act of 2011" -- Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/13/8 Senators, Think Tanks Form New Carbon Capture Alliance. The potential carbon reductions from enhanced oil recovery are vast, according to some estimates. It could store permanently at least a billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, or about a sixth of the U.S. annual total output, within two decades, said Vello Kuuskraa, president of Advanced Resources International Inc., a consulting company. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/13/9 DIESEL EMISSIONS Pittsburgh Panel Oks Diesel Limits For Contractors. Pittsburgh City Council has approved a bill that would limit diesel emissions on contractors' vehicles used in city-subsidized construction projects. The bill was hailed as the first clean-air law passed by council since the middle of last century, though Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's office says he was still reviewing the bill and uncertain if he would sign it. The bill passed Tuesday with a veto-proof 8-0 majority, however, making that a formality. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18468351 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18468351 FUELS No Eureka Moments In Long U.S. Campaign To Crack Cellulosic Code. Fourth in an occasional series on the bioeconomy. Down on a farm in Illinois, his forearm stuck inside the noisome gut of a living and otherwise unperturbed brown cow, Matthias Hess, a German-born microbiologist and geneticist, felt far removed from the white hum of his biology lab. Hess had been fishing in the cow's rumen, its largest stomach, for a nylon mesh sack resembling an oversized teabag. The stink of vomit mixed with rotten eggs and fertilizer. Working through a permanent rubberized hole carved into the heifer's side, Hess waited for its half-digested slop to churn, freeing his hand. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/13/1 Desperate Times Call For Dirty Energy. Driving his black Chevy pickup to the top of the bluff where Baard Energy wants to build the first large-scale plant in the United States that would turn coal into liquid fuels, Rick Williams points a thick index finger at the vacant homes and empty store fronts that make up his Ohio River Valley town and reminisces about what used to be. Posted. http://www.grist.org/coal/2011-07-12-desperate-times-call-for-dirty-energy VEHICLES Kicking Hybrid Cars Out of the Fast Lane. California Stops Letting Solo Hybrid Drivers in the Carpool Lane, Boosting Other Technologies; Will Other States Follow? Most things you buy don't call for research into whether shifting federal and state policies could hit the value of your purchase. Fuel-efficient, advanced-technology vehicles are an exception. Interest in natural-gas-fueled cars such as this Civic is growing in California. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303812104576441781190400052.html Working On The Railroad. Loud, black smoke-billowing engines used to be the image conjured up when people thought about trains running through town. Now the image is "green?" Northern California Railroad Co., which runs trains almost daily through Tehama, Glenn, and Colusa counties, was honored in June by Breathe California out of Sacramento with the 2011 Clean Air Champion Business Award for playing a model role in helping reduce noise and emission along their routes. Posted. http://www.willows-journal.com/news/railroad-6854-tri-cindy.html Natural Gas Trash Trucks Coming to Town? For nearly two decades, Waste Management says it has helped the environment by replacing standard garbage trucks with ones that run on cleaner fuel: natural gas created by recycling trash. As city officials and Waste Management workers gathered Tuesday at the company’s Long Beach hauling facility to celebrate the deployment of their 1,000th natural-gas-powered recycling truck…Posted. http://cerritos.patch.com/articles/natural-gas-trash-trucks-coming-to-town New York City Sells (And Buys) Electric Cars. New York -- This city is pitching electric cars to its residents almost as aggressively as the carmakers themselves in its push to clean the air and lower its carbon footprint. Yesterday, the New York City government hosted a free screening of the new documentary "Revenge of the Electric Car" at a location deep inside Central Park. The follow-on to "Who Killed the Electric Car?" originally screened in New York at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/13/10 GREEN ENERGY G.O.P. Bid to Void Light Bulb Law Fails. House Republicans on Tuesday failed to advance a measure that would repeal regulations that increase efficiency standards for light bulbs, rules that they have assailed as an example of government overreach. “The 2010 elections demonstrated that Americans are fed up with government intrusion,” Representative Joe Barton, a Texas Republican who proposed the repeal, said in a debate on Monday. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/13/business/energy-environment/republicans-fail-to-annul-new-light-bulb-law.html?_r=1 http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-light-bulbs-20110713,0,5277581,print.story California Leads Nation In 'Green Jobs,' Study Says. The Brookings Institution report, which is likely to draw more debate over what constitutes a 'green' job, found that almost 320,000 people work in such jobs, and 90,000 of them are in the L.A. metropolitan area. California continued to lead the nation in the number of people with "green jobs," according to a study that looked at the growing influence of the so-called clean economy. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-green-jobs-20110713,0,865856,print.story S.F. Ranked 6th In U.S. For Green Jobs By Survey. San Francisco considers itself a leader of the green economy, a font of eco-friendly jobs. But according to a new survey, Philadelphia has more. So do Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. The survey, to be released today by the Brookings Institution, attempts to count green jobs nationwide. It ranked San Francisco sixth among U.S. metropolitan areas, with 51,811 jobs providing goods or services that help the environment. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/13/BU371K9MK9.DTL&type=printable Bay Area A 'Clean Economy' Powerhouse, New Study Finds. The nation's clean economy -- defined as goods and services with an environmental benefit -- employs about 2.7 million people, more than the fossil-fuel industry and twice the size of the biosciences sector, according to a new report to be released Wednesday by the Brookings Institution. California's 318,156 "clean economy" jobs, which include everything from waste management and treatment to mass transit and organic farming, make up 2.1 percent of all jobs in the state, according to the report. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_18468176 http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_18468176 San Diego's Green Jobs Grow In National Report. Local leaders say numbers are larger than shown. The green economy in metropolitan San Diego remains modest despite years of efforts to bolster industries that create environmental benefits, according to a national assessment being released today by the Brookings Institution and Battelle. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/13/san-diegos-green-jobs-grow-national-report/ Clean Technology Can Create 2.7M Jobs, But Do Those Jobs Cut Emissions? Today's "clean economy" comprises about 2.7 million jobs, according to new research, but relatively few of these contribute major carbon cuts. In a wide-ranging count of "green jobs," the Brookings Institution and Battelle identified hundreds of thousands of jobs in public transportation, waste collection and management, and organic food. Jobs in renewable energy, electric cars and other low-carbon technologies played a small role. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/13/3 Green Jobs Growing Across Country With West Leading. California tops the rest of the nation in green energy jobs, the Brookings Institution said in a new report that looks at the state of the clean energy economy. The Golden State has more than 318,000 green energy workers, the report said, and added more than 79,000 jobs in the sector from 2003 through 2010. The West as a region has the largest share of green jobs relative to its population. But it is not alone in seeing the influence of clean energy expansion. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/13/3 San Francisco Resurrects PACE Program For Businesses. San Francisco -- Businesses will have a new way to finance solar, energy efficiency and other clean energy building retrofits under legislation that San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee (D) submitted today to the city's Board of Supervisors. The proposal is a resurrection of the Property Assessed Clean Energy loan model, in which municipalities take out bonds to back property owners' home upgrades. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/13/18 So Much For GOP’s Light Bulb Bill. Whether they decided they had more important things to worry about than saving the inefficient light bulb, or whether they were scared of enraging the ghost of Thomas Edison, House members put the kibosh on a bill that would have repealed light bulb efficiency standards. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-13-so-much-for-gops-light-bulb-bill VEHICLES Nanostructures Could Result In Cheaper Electric-Car Batteries. A Beijing startup called Wuhe is making electrode materials and batteries that could lower the cost of electric vehicles. The company uses nanostructures for battery materials that, like other recent nanostructures, let the materials deliver the large bursts of power needed for acceleration while maintaining energy storage capacity. Posted. http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/38005/?p1=MstRcnt OPINIONS Editorial: Transportation Bill Must Fund An Array Of Modes. With the nation facing a slow economic recovery, continuing joblessness and aging transportation system, you'd think members of Congress would make it a priority to renew the transportation funding bill. Why not put people to work repairing deteriorating roads and bridges and building the rail, transit, bike and pedestrian systems that are essential to our prosperity? Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/13/v-print/3765544/transportation-bill-must-fund.html BLOGS With Tiny Cans, a New Trash Equation. Reaching for a petite dessert dish instead of the mixing bowl may help you curb your ice cream consumption. Grabbing a basket rather than a shopping cart helps control how many “necessities” you pick up at the store. Similarly, trading your office garbage can for a daintier disposal bin may remind you to send less trash to the landfill. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/with-tiny-cans-a-new-trash-equation/?ref=earth Solar Panel Rebate Program To Relaunch In L.A. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation's largest municipal utility, will hold public workshops this week in a move to relaunch its troubled solar panel incentive program. In April, the city shut down the program after it was overwhelmed with applications and ran out of money. The DWP had budgeted $30 million for the program, which offers rebates to businesses and residents to install rooftop solar panels to generate electricity. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/07/dwp-solar-rebates-feed-in-tariff-los-angeles.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Recycled Tires, Soy Make Their Way into Ford Cars. Following up on Nick Aster’s post last week, Ford Motor Company works with a local Detroit manufacturer to churn old recycled tires and soy into parts that now make their way into 11 of Ford’s vehicles. Ford and its partner, Recycled Polymeric Materials (RPM), have joined forces to make the components since 2008. If the technology can scale, this will serve an example of how the manufacture of “sustainable” automobiles can progress far beyond battery technology and alternative fuels. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/recycled-tires-soy-make-ford-cars/ Spanish City Offers Lifetime Tram Passes in Exchange for Cars. The city of Murcia, Spain is going to great lengths to help reduce the city’s traffic congestion and to promote the use of the greener method – public transportation. The bold move involves offering citizens a lifetime pass to their brand-spanking-new tram system — in exchange for their cars! Posted. http://inhabitat.com/spanish-city-offers-lifetime-tram-passes-in-exchange-for-cars/ West Coast Erosion: A Glimpse Of Warming? The entire U.S. West Coast took a dramatic beating from the El Niño episode that ended last year, a new study reveals, as powerful waves gouged away chunks of shoreline at far higher levels than previously measured. And while El Niño remains a regional phenomenon, the study’s lead author says such episodes, along with strong waves and high water, could become more frequent as the planet warms in the decades ahead. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2011/07/12/west-coast-erosion-a-glimpse-of-warming/131957/ Toyota Central R&D Labs Develops New Ferrihydrite Material That Effectively Removes Ozone From Air. Researchers at Toyota Central R&D Labs Inc. (Japan) report in the journal Angewandte Chemie the development of a mesoporous two-line ferrihydrite (2LFh)—ferrihydrite is a widespread mineral composed of iron, oxygen, and water—that could lead to a new generation of ozone filters in electrostatic devices and aircraft applications. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/07/toyota-central-rd-labs-develops-new-ferrihydrite-material-that-effectively-removes-ozone-from-air.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:58:38 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 14, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 14, 2011. 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 Google Science Fair Winner Stands Up For Air Quality. Naomi Shah, winner of the Google science fair in the 15-16 age group, isn't just a budding research scientist. She's also an environmentalist. And her project, which focuses on the effects of air quality triggers on asthma sufferers, highlights why other people should be environmentalists too. Shah noticed that medical practitioners immediately prescribe steroids and other inhalers, instead of addressing the quality of the air asthma sufferers are breathing. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-14-google-science-fair-winner-stands-up-for-air-quality CLIMATE CHANGE Administration Grossly Underestimated Carbon Cost, Says Study. The social cost of carbon, the economic value of avoiding the negative consequences of climate change, could be close to $900 per ton of CO2 in a worst-case scenario -- nearly 45 times the $21 per ton established two years ago, according to a study by the group Economics for Equity and the Environment (E3). Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/07/14/14climatewire-administration-grossly-underestimated-carbon-69396.html?pagewanted=print Utility Shelves Ambitious Plan to Limit Carbon. A major American utility is shelving the nation’s most prominent effort to capture carbon dioxide from an existing coal-burning power plant, dealing a severe blow to efforts to rein in emissions responsible for global warming. American Electric Power has decided to table plans to build a full-scale carbon-capture plant at Mountaineer, a 31-year-old coal-fired plant in West Virginia, where the company has successfully captured and buried carbon dioxide in a small pilot program for two years. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/business/energy-environment/utility-shelves-plan-to-capture-carbon-dioxide.html?_r=1&ref=earth Business Briefs: Fresno Ranks 13th In Clean-Jobs Study. A Brookings Institution analysis of jobs in the "clean" or "green" economy has ranked the Fresno area 13th among the nation's largest metropolitan areas for its share of clean jobs. The study, "Sizing the Clean Economy," reports that Fresno had 9,301 jobs in clean-economy industries, including organic food and farming, hydropower, conservation, energy-saving building materials, air and water purification and alternative energy. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/13/2463768/business-briefs-fresno-ranks-13th.html#storylink=misearch Bay Area Green Driving Campaign Aims To Reduce Greenhouse Gases. The Bay Area will begin planning California's first regional campaign aimed at getting motorists to change their driving habits to fight climate change. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission's administration committee on Wednesday authorized the start of a $2.4 million public education campaign encouraging drivers to observe the 65 mph freeway speed limit and avoid sudden starts and stops. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18470614 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18470614 Luminant May Shut Power Plants Over Clean-Air Regs. The major electric power provider for much of North and West Texas is considering how to respond to new federal clean-air regulations, including closing or reducing operations at some of its coal-fired plants and coal mines, according to a regulatory filing Wednesday. In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Energy Future Holdings Corp. said it was considering the shutdowns or slowdowns, as well as seasonal or temporary shutdowns. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18472532 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18472532 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/13/luminant-may-shut-power-plants-over-clean-air/ Power Company Puts Carbon Capture Project On Hold. American Electric Power Co. said Thursday it was putting a hold on its plans for a commercial-scale carbon dioxide capture and storage project in West Virginia because of uncertainty surrounding U.S. climate policy and what the company described as a weak economy. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/14/1774668/power-company-puts-hold-on-carbon.html Soils Appear To Amplify The Warming Power Of Greenhouse Gases – Study. Soil microorganisms absorb carbon dioxide only to convert it into much more potent greenhouse gases, negating almost 17 percent of the Earth's ability to absorb heat-trapping emissions, a new study suggests. The study, published in this week's issue of Nature, measured the release of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) gases from soils in forests, grasslands, wetlands and agricultural fields, including rice paddies. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/14/2 Climate Change Could Make Oceans A Less Efficient Carbon Sink. Carbon dioxide emissions hit a record high in 2010, while a new study shows that the ocean is having a harder time absorbing C02. Humans depend on the ocean to take up about a quarter of the world's carbon per year and slow the effects of climate change. But the analysis, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, found that rising water temperatures are hindering the absorption capacity of this natural carbon sink. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/14/3 VEHICLES Charging Stations Along I-5 In Wash. Due This Year. Washington state transportation officials on Wednesday announced a new initiative to place electric vehicle charging stations at key intervals along the West Coast's busiest highway - a development that should allow drivers to cruise the 580 miles from the southern border of Oregon all the way to Canada by the end of the year. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GREEN_HIGHWAY?SITE=FLPEJ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/electric-car-charging-stations-along-interstate-5-in-washington-to-come-this-year/2011/07/13/gIQAcc1ADI_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/13/2463618/charging-stations-along-i-5-in.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/13/charging-stations-along-i-5-in-wash-due-this/ Navy Engineers Testing Diesel-Powered Hybrid Vehicles. Testing of diesel-powered hybrid vehicle technology for possible deployment to Navy and Marine Corps bases worldwide officially started June 15 by Navy engineers in San Diego and Bangor, Wash. The program kicked off with the May 12 delivery of two vehicles to the NAVFAC Southwest Coastal Integrated Product Team (IPT) in San Diego. A second pair of trucks was pressed into service in June with the recycling team in Bangor, Wash. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/14/navy-engineers-testing-diesel-powered-hybrid/?print=1 New-Vehicle Emissions Fall 14% Since 2007, Study Says. Emissions from recently purchased new vehicles have fallen 14 percent over the past three and a half years, according to a University of Michigan study. The decline underscores consumers' shift to smaller vehicles and industry efforts to reduce pollution and boost fuel economy, says Brandon Schoettle, a University of Michigan research associate who helped create the index. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110714/OEM/110719938/1135 Growing EV Industry Still Divided Over DC Charging. The plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) arena will soon get more crowded as automakers Mitsubishi and Toyota are in the final stages of preparing to compete head on with the Nissan LEAF and the Chevrolet Volt in North America. While the new entrants agree that there is great enthusiasm for PEVs, their contrary views on fast charging of vehicles reinforces the split that is complicating investment in infrastructure. Posted. http://www.plugincars.com/growing-ev-industry-still-divided-over-dc-charging-107369.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+PluginCars GREEN ENERGY Green Jobs Flourish In Sacramento Area. The green economy accounts for about one of every 22 jobs in the Sacramento area, according to a report by the Brookings Institution. In a nationwide study of more than 100 metropolitan areas, the Washington, D.C.-based institution said local solar installers, government agencies, recyclers; organic farms and other clean companies employed a total of 37,319 people, or about 4.5 percent of the capital region's workforce. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/14/v-print/3768448/green-jobs-flourish-in-sacramento.html White House Environmental Official Coming To Conn. President Barack Obama's environmental policy adviser is coming to Connecticut to visit a fuel cell company in South Windsor and a city park in Hartford. Nancy Sutley is set to visit UTC Power and Keney Park on Thursday. She's chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/14/white-house-environmental-official-coming-to/ Calif. Governor's Campaign Promise Of Renewables Might Be Hard To Fill. When Jerry Brown ran for California's highest office for a third time, he touted his age and experience as weapons for fighting special interests. But he may not have been referring to the right enemy, at least when it comes to his campaign goal of building 12,000 megawatts of distributed renewable energy generation, close to electricity-sucking cities and skirting the need for new transmission lines. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/14/7 Las Vegas Leads In Green Construction. Las Vegas has one of the highest concentrations of environmentally sound construction and architecture jobs, but is below the national average in overall green jobs, according to a new study by the Brookings Institution, a policy think tank. Green construction employment is seven times higher in southern Nevada than the national average, with 2,507 such jobs last year, and has grown 48 percent annually since 2003. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/14/10 Republicans Cite Jobs In Attacking Federal Environmental Regulations. Republicans in the House of Representatives are waging an all-out war to block federal regulations that protect the environment. They loaded up a pending 2012 spending bill with terms that would eliminate a broad array of environmental protections, everything from stopping new plants and animals from being placed on the endangered species list to ending federal limits on water pollution in Florida. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/14/1774586/republicans-cite-jobs-in-attacking.html A Long-Elusive Definition For 'Green' Jobs In US. Everywhere you turn, "green jobs" are touted for their ability to pull the nation out of its economic slump. But what exactly is a green job? Is the U.S. creating any? Do they pay? For the first time since the term was coined, someone has answers. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/13/2463817/a-long-elusive-definition-for.html#storylink=misearch OPINION Battle Against Air Pollution Is Far From Lost. Are the days of crystal blue skies in the Coachella Valley over? One would think after the recent Desert Sun article “Pollution in paradise.” We shouldn't accept the premise that brown skies are our future. The article focused on the poor quality of the air throughout Riverside County but there also was good news. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011107130370 Keep Our Desert Sky Clear. The azure sky above the Coachella Valley is one of the things that attracts tourists, snowbirds and full-time residents to our desert. So it might come as a surprise that the American Lung Association's “State of the Air” report gave Riverside County an F for ozone and particle pollution — the same grade the county has received since the annual report first came out in 1999. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011107130371 Secondhand Smoke Kills. Editor: While my family can afford to live in a home and free of secondhand smoke exposure, there are many Kings County residents who cannot. I am aware of the harm of exposure to secondhand smoke, as I have asthma, and being exposed can land me in the hospital with an asthma attack. Unfortunately, children and our vulnerable seniors who live in apartments are at risk of exposure to secondhand smoke. Posted. http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/opinion/mailbag/article_6e88251a-ae2f-11e0-92a5-001cc4c002e0.html Crisp: Climate-Change Views — Then And Now. My moderate hoarding tendencies throughout the latter days of this age of print make moving from one house to another a challenging and enlightening exercise. Recently, I excavated from a congested closet a 150-pound database of fine writing in the form of every issue of Harper's Magazine published since mid-1985. For someone weaned on print, paper invites browsing in a way that web browsers don't. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/13/crisp-climate-change-views-151-then-and-now/ BLOGS ‘Green’ Economy Is Real But Needs A Push, Study Suggests. Like so many buzz phrases, “green economy” is an expression that is generously tossed around with little regard for its meaning. In his State of the Union address in January, President Obama stressed the importance of nurturing America’s green economy to “strengthen our security, protect our planet and create countless new jobs for our people.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/green-economy-is-real-but-needs-a-push-study-suggests/?scp=6&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Car2go, Daimler-Backed Sharing Program, to Go Electric in San Diego. San Diego will soon be home to an all-electric, one-way car sharing service from Car2go, the Daimler subsidiary. The first of its kind in the United States, the program would allow members to rent the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive by the minute in a city that is becoming a focal point for E.V. launches. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/13/car2go-daimler-backed-sharing-program-to-go-electric-in-san-diego/?scp=6&sq=vehicles&st=cse ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 11:35:11 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips July 15, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 15, 2011. + 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 Health Groups Make Hay Over Utility Regulators' EPA Resolution. During a meeting next week, an influential group of electricity regulators is set to take a position on the idea of letting older power plants wait an extra few years to retire, rather than following new pollution rules from U.S. EPA. Public health groups such as the American Lung Association aren't happy about the resolution that will be considered by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) during its annual summer meeting. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/15/7 CLIMATE CHANGE UN Shipping Agency Approves New Rules For Energy Efficiency, Carbon Emissions. The U.N. agency regulating international shipping has decided new cargo vessels must meet energy efficiency standards and cut carbon emissions. The International Maritime Organization is requiring new ships contracted after 2015 be designed to reduce pollution from today’s average, according to an efficiency index for ships of varying sizes and types. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/un-shipping-agency-approves-new-rules-for-energy-efficiency-carbon-emissions/2011/07/15/gIQApQFJGI_story.html Heavy Coastal Erosion In 2009-2010 Winter Linked To Climate Change. The storms that battered the West Coast during the winter of 2009-10 eroded record chunks of shoreline, and more will likely disappear as the changing climate brings more such powerful storm seasons, scientists warn in a new study. Pacific waves were 20 percent stronger on average than any year since 1997 and higher-than-usual sea levels drove them further inland, tearing away on average one-third more land in California. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_18478625 UC Davis Researchers Find Climate Change Muscling In On Mussels. Polar bears may have stolen the show when it comes to climate change, but it may be the lowly California mussel that we really should be watching. A new study by researchers at UC Davis shows that rising acid levels in the ocean thin and weaken the shells of this diminutive bivalve. And that could spell trouble for entire marine ecosystems. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/uc-davis-researchers-find-climate-change-muscling-mussels-11510 Tropical Forests Are Best For Mitigating Carbon – Study. Forests are responsible for nearly all of the terrestrial carbon sink, the landmass that processes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a new study reveals. Although there are several ecosystems that take in carbon -- grasslands, agricultural fields and wetlands, for example -- forests, particularly tropical ones, take the cake, concludes the paper published in the journal Science. "It indicates the dominant role of forests," said Richard Birdsey, co-author of the report and a researcher with the U.S. Forest Service. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/15/4 Troubles Vex California’s Carbon Plan. CAP AND TRADE SPARKS POLITICAL UPHEAVAL. CAP AND TRADE HAS been a controversial topic around the nation and the world, but perhaps no more so than in California. The state intends to implement the first full-scale carbon-trading system in the United States in January. That multimillion-dollar effort is growing much more difficult as the deadline looms. Posted. http://www.energybiz.com/magazine/article/227965/troubles-vex-california-s-carbon-plan DIESEL EMISSIONS Law: Buses, Big Rigs, Diesels Must be Retrofitted. A new air quality plan set for EPA approval will phase in exhaust filter requirements starting next year and mandate most heavy diesel equipment be replaced or retrofitted in 10 years. Operators of trucks, buses, trains, ships and other heavy diesel equipment in California--and certainly the ports of Long Beach and L.A.-- will have to start phasing in exhaust filters in January and, in many cases, replace the vehicles by the end of the decade. Posted. http://belmontshore.patch.com/articles/law-buses-big-rigs-diesels-must-be-retrofitted FUELS EPA Proposes Waiving Federal Requirements For Stations To Capture Gasoline Vapors When Vehicles Refuel Beginning In 2013. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a proposed rule under the Clean Air Act (CAA) that would waive requirements beginning in 2013 for systems used at gas station pumps to capture potentially harmful gasoline vapors while refueling cars. The result of the proposal would potentially save affected gas stations more than $3,000 annually, according to EPA. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/07/epa-proposes-waiving-federal-requirements-for-stations-to-capture-gasoline-vapors-when-vehicles-refu.html U.N. Body Upholds The Right To Incentivize 'Clean Coal' United Nations -- The concept of coal plants as soldiers in the fight against global warming survives, for now. Yesterday, the Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) refused to suspend a process whereby coal-fired power plants can earn greenhouse gas emissions offset credits, which usually go to projects that are seen as removing or preventing emissions from entering the atmosphere. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/15/6 VEHICLES White House Offers Auto Makers Concession to Win Mileage Support. The White House is ready to let auto makers improve the future fuel efficiency of pickups and sport utility vehicles at a slower pace than passenger cars, say people familiar with the matter, a move that would benefit Detroit manufacturers. Officials are scrambling to reach by early next week a broad agreement on a mileage target by 2025 of 56 miles a gallon, roughly double the current level. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304521304576446324032091778.html DRIVING GREEN: Electric Car Safety And Durability. Energy is dangerous. We learn this as kids, whether we recognize it or not. Climb up a tree and your increased potential energy threatens to break your arm if you fall out. Pedal your bike too quickly and your kinetic energy might do the same if you lose control and crash. Store enough energy to propel a five-passenger vehicle any useful distance, and you’ve got enough energy to be dangerous if it is released suddenly. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/driving-green-electric-car-safety-and-durability/2011/07/15/gIQAHcp8FI_story.html Calif. Regulators Order Utilities To Develop EV Rate Plans. San Francisco -- California energy regulators ordered utilities yesterday to work with automakers on developing a strategy for setting rates for charging electric vehicles. The California Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously for development of strategies for having buyers of electric vehicles tell the utilities about their purchases, possibly modeled after a voluntary notification system that General Motors Co. has been using since December. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/15/19 GREEN ENERGY Los Angeles DWP To Again Offer Solar Rebates. The plan, suspended because money ran out, involves smaller rebates and higher rates. Customers who generate extra power could sell it to the utility. Commission and council approval are required. Los Angeles once again will pick up part of the tab for residents who want to go solar. The Department of Water and Power announced at a public workshop Thursday the relaunch of its Solar Incentive Program, which offers rebates to businesses and homeowners who generate their own electricity. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-me-dwp-solar-20110715,0,1492312.story Two Valley Malls To Go Solar, Generate Hours Of Electricity. The Westfield Group is spending $6.6million to install solar panels at its malls in Sherman Oaks and Canoga Park - the company's largest renewable energy investment in the U.S., officials said Thursday. The installation is well under way at Westfield Fashion Square and will begin next week at Westfield Topanga, said Larry D. Green, Westfield's senior vice president for U.S. development. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18481607?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com Germany's Lufthansa Starts Biofuel Flights. Germany's biggest airline, Deutsche Lufthansa AG, says it has begun trial flights using biofuels in a bid to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Lufthansa said Friday that an Airbus A321 flying the Hamburg-Frankfurt route four times daily will use a 50/50 mix of regular fuel and biosynthetic kerosene in one of its two engines for the next six months. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/15/germanys-lufthansa-starts-biofuel-flights/ http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18483373?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com For The First Time Ever, Renters Can Get Solar Incentives, Too. There's a reason California is the largest solar market in the country -- I mean, aside from its abundance of sun. Namely, its regulators keep coming up with new ways to allow people to DIY-up their own distributed energy systems. Their latest brainstorm is a measure that allows renters to take advantage of the same solar incentives as people who own their own homes. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-15-for-the-first-time-ever-renters-can-get-solar-incentives-too MISCELLANEOUS State Roundup: Record Year For California Rooftop Solar; NH Veto Saves Carbon Trading; VA Wants Alternative Fuel Fleet; More On-Bill Financing; And WV Wind Power. Record Year For California Rooftop Solar. 2010 was a record year for rooftop solar in California with 194 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic capacity added atop residences and commercial buildings. That marks a 47% increase over 2009, according to the Public Utilities Commission, and the state now has a total of 924 MW of rooftop solar - more than half of its 2016 goal of 1,750 MW. Posted. http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.printerfriendly/id/22676 Hacking For The Planet. In a protest move that makes ELF operations look like knocking off a few small-town liquor stores, international "hacktivists" Anonymous just announced a plan to pursue hacking campaigns in support of green causes. The first victim of Operation Green Rights was ginormous biotech firm Monsanto, which Anonymous targeted for "corrupt, unethical and downright evil" business practices. Monsanto confirmed the attack, though it downplayed the damage. Posted. http://www.grist.org/business-technology/2011-07-15-hacking-for-the-planet OPINIONS An Unenlightened Waste Of Energy In Congress. How many members of Congress does it take to unscrew a lightbulb? When it comes to repealing a directive ending old-school incandescents, there weren't enough in the House this week. In one of the more fact-averse campaigns in recent memory, Republican forces fell short in trying to end a federal policy that phases out the familiar pear-shaped lightbulb in favor of newer models that use less juice. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/14/EDI11K9VIR.DTL&type=printable BLOGS Scattered Attempts at Carbon Capture. As my colleague John Broder and I reported in Thursday’s paper, American Electric Power is dropping its plan to build a commercial-scale version of a carbon dioxide scrubber at Mountaineer, its coal-fired power plant in New Haven, W.Va. The company decided that since public service commissions in West Virginia and Virginia had refused to give it full reimbursement for a pilot version that it ran for two years, …Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/scattered-attempts-at-carbon-capture/?ref=earth The Difference Engine: Priced Off The Road? THERE is one sure way to free a gas-guzzling country like America from having to rely on oil imported from places that are politically unstable and far from friendly, while at the same time reducing its carbon emissions and conserving energy for future generations. Politicians on both sides of the aisle know precisely what it is. Posted. http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2011/07/fuel-economy BMW Buys Leasing Firm To Launch Its i Series Electric Cars. BMW has purchased the car-leasing unit of Dutch banking giant ING for a reported $1 billion. The move enables BMW to expand its fleet operations, but more importantly, it gives the automaker the ability to aggressively promote the launch of its i Series electric cars via leasing options. Posted. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1063094_bmw-buys-leasing-firm-to-launch-its-i-series-electric-cars Fuel Poverty and Climate Change Legislation. There’s a nice little collision going on in the UK between two groups or people: or perhaps two different visions of the good society. This is between the concept of fuel poverty and the legislation being used to try and deal with climate change. Figures show a huge rise in UK households in fuel poverty, even before expected rises in the price of gas and electricity, …Posted. http://blogs.forbes.com/timworstall/2011/07/15/fuel-poverty-and-climate-change-legislation/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:48:12 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 18, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 18, 2011. 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 New Pollution Standards Are In The Air. Key air pollution standards may be raised in California and the nation, which could result in more stringent regulations and requirements for the production and sale of zero-emission cars, federal and local officials said. Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved a plan for ridding the skies of microscopic soot particles that lodge deep in the lungs and cause asthma, cancer and even premature death - a move that could save the lives of 3,000 Southlanders. Posted. http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_18495492 TEMECULA: Air-Quality Study Finds Quarry Won't Affect Wineries. The dust and emissions that would be generated by Granite Construction's proposed Liberty Quarry project wouldn't affect the vitality of Riverside County's Wine Country, according to a study by The Kleinfelder Group that was paid for by Granite. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/temecula/article_0d000a30-3d5f-57c9-8e37-b3112963e392.html EPA Backs Away From Dust Testing Renovation Proposal. U.S. EPA announced Friday that it decided against a proposed rule that would have required contractors to test dust to prove the absence of lead following renovations. The announcement was immediately criticized by public health advocates but applauded by Senate Republicans, who said the requirement -- while well intended -- would have put an undue economic burden on contractors. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/18/3 CLIMATE CHANGE Green Exchange to Start California Carbon Futures in September. Green Exchange LLC, the second- biggest emission exchange by open interest in European permits, will offer futures contracts for Californian carbon allowances starting Sept. 11. The New York-based exchange will list California futures contracts for delivery in December in 2012, 2013 and 2014, the exchange said today in an e-mailed statement. Green Exchange is owned by a group that includes CME Group Inc. (CME), which oversees the New York Mercantile Exchange. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-18/green-exchange-to-start-california-carbon-futures-in-september.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/07/17/bloomberg1376-LOJCUW1A74E901-2TRCCMM699IA7DD3QH123BAU53.DTL EPA Ozone Proposal Draws Fire. Manufacturers are fighting to stop a new Environmental Protection Agency plan to curb ozone that they say would deliver a devastating blow to the economy and job growth by creating tougher pollution laws. The EPA wants to cut the national ambient air-quality standard to between 60 and 70 parts per billion, which would push thousands of communities over the current limit of 75 ppb. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/17/epa-ozone-proposal-draws-fire/ Study: Earth Losing Its Climate Change Defenses. Like your body, the planet can heal itself a little bit. Some places, like forests and oceans, are carbon sinks -- they absorb carbon from the atmosphere, slowing down the rate at which everything goes to hell. But climate change is no papercut, and as it gets worse, it’s actually breaking the planet’s immune system. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-18-study-the-planet-is-losing-its-ability-to-recover-from-climate-c Poorer Countries Lead Global Movement Toward Low-Carbon Power – Study. Poor countries have spent just as much as rich ones -- and in the case of China, more -- to develop low-carbon energy, according to a study coming out this week. Its conclusions could turn the conventional wisdom about the differences among nations over mitigation efforts on its head. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/18/2 FUELS Michigan Industry Defends 'Fracking' Process. Michigan environmental regulators and the oil and gas industry hope to fend off a political brawl over a method of extracting natural gas that has stirred furious debate around the nation. Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," involves pumping huge volumes of water laced with chemicals and sand at high pressure into wells that can extend a mile or more underground. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/16/michigan-industry-defends-fracking-process/ Wood-To-Energy Road Map Emphasizes Sustainability, Long-Term Viability. Woody biomass like mill residues and forest thinnings can play an important role in the future of energy, but the patchwork of incentives and regulations surrounding its use should be steered toward sustainability and the long-term use of public and private forestlands, according to a new stakeholder "road map." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/18/6 VEHICLES G.M. Said to Consider Diesel Cruze. General Motors is said to have plans to attract more buyers to Chevrolet showrooms by introducing a diesel-powered version of the Cruze, the compact sedan that was the country’s best-selling car in June. According to an Associated Press report last week, based on unidentified sources, United States sales of a diesel Cruze, a model already offered in other countries, are two years away. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/automobiles/gm-said-to-consider-diesel-cruze.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse Industry, Calif. Clash Over ZEV Plan. Automakers and California regulators are locking horns over the state's plan to increase sales of alternative-fuel vehicles, making it one of the most contentious issues in talks on 2017-25 federal fuel economy standards. Since May, the two sides have privately debated whether California's pending zero emission vehicle plan should be superseded by the U.S. corporate average fuel economy program. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110718/OEM06/307189980/1429 In State's High-Speed Rail Plan, Ambitions Collide With Financial Realities. Sacramento, Calif. -- In his State of the Union address in January, President Obama spoke of an America that "does big things," one that delivers on grand ambitions and leaves the world in awe. Among those "big things" was this goal: giving 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail in the next 25 years. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/18/1 Geeks, 'Early Adopters' Turn Calif. Into Test Track For Plug-Ins. Del Mar, Calif. -- Malcolm Hebert backs his red Nissan Leaf out of the driveway of his home and heads down a hill toward the Pacific Ocean. Navigating streets in his beach neighborhood, Hebert passes gasoline stations where premium fuel costs $4.49 a gallon. Hebert calculates his savings driving the Leaf. His wife commutes in a Volvo that uses top-grade gas and gets about 20 miles per gallon. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/18/1 GREEN ENERGY Power Grid Building Gets Top Green Rating. The California Independent System Operator Corp.'s new Folsom headquarters – a $150 million power grid control center completed in January this year – has received the highest possible certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for green buildings. The "platinum" certification means the building meets LEED's most stringent environmental standards for construction and operation. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/16/v-print/3773274/power-grid-building-gets-top-green.html Wrapping The Cost Of Energy Improvements Into A Mortgage. Stuck with soaring utility bills in a home that's a glutton for energy? Buying a home that has a lot to be desired in terms of energy-efficient features? There's hope. An under-the-radar program that has been around since 1995 can help buyers save on their utility bills by letting them fold the cost of energy improvements into their mortgage. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18486421 Lawmakers Target Capitol Power Plant To Reduce Their Own Emissions. Since Republicans took over the House in January, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi's "Green the Capitol" campaign has faded into the background: Gone are the corn-based forks and spoons from the cafeteria and the posters urging member offices to become energy-efficient. But the Capitol Power Plant is still a concern to both sides of the aisle. The plant is a century old, originally built to provide electricity for the Capitol using coal. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/18/2 EU Researchers Develop New Type Of Polymer Battery. A European Union (EU)-funded research project will this month start developing a prototype polymer-zinc car battery, significantly lighter, safer and more environment-friendly than existing batteries. Their lead acid, lithium and nickel bases have waste disposal, weight and chemical stability problems. They can also be slow to charge and sometimes unsafe. Posted. http://www.prw.com/subscriber/headlines2.html?cat=1&id=1310382687 MISCELLANEOUS Sacred Heart Embarks On Next Phase Of Campus Improvements. Atherton -- Another phase in Sacred Heart Schools' $95 million, long-range capital campaign will reconstruct the learning environment of elementary and middle school students. Sacred Heart is now constructing four buildings with state-of-the-art classrooms for those children, having already built a new science center and renovated the space for high school students. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18496820 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18496820 OPINIONS Don't Pull The Plug On New Light Bulbs. The following editorial appeared in the Kansas City Star on Thursday, July 14: Four years ago President George W. Bush offered excellent reasons for endorsing the congressionally approved Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. "The legislation I'm about to sign should say to the American people that we can find common ground on critical issues," the Republican president said that day. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/15/2465421/dont-pull-the-plug-on-new-light.html#storylink=misearch BLOGS Lighting the Hopes of the Grid-less. From Lenin to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 20th-century political leaders made the provision of universal electricity a centerpiece of their programs and oratory. “Communism is Soviet power plus the electrification of the whole country,” one slogan went. Or, in the case of F.D.R.’s Tennessee Valley Authority, “T.V.A.: Electricity For All.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/if-everyone-lighted-one-little-led/?ref=earth As ‘Sinks’ for Carbon, Forests Are Even Mightier Than Assumed. The world’s forests are magnificent palaces of biodiversity, teeming with wacky and wonderful creatures and plants that seem otherworldly. But they’re also something far more mundane although useful: they’re giant sponges, soaking up vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/as-carbon-sinks-forests-are-even-mightier-than-assumed/?ref=earth New Australian Carbon Tax Offers Comprehensive Model for All. Last Sunday the Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced a new a plan to tax carbon emissions from the country’s 500 worst polluters. Starting next year, these companies will pay for each ton of carbon dioxide emitted, first through a fixed carbon tax and from 2015 via a carbon trading scheme. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/new-australian-carbon-tax/ Turning Off The Light on the Environment. On June 12, U.S. House Republicans failed to revoke the lighting efficiency restrictions mandated by the 2007 law, The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, or HR 6. This law would phase out incandescent bulbs, and is one that Republicans themselves sponsored. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/turning-off-light-environment/ IMO Environment Meeting Adopts Mandatory Energy Efficiency Measures For International Shipping; First Mandatory Global GHG Reduction Regime For An International Industry Sector. Mandatory measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from international shipping were adopted by Parties to MARPOL Annex VI represented in the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), when it met for its 62nd session from 11 to 15 July 2011 at IMO Headquarters in London. These measures constitute the first mandatory global greenhouse gas reduction regime for an international industry sector. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/07/eedi-20110716.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:19:08 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 19, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 19, 2011. 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 EPA sued over Los Angeles smog. A federal lawsuit says the Environmental Protection Agency failed to force officials to crack down on Los Angeles smog. Clean air advocates, including Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Natural Resources Defense Council, say in Monday's suit that the EPA missed a May deadline to certify whether ozone levels are hazardous to public health. Under the federal Clean Air Act, Congress established a one-hour standard for ozone pollution. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18505946?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18505946?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18505946?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/18/2468783/suit-epa-must-clean-up-san-joaquin.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/18/1780105/suit-epa-must-clean-up-san-joaquin.html Advocates Sue Valley Air Board. Clean air advocates are suing to force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to bring air quality in the polluted San Joaquin Valley to national standards. The environmental law firm Earthjustice filed a lawsuit Monday in federal court seeking to compel the agency to make an official finding on whether the valley has met national ozone standards adopted by the EPA three decades ago. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/18/1780430/advocates-sue-valley-air-board.html FUELS Corn Futures Gain On U.S. Crop View. U.S. corn futures jumped as a heat wave baking the Corn Belt caused the government to scale back its view of the upcoming crop and fueled expectations of further downward adjustments. Corn for December delivery, the most actively traded contract, climbed 17.5 cents, or 2.6%, to $6.945 a bushel in late morning trade on the Chicago Board of Trade. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303661904576455963352321504.html?KEYWORDS=fuel VEHICLES Nissan raises price of electric Leaf, expands ordering to southeastern states. Nissan Motor Co. will more than double the number of states where it offers its Leaf electric car by this fall. But buyers will have to pay more to get it. The base price of the 2012 model-year Leaf will be $35,200, up nearly $2,500 from the 2011 model year. Drivers can also lease the Leaf for $369 per month, up $20. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/nissan-raises-price-of-electric-leaf-expands-ordering-to-southeastern-states/2011/07/19/gIQAkF5kNI_story.html http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110719/OEM05/110719896/1186 Toyota utilizing hybrids to help with power crunch. Toyota's electric-gasoline hybrid car technology will be utilized to help ease power shortages in Japan's disaster-struck northeast, part of a set of measures the automaker hopes will underline its commitment to the region. Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it will donate emergency power supply systems linked to its Prius hybrid cars to prefectures (states) in the Tohoku region ravaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/18/toyota-utilizing-hybrids-to-help-with-power/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_f6f357a8-2570-527c-b7ee-3441e4882891.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18505029?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18504320?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/18/1780335/toyota-utilizing-hybrids-to-help.html Toyota to begin offering AC outlets in the Prius in Japan. How’s this for a more user-friendly hybrid? Next year, Toyota Motor Corp. will start offering AC electric outlets as an option on its popular Prius hybrid so drivers can plug in household appliances -- from computers to refrigerators. The idea was born from watching victims of Japan’s March 11 earthquake using the Toyota Estima hybrid van as a source of emergency electricity when the power was knocked out. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110719/OEM04/110719897/1290 Thailand Emerges As Global Hub For Fuel Efficient And Environment Friendly Car Manufacturing. From its position as the world's No. 1 producer of one-ton pickup trucks, Thailand is quickly emerging as a global hub for fuel efficient, eco-friendly car manufacturing, with EURO-4 emission standards and a fuel economy of nearly 50 miles per gallon. Six of the world's top auto producers have based their fuel efficient car production in Thailand in recent years. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/18/3777624/thailand-emerges-as-global-hub.html#storylink=misearch GREEN ENERGY Project uses landfill gas to power vehicles. Beginning next year, trucks operating at the St. Landry Parish landfill will be able to refuel with a natural energy source from the garbage mounds. The $700,000 project involves cleaning and compressing on site the methane gas emitted from the solid waste and making the gas suitable for vehicle fuel. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/19/project-uses-landfill-gas-to-power-vehicles/ Rep. Mary Bono Mack Changes Mind On Bulb Change. After voting for the law that called for phasing out sales of incandescent light bulbs in 2012 — in favor of more energy-efficient models such as fluorescents — Rep. Mary Bono Mack has reversed course. With the economy slumping, her office said, this probably isn't the right time to impose new lighting standards. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011107190309 MISCELLANEOUS UN chief says sustainable development top priority next 5 years. Global development that reduces poverty but preserves the environment for future generations will be the top priority during Ban Ki-moon's second five-year term as U.N. secretary-general, he said Tuesday. Ban, whose second term at the helm of the United Nations starts Jan. 1, laid out his overarching theme for his next administration during a speech to the World Trade Organization. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/un-chief-says-sustainable-development-will-be-top-priority-next-5-years/2011/07/19/gIQAzlnINI_story.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18505353?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18505353?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/19/1780556/un-chief-says-sustainable-development.html OPINION Time To Clear The Air. You hear a lot these days about how mindless government policy stifles innovation in the private sector. But in West Virginia's coal country, the opposite has happened. The lack of government rules has prompted a private company to stop work on a promising antipollution technology, which sets a dangerous precedent that utilities across the nation may follow. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/19/1780715/time-to-clear-the-air.html A Trade-Off With Benefits. The Obama administration already has set a quicker pace for putting more fuel-efficient cars on the road, vehicles that go farther on a gallon of gas, emit fewer pollutants and reduce how often drivers have to tank up. Now it should follow through on the president's stated commitment to push auto manufacturers to adhere to even tougher standards by the year 2025. You can't argue with the beneficial results: cleaner air, weaning our addiction to foreign oil and creating more technology jobs. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/18/1779436/a-trade-off-with-benefits.html BLOGS A Climate Hazard, Medium Rare, Please. Eating a small cheeseburger for lunch is, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to driving an extra 10 miles. By contrast, eating a serving of lentils would barely get your car out of the driveway, according to a new report released on Monday by the Environmental Working Group, a research organization. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/18/a-climate-hazard-medium-rare/?scp=10&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Battling Energy Waste in Hot, Rich Cities. Bettina Wassener, who is based in Hong Kong for the International Herald Tribune, has filed a Green column for The Times exploring why there is so much energy waste there and in other advanced cities. One reason is that energy costs are a tiny fraction of the price of owning expensive real estate, so why not have the windows open while the air conditioning is blasting. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/18/battling-energy-waste-in-hot-rich-cities/?scp=10&sq=fuels&st=cse N.R.C. Chief Plans Quick Response to Post-Fukushima Study. The chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Monday that it should decide within 90 days on how to address recommendations to be issued this week by a task force that examined the lessons of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident in Japan. Almost simultaneously, House Republicans and the industry’s trade association warned him not to rush. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/18/n-r-c-chief-plans-quick-response-to-post-fukushima-study/?scp=4&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Green Algae Meets Dirty Coal for Carbon Capture. An unlikely marriage of algae and coal-plants could become a reality through a company called OriginOil. The company helps algae growers with the incredibly difficult process of extracting oil from their product for commercial use. It is bringing together dirty coal and green algae as part of a carbon capture project at a coal plant in Australia that could be an alternative to risky and expensive underground carbon capture and storage (CCS) schemes. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/green-algae-meets-dirty-coal-carbon-capture/ T.R., Obama, and the Environment. This week I drove through at least three national forests created by Theodore Roosevelt--Cache, Unitah, and Wasatch. T.R.'s interest in protecting public lands and wildlife set him apart from other American Presidents. During his presidency, he created or expanded 150 national forests. He also put into place more than 50 bird or wildlife preserves, 6 national parks, and almost 20 national monuments. Posted. http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/environmental_law/2011/07/tr-obama-and-the-environment.html EPRI assesses status of 8 key power generation technologies for US; estimates of capital cost and levelized cost of electricity. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) released a report, Integrated Generation Technology Options on the cost, performance, and technology status for eight central-station power generation technologies likely to dominate the US generation mix over the next two decades: pulverized coal; integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC); natural gas combined-cycle (NGCC); nuclear; biomass; wind; solar photovoltaic (PV); and concentrating solar thermal generation technologies from the near term to 2025. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/07/epri-assesses-status-of-8-key-power-generation-technologies-for-us-estimates-of-capital-cost-and-lev.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:23:19 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 20, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 20, 2011. 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 Coalition Hits Tougher Air-Pollution Rules. Business Roundtable sees millions of jobs being lost under new ozone limits. An interactive map released Tuesday by a coalition of leading business groups details the potential economic destruction they say would result from the toughening of air pollution rules by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA Ozone Standard Map shows that 85 percent of the nation’s counties would fall out of compliance under the proposed EPA rules. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/19/business-groups-slam-epa-ozone-plans/ NASA Continuing Air Quality Flights Over Baltimore-Washington Region, 8th Flight To Be Wed. NASA is continuing low-level flights over the Baltimore-Washington traffic corridor to help improve satellites’ ability to measure air quality. NASA says it will conduct its eighth flight Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Satellites already monitor air pollution, but researchers say it is difficult to use measurements from space to detect pollution near the ground. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/nasa-continuing-air-quality-flights-over-baltimore-washington-region-8th-flight-to-be-wed/2011/07/20/gIQAfRuAPI_story.html Wrapped Up in Politics, Granddaddy of Cap-And-Trade Plans Has an Uncertain Future. In the eyes of health advocates and some policymakers, the nation's fleet of power plants has its share of decrepit clunkers, relics that are barely sticking around. But some people might apply a similar description to the cap-and-trade program that Congress created 20 years ago to cut air pollution from those power plants. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/07/19/19greenwire-wrapped-up-in-politics-granddaddy-of-cap-and-tr-2653.html?pagewanted=print Carbon Scrubbing Condensers Made On The Cheap. Chemists have cooked up some cheap carbon dioxide-capturing compounds, reports a study, a potential boon for lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Added to smokestack scrubbers, such porous materials might limit emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, linked to global warming. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/07/carbon-scrubbing-condensers-made-on-the-cheap-/1?csp=34news Metra Will Clear The Air In Its Train Cars. Railroad to install high-efficiency filters to reduce soot after Tribune investigation. Metra appears to have found a way to dramatically clean up the air inside its stainless-steel cars, but spikes of lung- and heart-damaging diesel pollution will remain a lingering problem on the platforms at Chicago's major rail stations. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/health/ct-met-metra-diesel-testing-20110720,0,4546313,print.story Temecula Quarry Worries Neighbors In Spite Of Builder’s Promises. Yesterday officials in Riverside County heard hours of testimony on one of the most contentious projects ever proposed for the area—a large granite quarry. A company called Granite Construction wants to build an open pit quarry on 135 acres between Temecula and San Diego County. They say the project will bring in high-paying jobs and millions of tax dollars to the area and, oddly, improve air quality. Posted. http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2011/07/19/19928/controversial-quarry CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Change Threatens Pine Tree, U.S. Says. Washington -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined Monday that whitebark pine, a tree found atop mountains across the American West, faces an "imminent" risk of extinction because of factors including climate change. The decision is significant because it marks the first time the federal government has identified climate change as one of the driving factors for why a broad-ranging tree species could disappear. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/20/MN2T1KC0P7.DTL&type=printable Green Exchange To Offer Trading Platform For Calif. Allowances. A carbon market trading platform that has found success in Europe will begin offering futures contracts in California's burgeoning emissions market starting in September, executives announced yesterday. The Green Exchange, launched in 2008 by the New York Mercantile Exchange, will support contracts for delivery in 2012, 2013 and 2014 in California's cap-and-trade market, which is set to officially begin in January 2013. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/19/6 All Students Should Learn About Climate Change, Report Says. Climate change and renewable energy are subjects that all students should learn about by the end of high school, according to a new document released yesterday that provided guidelines for science education in the United States. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/20/3 DIESEL EMISSIONS Truckers Protest Requirement They Buy New Trucks For Work At Port Of Oakland. Oakland -- To the accompaniment of big rig cabs driving through downtown and honking their horns Tuesday afternoon, a handful of protesters gathered outside City Hall to say truckers are being unfairly treated despite their progress in reducing emissions. New state rules that took effect Jan. 1 required truckers hauling at California ports to either install expensive filters (estimated by protesters at $15,000 to $25,000 per vehicle) or upgrade their trucks to models from 2004 or newer. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18510231 Sonoma County Garbage Hauler Pays $534,000 Fine. For the second time in four years, Sonoma County's dominant garbage hauler has been hit in the wallet by a state environmental regulator. The California Air Resources Board announced Tuesday that the Ratto Group of Companies had paid $534,000 in penalties to settle air quality violations. From 2007 to 2009, the company failed to test, measure, and properly record smoke emission levels from its heavy-duty diesel trucks, according to the settlement in the case. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110719/ARTICLES/110719436/1033/sitemaps04 FUELS Dairy Farms Churn Out Ghgs, But Higher Efficiency Might Make Up For It. The open lots that hold dairy cows in concentrated feeding operations are responsible for up to 80 percent of all farm emissions of nitrous oxide -- a greenhouse gas with 400 times the heat-trapping capability of carbon dioxide -- according to a recent study. Methane from open lots, a greenhouse gas with about 30 times the power of CO2, accounted for up to three-quarters of farm emissions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/20/9 VEHICLES Roadshow: State May Approve $2,500 Tax Rebate For Buyers Of Electric Cars. Q Oh yippee! You ignored my previous Prius rant, but the Mercury's recent story on electric cars had me thrilled! I can buy a Tesla S for $64,000, but the poor saps who can't afford my socially relevant indicator of conspicuous wealth can pay more federal taxes so I can get a $7,500 federal tax credit. How great is that? Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadshow/ci_18508107?source=rss Who Will Ride An Alternative To 'Market-Driven Sprawl'? Sacramento, Calif. -- Where Highway 99 meets the state capital here, a motorist has choices. He can pivot toward the San Francisco Bay, veer inland to the Nevada border, or ride the flatlands south toward Los Angeles. It's an important junction for any California driver -- and, in a sense, a symbol of California's climate choices. The state already has plans to widen Highway 99 to deal with increased traffic in the coming decades. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/19/1 Nissan To Build Electric Car Motors At Tenn. Plant. Chattanooga, Tenn. -- Nissan said Wednesday it will build motors for its electric Leaf car at its engine plant in Decherd, Tenn. The company said production will start in 2013 and create up to 90 jobs. The project is being funded with a loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to encourage advanced technology. The plant will be able to make up to 150,000 electric motors a year. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/20/v-print/3781922/nissan-to-build-electric-car-motors.html http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/19/9 Electric Cars Will Make Net Cut In Emissions, Utility Group Says. Electric cars would cut carbon emissions whether sales are weak, lukewarm or torrid, new research suggests. In a roundup of electric vehicle technology released yesterday, the Electric Power Research Institute looked at three scenarios for plug-in vehicle sales. They could make up 4 percent, 9 percent or 17 percent of cars in 2030, EPRI found. But in all cases, the cars would cut CO2 even after the emissions from their power generation were counted. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/20/6 GREEN ENERGY Energy Department To Install Fuel Cells At 8 Military Posts. Washington (Reuters) - The Energy Department said on Tuesday it would install 18 fuel cell backup power systems at eight U.S. military posts, as part of a partnership with the Defense Department to bolster energy security. "Projects like these fuel cell systems will help reduce fossil fuel use and improve energy reliability at military installations across the country," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said at the U.S. Army and Air Force Energy Forum. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USTRE76I7AD20110720 UN Chief Says Sustainable Development Top Priority. Global development that reduces poverty but preserves the environment for future generations will be the top priority during Ban Ki-moon's second five-year term as U.N. secretary-general, he said Tuesday. Ban, whose second term at the helm of the United Nations starts Jan. 1, laid out his overarching theme for his next administration during a speech to the World Trade Organization. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18505353 ‘Solar Highways’ Transform Our Crumbling Infrastructure Into Something Useful. Okay, we know YOU ride your bike everywhere. But the country’s 4 million miles of roads, and 50,000 miles of interstate highway, probably aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Isn’t there anything productive we can do with this giant car playground? Well, we can cover it with solar photovoltaic panels, so it’s at least providing some energy. Oregon's already testing the idea, installing panel arrays along highway shoulders. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-20-solar-highways-transform-our-crumbling-infrastructure-into-somet Liberal Communities Join Libertarians In Firing At The Bullet Train. Palo Alto, Calif. -- When the commuter trains rumble toward San Francisco, they pass through some of the most liberal cities in one of the country's most liberal states. Yet these cities are also home to the most organized challenges to California's bullet train, a signature project in one of President Obama's signature initiatives. Why Californians are putting the brakes on a proposed high-speed train, despite worries about emissions and traffic jams. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/20/2 Some Experts Say U.S. Needs Clean Energy 'Industrial Policy' To Compete With China Why is the United States failing to build out its clean energy resources alongside China? To some, it's because America has no industrial policy, and China does. As leaders in Congress darted from meeting to meeting yesterday to try to avert an economic disaster ahead of the Aug. 2 debt ceiling deadline, financial experts and China specialists met in the bowels of the Capitol. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/20/7 Lawrence Livermore Lab Signs Up For Energy Partnership With China's Largest Utility. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is teaming up with a research institute formed by China's largest power company to work on carbon capture technology, oil and natural gas exploration, and power plant engineering. The California-based national lab announced yesterday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Clean Energy Research Institute created by Huaneng Power International Inc. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/20/8 When Will Europe Finally Have Standards For EV Charging? The Focus Group was created on 28 June 2010, and while it acknowledges that setting in place “appropriate standards at European level is a pre-requisite to mass-market take-up”, its report has only been advisory by raising questions about adaptation to European conditions of some of the standards already largely defined by both the International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), of which CENELEC and CEN are the respective counterparts at European level. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/62420110719.php MISCELLANEOUS Study: Tobacco Money Sways California Politics. The tobacco industry spent $9.3 million over the past two years to fight cigarette taxes, support candidates and influence politics in California, an anti-smoking group said in a report issued Tuesday. The report by the American Lung Association in California said political spending by tobacco interests over the past decade totaled almost $100 million, with cigarette maker Philip Morris USA Inc. accounting for more than half the total. Posted. http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/07/19/1688095/study-tobacco-money-sways-california.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics-government/ci_18509747?nclick_check=1 http://signonsandiego.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?expire=&title=Local+GOP+lawmakers+rake+in+tobacco+cash+-+SignOnSanDiego.com&urlID=456889642&action=cpt&partnerID=86541&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.signonsandiego.com%2Fnews%2F2011%2Fjul%2F19%2Flocal-gop-lawmakers-rake-in-tobacco-cash%2F Heat 'Dome' Traps Much Of US In Pressure Cooker. For millions of people enduring this week's extreme heat and humidity, it feels like they're living in a pressure cooker. And in a sense, they are. Much of the United States is trapped under a heat "dome" caused by a huge area of high pressure that's compressing hot, moist air beneath it, leading to miserable temperatures in the mid-90s to low 100s and heat-index levels well above 100 degrees. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/07/20/national/a023129D26.DTL&type=printable OPINIONS Gillard Accelerates Climate Effort; Coal Industry Counters With TV Blitz. The Australian government is pointing to the coal sector's $70 billion investment in new projects as proof that the powerful coal industry isn't as spooked by Prime Minister Julia Gillard's carbon tax as it claims. "I can assure coal miners that their industry has a bright future under a carbon price," said Climate Change Minister Greg Combet, who is Gillard's top deputy charged with shepherding a climate bill through Parliament and making the case to a wary public. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/07/19/19climatewire-gillard-accelerates-climate-effort-coal-indu-31638.html?pagewanted=print L.A.'S Ozone Fight: Why Can't We All Just Breathe Easy? Los Angeles survived Carmageddon. But Ozonegeddon may be a tougher nut to crack. As The Times reported Tuesday: Environmental and public health groups filed suit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday, saying the agency has failed to force officials to crack down on smog in the Los Angeles Basin. The suit contends the EPA missed a May deadline to, in effect, determine whether the ozone level in the region is hazardous to public health. Posted. http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2011/07/los-angeles-epa-lawsuit-ozone-pollution.html A Carbon Dioxide Escape Hatch. American Electric Power is tabling plans to complete a commercial-scale carbon capture system at a coal-fueled power plant in West Virginia. Among the more speculative of the proposed solutions to global warming is the notion of capturing the carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants and pumping them underground. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-ccs-20110720,0,344961.story LETTERS: The Californian, July 20, 2011. To McIntosh: Take your own advice. In his Opinion piece, "Prove the climate science first," July 10, Andy McIntosh throws his own unproven belief systems at us and then challenges scientists to prove theirs ---- all without a seeming sense of irony, since the basis of all science is exactly to present what is proven. Indeed, anyone with the temerity to actually check the science finds it very well-proven indeed. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/letters/article_c2503af1-baba-5556-b508-e270e19193ff.html BLOGS The Perils of Polar Bears’ Longer Swims. In arguments over the impacts of climate change, some of the images commonly associated with those clashes have attracted skeptical critiques, perhaps none more so than those of polar bears forced to swim longer distances because their sea ice habitat is melting. Some skeptics point out that polar bears are born swimmers and that the worries of environmentalists are therefore overdone. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/the-perils-of-polar-bears-longer-swims/ PACE Green Home Retrofit Program Could Be Revived By Congress. A program that helped property owners install green upgrades before it ran into government roadblocks last year may be resuscitated by Congress. A group of legislators introduced a bill Wednesday to jump-start the Property Assessed Clean Energy program, known as PACE. The program used low-interest government financing to help fund installations of energy-efficient solar panels, insulation, water conservation systems and more. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/07/new-legislation-attempts-to-ressurect-pace-green-home-retrofit-program.html Shelton Group’s Research: The Green Tipping Point is Here. According to Shelton Group, “a tipping point in American consumer interest in green products has occurred with 70% of consumers in our surveys saying they are searching for green products where green is defined as more energy efficient, natural, sustainable, etc.” Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/shelton-group-green-tipping-point/ Tata Nano Electric. The Tata Motors from India has shown off its all electric version of their tata nano at the 2010 geneva motor show. The car will be built on the existing nano platform with an all electric drive train that promises a driving range of around 160 km on a single charge. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/tata-nano-electric/ MTI Report Finds Consumers Receptive To Alt-Fuel Vehicles, But Still Prefer Gasoline; Quantifying The Trade-Offs. A new survey of consumer preferences among four different types of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) by Hilary Nixon and Jean-Daniel Saphores of The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) finds that while consumers in general still prefer gasoline-fueled vehicles over AFVs, there is strong interest in AFVs. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/07/mti-20110720.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:01:26 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 21, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 21, 2011. 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 APnewsbreak: Railroads Threatened With Lawsuit. An environmental group threatened to sue two of the nation's biggest rail owners Tuesday under a novel legal theory that would classify diesel exhaust as hazardous waste. The Natural Resources Defense Council sent letters to Union Pacific Corp. and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, saying it will file a lawsuit within 90 days under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which regulates hazardous solid waste disposal. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jun/21/nrdc-threatens-us-railroads-with-pollution/ Ruling Held Up On Power Plant Near Grand Canyon. A decision on further pollution controls for a coal-fired power plant near Page won't come this summer as expected. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it will begin consulting with tribes next month on the potential impacts of reducing nitrogen oxide emissions from Navajo Generating Station. EPA officials say the consultations and a study from the Interior Department will better help them reach a decision after December. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18522181?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18522181?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Mayor Bloomberg Gives $50 Million To Fight Coal-Fired Power Plants. New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will donate $50 million to the Sierra Club to support its nationwide campaign to eliminate coal-fired power plants. Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune described the gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies, which will be spread out over four years, as “a game-changer, from our perspective.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/mayor-bloomberg-gives-50-million-to-fight-coal-fired-power-plants/2011/07/20/gIQAEKKURI_story.html http://www.grist.org/article/2011-07-21-blockbuster-news-for-the-anti-coal-movement-bloomberg-is-all-in CLIMATE CHANGE U.N. Deadlock on Addressing Climate Shift. The persistent inability of the United Nations to forge international consensus on climate change issues was on display Wednesday, as Security Council members disagreed over whether they should address possible instability provoked by problems like rising sea levels or competition over water resources. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/21/world/21nations.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Nauru's Plea for UN Action on Climate Threat Goes Unheeded. (Updates with council statement in fourth paragraph.) Nauru's president, speaking for small island nations threatened with extinction by rising sea levels caused by climate change, asked the United Nations Security Council today for help. A divided council couldn't agree on the linkage between climate change and threats to peace and security and took no action. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/07/20/bloomberg1376-LON7Z00YHQ0W01-35NU9EF6H2MOOIRMM5J8C1813G.DTL&type=printable VEHICLES Lowe's to Sell G.E.'s Electric Vehicle Charger. Finding charging stations for electric vehicles is getting easier and cheaper. GE Energy Industrial Solutions and Lowe's have announced they will partner to offer consumers the fast-charging GE WattStation Wall Mount Electric Vehicle Charging Station. The announcement was made today at the Plug-In 2011 Conference and Exposition. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/21/idUS322195417920110721 The Cloud: Now For Connecting Electric Cars. The car, in particular the electric car, is the latest device to get plugged in to the cloud. Coulomb Technologies, which makes networked electric-vehicle charging stations, plans to start selling cloud-based services to allow charge-station owners to manage charging and billing. The service also uses the cloud to connect an EV driver to the nearest charging station and deliver on-demand support and billing services. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/20/idUS263535182920110720 Walgreen To Expand Electric-Vehicle Charging Stations To 800 Stores. Walgreen Co. (WAG) said its electric-vehicle charging station program will expand to include about 800 of its 7,733 stores by the end of the year. The drugstore chain operator began its charging station program late last year, as electricity producer NRG Energy Inc. (NRG) began creating a network of them in Houston. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110721-710979.html Electric Cars About To Cost More In California. The state has run out of the $5,000 rebates it was giving drivers who bought all-electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Roadster. Also, prices for the Nissan Leaf are going up. It's going to cost more to buy electric cars in California. The state has run out of the $5,000 rebates it was giving people who purchased all-electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Roadster. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-electric-prices-20110721,0,7088456,print.story Electric Cars' Battery Challenge. If electric cars are ever to become popular enough to replace gas-burning vehicles, far more efficient and inexpensive batteries will have to be produced. The good news is that progress is being made to reduce the cost of batteries and increase the driving range of electric cars. Palo Alto-based Tesla Motors will build its Model S at its Fremont factory. Posted. http://www.presstelegram.com/opinions/ci_18517806 Green Vehicles Screeches To Halt; City Points Finger At California Energy Commission. A s electric vehicle charging stations go up around Monterey County, a would-be manufacturer of cars that could use them closed the doors of its Salinas-area headquarters—before ever getting its assembly line running. Eco-conscious redevelopment darling Green Vehicles Inc. had grand plans to make 2,000 electric cars next year and more than 11,000 by 2015 …Posted. http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/2011/jul/21/stalled-cash/ Tesla Wins $100 Million Supply Deal With Toyota For RAV4 EV. Tesla Motors Inc., the maker of electric Roadster sports cars, said it reached an agreement with Toyota Motor Corp. to supply powertrain equipment worth about $100 million. Toyota, which previously agreed to pay Tesla $60 million for development work on battery packs and motors for use in an all-electric RAV4 sport-utility vehicle …Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110720/OEM05/307209865/1290 Will CA Still Have Electric Car Rebates? Today Is Judgement Day. As we reported back in December last year and again last month, California’s $4.1 million Clean Vehicle Rebate Project has now run out of money. If you’re one of the early adopters who has been lucky enough to buy a 2011 Nissan Leaf, or 2011 Tesla Roadster in the state since 2010 you should already have had a $5,000 rebate check through the mail to go with your $7,500 federal tax credit. Posted. http://www.allcarselectric.com/news/1063542_will-ca-still-have-electric-car-rebates-today-is-judgement-day GREEN ENERGY Legislators Introduce Bill To Resuscitate PACE Program For Green Upgrades To Homes. The PACE program, which made installations of energy-efficient solar panels, insulation and water conservation systems more affordable for homeowners, has been stalled by a technical roadblock. A government program that helped homeowners finance and install green upgrades before a technical roadblock stalled it last year may be resuscitated by Congress. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-green-homes-20110721,0,1669566,print.story OPINIONS Blame Congress. American Electric Power’s decision to shut down an ambitious experiment aimed at capturing greenhouse gases from a coal-fired power plant was a disappointing setback to efforts to control harmful global warming emissions from coal, among the world’s most abundant fuels. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/opinion/20wed2.html?scp=3&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Demise Of Carbon Capture Project Is Bad News. The following editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday, July 20, 2011: Among the more speculative of the proposed solutions to global warming is the notion of capturing the carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants and pumping them underground. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/21/v-print/3784328/demise-of-carbon-capture-project.html Opinion: Going Green Is Creating Good Jobs In Silicon Valley. Those who question whether a clean-energy revolution can help put Americans back to work should look to the South Bay today. Our country's energy future will be on display as I visit the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority on Thursday to see how labor and management are coming together to prepare workers for the jobs of tomorrow. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_18517728 MILLOY: Show Us The Bodies, EPA. The House will soon vote to (slightly) rein in the Obama Environmental Protection Agency. But this much-needed baby step by Congress will only happen if Republicans have the knowledge and muster the courage to withstand a final bare-knuckles assault by EPA’s enviro allies. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/20/show-us-the-bodies-epa/ OP ED: Auto Industry is Taking a Detour on Higher MPG Standard. While it’s certainly not surprising to hear automakers and their lobbyists cry wolf when it comes to strong fuel efficiency and emissions standards, the fact that they continue to do so after being called out on the facts time and time again is worth noting. Posted. http://cranston.patch.com/articles/op-ed-auto-industry-is-taking-a-detour-on-higher-mpg-standard BLOGS As a River Warms, Hope Beckons. In my article in Thursday’s Times about the future of the Nisqually watershed in Washington State, I mention efforts by conservation groups and land trusts across the country to buy up land parcels that are expected to turn into valuable ecological assets someday — marshes or swamplands, for example — as the sea rolls further inland because of global warming. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/21/as-a-river-warms-hope-beckons/?scp=4&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Bloomberg and Sierra Club Join Forces to Slow Coal. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York announced on Thursday that his main charitable organization would donate $50 million over four years to the Sierra Club’s campaign to shut down coal plants and move the United States toward cleaner sources of energy. Appearing with the Sierra Club’s executive director, Michael Brune, near a coal plant in Alexandria, Va. …Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/21/bloomberg-and-sierra-club-join-forces-to-slow-coal/?scp=8&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Study Ranks Air Pollution From Coal And Oil-Fired Power Plants. The most toxic air pollution from coal- and oil-fired power plants can be found in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, according to a new study released Wednesday by the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council and Physicians for Social Responsibility. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/07/the-most-toxic-air-pollution-from-coal-and-oil-fired-power-plants-can-be-found-in-ohio-pennsylvania-and-florida-according.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Toyota Develops Breakthrough Material That Removes 95% Of Ozone >From Air. Researchers at Toyota Central Research and Development Labs in Japan claim to have developed a mesoporous two-line ferrihydrite (M2LFh) that, if used in an ozone (O3) filter, could remove up to 95 percent of unreacted O3. Ferrihydrite is a substance composed of iron, oxygen and water, as you most assuredly already knew, right? Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/ Finnair To Attempt Longest Commercial Biofuel Flight In Aviation History. Those boarding Finnair flights from Amsterdam to Helsinki sometime this week will likely fly into aviation history as the passengers aboard the longest (estimated 933 miles) commercial flight powered by biofuel. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/ UN Shipping Group Moves on Vessel Emission Reductions. An International Maritime Organization panel adopted what it calls mandatory design and operational measures to reduce greenhouse gases from international shipping. According to the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee, which has met 62 times on this issue, this month’s action is the “first ever mandatory greenhouse gas reduction regime for an international industry sector.” Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/shipping-group-moves-vessel-emission-reductions/ Electric Vehicle Industry in Infancy- But Growing Up Fast. For the fifth year in a row, Ernst and Young hosted a global series of cleantech ignition sessions consisting of executive roundtables that convene key stakeholders to discuss important cleantech issues. This year’s sessions focused on electric vehicles (EVs) because the transformational change under way in this industry cuts across many sectors and has profound implications for: automakers, utility, companies, battery developers, smart grid operators, and renewable energy suppliers. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/electric-vehicle-industry-infancy-growing-fast/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:13:07 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 22, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 22, 2011. 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 Business Blasts Ozone Limits. Trade Groups Warn White House That New EPA Curbs Would Choke Off Growth. Business groups are stepping up pressure on the Obama administration to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from enacting tougher limits on smog-forming ozone, saying a new rule pending White House approval would damp the fragile economic recovery. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304567604576456443045913386.html?mod=googlenews_wsj The 20 States With The Most Toxic Air. A new analysis ranks states by the levels of air pollution produced by power plants. Coal- and oil-fired power plants produce almost half the toxic air pollution in the U.S., according to a new report by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Physicians for Social Responsibility, which identifies the 20 states with the biggest polluters and the worst air quality. For those who follow these issues, the results are not at all shocking. Posted. http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/states-worst-air-pollution-0722 CLIMATE CHANGE Ideal Carbon Capture Solution Years Off: Study. A dream climate change cure to turn planet-warming greenhouse gases into useful products from jet fuel to plastics will take years to develop from the lab and pilot projects, a report found on Thursday. Pilot projects already use carbon dioxide (CO2) to feed plants, for example to boost tomatoes in glasshouses, while laboratories have tested the manufacture of concrete, plastics and oils, but costs are high and projects depend on concentrated streams of CO2. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/21/us-carbon-capture-idUSTRE76K24K20110721 Petitions Filed To Repeal NM Greenhouse Gas Rules. New Mexico's largest electric utilities, the oil and natural gas industry and others are seeking to have the state's greenhouse gas emissions rules overturned. Petitions to repeal the rules were filed late last week with the state Environmental Improvement Board (EIB). The board was expected to decide Aug. 1 whether the case will go forward. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9OK97CG1.htm Cap And Trade Pols Move On. One year ago Friday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ended the climate bill’s misery. “It’s not a happy anniversary,” said Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut independent who has co-sponsored nearly all the major global warming bills debated over the past decade. Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=B2CB4D49-C06F-4D10-A42E-438916A02E58 How Much Does Global Warming Cost? A new report suggests that the social cost of carbon — the economic damage done by one ton of carbon dioxide emissions — could be drastically higher than government agencies have estimated. Most people understand that global warming is happening, but it is hard to get a firmer sense of exactly what effects it is going to have on the future of the world. Posted. http://www.miller-mccune.com/environment/how-much-does-global-warming-cost-33864/ Calif. Activists Urge Gov. Brown To Ditch Cap-And-Trade Scheme. San Francisco -- Activists whose lawsuit hobbled California's cap-and-trade scheme for curbing greenhouse gases launched a second offensive yesterday aimed at Gov. Jerry Brown (D). A dozen or so college students demonstrated against cap and trade on a bustling corner of the Mission neighborhood here. "Cap and trade kills!" they shouted as they showered classmates, huddled on the ground, with shreds of green paper. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/22/8 FUELS Which Cities Use The Most Gas? Which cities eat up the most gas? Mint.com has the lowdown on how often their users buy gas every month, and how much they spend (click for a larger infographic). The slobbiest gas guzzlers, according to Mint data, are San Jose, Calif. and Birmingham, Ala. The daintiest gas sippers are New York, Brooklyn (a kind of New York), D.C., and Boston -- places with robust public transportation systems. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-22-which-cities-use-the-most-gas VEHICLES California Electric-Car Rebate Program Resumes. San Francisco -- California's electric-car rebate program, so popular that it ran out of cash last month, is back in business. The California Air Resources Board on Thursday approved spending $15 million to $21 million to fund the program, which gives rebates to buyers of electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/22/BUVT1KDHGT.DTL&type=printable http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/07/california-ends-5000-electric-car-rebates/1 http://kdrv.com/page/218799 S. Valley Residents Raise High-Speed Rail Concerns. Hanford – Residents fighting a proposed high-speed rail route east of Hanford are being ignored, a legislator from Hanford said Thursday. "No one is answering our questions" is the most common complaint that Assembly Member David Valadao, R-Hanford, said he gets from Kings County residents. "I have been contacted by numerous constituents who feel they have been pushed aside, ignored and in some cases mistreated," Valadao said. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/21/v-print/2473213/s-valley-residents-raise-high.html New York Approves Ford, Nissan Vehicles As Taxis. New York City has approved the Ford Taurus sedan and Ford Transit Connect van for use as taxis for the next two years, allowing the carmaker to keep a foothold in the New York cab market even as it phases out the Crown Victoria sedan. New York originally wanted only hybrid or gas-powered equivalents of hybrids to be allowed, but it loosened the rules after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the city lacks the authority to set mileage standards for taxis. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/21/2472531/new-york-approves-ford-vehicles.html#storylink=misearch TCAG Weighs Air-Improvement Grants For Rails. The Tulare County Association of Governments is expected to vote Monday to apply for a series of air improvement grants that could pay up to 80 percent of the cost to upgrade 20 miles of train tracks between Lindsay and Dinuba. An official with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District suggested that TCAG apply now for grants to help pay the estimated $15 million cost to fix …Posted. http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20110722/NEWS01/107220323 Michigan Delegation Faults 56 Mpg Target For 2025. Michigan’s congressional delegation said setting a 56 mpg target for 2025 could result in a loss of American jobs and urged President Obama to meet with the Detroit 3 and the UAW “to work through an acceptable solution.” The letter yesterday from Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, both Democrats, as well as the 14 House members from Michigan, did not recommend a particular mileage target. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110722/OEM05/110729953/1179 Mich. Lawmakers Decry 'Overly Aggressive' Target In Letter To Obama. Michigan lawmakers warned President Obama yesterday that a proposed 56.2 mpg target for automobile fuel economy talks is "overly aggressive" and would spur further job losses in their state's automotive industry. In a letter to Obama, Michigan's two Democratic senators and 14 of its 15 House members outlined concerns with the 56.2 mpg standard being weighed by the administration. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/22/7 GREEN ENERGY The Pressure To Add Clean Power In California. Setting renewable energy mandates for utilities has been the big policy hammer that forces the use of wind, solar and other sources of cleaner power in the U.S. The pressure has intensified in California now that utilities are required to meet at least a 33 percent mandate by 2020. Utility Pacific Gas and Electric announced this week three power purchase agreements with solar-project developers. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/22/idUS279430753920110722 U.S., Seeking to Reshape Electric Grid, Adopts a Power Line Rule. Federal regulators laid down principles on Thursday for planning and paying for new power lines, part of a long-term policy effort to help the nation’s electricity grid grow enough to meet the demands of renewable energy and a competitive electricity market. The rule, which has been in the works for several years, is intended to push the organizations that manage the grid into cooperating with one another…Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/22/science/earth/22grid.html?ref=earth Multiple Benefits In Making Homes Green. Retired real estate agent Vicky Friedman decided it was time to do some home improvements to her 1937 charmer in the Rockridge area of Oakland. But the changes she had in mind were not things you might immediately notice. After conducting an energy audit of her 4,600-square-foot home, a contractor sealed off seven of 12 jalousie windows that were leaking air. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18522673?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com FERC's New Grid Policy Gives A Major Push To Renewable Energy Projects. The justification given for the mammoth new policy issued yesterday by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is that the nation's high-voltage transmission grid must change to respond to profound changes that are under way in how the United States generates, moves and uses electric power. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/22/3 MISCELLANEOUS Bill on Governor Brown's Desk Could Force Businesses To Subsidize Workers' Commutes. A bill sent to the governor's desk could put California employers on the hook for subsidizing workers' commutes if they travel by public transit, carpools or other low-polluting ways. The legislation would allow regional transportation and air pollution boards in the Bay Area and 17 other metropolitan areas to pass employee benefit ordinances that could affect companies with as few as 20 workers. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics-government/ci_18516395?source=rss Edison Customers Can Exchange Up To 10 Lamps For Energy-Efficient Ones. If you're trying to "go green" at home and reduce your energy use, you won't want to miss Southern California Edison's lamp exchange program this weekend in Camarillo. Operation Lamp Exchange takes place Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Kmart parking lot, 940 Arneill Road. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/21/edison-customers-can-exchange-up-to-10-lamps-for/ OPINIONS Mark Landsbaum: UN Climate Change Cops Coming? It was only a matter of time. The climate change frenzy has spawned the latest Global Warming Absurdity of the Day - green-helmeted green cops. “UN security council to consider climate change peacekeeping,” is the headline in the UK’s Guardian. A special meeting was called to discuss how the UN can “intervene in conflicts” caused by rising seas levels and shrinking resources. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/common/printer/view.php?db=ocregister&id=309183 BLOGS Coal-Themed Sculpture Annoys Lawmakers. Some people in Wyoming, one of the country’s top energy-producing states, are not happy with a sculpture that has just been installed at the University of Wyoming that depicts a link between human-caused climate change and dead forests. The installation, by the British artist Chris Drury, is called “Carbon Sink: What Goes Around Comes Around.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/21/coal-themed-sculpture-annoys-lawmakers/?ref=earth The Big Bake. Welcome to life on Venus! We’ve got the greenhouse effect going full blast, the sun is nearing Solar Maximum, and the Earth is tilted toward the parent star as if trying to dip the northern hemisphere into a vat of boiling oil. Now comes the Heat Bubble. You’ve seen the maps. The Heat Bubble covers nearly half the country, and it has been sauntering eastward, from the midwest, and today camps out for the weekend right on top of us here in Washington. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/achenblog/post/the-big-bake/2011/07/22/gIQAkgUQTI_blog.html Electric Vehicles: California Rebates Sliced In Half. California’s Air Resources Board voted Thursday to slice in half to $2,500 the rebate buyers of electric vehicles can collect. The state ran out of money to fund the $5,000 rebates that had been in place for several years. About 500 buyers of cars such as the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Roadster are on a rebate waiting list and will collect the $2,500. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/07/california-electric-vehicle-rebate-sliced-in-half.html ENERGY: California Halves Electric Vehicle Subsidy. The rebate for electric vehicles is back, but it's been cut in half, the California Air Resources Board said Thursday. The Clean Vehicle Rebate Program ran out of cash in June, months ahead of schedule. The board is increasing the original $5 million allocation to at least $15 million, and offering rebates of up to $2,500 toward the purchase of all-electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/business/energy/article_e4905fb9-e522-5b6c-ba1b-1b312add3658.html Rebates Shrinking For Electric Vehicles. San Diego — San Diego car buyers looking to purchase a new all-electric vehicle are no longer getting an automatic $5,000 discount, but a drained California rebate program was partially revived yesterday by the State Air Resources Board. The panel voted to add more money after it ran out of money last month. Posted. http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/jul/22/rebates-shrinking-electric-cars/ Climate Change Reducing Ocean's Carbon Dioxide Uptake. How deep is the ocean's capacity to buffer against climate change? As one of the planet's largest single carbon absorbers, the ocean takes up roughly one-third of all human carbon emissions, reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and its associated global changes. But whether the ocean can continue mopping up human-produced carbon at the same rate is still up in the air. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/climate-change-reducing-oceans-carbon-dioxide-upta/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:28:02 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 25, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 25, 2011. 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 Study Ranks Air Pollution From Coal And Oil-Fired Power Plants. The most toxic air pollution from coal- and oil-fired power plants can be found in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, according to a new study released Wednesday by the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council and Physicians for Social Responsibility. The study, "Toxic Power: How Power Plants Contaminate Our Air and States," used public data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory, a national database of toxic emissions reported by industrial sources. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/25/v-print/3792124/study-ranks-air-pollution-from.html Business Groups Say New Smog Rule Will Hurt Economy And Obama In 2012. Within weeks, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to tighten the national standard for ozone, the main ingredient in smog. In last-minute lobbying, business groups are warning that the country can't afford cleaner air in an economic downturn and that President Barack Obama can't afford it politically, either. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/24/1788021/business-groups-say-new-smog-rule.html CLIMATE CHANGE Australia’s Carbon Tax May Slash Coal-Industry Value by $8.7 Billion. Australia’s planned carbon tax may reduce the value of the coal industry by about A$8 billion ($8.7 billion) as producers including Xstrata Plc (XTA) and Anglo American Plc (AAL) bear higher costs, according to a research group Wood Mackenzie Ltd. “This is an average of a 4 percent reduction in net present value of coal companies’ Australian portfolios,” Ben Willacy, Wood Mackenzie’s Australasia coal supply lead analyst said in an e-mailed report today. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-25/australian-coal-tax-may-cut-coal-industry-value-by-a-8-billion.html Debate Intensifies Over Climate Change Aspects of Canada's Oil Sands Pipeline. As the State Department weighs approving an oil pipeline stretching from Canada to Texas, experts are divided on whether the Keystone XL project would worsen global warming. The split opinion is coming to a head, as the House considers a bill speeding up the approval process for the $7 billion pipeline and the State Department readies release of a final environmental assessment in August. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/07/25/25climatewire-debate-intensifies-over-climate-change-aspec-46622.html Fight Brews Over Offsets In Calif. Cap And Trade. If a tree falls in the forest and it was supposed to have canceled out a company's carbon emissions, who bears responsibility? It's among many dilemmas California faces as it rolls out its landmark climate law. The state's Air Resources Board (ARB) soon is expected to unveil its proposed rules for enforcing A.B. 32, the law ordering reductions in heat-trapping gases blamed for climate change. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/25/1 Utilities, Environmentalists Press California For Cap & Trade Rule Changes. California utilities are pressing regulators to adopt numerous changes to the basic rules governing how the state's planned greenhouse gas (GHG) cap-and-trade program will be carried out -- including a request to eliminate all language pertaining to rate-making policies and to provide more flexibility to use GHG offsets and allowances earlier in the program to help contain costs and ease compliance. Posted. http://defensenewsstand.com/201107222370856/Clean-Energy-Report-Daily-News/News/utilities-environmentalists-press-california-for-cap-a-trade-rule-changes/Print/menu-id-1.html Where Do Greenhouse Gases Come From? This chart from the United Nations Environment Programme (click to embiggen) looks complicated, sort of like a traffic sign cross-bred with a banyan tree. But it basically just traces the path of greenhouse gases from polluting industries, through uses, out into the atmosphere. So you can tell at a glance, for instance, that energy industries produce by far the most greenhouse gases, or that most of the methane comes from oil processing and livestock. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-25-where-do-greenhouse-gases-come-from Packing Heat: Why Violence Boils Over On A Warming Planet. A Kenyan pastoralist killed in a cattle raid; an Afghan farmer trusting the Taliban to protect his poppy crop; more crackdowns along the U.S.-Mexico border; the Arab Spring -- are these isolated incidents of region-specific violence and turmoil? Or can they all claim a common root cause: climate change? Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-07-24-packing-heat-why-violence-boils-over-on-a-warming-planet DIESEL EMISSIONS Seaport Complex Takes Delivery Of Zero-Emission Hauling Truck. The heavy-duty rig, which will transport cargo between the ports of L.A. and Long Beach and Inland Empire warehouses and distribution centers, runs on electric batteries powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. July 23, 2011|By Ronald D. White, Los Angeles TimesAn El Segundo Company aims to help the nation's busiest seaport complex advance its green technology efforts by providing zero-emission trucks for heavy-duty hauling. Posted. http://articles.latimes.com/print/2011/jul/23/business/la-fi-0723-hydrogen-truck-20110723 CARB To Offer Up To $16 Million For Clean Trucks. The California Air Resources Board has approved between $11 and $16 million for the third year of funding toward the purchase of lower-emitting and fuel-efficient hybrid and zero-emissions trucks and buses. The money is part of a $40 million funding for the third year of the program, which promotes the purchase of the next-generation of clean cars, trucks, and off-road equipment. Posted. http://fleetowner.com/green/archive/carb-offer-millions-clean-trucks-0725/ Port Of LA Gets Keys To First Zero-Emission Truck. It looks just like a regular big-rig truck, but when the motor starts it sounds more like a Prius. It's called the Tyrano, and it is the world's first zero emission, hydrogen fuel cell-powered class 8 truck. On Friday, the Port of L.A. got the keys to the first such semis to drive on Los Angeles' roads. The ports, together with trucking company Total Transportation Services, Inc. (TTSI), will begin using one hydrogen fuel cell truck for a trial period of one year. Posted. http://www.scpr.org/news/2011/07/25/27867/port-l-gets-keys-first-zero-emission-truck/ VEHICLES GM's Coming Cars, Trucks To Target Fuel Efficiency. Cars have dominated General Motors' vehicle-launch schedule lately. Expect more of the same for the next 18 months, as GM readies several key car launches across its four brands. Trucks, though, will dominate in 2013. GM is expected to unveil both its next-generation of full-sized pickups and SUVs that year, as 2014 models. On the car and truck fronts, fuel economy will be the overarching theme as the automaker prepares for the next round of fuel-efficiency standards. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110725/OEM04/307259994/1216 Toronto Company Makes A Non-Toxic Battery For Green Cars. Electric vehicles for The Green Highway today and for the foreseeable future all require lithium ion batteries. Manufacturing them is expected to be a $100-billion industry in less than 20 years. Today, Japanese companies like Sony, Panasonic and Toyota are leaders in a $9-billion business. Posted. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/green-driving/news-and-notes/toronto-company-makes-a-non-toxic-battery-for-green-cars/article2096274/ GREEN ENERGY India To Set Up Independent Environmental Body. India's government will set up a new environmental regulator to review investment projects, the prime minister said, freeing politicians from making unpopular decisions to protect ecology at the cost of development. India has been embroiled in fierce debate over how to protect the environment while also lifting hundreds of millions of people from poverty through investment and infrastructure. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_INDIA_ENVIRONMENT?SITE=NCWIN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/india-to-set-up-independent-body-to-review-projects-for-environmental-clearance/2011/07/25/gIQAS9cxXI_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/25/2476410/india-to-set-up-independent-environmental.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18544022 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18544022?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/25/india-to-set-up-independent-environmental-body/ Less Red Tape On Solar Projects Would Mean More Jobs, Study Says. Reducing government red tape for the California solar industry would create nearly 4,000 additional jobs statewide over the next decade, according to a new study. SunRun, a leading San Francisco-based solar provider, said inconsistent government permitting processes in California add nearly $2,500 to the average cost of installing a residential solar power system, creating barriers to growth for the fast-emerging industry. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/25/v-print/3791546/less-red-tape-on-solar-projects.html >From Governor Moonbeam To Governor Sunbeam -- Brown Pushes For Alternative Energy. During his first two terms nearly four decades ago, Jerry Brown became famously known as Governor Moonbeam. Now he seems destined to become Governor Sunbeam. With the epic battle over the state budget finally behind him, Brown's first major policy initiative aims to fulfill the ambitious goal laid out in his campaign: to develop a clean-energy economy in California. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18541377 http://www.dailynews.com/technology/ci_18541375 http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_18541375?source=rss http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/morning_call/2011/07/gov-brown-pushing-renewable-energy-plan.html Wind Farms Multiply, Fueling Clashes With Nearby Residents. Demand for clean energy has led to a wind turbine building boom. But many living in their shadow decry the electricity generating projects as pesky eyesores. Donna and Bob Moran moved to the wind-whipped foothills here four years ago looking for solitude and serenity amid the pinyon pines and towering Joshua trees. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wind-power-20110724,0,121989,print.story Yolo Drafts Measure To Protect Ag Lands From Solar Projects. It's a battle of deities in Yolo County this summer, sun against earth. The city of Davis and some notable developers say they want to build solar energy projects on hundreds of acres near Interstate 80 and the Yolo Causeway. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/25/v-print/3791686/yolo-drafts-measure-to-protect.html >From Governor Moonbeam To Governor Sunbeam -- Brown Pushes For Solar Power Continues To Push Its Way Into New Markets, Despite Recession. Despite global economic chaos, renewable energy use, especially solar power, expanded throughout the world in 2010. Growth is continuing as innovations in technology improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness while governments provide regulatory incentives to use clean electricity. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/25/4 How To Power Homes With 100% Clean And Increasingly Local Power. After 10 years of battling incumbent utilities, Marin Clean Energy became California's first operational community choice aggregation (CCA) authority in 2010. Already, local ratepayers can opt to get 100 percent of their electricity from renewable resources. CCA offers an option for cities, counties, and collaborations to opt out of the traditional role of energy consumers. Posted. http://www.grist.org/renewable-energy/2011-07-23-how-to-power-homes-with-clean-and-local-power OPINION Opinion: Bad Economy Can't Stop Bay Area Communities From Advancing Clean Energy. With unemployment still alarmingly high and budgets thin everywhere, great concern about the direction of the economic recovery persists. At the same time, the continuing tragedy surrounding Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant reinforces the importance of safe, clean energy to power the economy. Can we create jobs, improve budgets, strengthen our energy security and address climate change? Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_18531081 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18531081 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18531081?nclick_check=1 Drop Ethanol, Drill At Home. Ethanol is a bad choice. It is well known that more emissions are created by ethanol production than fuel made from crude oil. Tractors, transportation and cooking of the corn all add to carbon emissions. It also costs more. That is why the ethanol producers need a subsidy to compete. If we want to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, all we need to do is drill more oil here. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/23/1787442/drop-ethanol-drill-at-home.html Letter: Coachella Valley Needs A Light-Rail System To Fight Air Pollution. While I think the things being done are all great, is anyone really looking to the future? We should be looking to build a light-rail system. To start, it should run it between downtown Palm Springs to the mall or El Paseo in Palm Desert. It can be expanded to Desert Hot Springs and Indio. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011107240313 California Must Lead On Emissions. Automakers, union leaders, environmental groups and the governors of California and Michigan joined President Barack Obama at the White House in 2009 to announce our country’s first joint standards to boost gas mileage and cut pollution from new cars and light-duty trucks through 2016. Now, the Obama administration is reportedly looking at ambitious new targets for 2017-2025 that could increase the fuel standard significantly. Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=70C605E0-E9B1-4DD9-8049-C5DCE4318F5B BLOGS An Odder Look to Fuel-Efficient Trucks. New jet planes have winglets, curved structures at the tips of the wings that change the airflow and reduce the turbulence in the passing wind. That reduces drag, the amount of effort needed to speed ahead, and that in turn reduces fuel requirements. Can it work on the ground? Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/25/an-odder-look-to-fuel-efficient-trucks/?ref=earth EPA Chief Lisa Jackson Speaks At NAACP Convention In Los Angeles. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson spoke to the NAACP National Convention at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Sunday about the impact of pollution on minority communities, an issue that will be also be explored during a Monday afternoon panel: "The air we breathe: …Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/07/epa-chief-lisa-jackson-speaks-before-naacp-convention-in-los-angeles.html AM Alert: Jerry Brown Revs Up Renewable Energy Conference. Gov. Jerry Brown has emerged from his hiking trip in the Sierra to kick off a two-day conference in Los Angeles on renewable energy. The conference will explore how California's public and private sectors can rev up local energy generation to meet Brown's green-jobs goal of onsite or small systems producing 12,000 megawatts by the end of the decade. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/07/am-alert-jerry-brown-renewable-energy-conference.html Biofuels Slowly Take Flight with the Airline Industry. I’ve heard a lot about biofuel for aviation tests, but they always sounded suspiciously like airline ‘greenwashing’ PR to me. Richard Branson’s $3 billion bet on an aviation biofuel company went bankrupt. Successful tests turned out to be only fractionally biofuel. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/biofuels-slowly-flight-airline-industry/ EV Manufacturer Green Vehicles Files for Bankruptcy. According to the Monterey County Weekly and Examiner.com, electric car startup Green Vehicles has filed for bankruptcy, only months after announcing a partnership with Leyden Energy, and relocating to Salinas, CA, from their headquarters in San Jose. The failure of Green Vehicles is a major setback for Salinas, which seeks to position itself as a manufacturing hub for the Valley’s emerging cleantech industry. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/electric-car-triac-ev-green-vehicles-files-bankruptcy/ Hot Is The New Normal: Why High Temperatures Are Evidence Of Climate Change. Unless you’ve been living in an ice chest for the past couple of weeks, you’ve probably noticed that it’s been a tad hot. Ok, really hot. Ok, really, REALLY hot. Like record-breaking hot. Just four days ago, when the heat indexed reached 110F in New York City, 188 cities across the United States broke high temperature records, and 138 more cities tied them. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/hot-is-the-new-normal-why-high-temperatures-are-evidence-of-climate-change/ Consumer Federation Of America Says SUV/Truck Mpg Exemption Is "Economic Suicide." In mid-July, automakers – in particular, the Detroit Three – urged the Obama Administration to tone down the proposed CAFE target of 56.2 miles per gallon by 2025 for full-size trucks and SUVs. At the automakers' requests, government regulators are reportedly considering a proposal that allows for the fuel economy ratings of behemoth vehicles to improve at a lesser pace than required for other passenger vehicles. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/ Study: Ultrafine Particles In Diesel Fumes Can Cause Heart Attacks. When we think of dangerous auto emissions, we tend to think first of greenhouse-causing gases or the components of the smoggy haze that hovers over cities. However, another component of the smoke pouring from some tailpipes may be even more dangerous. Research published in European Heart Journal tested the effects of diesel fumes on healthy volunteers. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/ CARB Approves Extension Of Clean Vehicle Rebates. The California Air Resources Board (CARB), the funding agency behind the state's zero-emissions Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP), has proposed a significant increase in funding for CVRP in 2011-2012. CARB is proposing tripling the funding from last year's level of $5 million to $15 million. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/page/2/ Pike Research Forecasts More Than 5,200 Hydrogen Fueling Stations To Be Operational Worldwide By 2020. According to a new report from Pike Research, more than 5,200 hydrogen fueling stations for cars, buses and forklifts will be operational worldwide by 2020, up from just 200 stations in 2010. The cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts that, by the end of that period, annual investment in hydrogen stations will reach $1.6 billion, with a cumulative 10-year investment totaling $8.4 billion. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/07/pikeh2-20110723.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:47:57 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 26, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 26, 2011. 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 Tesoro Fined For Violations At Martinez Refinery. Oil giant Tesoro Corp. has agreed to pay $500,000 in fines for dozens of air pollution violations at its refinery in Martinez. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District announced the settlement with the San Antonio-based company on Monday. District officials say emissions from the Golden Eagle refinery often exceeded air-quality standards for carbon monoxide, soot and other pollutants between 2006 and 2009. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18550846 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18550846 CARB Honors Cleaire President With Haagen-Smit Award. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has awarded Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls President and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Brad Edgar with its Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award in the category of Science and Technology. Since 2001, CARB has annually recognized and honored individuals who have made significant contributions toward improving air quality through their commitment, Posted. http://www.dieselprogress.com/emissionstechnologyforum/index_news_detail.asp?pick=438&fm=N Ozone Decision Waits As Senators, Businesses Pressure EPA. Controversial new U.S. EPA standards for smog won't be ready this week, the agency said today, as business groups and other critics on Capitol Hill pushed the White House to declaw the rules that were submitted for final review earlier this month. Administrator Lisa Jackson is getting ready to finalize new air quality standards for ozone, the main ingredient in the smog that can blanket big cities on hot summer days. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/26/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Melting Ice Forces Polar Bears To Swim Farther, Study Finds. Polar bears are swimming longer distances because of melting sea ice, according to a new study conducted with satellite tracking devices. The research, presented July 19 by U.S. Geological Survey biologist Anthony Pagano at the International Bear Association Conference, identified 50 long-distance swims by adult female polar bears between 2004 and 2009 in the southern Beaufort and Chukchi seas. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/melting-ice-forces-polar-bears-to-swim-farther-study-finds/2011/07/19/gIQAq9Q5YI_story.html Fight Brews Over Offsets in Calif. Climate Law. If a tree falls in the forest and it was supposed to have canceled out a company's carbon emissions, who bears responsibility? It's among many dilemmas California faces as it rolls out its landmark climate law. The state's Air Resources Board (ARB) soon is expected to unveil its proposed rules for enforcing A.B. 32, the law ordering reductions in heat-trapping gases blamed for climate change. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/07/25/25greenwire-fight-brews-over-offsets-in-calif-climate-law-6837.html?pagewanted=print Climate Change Could Release Toxins Trapped In Arctic Ice. Despite a global decrease in the production of certain toxic chemicals, we may be in for an onslaught. That’s because rising global temperatures are causing the release of persistent organic pollutants, such as DDT and PCBs, which have been locked in arctic ice for more than half a century. Although the chemicals were created to provide societal benefits, such as killing mosquitoes and protecting crops…Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/climate-change-could-release-toxins-trapped-arctic-ice-11711 Time Running Out To Change Cap-And-Trade. Time is running out for businesses to get changes made to the state’s cap-and-trade program. Rules for California’s cap-and-trade program – part of the 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act that aims to reduce pollution below 1990s levels by 2020 — will be finalized in October. But in August the California Air Resources Board, which oversees the implementation of the program, will vote on draft rules to be followed by a 15-day public comment period. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/07/25/time-running-out-to-change-cap-and-trade.html?s=print California Releases Updated Cap-Trade Regulations. California regulators released an updated version of their cap-and-trade regulations for greenhouse gases yesterday, one of the last steps before voting to make the program official. Covered polluters -- those businesses that emit more than 25,000 metric tons per year of carbon dioxide equivalent -- will begin official trading in 2013, after a year of fine-tuning and practice trading that begins next year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/26/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Companies Write To Defend Cap-And-Trade Program. Businesses are writing letters to governors across 10 states in the Northeast in support of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the first regional carbon cap-and-trade program in the United States. The three-year-old initiative, backed by green companies and environmental groups, is facing challenges from conservative activists. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/26/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Technologies Multiply To Put CO2 To Work -- And Make Money. One man's pollution is another man's raw material. In this case, it's carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the most notorious greenhouse gases. Government regulators, researchers and private companies have now found ways to sequester waste CO2 and put it to work in making paints, plastics and fuels. In doing so, they seek to find a way to simultaneously reduce emissions, produce low-cost materials and even make some money. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/26/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Reanalyses ‘R’ Us. There is an interesting new wiki site, Reanalyses.org, that has been developed by a number of groups dedicated to documenting the various reanalysis products for atmosphere and ocean that are increasingly being made available. For those that don’t know, a ‘reanalysis’ is a climate or weather model simulation of the past that includes data assimilation of historical observations. Posted. http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2011/07/reanalyses-r-us/ FUELS As White House Decision on New Fuel Efficiency Standards Nears, Go60MPG Launches Radio ad Push in D.C. With Radio Ads, Go60MPG Highlights How Strong Fuel Efficiency Standards Would Create Jobs, Save Consumers at the Gas Pump, Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil. With a decision imminent from the Obama Administration on new fuel efficiency and emissions standards for 2017-2025 vehicles, Go60MPG …Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/25/3792858/as-white-house-decision-on-new.html ARB Approves "OGV Clean Fuel Regulations" At a public hearing on June 23, 2011, the Air Resources Board (ARB) approved amendments to the regulations “Fuel Sulfur and Other Operational Requirements for Ocean-Going Vessels within California Waters and 24 Nautical Miles of the California Baseline” (title 13, California Code of Regulations [CCR], section 2299.2, and title 17 California Code of Regulations, section 93118.2). Posted. http://www.marinelink.com/news/regulations-approves339670.aspx VEHICLES California Dials Back Its Electric Car Credits. So far, electric cars have been more popular in California than in most of the rest of the country. In large part, EV appeal was greater in California due to a $5,000 state rebate that came on top of the $7,500 federal tax credit. With the tax credits, the price of an all-electric Nissan Leaf could be as low as $21,000, making it cheaper than a Toyota Prius and putting it on par with other small cars. (The Chevrolet Volt was not eligible for the state credit, although it does receive the $7,500 federal tax credit.) Posted. http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/07/california-dials-back-its-electric-car-credits.html Cars Now Getting Better Climate Grades. We're making progress in reducing greenhouse emissions from new cars in the U.S. Is a 14 percent gain since October of 2007 impressive? You bet it is, considering that population continues to grow, and we're not making significant progress in cutting our miles on the road. Or enacting any climate legislation, for that matter. The 14 percent reduction is enshrined in the latest monthly Eco-Driving Index from the University of Michigan. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/25/v-print/3792029/cars-now-getting-better-climate.html California: Zero-Cost Ways To Support EV Introduction. On 1 July 2011, California decided to ban hybrids from carpool lanes, giving this privilege to PHEVs and full EVs. In the same month, on 21 July 2011, California’s Air Resources Board voted to cut the rebate EV buyers can collect by half, to now $2500. But with more than $26 billion budget deficit for 2011, California is moving towards non-financial ways to promote electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/62720110726.php GREEN ENERGY TRPA Rejects Biomass Power Plant At Tahoe. Kings Beach -- Lake Tahoe's land use regulatory agency has rejected plans for a biomass power plant on the lake's north shore. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Executive Director Joanne Marchetta says her staff concluded the Kings Beach site is "unworkable." Placer County Supervisor Jennifer Montgomery says the plan generated widespread citizen complaints. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_18544571 Painting Roofs White Could Save A Year’s Worth Of Emissions. The White Roof Project has a simple mission: Paint black roofs white. Here's what that tiny effort gets you, according to the organization (click the picture for a more extensive infographic): A 24 billion metric ton reduction in CO2 emissions, if every roof is painted white by 2030. That's a year's worth of CO2. $5 billion in energy cost savings for the United States Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-25-painting-roofs-white-could-save-a-years-worth-of-emissions Is This The Greenest College Campus Ever? California's Butte College has a 928-acre wildlife refuge. It promotes ride shares. It uses goats for landscaping, and worms for composting. It has LEED-certifiable buildings. And now it's going off the grid -- the first college in the country, the school claims, to be energy independent. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-25-is-this-the-greenest-college-campus-ever MISCELLANEOUS EPA’s Funding Facing Rollback. House Republicans are attempting to slash funding for climate-change programs and reduce the power of regulatory agencies in a spending bill for next year that Democrats call an assault on the environment. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/25/epa-s-funding-facing-rollback/ OPINIONS Letter To The Editor: EPA Should Be State Agency. There is no authorization for the Environmental Protection Agency in the Constitution. It is clearly missing from Article 1, Section 8, which establishes all powers of Congress. Therefore, under the 10th Amendment, environmental protections should be a responsibility of the states. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/25/epa-should-be-state-agency/] Outdated Environmental Info. Earthjustice, an environmental law firm, has taken upon itself to file a lawsuit in federal court to force the EPA to enforce compliance within five years of a decision on whether the region fails to meet the national standards on Ozone depletion. The study by the EPA was done some 30 years ago! Many things have changed over the years, including the requirement of Bay Area cars to be smog tested which affected pollution in the valley. Posted. (Paid subscription only) http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/25/1790039/outdated-environmental-info.html BLOGS Democrats Turn Up The Heat On Enviro Cuts. House Democrats invoked the record-breaking weekend temperatures as they railed against a Republican bill up for floor discussion this week that cuts funding and trims the regulatory power of federal environmental agencies. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2011/jul/25/democrats-turn-heat-environmental-cuts/ Volleys Fly in House Debate on E.P.A. and Interior. The House of Representatives began heated debate on Monday on an appropriations bill for the Department of Interior and Environmental Protection Agency that pits Republican critics of environmental regulation against Democrats who fear that landmark protections could be gutted. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/25/volleys-fly-in-house-debate-on-e-p-a-and-interior/?ref=earth Obama's Fuel Economy Standards Threaten the Economy. Remember when, in the State of the Union address, President Barack Obama promised to launch an assault on needless, duplicative, wasteful federal agencies and regulations? Neither does he. Thanks to Obama, the U.S. government now has three agencies--the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the California Air Resources Board--involved in the effort to improve through mandates the fuel economy of U.S. passenger vehicles. Posted. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/peter-roff/2011/07/26/obamas-fuel-economy-standards-threaten-the-economy_print.html Gov. Brown Pushes Renewable Energy Goal At UCLA Conference. Gov. Jerry Brown wants a major chunk of California’s renewable energy to come from urban rooftops and backyards, rather than just the massive solar and wind installations scattered around the outskirts of the state. How that’ll come to pass, though, is still up in the air. So Brown called a conference to figure out how to execute his plan, which calls for rooftop solar panels, small wind turbines…Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/07/gov-brown-pushes-12-gigawatt-renewable-energy-goal-at-ucla-conference.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MoneyCompany+%28Money+%26+Company%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Urban Power Like Rooftop Solar Dominates Brown's Energy Confab may not be quite the renewable energy powerhouse that Germany and China are, but California will be well on its way once it speeds up installations of smaller, urban projects, Gov. Jerry Brown said Monday. At a UCLA conference called to help figure how to achieve Brown’s goal of 12 gigawatts of localized clean power production, he and executives from SolarCity, Google and NRG talked about the state’s energy future. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/07/rooftop-solar-and-distributed-generation-dominate-browns-ucla-energy-confab.html Roofing It: Brown Stumps for Distributed Solar. Governor Brown moves forward with plans to encourage more local solar generation in the state. California has been on something of a solar frenzy recently, approving permits for more than 4,000 megawatts of new solar power in 2010 alone. Most of that is in the form of large, industrial-scale installations, which will provide lots of power, but also will require transmission infrastructure to get the clean energy from the desert sun to where its needed, primarily, the coastal cities. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/07/25/roofing-it-brown-stumps-for-distributed-solar/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader The Solar Scheme: How Banks Overvalue Solar Projects for Financial Gain. First, there were solar systems with a hefty up-front price that not many households and companies could afford. Then came the solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) and solar leasing that transformed solar systems from a product into an affordable service. One of the cornerstones of the new model is a 30 percent federal tax credit on the solar systems…Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/solar-scheme-banks-overvaluing-solar-projects-taxpayers-money/ Climate Change-Pollutants From the Past. Climate change is remobilizing toxic pollutants from long-term sinks such as ice and sea water in the Arctic reports a paper published online in Nature Climate Change this week. The finding suggests that this could potentially undermine efforts to reduce exposure to these toxic compounds. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/climate-change-pollutants-past/ Toyota Says Prius Plug-In Is "27 Percent Better Than An Equivalent Diesel." With the Toyota Prius Plug-in set to launch in early 2012, now's the perfect time to dive into the interim results from the cars' trials in London. Here are some details straight from Toyota: Average journey distance has been 7.3 miles, with 59 percent of all journeys covering between 3.1 and 12.4 miles. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/ Republicans Target EPA Regulations of Big Polluters in Debt Talks. If Congress can’t reach a deal on the debt ceiling, we have a single week before the United States defaults on its debts, but the Republicans are still calling for some outrageous budget cuts to try to win the battle. The right’s latest targets are the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/republicans-target-epa-regulations-of-big-polluters-in-debt-talks/ Trucks Get ‘Winglets’ To Make Them More Fuel Efficient. In order to make them more fuel efficient and aerodynamic, airplanes have winglets (curved structures) at the wing tips to reduce drag. ATDynamics are hoping that this same engineering trick will also work on the ground. The company has outfitted trucks with a TrailerTail to do exactly that. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/trucks-get-winglets-to-make-them-more-fuel-efficient/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:53:55 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 27, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 27, 2011. 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 Fire Erupts At Northern Calif. Plastics Plant. Fairfield, Calif. -- A fire at a plastics company sent black smoke billowing hundreds of feet into the air Tuesday, but officials said no building damage or injuries were reported. The fire broke out about 1 p.m. in an outdoor storage area at the Macro Plastics Inc. complex near Travis Air Force Base, said city spokeswoman Gale Spears. A thick plume of dark black smoke was visible for miles, drifting eastward to the south of Sacramento. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/26/v-print/3796167/fire-erupts-at-northern-calif.html http://www.sfexaminer.com/news/california/2011/07/fire-marshal-employees-doing-maintenance-work-likely-started-fairfield-plast http://www.kcra.com/news/28672566/detail.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_84b1f0f9-7d71-55c7-82e5-7b1baab05c88.html Texas Company Fined For California Air Pollution Violations. Sacramento • Key Energy Services pays $52,000 fine • CARB says it’s for smoke inspection violations. Key Energy Services LLC, based in Midland, Texas, with West Coast offices in Bakersfield, has been fined $52,000 by the California Air Resources Board. Through an audit, CARB says its investigators found that Key failed to test its California fleet’s diesel engine emissions, as required by California law. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/templates/print.cfm?ID=18974 CLIMATE CHANGE California Offset Frustration Continues. Carbon market participants on Tuesday said revisions to key rules may not be enough to ensure that trading in secondary offset markets in California is liquid and stable. At issue is the question of who should be held responsible for replacing offset credits in the event that a project is found to be flawed. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/27/us-california-point-carbon-idUSTRE76Q4RS20110727 FUELS AP Sources: Feds To Seek Smaller Boost To Fuel Economy After Lawmakers, Automakers Push Back. Officials say the Obama administration is close to a deal with automakers to boost fuel economy. Officials familiar with talks between the White House and automakers say recent changes to make it easier for light trucks to become more fuel efficient have lowered the proposal to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Last month, the administration floated a 56.2 mile-per-gallon target. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_FUEL_ECONOMY?SITE=SCCOL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/white-house-seeks-smaller-boost-to-fuel-economy-after-michigan-lawmakers-automakers-push-back/2011/07/26/gIQADvwRbI_story.html http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/business/energy-environment/compromise-may-set-a-lower-fuel-economy-target-for-2025.html?scp=1&sq=vehicles&st=cse http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-fuel-economy-20110727,0,5230459,print.story http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/26/2478261/white-house-says-close-to-deal.html#storylink=misearch http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110727/OEM05/110729872/1179 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Charge Your Electric Car From Solar Power. Now you can power your electric car from the solar panels on your roof. SolarCity, one of the larger solar power installers in the West, is launching an electric car-charger installation service for homes and businesses. The company says it will give more consumers in the 11 states where it operates the chance to go "driving on sunshine." Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/07/charge-your-electric-car-from-solar-power/1 Electric Cars May Not Find Road To Minority Communities. Who will own the electric car? A new report on electric cars released by The Greenlining Institute -- “Electric Vehicles: Who’s Left Stranded?” -- says the cost of the vehicles, plus the potential inconvenience of charging them, could keep these cars out of minority communities that have some of the worst smog problems in the state. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?1=1&_c=zvn0iaja0g995t&xid=zvmsn3j1avxav7&done=.zvmtap2y5zej3i&_credir=1311788294&_c=zvn0iaja0g995t# Ecotrocity And Welcome Break To Offer Free EV Charging On Motorways. A new scheme devised by British green energy company Ecotricity could put an end to range anxiety for electric car owners by providing charge points at service stations along UK motorways. The national charging network, which is the first of its kind worldwide, will be free of charge to electric vehicle (EV) drivers and will consist of 27 charging points at Welcome Break service stations at its completion. Posted. http://www.greenwisebusiness.co.uk/news/ecotrocity-and-welcome-break-to-offer-free-ev-charging-on-motorways-2500.aspx GREEN ENERGY Gov. Brown Pushes 12-Gigawatt Clean-Power Goal. California should get that much electricity from local clean power sources — such as rooftop solar panels, small wind turbines and fuel cells — by 2020, he says, but is short on details about how. California wants 12 gigawatts of electricity from local clean power sources, such as rooftop solar panels, small wind turbines and fuel cells, by 2020…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-small-renewables-20110726,0,1414360,print.story Crazy Ideas For Next-Gen Wind Turbines. Is there any image that represents a renewable energy future better than a stately white wind turbine turning on a hillside? Well, don't get too used to it! Researchers are coming up with all sorts of crazy ideas to improve on the current turbine model, the Los Angeles Times’ Tiffany Hsu reports. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-07-26-crazy-ideas-for-next-gen-wind-turbines OPINIONS Ice Age Threat Should Freeze EPA Global Warming Regs. Rather than spiraling into a global warming meltdown, we may be heading into the next ice age. The U.S. National Solar Observatory, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and astrophysicists across the planet report that the nearly all-time low sunspot activity may result in a sustained cooling period on Earth. The news has sent global warming theory advocates scrambling to discount and explain away the impact on global temperatures. Posted. http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/2011/07/ice-age-threat-should-freeze-epa-global-warming-regs#ixzz1TKNnkFNU LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Standing Up For Clean-Air Laws. When I saw Steve Milloy's attack on the bedrock clean-air laws that protect Americans from pollution, I could only think of the many children admitted to hospitals for asthma attacks on days when smog levels are sky-high and children who miss many days of school because of breathing problems they can't keep up with their classmates ("Show us the bodies, EPA," Commentary, July 21). Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/26/standing-up-for-clean-air-laws/ A Decision for Clean Air. Federal mandates under the 1970 Clean Air Act have produced cleaner cars, fuels and factories, significantly improving the air Americans breathe. Yet the underlying standards setting limits on ground-level ozone, the main component of harmful smog, have remained unchanged since 1997 — even as science has made it abundantly clear that the standard is still not strong enough to protect public health. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/opinion/27wed3.html?scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Head To Head: Is Brown's Ambitious Renewable Energy Goal A Worthwhile Pursuit? THE ISSUE: "The future of energy is not Texas oil; it's California sun," Gov. Jerry Brown said, and he set a goal of producing one-third of current peak electricity use of 65,000 megawatts from renewable resources by 2020 – 12,000 megawatts from localized generation and 8,000 megawatts from large-scale projects. Is Brown's ambitious renewable energy goal a worthwhile pursuit? Pia Lopez: Eminently worthwhile. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/27/v-print/3796483/is-browns-ambitious-renewable.html Editorial: House Riders Threaten California's Air, Water. Under the guise of bolstering the economy, House Republicans today will attempt to push through dozens of policy riders that would undercut the nation's environmental laws. Anticipated measures would reduce the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ability to protect air and water resources, slash the Interior Department's Land and Water Conservation Fund and make it easier for mining companies to carry out "mountaintop removal" – in which entire tops of mountains are sheared off to get at the coal underneath. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/26/v-print/3793749/editorial-house-riders-threaten.html UC Merced Study: Climate Change Could 'Profoundly' Change Yellowstone Ecosystem. An increase in wildfires blamed on climate change could rapidly and profoundly alter the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, according to a study written by environmental engineering and geography professor Anthony Westerling of UC Merced. The study by Westerling and his colleagues… Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/25/3794186/uc-merced-study-climate-change.html#ixzz1TKL2IhY6 Editorial (Other Views): Time To Clear The Air. You hear a lot these days about how mindless government policy stifles innovation in the private sector. But in West Virginia's coal country, the opposite has happened. The lack of government rules has prompted a private company to stop work on a promising antipollution technology, which sets a dangerous precedent that utilities across the nation may follow. Posted. http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20110727/OPINION01/107270323/Editorial-other-views-Time-clear-air?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7COpinion%7Cs BLOGS A Battery That Squeezes More Miles Out of Gasoline. On Monday I wrote about odd new devices that would help big trucks meet new standards for heavy vehicles’ fuel economy that are expected to be issued any day now. Also expected imminently were new corporate average fuel economy (known as CAFE) standards for cars, pickups, minivans and S.U.V.’s. Rules announced last year already required that cars get an average of 35.5 miles per gallon starting in the 2016 model year. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/a-battery-that-squeezes-more-miles-out-of-gasoline/?ref=earth California And BC Feeling Carbon Offsets Headache. Concerns are rising in California about a climate change mechanism known as carbon offsets -- similar concerns, in fact, to those now being felt in B.C. California is moving to enact what is arguably one of the world's most comprehensive greenhouse gas reductions programs, known as A.B. 32. Posted. http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Environment/2011/07/26/carbon-offset-California-BC/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:20:29 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 28, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 28, 2011. 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 Climate Change Could Fuel Spread Of Wildfires. Wildfires around the foothill towns near Yosemite National Park will grow more severe and consume more land as the world grows warmer in coming decades, according to fire specialists studying the impact of climate change. As the burning trees and other debris send up smoke, the airborne particles will also pose an increasing health threat to the region's people, the scientists said. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/27/MNPO1KDK8D.DTL&type=printable Fresno Activist To Lead Air Quality Coalition. Kevin Hall, who began a push to reform the Valley air board more than a decade ago, will now lead the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition, group officials announced Wednesday. Hall, 52, of Fresno will take over Monday as executive director of the air advocacy coalition, which includes 70 community, medical, environmental and health groups. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/27/2479969/fresno-activist-to-lead-air-quality.html#storylink=misearch Oil Industry Pressures White House With New Smog Study. The cost of cleaning up smog across the country would outstrip any benefits for public health, the American Petroleum Institute says in a new report that is being taken to the White House to bolster the trade group's argument that President Obama should stop U.S. EPA from setting stricter limits on ground-level ozone. With a final decision now under review by the Office of Management and Budget, business groups are stepping up their attacks on the update to the ozone standard, which decides what counts as clean air from coast to coast. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/28/2 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Arctic Scientist Under Investigation. A federal wildlife biologist whose observation in 2004 of presumably drowned polar bears in the Arctic helped to galvanize the global warming movement has been placed on administrative leave and is being investigated for scientific misconduct, possibly over the veracity of that article. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_POLAR_BEAR_SCIENTIST?SITE=SCGRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/apnewsbreak-alaska-researcher-who-documented-polar-bears-demise-in-artic-is-placed-on-leave/2011/07/28/gIQALNfPeI_story.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18566114 http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/28/2480146/apnewsbreak-arctic-scientist-under.html#storylink=misearch U.S. and Europe Battle Over Carbon Fees for Airlines. Sharply divergent climate change policies on opposite sides of the Atlantic are setting off political fireworks as European environmental regulators prepare to extend their reach across the ocean. Starting Jan. 1, the European Union will require all carriers entering or leaving its airports to either reduce their emissions or pay a charge — whether the airline is United, Air France or Lufthansa. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/business/energy-environment/us-air-carriers-brace-for-emissions-fees-in-europe.html?scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Statewide Poll Finds Support For Climate Law Is Strong. A year of attacks on California's climate change law, first at the ballot box and then in the courtroom, has failed to curb public support for the policy, with 67 percent of those polled by a think tank saying they believe the effort is the right thing to do. The Public Policy Institute of California released a snapshot last night that asked 2,504 Californians whether they still support the Golden State's leadership on global warming. The answer appears to be a resounding "yes." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/28/7 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Fight Over 'Cap And Tax' Stumbles On In N.M. The battle over a proposed carbon cap in New Mexico is heating up, with environmentalists and utilities preparing for an August showdown. This month, the state's largest utilities and oil and gas interests filed petitions with the state environmental board to overturn the cap, which is set to take effect in 2013. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/28/8 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Waste Management Company Fined $534,000 By CARB. The California Air Resources Board has fined a waste management company more than $500,000 for multiple violations of the state’s diesel truck air quality rules. Rewards Leasing Inc., which also does business as Northbay Corp. in Santa Rosa, CA, will pay $534,000 for failing to install emission reduction retrofits on its diesel refuse trucks. The company also failed to inspect its fleet to ensure the trucks meet state smoke emission standards. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Jul11/072511/072711-06.shtml FUELS Automakers, Obama Administration Agree On Fuel Efficiency Standards Through 2025. The Obama administration and major auto manufacturers have reached a deal to raise fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks between 2017 and 2025, resolving a contentious negotiation over how to cut vehicles’ greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/obama-administration-auto-industry-strike-deal-on-vehicle-fuel-efficiency/2011/07/27/gIQA72mKdI_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/27/1792421/obama-to-announce-fuel-economy.html (Paid Subscription only) http://www.thirdage.com/news/emission-standard-agreement-reached-by-white-house-and-automakers_07-27-2011 To Boost Future Mileage, Carmakers Are Likely To Rely On Today's Advanced Technology. To hit a 54.5-mpg target, the key will be applying what's already known or on the drawing boards to almost every vehicle, not just a relative handful. In 2025, when the auto industry will be required to meet a 54.5-miles-per-gallon fuel economy target that the Obama administration plans to announce Friday, the vehicles Americans buy may not look very different from those on the road today. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fuel-efficiency-20110728,0,6246834,print.story Solar Power To Help Charge Electric Cars. ClipperCreek Inc., the Auburn-based producer of charging stations for plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, has partnered with a San Mateo company to distribute solar-powered chargers compatible with all new electric vehicles. SolarCity said it will install ClipperCreek chargers through its 24 operations centers nationwide. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/28/1793318/solar-power-to-help-charge-electric.html (Paid Subscription Only) http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/07/solar-ev-chargers-make-zero-emissions-reality/ Global Lithium Deposits Enough To Meet Electric Car Demands – Report. The world has enough lithium resources to power electric vehicles for the rest of the century, according to a newly published report. The study appears in the Journal of Industrial Ecology and is the product of a collaboration between the University of Michigan and Ford Motor Co. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/28/12 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Poll: Californians Favor More Alternative Energy. Eight in 10 Californians favor tougher fuel efficiency standards for cars, federal funding for solar and wind power and curbs on heat-trapping emissions from factories and power plants, a new public opinion poll has found. And even with the anemic economy, most state residents say policymakers must act now to head off the more damaging impacts of climate change. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/28/BAUV1KFU03.DTL&type=printable Poll: Support for Off-Shore Drilling Up, Nuclear Down. According to the P-P-I-C poll, support for new nuclear power plants in California has dropped in the wake of the Japanese nuclear crisis. Sixty-five percent of adults oppose building new plants, while 30 percent are in favor. That's a 14-point drop in support since last July. The question of off-shore oil drilling has Californians more evenly split: 46 percent favor and 49 percent oppose. Support for drilling is up 12 points from a year ago. Posted. http://www.capradio.org/articles/2011/07/28/poll-support-for-off-shore-drilling-up,-nuclear-down OPINIONS EDITORIAL: Jacking Up Your Electric Bill. America faces a European-style debt crisis, but you wouldn’t know it from observing what’s happening on Capitol Hill. At a Senate committee’s request, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Tuesday issued an analysis of proposed renewable (RES) and clean-energy standards (CES). The federal government has grown so large that it’s actually studying how to spend money to make electricity more expensive. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/27/jacking-up-your-electric-bill/ Big Business Ought To Contribute, Too. I hope the American people help their members of Congress identify the entitlements that have eroded the middle class and pushed the poor further into poverty. Why should oil companies that are awash in profits enjoy so many tax loopholes? Why are we subsidizing ethanol, which hurts rather than helps the environment? Why should 60 percent of corporations be allowed to avoid taxes while shipping more jobs overseas and cutting at home? Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/26/1791609/big-business-ought-to-contribute.html (Paid Subscription Only) The Fall and Rise of the Carbon Coalition. Since the Kyoto Protocol was developed in 1997, an unlikely new global partnership of bankers and environmentalists has emerged. I call it the Carbon Coalition, and while it seems like a very 21st century development, I actually trace its emergence back to the arrival of Reaganism in the 1980s. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-debord/the-fall-and-rise-of-the-carbon-coalition_b_910442.html BLOGS Cataclysms, Climate Change and California Opinion. One of the pleasures of following the annual surveys of the state’s environmental attitudes by the Public Policy Institute of California is witnessing how one-time cataclysms (financial crises, tsunamis, oil spills and the like) throw the neat progression of opinion change out of whack for a year or so. And then, like a rubber band springing back into shape, the attitudes largely revert to their old patterns; the cataclysm seems to have little lasting influence. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/cataclysms-climate-change-and-california-opinion/ Californians Support For Nuclear Energy Melts Down. Californians are closely synched to Gov. Jerry Brown's views on nuclear power, global warming and other environmental issues, a new Public Policy Institute of California poll has found, but they aren't very approving of how he has handled those issues. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/07/californians-support-for-nucle.html#ixzz1TQ3S2Xcd Support for Climate Policy High in California. Three-quarters of Californians believe climate change is a serious threat to the state’s economy. And a majority thinks we need to act now to reduce emissions, rather than wait until the economy improves. These are among the findings of a new survey by the Public Policy Institute of California. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/07/27/support-for-climate-policy-high-in-california/ USDA Says Biodiesel Offers Fossil Energy Ratio Of 5.54 To 1. Researchers from the University of Idaho and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have analyzed the energy life cycle of soybean-based biodiesel and presented updated data showing the renewable fuel offers a fossil energy ratio of 5.54 to 1. This isn't a typo. The 5.54:1 ratio comes mostly from the "free" power of the sun that helps the crops grow. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/28/usda-says-biodiesel-offers-fossil-energy-ratio-of-5-54-to-1/ Plug-In 2011: Coulomb Working With Tomtom To Let EV Drivers Find Charging Stations. At the Plug-In 2011 Conference in Raleigh, NC, last week, Coulomb Technologies announced it will partner with TomTom to provide tools to help EV drivers locate charging stations. Some manufacturers have built brand-specific charging point location into the navigation systems included on their vehicles and the Coulomb solution will spot stations that are part of their own ChargePoint Network. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/plug-in-2011-coulomb-tomtom-ev-charging/ Report: General Motors Looking To Launch 2nd-Gen EN-V By 2020. General Motors is reportedly working on the second-generation EN-V electric and aims to offer a mass-produced version by 2020, according to Autocar. Modifications to be made to the second-gen EN-V include enlargement of the vehicle's pod-like exterior structure and more interior space. Additionally, Autocar says a four-wheeled EN-V is in the works. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/report-general-motors-looking-to-launch-2nd-gen-en-v-by-2020/ Study Shows Zipcar Having a Sustainable Impact in Baltimore. Last week, Zipcar, Inc, along with the City of Baltimore and the Parking Authority of Baltimore City celebrated the one-year anniversary of Zipcar’s operations in the city with the release of survey results documenting the program’s impact. Zipcar’s expansion to Baltimore was part of a plan to reduce parking demand, congestion, and emissions, while offering citizens affordable personal transportation. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:12:32 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- News Clips for July 29, 2011 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for July 29, 2011. 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. FUELS Obama Unveils Sharp Increase In Auto Fuel Economy. * Auto makers' fleets must average 54.5 mpg by 2025 * "Most important step" to reduce foreign oil use-Obama * Deal will lower U.S. fuel consumption by 2.2 million bpd (Recasts, adds details, background). Washington - President Barack Obama on Friday formally unveiled standards that would dramatically increase U.S. fuel economy standards for cars and trucks by 2025. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/29/usa-autos-standards-idUSN1E76S0XO20110729 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904800304576476120004971678.html BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-29/automakers-agree-to-54-5-mpg-u-s-fuel-economy-rule-obama-says.html http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-07-29/obama-fuel-efficiency-goals-put-automakers-ahead-of-pace-cars.html http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-fuel-economy-20110729,0,4417438.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/07/28/bloomberg1376-LP2KUQ0D9L3501-1TOBAGCUIMLBQ1JAFE3DLT7BGT.DTL http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/07/28/bloomberg1376-LP3OK86K50YS01-2REQ7ANDA74ILN77BB5E5EK0GE.DTL&type=printable http://www.insidebayarea.com/california/ci_18575913http://www.examiner.com/cars-in-los-angeles/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead-exclusive-interview-part-2 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18575912?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/29/1794938/president-to-announce-deal-to.html (paid subscription only) http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=9222B3DE-3CF1-4FC4-96FE-E245FABBDC11 http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43943209/ns/business-autos/ http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/29/president-to-announce-deal-to-boost-fuel-economy/ http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110729/OEM05/110729826/1186 http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/29/2025-cafe-target-set-at-54-5-mpg-everyones-apparently-happy-wi/ Environmentalists Cheer Obama's Fuel Economy Hike. President Obama's plan to double fuel efficiency standards for cars and light-duty trucks by 2025 received applause from environmentalists who had pressed for such action. President Barack Obama announces a new fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks Friday, July 29, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/07/obamas-fuel-economy-standard-cheered/1 Cellulosic Biofuel Has A Future, Say Industry Leaders. Bioenergy executives remain positive about cellulosic biofuel's potential to fill the country's energy demands more sustainably, despite a grim outlook. Last month, U.S. EPA released sobering preliminary targets for cellulosic biofuel output -- between 3.45 million and 12.9 million gallons by 2012, a minuscule fraction of what the agency set to achieve in 2007. A final target will be released in November, confirmed an EPA official. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/07/29/6 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY AIR POLLUTION EPA Targets Air Pollution From Gas Drilling Boom. Faced with a natural gas drilling boom that has sullied the air in some parts of the country, the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed for the first time to control air pollution at oil and gas wells, particularly those drilled using a method called hydraulic fracturing. The proposal, issued to meet a court deadline, addresses air pollution problems reported in places such as Wyoming, Texas, Pennsylvania and Colorado, where new drilling techniques have led to a rush to obtain natural gas that was once considered inaccessible. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jul/28/epa-targets-air-pollution-from-gas-drilling-boom/ http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/28/epa-targets-air-pollution-from-gas-drilling-boom/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_bc994372-8737-5afa-b026-9da0f052c656.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18568957?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com CLIMATE CHANGE Justice Groups Sue To Halt Implementation Of Calif. Cap And Trade. The environmental justice advocates who successfully sued to force California to reconsider its choice of cap and trade for greenhouse gases are now trying to stop ongoing rulemaking in the meantime. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) should not be allowed to continue forming its market-based policy while still in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act, which requires state agencies to analyze the environmental effects of proposed policies, the groups argued yesterday in a filing with the California Supreme Court. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/07/29/6 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS DOJ: Caterpillar To Pay $2.55M To Resolve Clean Air Act Violations. Washington (Dow Jones)--Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) agreed to pay $2.55 million to settle civil charges it violated U.S. environmental regulations by shipping engines that lacked proper emissions controls, the government said Thursday. Caterpillar allegedly shipped to assembly plants 590,000 misconfigured highway and non-road engines, some of which made it into vehicles, causing particles and excess emissions to be released into the air, the Justice Department said in a press release. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110728-721855.html BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/07/29/business-industrials-us-caterpillar-clean-air-settlement-illinois_8591492.html http://www.trucktrend.com/features/news/2011/163_news110729_caterpillar_to_pay_epa_due_to_clean_air_act_violations/index.html VEHICLES Latest Out of Tailpipes: Electricity With Exhaust. EVEN the most efficient of modern cars has a wasteful streak: only about a quarter of the energy contained in the fuel the engine burns is converted to motion. Much of the lost energy flows out of the tailpipe in the form of hot exhaust gases, researchers at General Motors say. As proposals for E.P.A. fuel economy standards of more than 50 miles per gallon are floated in Washington, it is little wonder that automakers are ratcheting up the search for simple and cost-effective ways to squeeze every last bit of energy from available petroleum fuels. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/automobiles/latest-out-of-tailpipes-electricity-with-exhaust.html?pagewanted=print The Prius V: A Hybrid That Hauls More Stuff. TESTED 2012 Prius V (though Toyota, which seems to have a shortage of capital letters, prefers “v”). WHAT IS IT? A stretched Prius with 58 percent more cargo capacity than the standard version. HOW MUCH? Prices won’t be released until closer to the car’s showroom debut this fall. WHAT MAKES IT RUN? A slightly tweaked version of the Prius’s hybrid drivetrain, built around a 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine, with a 60-kilowatt motor generator and a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/automobiles/autoreviews/the-toyota-prius-v-a-hybrid-that-hauls-more-stuff.html?pagewanted=print Report Casts Doubt On Forecasts For California High Speed Rail. In a review of California's high speed rail project, a panel of experts determines that ridership and revenue projections need to be more conservative. Fresh questions about the ridership and revenue projections that underpin the state's $43-billion bullet train project have been raised in a new internal report by the agency charged with building the system. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-high-speed-ridership-20110729,0,7913807,print.story GREEN ENERGY Nobel Prize Winner Pursues Clean-Tech Leadership With Thinning. There's something about Energy Secretary Steven Chu's laugh, something that may hint at what -- he hopes -- a scientist can achieve in the age of deficits. It is a kind of self-effacing chuckle that doesn't condescend, though his credentials would back that. Nor is it wistful, even though the new Congress has assaulted his energy agenda and the climate science behind it. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/07/29/29climatewire-nobel-prize-winner-pursues-clean-tech-leader-17208.html?pagewanted=print MOJAVE DESERT: Proposed Wind Farm Triggers Opposition. Residents near Joshua Tree National Park celebrated last year's demise of a controversial electrical transmission project that they said would have marred the scenic vistas and sensitive plant and animal species of their desert outpost. Now homeowners in the Mojave Desert community of Pipes Canyon, northwest of Yucca Valley, are gearing up for a showdown, this time over a proposed wind farm on top of ancient volcanic mesas. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_buttes29.3a4e9f0.html MISCELLANEOUS ENERGY: Regulators Approve Privacy Protections For Smart Meter Data. The California Public Utilities Commission approved rules Tuesday forbidding investor-owned utilities like San Diego Gas & Electric Co. and Southern California Edison from giving out customer data from smart meters without customer consent. Utilities have been replacing old-school rotary electric meters with computerized devices since 2008. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_4bca5b81-473d-5f09-8182-37538d2dd5dd.html Huntsman: 'Conservation Is Conservative.' Touting a record that could complicate his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman challenged his party Thursday to protect the environment and acknowledge climate change as a real threat. Huntsman, who is trailing in the polls but is working to build a campaign that could deny front-runner Mitt Romney the nod, criticized those who question the science behind climate change and loathe government's role in fighting it. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18571134?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18571134?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com OPINONS California Should Advance Solar Power. Gov. Jerry Brown has a well-earned reputation for promoting environmentalism. It was under his administration in the 1970s that California took the lead in reducing auto emissions and greatly improved energy efficiency. That is a major reason why Californians today use substantially less energy per capita than the national average. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/opinion/ci_18568715 Inquirer Editorial: Gas-Guzzlers Targeted. President Obama on Friday was expected to announce the first significant boost in fuel-economy standards in 30 years. That will be good news for consumers, the nation's air quality, and for a rebounding auto industry that stands as a symbol of hope to out-of-work Americans. By 2025, most motorists can expect to get nearly twice as many miles out of a gallon of gas than today's average, under standards the Obama administration has negotiated with major automakers. Posted. http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/126370713.html Important Lessons To Learn From The CAFE Standard Compromise. Today President Obama will announce a third historic agreement to bring us cleaner cars and trucks, dramatically cutting carbon pollution and raising fuel economy for new cars, SUVs, minivans, and pick-ups built between 2017 and 2025. The latest Clean Car Peace Treaty builds on a 2009 agreement for 2012-16 vehicles, and a 2010 pact to clean up heavy-duty trucks and buses. Posted. http://theenergycollective.com/daviddoniger/62079/what-latest-clean-car-peace-treaty-shows-about-governing-todays-america BLOGS High Test: 54.5 MPG Cars Promise to Arrive by 2025. U.S. fuel economy standards would double by 2025 under a deal the White House announced this week with auto makers and environmentalists. If upheld, the plan would lead to the biggest gains in fuel economy since government began setting mileage regulations in the 1970s and could lead to substantial changes to the cars and trucks most Americans drive. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/07/29/high-test-54-5-mpg-cars-promise-to-arrive-by-2025/ Will The New Fuel Economy Rules Actually Work? This morning, Barack Obama is scheduled to unveil one of the biggest policy accomplishments of his term—though it certainly won’t seem that way. After the president gives his televised remarks on the debt ceiling crisis, the White House is expected to announce—at a much sleepier Washington Convention Center venue—that it has finally struck a deal with the auto industry on extending new fuel-economy standards out to 2025. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/will-the-new-fuel-economy-rules-actually-work/2011/07/28/gIQArYkBhI_blog.html Are CAFE regs the ultimate expression of bureaucratic elitism? President Obama will announce dramatically higher Corporate Average Fuel Economic (CAFE) standards for cars and trucks today. The new fleet average requirement is expected to be 54.5 mpg, which will require massive downsizing of automakers' products and huge price increases, all for barely measurable gains in clean air. Posted. http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/07/are-cafe-regs-ultimate-expression-bureaucratic-elitist-thinking Washington's Bad Week Ends With A Bright Spot: Higher MPG. With President Obama announcing new fuel efficiency standards for the auto industry Friday, you could be forgiven for thinking that as we drive off the economic cliff, at least we're getting good gas mileage. But it occurs to me that today's fuel economy announcement is just about the only thing happening in Washington this week (that we know of) that will make a positive difference for the country's future. Posted. http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2011/07/29/138817737/washingtons-bad-week-ends-with-one-bright-spot-higher-mpg US Driving Fuel Efficiency Standards Higher. Cars and trucks sold in the United States will be required to use half as much fuel as they do now under a new agreement being rolled out by the White House. President Barack Obama and leaders of the world’s largest automakers announced new, higher fuel efficiency standards Friday. The agreement calls for the average vehicle to get 23.2 kilometers per liter by 2025, twice as much as the current requirements. Posted. http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/07/29/us-driving-fuel-efficiency-standards-higher/ What the Latest Clean Car Peace Treaty Shows About Governing Today's America. Today President Obama will announce a third historic agreement to bring us cleaner cars and trucks, dramatically cutting carbon pollution and raising fuel economy for new cars, SUVs, minivans, and pick-ups built between 2017 and 2025. The latest Clean Car Peace Treaty builds on a 2009 agreement for 2012-16 vehicles, and a 2010 pact to clean up heavy-duty trucks and buses. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ddoniger/what_the_latest_clean_car_peac.html Pedaling Your Way to Environmental Nirvana. Another lunchtime spin class had recently been added by popular demand. But since it was new on the schedule, the session at the New York Sports Club at 23rd Street and Eighth Avenue in Manhattan wasn’t crowded when I arrived on a recent Wednesday. Just over a year ago, the club fitted a full line of Star Trac Spinner NXT cycles at this Chelsea location with generators designed to convert human energy into electricity. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/pedaling-your-way-to-environmental-nirvana/?ref=earth California Acts To Limit Pollutant Targeted By Erin Brockovich. The California Environmental Protection Agency has issued the nation’s first public health goal for hexavalent chromium, the cancer-causing heavy metal made infamous after activist Erin Brockovich sued in 1993 to prove it had contaminated groundwater in the Southern California town of Hinkley.At that time, the average hexavalent chromium levels in Hinkley's water was 1.19 parts per billion (ppb). Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/07/new-state-goal-set-for-hex-chrome-aka-the-erin-brokovich-chemical.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Who Cares About The Climate? Fossil Fuels Are Killing Us Now. Half of all toxic air pollution in the United States comes from electricity generation. (Compare that to just 15 percent from toxic chemicals.) Electricity also accounts for 75 percent of all air-borne emissions of mercury, one of the most damaging chemicals to humans there is. By some estimates, the Clean Air Act — which reins in fossil fuel pollution, but doesn't eliminate it — saves $1.9 trillion a year in health care costs. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=94162 Climate Change & the Future – When You Know Trouble is Coming. Most of us greet news of a looming threat with skepticism. “Show me” is the usual reaction. We are like the mayor of the fictitious Amity Island in Jaws, who refuses to shut down the town’s beaches because officially acknowledging shark attacks would hurt tourism. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/07/climate-change-future-when-trouble-coming/ Chevrolet Dealerships Get Charged Up With Green Zones. Select Chevrolet dealership across the nation will harness the power of the sun to charge Chevy Volts and supplement the site's grid electricity. Called the Green Zone, this initiative aims to provide Chevrolet dealers with "added flexibility when it comes to charging their vehicles, while also reinforcing GM's commitment to renewable energy projects," says Chris Perry, vice-president of global Chevrolet marketing and strategy. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/29/chevrolet-dealerships-get-charged-up-with-green-zones/ Ford: Odds Of Encountering Issue With Our Hybrid Battery Cells Are 8.5 Million To 1. With Ford nearly ready to launch a handful of electrified vehicles in the U.S., the automaker is looking to build street credibility for its existing hybrid models. That's why, at a recent media event, Ford compared the performance durability of its hybrid vehicles to segment leader Toyota. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/29/ford-odds-of-encountering-issue-with-our-hybrid-battery-cells-a/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 14:10:22 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 1, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 1, 2011. 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 Coal, Power Plants Blamed For Almost Half Of Industrial Air Pollution. The most toxic air pollution from coal- and oil-fired power plants can be found in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida, according to a new study released by the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council and Physicians for Social Responsibility. The study, "Toxic Power: How Power Plants Contaminate Our Air and States," used public data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory, a national database of toxic emissions reported by industrial sources. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/fdcp?unique=1312223211915 EPA Targets Air Pollution From Gas Drilling Boom. Washington—Faced with a natural gas drilling boom that has sullied the air in some parts of the country, the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed for the first time to control air pollution at oil and gas wells, particularly those drilled using a method called hydraulic fracturing. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_18568957 CLIMATE CHANGE NJ Figures In Dispute Over Cap-And-Trade Success. New Jersey's expected pullout from a 10-state pact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is among the latest developments in a nationwide dispute over whether cap-and-trade programs work and what limitations states should place on energy producers to curb the heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CAP_AND_TRADE?SITE=ILMOL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-government/nj-figures-in-dispute-nationwide-over-cap-and-trade-to-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions/2011/07/30/gIQAFhDWjI_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/30/2483019/nj-figures-in-dispute-over-cap.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/30/nj-figures-in-dispute-over-cap-and-trade-success/ How Business Thrives in a 'Carbon Nation' I met Peter Byck in 2008, when he was making his documentary “Carbon Nation,” which focuses on climate-change solutions happening today from people of all occupations and political stripes -- some of whom don't even believe in climate change. (I have a cameo role in the film.) It’s an upbeat, business-focused film that aims to be non-preachy and non-partisan about how the U.S. can achieve national and energy security while promoting health and a clean environment. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/01/idUS36044842620110801 Obstacles to Capturing Carbon Gas. Can the world use fossil fuels and protect the climate too? That is the goal of carbon capture and sequestration, which is a process for trapping carbon dioxide before it reaches the atmosphere and then pumping it underground, or under the seabed. The process is already used by oil and natural gas companies like BP and Statoil at sites like In Salah, Algeria. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/business/global/obstacles-to-capturing-carbon-gas.html?scp=6&sq=fuels&st=cse Skeptic's Small Cloud Study Renews Climate Rancor. A study on how much heat in Earth's atmosphere is caused by cloud cover has heated up the climate change blogosphere even as it is dismissed by many scientists. Several mainstream climate scientists call the study's conclusions off-base and overstated. Climate change skeptics, most of whom are not scientists, are touting the study, saying it blasts gaping holes in global warming theory and shows that future warming will be less than feared. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_18577860 Climate Scientists Blow Gaping Hole In ‘NASA Data’ Paper. The climate denier blogosphere is going mad over a new paper that supposedly "should dramatically alter the global warming debate" by showing that "far less heat is being trapped than alarmist computer models have predicted." Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-skeptics/2011-07-29-climate-scientists-blow-gaping-hole-in-nasa-data-paper-by-ideolo FUELS New Mileage Standards Aim For Less Fuel, Pollution. President Barack Obama and automakers ushered in what could be the largest cut in fuel consumption since the 1970s on Friday with a deal that would save drivers money at the pump and dramatically cut heat-trapping gases coming from tailpipes. The agreement pledges to double overall fuel economy to 54.5 mpg by 2025, bringing even greater under-the-hood changes to the nation's autos starting in model year 2017 and introduce more electric and hybrid technology to pickup trucks. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_FUEL_ECONOMY?SITE=VAWAY&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/07/29/2482210/new-mileage-standards-aim-for.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/29/president-to-announce-deal-to-boost-fuel-economy/ http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110729/A_NEWS/110729870&cid=sitesearch Obama Fuel-Use Goal Puts Automakers Ahead of Pace: Cars. When President Barack Obama proposed new fuel-economy standards today, he set a pace that's more aggressive than the industry has managed in the past four years -- or for any sustained period in the last 100. With the introduction of cars such Nissan Motor Co.'s electric Leaf and the proliferation of Toyota Motor Corp.'s hybrid Prius, fuel efficiency has gained almost 2 percent a year on average since 2007, according to U.S. data. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/07/31/bloomberg1376-LP2KUQ0D9L3501-7O6NGEG4NO0E8255FRAH978O83.DTL&type=printable Obama, Auto Industry Agree On Tough Mileage Improvement. Aligning themselves with California in its fight against global warming, the Obama administration and automakers on Friday announced an agreement to dramatically increase mileage standards and cut greenhouse gas emissions from new cars by about half in the next 15 years. The average new car in 2025 would get overall gas mileage of 54.5 miles per gallon in 2025, compared with nearly 30 mpg today. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18578961 VEHICLES Fuel Cells Not Practical Until 2020 Or Later -- GM CEO. General Motors Co. Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson again pushed back his company's timeline for bringing vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells to the market yesterday. In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Akerson said GM is continuing to study the technology, which it has been testing for more than a decade, but he does not think it will become practical until 2020 at the earliest. "We're looking at hydrogen fuel cells, which have no carbon emissions, zero. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/01/9 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION GREEN ENERGY Germany Sees Thousands of Miles of New Power Lines on Its Road to Renewable Energy. A "no-nuclear" Germany would have to build more than 2,800 miles of new high-voltage transmission lines to achieve its new goal of doubling its current renewable power capacity to reach 35 percent by 2020. And it would have to keep building from there, according to analyses of its new national energy plan adopted in July. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/08/01/01climatewire-germany-sees-thousands-of-miles-of-new-power-43095.html?pagewanted=print Museum Shows History and Power of Wind Energy. A century ago, Texas was covered with windmills, which pumped water from aquifers so cattle could drink and gardens could grow. Thousands of these old-style models still exist in remote pastures, but in recent years far taller and more powerful turbines have sprouted atop western mesas, transforming this oil and gas state into the national leader in wind-generated electrical power. This evolution is on display at the American Wind Power Center in Lubbock, which bills itself as the world’s largest windmill museum. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/us/31ttwindmill.html NASA Going Green With Solar-Powered Jupiter Probe. Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- NASA's upcoming mission to Jupiter can't get much greener than this: a solar-powered, windmill-shaped spacecraft. The robotic explorer Juno is set to become the most distant probe ever powered by the sun. Juno is equipped with three tractor-trailer-size solar panels for its 2 billion-mile journey into the outer solar system. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_18594251 Coming Together To Pray, And Find Reduced-Rate Energy Deals. Like manna from heaven, thousands of dollars in new revenue is raining on a group of congregations here from the unlikeliest of sources: the utility bill. The windfall arose after 11 churches and a nonprofit youth group got together to solicit reduced-rate bids for electricity -- most of it from renewable energy sources -- from local suppliers. In the first year of its contract, which ends in May, the group expects combined savings of nearly $100,000. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18586933 California Still Green. The state that started it all -- California – is still at it. The Golden State, which started the modern renewable energy era and now has the most aggressive program in the country, is still at it. The state that started it all -- California – is still at it. The Golden State, which started the modern renewable energy era and now has the most aggressive program in the country, is still at it. A new survey by the Public Policy Institute of California [3] (PPIC) was just released. Posted. http://www.renewablesbiz.com/print/230153 MISCELLANEOUS Garden Project Sets New Green-Energy Standards. Developers say the Gardens by the Bay project in Singapore, estimated to cost 1 billion Singaporean dollars, or $810 million, will set new standards for using sustainable energy in an integrated power system. A showpiece of Singapore's Garden by the Bay will be 18 manmade trees whose steel trunks will be vertical gardens planted with indigenous ferns, orchids and other climbers. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/29/business/global/garden-project-sets-new-green-energy-standards.html?scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=cse EPA To Consider New Tests On Bisphenol A. The Environmental Protection Agency announced July 26 that it is seeking public comment on possible toxicity testing and environmental sampling for bisphenol A. Also called BPA, the chemical is used as a plastics hardener. Many products that are clear and also plastic often have BPA. They include eyeglasses, toys, cases and more. The chemical is also used as a protective food can lining. It's used in epoxy paints and coatings. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/01/v-print/3808257/epa-to-consider-new-tests-on-bisphenol.html OPINIONS Commentary: California's Fuel Economy Triumph Deserves Praise. In a stunning turnaround, most of the American and foreign auto industry has agreed to strict nationwide fuel standards that will double gasoline mileage by 2025. On Friday, President Barack Obama, the state of California and major automakers – with the notable exceptions of Volkswagen and Daimler, which makes Mercedes – announced the accord covering models starting in 2017 and extending through 2025. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/01/v-print/3808806/commentary-californias-fuel-economy.html http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/31/v-print/3804654/california-deserves-credit-for.html Mercury News Editorial: Thank California For New U.S. Fuel Standards. When President Barack Obama announced an agreement to double fuel-economy requirements Friday, standing with him were industry executives and environmental, public health and labor leaders, all of whom, remarkably, had signed off on the deal. But the real credit for this historic achievement, which is expected to cut oil consumption by 1.5 million barrels per day and eliminate half of all carbon pollution nationwide, doesn't go to the White House. Instead, thank California. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_18579788 http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_18579507 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18579505?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Mercury News Editorial: Delta Is Highly Vulnerable To Climate Change. Palo Alto Sen. Joe Simitian calls the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta "California's Katrina waiting to happen." Climatologist Heidi Cullen, in a National Public Radio interview last week, identified the Delta as one of the five regions in the nation most vulnerable to climate change. She said with conviction that "California's water supply is ... at tremendous risk." Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/fdcp?unique=1312224577162 Small Country That Became A Big Leader. For the last 200 years, the United States has been considered the engine of the world’s progress. While traveling the world I’ve noticed that each continent has its own character – Europe is history and culture, Africa is nature and wildlife, and North America is technology and progress. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/08/01/small-country-that-became-a-big-leader/ Sizing Up Obama's Fuel Economy Standards. Do President Obama's vehicle fuel-economy standards strike the right balance? Last week, the White House announced a deal with the nation's automakers to ramp up the standards 65 percent by 2025, from the current 35.5 miles per gallon to 54.5 mpg. Posted. http://energy.nationaljournal.com/2011/08/sizing-up-obamas-fuel-economy.php?rss=1 BLOGS Jerry Brown Declares Detroit ‘Finally’ On Board On Air Standards. Gov. Jerry Brown declared Friday that "the auto companies have finally come on board" in support of tough air pollution standards California has long pushed. Brown made his comments in a conference call to reporters, where he praised the Obama administration's announcement that auto makers had agreed to double the fuel economy standards of vehicles sold in the United States to a fleet-wide average of 54.5 miles per gallon by the year 2025. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2011/07/jerry-brown-declares-detroit-has-finally-come-on-board.html Gas Must Hit $4.50 To Make Electric Cars Cost-Effective. Harvard University’s Belfer Center has released a study arguing that Americans will eventually buy electric cars, but for now the green vehicles remain more expensive than conventional gas-powered automobiles, even when gasoline is taken into account. Due to the high cost of electric car batteries, the study authors, Henry Lee and Grant Lovellette, allowed that electric vehicles currently cost between $4819-$5377 more than conventional vehicles over the life of the car. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/07/gas-must-hit-450-make-electric-cars-cost-effective#ixzz1TlvPqt7I California's Air Board Bows To The US Navy. California is posturing over the use of low sulfur in main and auxiliary engines. Industry technocrats say that the Air Resources Board has bowed to pressure from the Navy to "get commercial ships the heck out of the Point Mugu missile range" and so has extended the boundary of the enforced use of low sulfur to 24 nautical miles BEYOND the Channel Islands (Santa Catalina and the rest of the eight islands). The aim is to get ships back into the Santa Barbara Channel. Posted. http://www.maritimeprofessional.com/Blogs/Martin-Rushmere/July-2011/California-s-air-board-bows-to-the-US-Navy.aspx President Obama Announces 54.5 Mpge, 163 Gco2/Mile Target For MY2025 Light-Duty Vehicles; California On Board. President Barack Obama announced an agreement with 13 major automakers to pursue the next phase in the Administration’s national vehicle program (earlier post), increasing fuel economy to a fleetwide average 54.5 mpge (miles per gallon equivalent) (4.32 L/100km) or 163 g/mile of CO2for cars and light-duty trucks by Model Year 2025. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/07/obama-20110729.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 15:06:07 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- News Clips for August 2, 2011 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 2, 2011. 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 Obama’s Record On The Environment. Al Gore recently criticized Barack Obama — among many others — for the federal government’s record on climate change. In the pages of Rolling Stone, Gore commends some of Obama’s early moves, such as making the case that environmental security is inseparable from national security, but he concludes that the president has “failed to use the bully pulpit to make the case for bold action on climate change.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/obamas-record-on-the-environment/2011/07/21/gIQA3d9BoI_story.html VEHICLES GM Sales Rise 8% On Crossover, Small Car Demand. General Motors posted an 8 percent rise in July sales, helped by demand for crossovers as well as small, fuel-efficient vehicles. GM said today its passenger car sales rose 8 percent last month, and crossover demand jumped 20 percent. Combined retail sales of the GMC Terrain and Chevrolet Equinox crossovers rose 73 percent. Chevrolet sold more than 24,000 Cruze models last month – the fourth consecutive month that sales of the compact have topped 20,000 units. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110802/RETAIL01/110809965/1448 Clean Vehicle Buying Gets $40 Million Bump. Californians in the market for zero-emissions or electric vehicles are eligible for rebates of up to $2,500 toward their purchase, thanks to S40 million in funding recently approved by the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Resources Board. The funding, announced last month, is estimated to put thousands of ultra-clean vehicles on the road, according to the Air Resources Board. The money will be divided three ways: Posted. http://www.earthtechling.com/2011/08/clean-vehicle-buying-gets-40-million-bump/print/ GREEN ENERGY Adding Biomass To Coal Much Less Expensive Than Carbon Capture – Study. Faced with increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions, coal-burning power plants may be better off adding biomass to the energy mix rather than waiting for expensive carbon capture and storage technology, a study suggests. Shrinking greenhouse gas emissions with biomass from forestry waste, logging residues or commercially produced wood pellets costs a fraction of what carbon capture and storage technology abatement would, states a report from the RAND Corp. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/02/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION MISCELLANEOUS Solar Firm Buys Offices In Walnut Creek, Hopes To Create Green Campus. A company that makes systems to mount solar panels on rooftops has bought two buildings in Walnut Creek that it hopes to transform into a green energy complex, the firm said Monday. As part of the deal, Quick Mount PV will move from its current home in Concord to the Shadelands Business Park, where it purchased the two buildings, which total 134,000 square feet, for $7.5 millionPosted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18595930 BLOGS Adding a Volt of Energy to the Patrol. The newest addition to the New York Police Department’s fleet of patrol vehicles is not built for high-speed chases, but for the stop and go of city traffic. On Monday the Police Department deployed 10 Chevrolet Volts – a mostly electric vehicle — as part of a pilot program. A spokeswoman for the Police Department, Barbara Chen, said that the department intended to add a total of 25 electric cars to the department’s fleet in the future. Posted. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/adding-a-volt-of-energy-to-the-patrol/?scp=5&sq=vehicles&st=cse Why Climate Scientists Are So Perturbed. Climate scientists have long called for steps to limit the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and they are growing more and more worried about the slow pace of action. Yet their sense of urgency has not permeated society at large, and it certainly does not seem to be influencing the course of events in Washington, where climate legislation stalled last year. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/why-climate-scientists-are-so-perturbed/?ref=earth Ricardo And Qinetiq To Evaluate Novel Diesel Fuel Reforming System Using Microwaves And Waste Heat. Ricardo will lead a feasibility study project—HeatWave—in which it will work with QinetiQ to evaluate a novel diesel fuel reformation concept that uses microwaves and waste heat from a heavy vehicle’s exhaust to reform the incoming fuel, increasing its calorific value and hence reducing net carbon dioxide emissionsPosted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/heatwave-20110802.html Where Are The Jobs? Increasingly, They’re In Sustainability. Unemployment is still hovering around 9%, an unencouraging picture for politicians looking to get reelected in 2012. For President Obama, the good news is in the green movement. Sustainability related job postings continue to surge forward, even as the rest of the economy stagnates. Even the Wall Street Journal, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News right wing media empire, has jumped on the green job bandwagon, saying “positions tied to sustainability and renewable energy” represented a potential “bright spot.” Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/08/jobs-increasingly-theyre-sustainability/ Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Race Under Way. US Pharmacy chain Walgreens has announced plans to offer electric vehicle charging stations at about 800 locations across the country by the end of the year. This will take it to the status of the nation’s largest charging station retail host. Major markets expected to host these sites include Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Select locations in Florida, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington state will also receive charging stations, Walgreens says. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/electric-vehicle-infrastructure-race-under-way/ $210 Billion Invested in Renewables Last Year- China in the Lead- Bloomberg New Energy Report. Last year, investors pumped a record $211 billion into renewables -- about one-third more than the $160 billion invested in 2009, and a 540% rise since 2004. And for the first time, developing economies overtook developed ones in terms of "financial new investment"-spending on utility-scale renewable energy projects and provision of equity capital for renewable energy companies. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/210-billion-invested-renewables-last-year-china-le/ Study: Electric Vehicles Are Way Too Dirty In China. Operating an electric vehicle in China today emits more greenhouse gases than simply driving a gasoline-fueled equivalent, according to emissions expert Juerg Gruetter of Gruetter Consulting. The reason is that, despite the country's push to promote electric vehicles, China's power grid is so overwhelmingly fed by dirty coal that recharging the battery-powered rides will release far more emissions than just putting gasoline in the tanks of the nation's 200-plus million registered vehicles. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/electric-vehicles-are-way-too-dirty-in-china/ Behind I: BMW's Vision For The Future Of Mobility. It's not everyday that an automaker launches a new marque, let alone a disruptive vision of the future. But BMW did just that last week in Frankfurt with the unveiling of its new i sub-brand. However, the story behind BMW i isn't limited to the i3 city car and i8 plug-in hybrid concepts. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/behind-i-bmws-vision-for-the-future-of-mobility/ GOP Investigating Obama’s New Fuel Economy Rules. Just four days ago, we were celebrating the news that President Obama reached a landmark agreement with 13 automakers to pursue a 54.5 MPG average fleet goal by the vehicle model year 2025. The agreement was a huge step forward for Obama’s environmental campaign, and shows that automakers and our government are on the same page when it comes to fuel efficiency. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/gop-investigating-obamas-new-fuel-economy-rules/ Researchers Make Breakthrough in Wireless In-Road EV Charging. Utah State University researchers have made a breakthrough in the quest to make in-road electric vehicle chargers practical for the real world, managing to wirelessly transmit 5 kilowatts of electricity across a 10-inch gap with 90% efficiency. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/researchers-make-breakthrough-in-wireless-in-road-ev-charging/ Protean In-Wheel Motors Could Up Hybrid Efficiency By 300 Percent. Many electric concept cars feature in-wheel electric motors to move them down the road, but only recently have they truly proven themselves as the greenest way to move future hybrid vehicles. A Vauxhall Vivaro diesel hybrid equipped with Protean’s electric in-wheel motors recently showed a 300 percent fuel economy improvement in hybrid mode, showing that there really is something to these bad boys. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/protean-in-wheel-motors-could-improve-hybrid-efficiency-by-300-percent/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2011 14:17:51 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 3, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 3, 2011. 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 NASA's Eyes In The Sky Study Pollution On Earth. NASA, the agency best known for exploring space, is trying to answer some urgent questions about air pollution right here on Earth. For much of July, the agency flew research planes between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore as part of a mission known as DISCOVER-AQ. The planes, along with weather balloons and ground stations, were gathering data on how pollutants such as ozone and particulates behave in the atmosphere. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/08/03/138890522/nasas-eyes-in-the-sky-study-pollution-on-earth House Bill Seeks To Delay EPA Emissions Rules For Cement Makers. The cement industry is pushing legislation to relax U.S. EPA rules for controlling pollution from Portland cement plants. The "Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act" (H.R. 2681) was introduced Thursday by Reps. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) and Mike Ross (D-Ark.), calling for an extension to the implementation of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/01/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Does A 'Cultural Divide' Between Science And Journalism Confuse The Public About Climate Change? With public belief in climate change declining, the issue of media communication has caused enough concern for the scientific community to take action with a new monthly column in Nature Geoscience aimed at bridging the chasm between journalists and scientists. "A cultural divide separates science from the media," wrote the editors of the journal, citing it as the motivation for the column. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/01/2 Posted. Debt And (Carbon) Taxes: Obama’s Last Chance For Climate Redemption. One of the silliest headlines to come out of the debt ceiling postmortems comes from ClimateWire (sub req): Debt deal, promising energy budget cuts, appear to chill hopes for a carbon tax. How exactly do you chill something that has been frozen near absolute zero? In fact, in my reading, the debt deal actually warmed up hopes for a carbon tax from those liquid helium temperatures to at least liquid nitrogen temperatures -- you know, around -321 degrees F. Posted. http://www.grist.org/energy-policy/2011-08-03-debt-and-carbon-taxes-obamas-last-chance-for-climate-redemption Here’s How The Debt Deal Could Spell Doomsday For Climate And Energy. The debt deal Washington just passed is going to pit defense spending against the budgets of the DOE, EPA and incentives for clean energy production, GOP strategist Mike McKenna tells Politico. No one knows what will actually be cut -- that's to be decided by a bipartisan committee -- but plenty of programs to protect the environment and fund green energy already have big fat targets on them. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-08-02-heres-how-tdebt-deal-could-spell-doomsday-for-climate-and-energy People Under 35 Have Never Seen Normal Global Temperatures. “If you’re younger than 26, you have never seen a month where the global mean was as cold as the 161 year average,” observes Robert Grumbine. In contrast, “there are no periods as long as even 20 years of continual below reference temperatures.” Posted. http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/08/02/285660/people-under-35-have-never-seen-normal-global-temperatures/ FUELS One Tainted Water Well, and Concern There May Be More. For decades, oil and gas industry executives as well as regulators have maintained that a drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, that is used for most natural gas wells has never contaminated underground drinking water. The claim is based in part on a simple fact: fracking, in which water and toxic chemicals are injected at high pressure into the ground to break up rocks and release the gas trapped there, occurs thousands of feet below drinking-water aquifers. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/04/us/04natgas.html?_r=1&hp Gas Mileage Ratings Don't Add Up. The government will require new cars and trucks to meet a fleetwide average fuel economy standard of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Fat chance. Many motorists know they can't expect to get the mileage they see on the window sticker if they drive too fast or don't keep the car in optimal condition. But what most of them don't know is even if they do drive like highway saints, they still won't get the Environmental Protection Agency-rated results. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/03/1800647/gas-mileage-ratings-dont-add-up.html A 'Midterm Review' Helped Industry And Environmental Groups Sign New Fuel Efficiency Standards. The White House's latest deal with automakers would let U.S. EPA revisit fuel efficiency standards by 2018 to see if they are too difficult to meet. Last week, the auto industry and the administration agreed to raise average fuel economy to 54.5 mpg by 2025. The White House said the standard would cut a quantity of oil use equivalent to half of imports from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries by 2025. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/01/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY The Dark Side Of Solar And Wind Power Projects. Building and maintaining solar and wind power projects can be hazardous, and industry watchdogs worry that the push for more green energy places more workers and bystanders in harm's way.They can look benign from a distance — solar panels glistening in the sun or turbines gently churning with the breeze to produce electricity for hundreds of thousands of homes. But building and maintaining them can be hazardous. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-green-safety-20110803,0,6066233,print.story Green-Focused Facility Breaks Ground In Dixon. A firm that produces a line of "green" utility vehicles broke ground last week on a new Solano County facility in Dixon that will bring dozens of jobs here, company officials announced. "These will be primarily manufacturing jobs -- good-paying ones," company spokesman Mark Wegel said Monday. "There will be more than 50 needed at first." More jobs eventually may be added if use of Green Fleet equipment grows, company officials said. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18603163 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18603163 Better Technology Drives Down Flat-Screen TV Energy Use By 60%. Energy-guzzling flat-screen TVs have become much greener in recent years, cutting their average electricity use by more than one-half and consuming far less energy than the bulky cathode-ray tube TVs they replaced, new energy research shows. Since 2006, new TVs have reduced their electricity use by 60 percent. Today, it costs only £14 ($22.80) a year to run a 42-inch LED TV, whereas a plasma screen cost about £80 ($130) in 2006, at 2011 prices. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/01/8 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Despite Rising U.S. Sales, Automakers Are Struggling. Sales of new vehicles in the United States rose in July but were still hampered by economic concerns and low inventories of many Japanese models. Honda and Toyota each reported large declines, as they have each month since production was slowed by the earthquake and tsunami in March. Toyota said it did not expect to post a year-over-year increase until early 2012. Sales fell 28.4 percent at Honda and 22.7 percent at Toyota. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/business/car-sales-show-restrained-growth.html?scp=1&sq=vehicles&st=cse 14 Hybrid Pickups Added To SMUD Fleet. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District has received 14 Dodge Ram 1500 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles as part of a nationwide demonstration test of alternative fuel vehicles. The pickup trucks will be part of SMUD's regular commercial fleet for the next three years. Funded in part by federal stimulus money, Chrysler Group LLC and the U.S. Department of Energy plan to deploy 140 of the plug-in hybrid trucks at 11 other sites to test customer usage, fuel economy, emissions and air quality impact. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/03/v-print/3812862/14-hybrid-pickups-added-to-smud.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/03/1800899/14-hybrid-pickups-added-to-smud.html SF's City Workers To Test Plug-In Hybrid Pick Up Trucks. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee announced Tuesday a partnership that will provide the city with a fleet of 14 plug-in hybrid pickup trucks for the next three years. The partnership between the city, the U.S. Department of Energy and Chrysler Group allows the Ram 1500 trucks to be tested by San Francisco city departments to evaluate their charging performance and fuel economy. The trucks are part of a national fleet of 140 vehicles that are being tested in a dozen cities. Posted. http://sfappeal.com/news/2011/08/sfs-city-workers-to-test-plug-in-hybrid-pick-up-trucks.php GM Invests In Solar To Charge Electric Cars. Sunlogics, a solar energy system provider, received a $7.5 million investment from General Motors Co.'s venture capital arm. The solar company will use the funds to establish its headquarters in Rochester Hills, Mich., which will employ 200 people, and a factory in Ontario, which will employ 110 people. According to CEO Michael Matvieshen, Sunlogics will start production by the end of the year and will employ tool designers as well as structural and design engineers. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/01/10 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY New Electric Motor, Evs Powering The House And EV Car Sharing. A research team at the Tokyo University of Science has developed a new switch-reluctant electric motor without rare earth materials. Nissan has presented a new add-on system for the Leaf's battery that allows the EV to power an average household for two days. Nobukazu Hoshi, associate professor at the Tokyo University of Science, has together with his team developed an electric motor without rare earth materials. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/63220110803.php OPINIONS Airlines and Carbon. The world’s leaders should have reached a deal long ago to limit greenhouse gas emissions. In the absence of such a deal, the European Union’s plan to regulate the carbon emissions of all airplanes that land or take off from European airports is a reasonable attempt to address an urgent problem. Aviation amounts to about 2 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, a share projected to rise quickly as air traffic surges. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/opinion/airlines-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print BLOGS California Air Resources Board Sees ‘Reasonable Compromise’ in CAFE Standards. Proposed fuel economy standards for 2017-25 model-year vehicles, announced last week by President Obama, should reduce greenhouse gas emissions at a pace consistent with targets set by the California Air Resources Board, according to agency representatives. The board plans to announce its clean-air targets in September, said Tom Cackette, its chief deputy executive officer, in a telephone interview. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/california-air-resources-board-sees-reasonable-compromise-in-cafe-standards/?scp=8&sq=vehicles&st=cse Ahead of Frankfurt Auto Show, Mazda CX-5 Makes Web Debut. Nissan Leafs and Chevrolet Volts aside, few new cars are burdened with the weight of expectation like the Mazda CX-5 compact S.U.V., revealed online Tuesday ahead of its debut in September at the Frankfurt auto show. Mazda, virtually alone among major automakers, has foregone hybrid technology in favor of high-compression internal combustion engines. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/02/ahead-of-frankfurt-auto-show-mazda-cx-5-makes-web-debut/?scp=1&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse Congressman Issa, Please Step Away from the Car Deal. Last Friday, President Obama announced another historic clean car agreement, supported by car companies, the auto workers union, environmental organizations, and states that by 2025 will double new vehicles’ miles per gallon and cut their carbon pollution nearly in half. Car owners will fill up half as often and save $3,000 over the life of the car. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ddoniger/congressman_issa_please_step_a.html NASA and Google Team Up for Zero-Emissions Flight Contest. Google’s made all kinds of headlines with its investments in clean energy recently: $280 million for a California residential solar company, $55 million for a wind project in Kern County, more than $10 million for geothermal R&D projects, and $168 million for a massive solar farm in the California desert, just to name a few. A new move by the company seeks to address another kind of energy challenge: airplane fuel. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2011/08/03/nasa-and-google-team-up-for-zero-emissions-flight-contest/ How will Citizens Ever Afford 54.5 MPG? Remember the old days when the auto manufacturers would line up in lockstep opposition to any fuel economy (CAFE) standards? Even the unions would oppose it, concerned about job losses. And lord knows…there was probably a gushing river of oil industry money flowing through the halls of congress to prevent America from moving in sustainable direction. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/08/545-mpg-gas-cafe/ BMW Teases Us With Two Electric Concepts. BMW has provided a glimpse of its electric future with the unveiling of two electric concepts, the first to come from its e-mobility division. Although the cars are conceptual studies that probably won’t see production, they provide the best view yet of the electric i3 and plug-in hybrid i8 models the company promises to deliver within three years. They also suggest the German automaker is serious about launching “BMW i” electric vehicle brand. Posted. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/08/bmw-i3-and-i8-concepts/#more-37559 Morning Greens: Foreign Auto Lobby Wants A Revision Of California’s Zero-Emissions Standards. The foreign auto lobby says California’s emission standards will hurt the auto industry while state lawmakers consider the environmental “reform” on a planned downtown stadium. Welcome to your Wednesday morning greens. The foreign auto lobby claims California’s expansion of zero-emission standards by 2018 will hurt the auto industry. Mike Stanton is president and CEO of the Association of Global Automakers. Posted. http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/2011/08/03/morning-greens-foreign-auto-lobby-wants-revision-c/ University Of Michigan And Ford Researchers See Plentiful Lithium Resources For Electric Vehicles. Researchers from the University of Michigan and Ford Motor Co. report in Journal of Industrial Ecology that even with a rapid and widespread adoption of electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries, lithium resources are sufficient to support demand until at least the end of this century. For their study, they assessed the global availability of lithium and compared it to the potential demand from large-scale global use of electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/lithium-20110803.html Auto Industry Survey Finds Need For Materials Innovation To Meet 2025 CAFE; Greatest Change Seen In Powertrain Systems. The auto industry’s current materials portfolio will need to be augmented to meet new 2025 fuel economy standards, according to a WardsAuto and DuPont Automotive survey conducted in late July. Only 5% of the vehicle design and engineers polled said they are “very confident” that currently available materials will help them meet proposed CAFE standards. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/dupont-20110803.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2011 12:17:37 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 4, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 4, 2011. 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 How Burning Biomass With Carbon Capture Can Remove CO2 From The Air. Capture systems attached to biomass-burning power plants could reduce annual emissions by an amount equal to a third of the global industrial output of carbon dioxide, a new study says. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) typically is associated with coal plants, but researchers increasingly are looking at other options for the yet-to-be-commercialized technology. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/04/4 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Change Affecting Each U.S. State, Web Tool Shows. How badly is climate change affecting your state? A new web tool allows users to see how vulnerable their area has been to drought, flooding and heat extremes as well as the health problems that go along with them. This tool, based in part on weather data gathered by the National Climatic Data Center and developed by the Natural Resources Defense Council, compares each state's temperatures from 2000 through 2009 to those from 1961 to 1990. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/08/climate-change-impact-your-area-nrdc-tool/1 http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/04/8 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY INLAND: Website Details Climate Change Health Effects. Communities in Inland Southern California and elsewhere should prepare for health problems caused by climate change, including an increase in infectious diseases such as West Nile virus, heat-related illnesses and asthma attacks brought on by smog and smoke from wildfires, scientists said Wednesday. Climate change is one of the most serious public health threats facing the nation, …Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/environment/stories/PE_News_Local_D_heat04.2e5948f.html Our Biggest Security Threat Is Global Warming-Induced Extreme Weather. Scientists have been predicting for years that global warming would produce record-breaking extremes on either side of the thermometer. This past winter, America survived its so-called snowpocalypse, and now that summer has arrived, we've got a heat dome. If you're wondering what the hell that is -- it's just another obvious climate change assassin that we could see coming miles away, if some of us were paying better attention. Posted. http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/151885 A High, Icy Lab For Learning The Past And Future Impacts Of Climate Change. Second in a three-part series. Summit Station, Greenland -- At first glance, this research station on the highest point of Greenland's vast ice sheet doesn't look like much. A scattering of trailers perch on stilts high above the snow, with a neat grid of small yellow tents off to one side. There's a tall metal tower, a few outhouses. A pile of fuel bladders stands in stark contrast next to the carefully groomed ice runway. Climate change has accelerated the melting of Greenland's vast ice sheet. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/04/1 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY A Focus On Non-CO2 Warming Agents Could Slow Climate Change. Cutting emissions of greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide could "substantially lessen" climate change over the short term, federal researchers said yesterday. Reducing the world's output of methane, nitrous oxide, and some ozone-depleting substances could bring other benefits as well, such as improved air and water quality, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wrote in a study published in the new issue of the journal Nature. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/04/7 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Biodegradable Plastics Release Greenhouse Gases. Biodegradable plastics may have an undesired side-effect: They could contribute to global warming. Researchers at North Carolina State University found that these polymers release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as they break down over the course of a few years. "Everybody assumes that biodegradable is desirable," said Morton Barlaz, one of the study's authors. "This study calls that into question." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/04/9 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Port Truckers To Make Case For Delay In CARB Emissions Requirements. A panel hearing is scheduled for today in Oakland, CA, to give truckers hauling in and out of the area port the opportunity to voice their concerns about the impact of the scheduled Phase II, emissions-related upgrades for drayage trucks that are currently mandated by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) under the statewide drayage truck regulations which went into effect in 2007. Posted. http://fleetowner.com/green/archive/port-truckers-carb-emissions-0804/ VEHICLES GM Profit Doubles As Global Sales And Prices Rise. After years of big discounts, GM is finally getting a good price for its cars and trucks, and it's helping the company's bottom line. General Motors Co. surprised Wall Street Thursday by doubling its second-quarter profit. A big reason was higher prices for its vehicles worldwide. When demand for small cars rose in the spring because of high gas prices, GM was able to meet that demand with its new Chevrolet Cruze while Toyota and Honda sat on the sidelines. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_e646e30b-6cd5-5eb1-b462-f24448546b7f.html http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110804/OEM/110809901/1231 Green Tires Make Fewer Compromises. Low-rolling-resistance tires improved vehicle fuel economy when they were introduced in the 1970s. But mileage gains came at a cost: long wet braking distances and poor handling grip. But now, as the price of gasoline and federal corporate average fuel economy standards rise, Continental AG, Michelin and Bridgestone Corp. are responding with new tires that offer improved fuel economy and shorter braking distances. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110803/OEM05/308049996/1186 GREEN ENERGY John Doerr Says U.S. Must Do More On Clean Energy. John Doerr, head of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers' alternative-energy practice, said he would give the United States a C grade for development of green technology, which trails innovation in Internet and biotechnology. His grade would have been a D or F without $20 billion in loan guarantees for clean-energy projects under President Obama's stimulus plan and collaborative work between the government and private sector, Doerr said Tuesday at an event in Palo Alto. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/04/BUBC1KIP4F.DTL&type=printable Clean Tech Sees 44% Drop-Off In VC, Report Says. Ernst & Young reported Wednesday that venture capital investments in U.S. clean-tech companies plunged 44 percent to hit $1.1 billion in this year's second quarter; although the consulting firm cautioned that the numbers look worse than they actually are. The drop-off was even more pronounced in Northern California, where clean-tech investments fell 63 percent compared with the same period last year, settling at $363.8 million. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/04/BU5C1KJ09B.DTL&type=printable High-Tech Bulb Captures Old Glow, Wins $10M Prize. The Department of Energy unveiled a light bulb today that doesn't just use less energy than the traditional incandescent: It also gives off the same glow that Americans cherish. The bulb, designed by Philips Electronics North America Corp., yesterday won DOE's "L-Prize," a contest set up in a 2007 energy law. The competition dangled a $10 million pot in front of the company that could reproduce the feel of a traditional, 60-watt incandescent while using no more than 10 watts. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/04/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Assessing California's Chances For Meeting Its 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard. On April 12, Gov. Jerry Brown, D-Calif., signed into law Senate Bill 2, which increases the statutory renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in California to 33% by the year 2020 - up from a goal of 20% by the year 2010. Senate Bill 2 continues the trend of setting aggressive targets so as to signal that there will be continued demand for renewable production in the decade to come. Posted. http://solarindustrymag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.8437 MISCELLANEOUS Riverside County: New Natural Gas Buses Planned. The cost of natural gas buses is no longer a hotly debated issue for Riverside Transit Agency officials -- unlike a decade ago -- but it remains a big investment for the western-county bus system amid shrinking state and federal funding. Because natural gas tanks must be replaced every 15 years at a price tag of $80,000 each, transit agencies such as Riverside are left with the choice of replacing the tanks or their aging fleets. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_cngbuses04.38efcb6.html Revision to the California State Implementation Plan; South Coast Air Quality Management District. SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action to approve a revision to the South Coast Air Quality Management District portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from polymeric foam manufacturing operations. We are approving a local rule that regulates these emission sources under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA). Posted. http://www.techzone360.com/news/2011/08/04/5682879.htm OPINION Leader In Energy Efficiency. When President Barack Obama announced an agreement to double fuel-economy requirements last week, standing with him were industry executives and environmental, public health and labor leaders, all of whom, remarkably, had signed off on the deal. But the real credit for this historic achievement, which is expected to cut oil consumption by 1.5 million barrels per day and eliminate half of all carbon pollution nationwide, doesn't go to the White House. Instead, thank California. Posted. http://www.dailybreeze.com/opinions/ci_18611296 BLOGS Philips Wins Energy Department’s Lighting Prize. Philips, the Netherlands-based consumer electronics giant, is now $10 million richer, having just won the L Prize, awarded by the federal Department of Energy in a contest to invent the next generation of solid-state lighting. Formally titled the Bright Lighting Tomorrow Prize, the award was introduced to encourage companies to create highly efficient alternatives to standard incandescent lamps. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/philips-wins-energy-departments-lighting-prize/ Will Oil Consumers Tighten Their Belts? There’s always a lot of concern about energy, especially when very hot weather reminds us of climate change and headlines warn that unrest in the Middle East could drive up oil and gasoline prices again at any moment. But Petrobras’s chief executive, José Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo, who is in the United States this week talking up his company’s new business plan, sees reason for optimism. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/will-oil-consumers-tighten-their-belts/ Climate Change an Extra Burden for Native Americans, Study Says. Because tribal lands are particularly prone to drought, flooding, wildfires and other weather extremes, American Indian tribes suffer disproportionately from the impacts of climate change, a new study from the National Wildlife Federation and other groups reported Wednesday. American Indians and Alaska natives are more dependent than most other Americans on natural resources and on the bounty of oceans …Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/climate-change-an-extra-burden-for-native-americans-study-says/ DWP's Solar Program To Relaunch In September With Lower Rebates. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power gave the go-ahead Tuesday to relaunch the Solar Incentive Program next month. Applications will be accepted starting Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. The revised program is doubling its budget from $30 million to $60 million for the next three years and lowers rebates to be more in line with market pricing for residential, government, nonprofit and commercial buildings. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/08/solar-power-initiative-ladwp-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Climate Change And Health: How Vulnerable Is Your City? As temperatures rise, so could the threats to your health. Climate experts predict average temperatures in California could rise between 4.7 to 10.5 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this century, potentially worsening illnesses related to extreme heat and air pollution, according to Natural Resources Defense Council, which released web-based climate change impact maps Wednesday. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/08/climate-change-warmer-temperatures-air-pollution-national-resources-defence-council.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Warmer Temperatures To Expand California Exotic Grass Populations. Warmer temperatures in California could lead to a substantial statewide expansion of exotic grass populations, according to a new study that catalogued over 400 native and exotic grasses in the state. Researchers from UC Berkeley say exotic grasses dry out faster than native varieties, making the state more vulnerable to wildfires. Exotic grasses also hold pathogens that attack crops, such as wheat, or affect people who eat beef from cows that graze on exotic species. They also compete with native grasses for water. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/08/global-warming-california-grass.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 BONSALL: District Prepares To Install Solar Panels, Energy Upgrades At Bonsall Schools. The Bonsall Union School District will receive $700,000 in energy-saving upgrades and cut about $50,000 a year from its utility bills through cost-free agreements with two Sacramento-based companies. "When we first heard about this, it sounded too good to be true," said Tom Krzmarzick, assistant superintendent of business services for the district. Bonsall will not be the first North County district to get energy from solar panels at its schools. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/fallbrook/article_f11f4afa-c036-5ceb-9c5e-5596d71c0fe2.html Trade War Looms Over Airlines’ Refusal to Comply with EU Cap-And-Trade Law. In June, I wrote about whether the US was right to seek an exemption from the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) for US airlines. The cap-and-trade scheme, designed to curb CO2 emissions, is being vigorously opposed by the American Air Transport Association, and a month on, it seems things are no less fractious, with the rhetoric from Capital Hill going up a notch. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/08/refusal-comply-eu-cap-trade-law-worth-risking-trade-war/ Enterprise Both Gung-Ho And Hesitant About Electric Vehicles. Enterprise-Rent-a-Car claims that it's the first rental agency in the U.S. to offer the Chevrolet Volt and that is has already introduced electric vehicles in Southern California, Texas, Tennessee, Hawaii, New York, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle. Just last month, Enterprise launched a 12-month electric vehicle pilot project, involving eight Peugeot iOns, in London. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/04/enterprise-both-gung-ho-and-hesitant-about-electric-vehicles/ Helios Eco Trailer: The Entertainment Industry’s First Solar Hybrid Vehicle. With so many green transportation designs out there, you’d think that an eco-friendly entertainment production trailer would already exist, but the recently released Helios Eco trailer is taking the title as the very first. Helios’s creator, King Kong Production Vehicles, claims that it the world’s first solar hybrid production trailer. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/helios-eco-trailer-the-entertainment-industry%e2%80%99s-first-solar-hybrid-vehicle/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2011 14:15:58 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- News Clips for August 5, 2011 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 5, 2011. 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 Suzlon to Pay $490,000 Pollution Penalty in U.S. Indian wind turbine company Suzlon Energy Ltd. will pay a $490,000 penalty for pollution violations in the U.S. over a period of four quarters, starting from the current quarter, the company said Friday. "This refers to a 2008 issue at our subsidiary Suzlon Rotor Corp., a Pipestone-based manufacturing facility," the company said in a statement. It added that it "has been in full compliance with all environmental norms in the state since this was discovered". Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903366504576489462322005674.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Chevron fined $170,000 for not fully reporting polluting releases. Chevron has agreed to pay $170,000 to air quality regulators for underreporting pollution from the flaring system at its Richmond refinery. A gas line at the refinery was sending gases to the flare stack in a way that bypassed the refinery's flare monitoring system. That meant that in flaring events on 27 days between 2005 and 2009, the company underreported how much pollution was released from the flare, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18617889?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com Bill aims to kill Liberty Quarry. Hoping to protect land it considers sacred, an influential Temecula-area tribe is pushing state legislation that could quash the proposed Liberty Quarry project. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have signed on to the measure by Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal, D-Long Beach. As drafted, the legislation would expand a law that restricts gold and silver mining near American Indian reservations and sacred sites. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_quarry05.922f53ef.html Study: Bioplastics may harm environment. Bad news about “environmentally friendly” biodegradable plastics: They may not be so environmentally friendly after all. According to research from North Carolina State University, biodegradable plastics can release large amounts of methane while decomposing. And methane is a potent greenhouse gas. The study was funded by Procter & Gamble, a major manufacturer of plastic products. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/study-bioplastics-may-harm-environment-11916 CLIMATE CHANGE State pushes to expand recycling. Many Californians tend to associate car exhaust and factory emissions with greenhouse gasses blamed for climate change brought on by global warming. But how about paper, cardboard, old lumber and plastic? What role do those waste products play by being thrown away instead of being recycled? Apparently, one big enough that the state is preparing a new mandatory commercial recycling program designed to reduce the volume of goods produced with new raw materials at fossil-fuel burning plants that emit greenhouse gasses. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/aug/04/recycling-mandate-to-expand-for-apartments/ New study helps track movement of CO2 emissions in the U.S. In a project that could help pave the way for a national carbon dioxide tracking system, scientists have determined which regions are carbon sinks and which are sources. In a paper out this week in the journal Biogeosciences, researchers conclude that dense crop regions tend to absorb carbon while areas that import and use a lot of agricultural products release more carbon into the atmosphere. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/08/05/5/ BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Bill gives Riverside County the OK for electric vehicles. Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Thursday that gives Riverside County and its cities the ability to allow smaller, slower electric vehicles on more roads. The measure is the latest of several bills over the years that have carved out exceptions in parts of California to the statewide rule prohibiting neighborhood electric vehicles from roads where the speed limit is 35 mph or more. Thursday's measure is by far the biggest in scope, making it possible that the electric vehicles -- sometimes referred to as "golf carts on steroids" -- will become much more common in the state's fourth-largest county. Posted. http://www.pe.com/politics/miller/stories/PE_News_Local_D_electriccars05.3a14875.html Toyota will build Tesla-powered RAV4 EV in Canada. Toyota Motor Corp. will build an electric RAV4 in-house in Canada next year rather than having partner Tesla Motors Inc. assemble the model at the plant it acquired from Toyota in California. The companies said this morning that Toyota's Tesla-powered EV will be produced in Woodstock, Ontario, where Toyota already makes the gasoline-powered RAV4 crossover. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110805/OEM05/110809876/1186 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Will fuel standards boost or bury electric vehicles? As auto industry leaders discussed a new round of fuel economy standards with the White House, their chief lobbying group released a series of ads decrying the proposed 56.2 mpg target, saying it amounted to "an electric vehicle mandate." Now that automakers have agreed to a 54.5 mpg level by 2025, it is unclear if they still think of the standards as an electric vehicle mandate. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/08/05/11/ BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Energy-efficiency program offer rebates. Brian and Kelley Johnson could tell their new home wasn't airtight. Drafts brought in the chill that permeates the Sunset neighborhood, deep within San Francisco's fog belt. The furnace didn't seem to help much. "I didn't like the fact that we were heating the neighborhood," said Brian Johnson, 45. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/05/BUK91KJEEE.DTL California utilities get 17 percent of power from green sources. The state's large investor owned utilities now receive17 percent of their electricity from wind, solar and other green sources, according to a quarterly report by the California Public Utilities Commission. Under state law, investor-owned utilities such as PG&E Corp. and Southern California Edison are required to obtain 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources, but the CPUC has provided the utilities with an additional three years to comply with the 20 percent target. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/04/3817906/large-utilities-in-state-now-get.html#mi_rss=Business Gov. Cuomo signs power plant siting bill. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill Thursday that will allow New York to increase its power production and provide low-interest loans to homeowners and businesses for the cost of energy efficiency projects. The Power N.Y. Act will allow for the first significant increase in power plants to be built in New York since a previous plant siting law expired in 2003. The Cuomo administration said the new law will promote expansion of businesses and result in tens of thousands of new jobs. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/APb622e2623a644c5bbd5f61ee8f512d28.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/04/apnewsbreak-cuomo-to-sign-power-plant-siting/ Southern Co. sees price tag of at least $13B for new EPA rules. Southern Co., the largest U.S. power company, would need to spend $13 billion to $18 billion through 2020 upgrading its coal-fired plants if U.S. EPA goes ahead with new and proposed rules for the power sector, the utility said yesterday. Yesterday was the deadline to comment on a high-profile proposal from the Obama administration, known as the "Utility MACT" rule, that would limit the amount of mercury, acid gases and heavy metals that coal plants can release into the air. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/08/05/3/ BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Bike sharing may not only save environment, it can aid health too. Public bicycle sharing is gaining popularity in cities around the world as people are trading cars for low-cost rental bikes used for short hops around town. While it's hoped this will have a positive effect on the environment, a study finds that it may benefit people's health as well. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-bicycles-health-20110804,0,7612648.story RV companies stung by recession look to green tech. Lane County's fragile recreational-vehicle manufacturing industry could find hope in an unexpected place - green technology. The Eugene Register-Guard reports (http://bit.ly/pGItWx ) RV manufacturer Country Coach has plans to develop a diesel-electric hybrid, but that plan will have to wait as the local luxury motor coach industry tries to survive. "I don't expect to see the type of numbers of manufacturing in the high-end that there was in the past. I don't expect to see that ever return," said Ron Lee, who early this year resurrected a much smaller version of Country Coach, the company founded in 1973 by his brother and legendary RV pioneer Bob Lee. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/04/rv-companies-stung-by-recession-look-to-green/ OPINION GOP vs. Mother Nature. House Republicans, especially those of the "tea party" ilk, think they know the cause of our country's economic woes: environmental regulations. As a result, they loaded up the appropriations bill that funds the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency with dozens of riders that would encourage deadly pollution of the air and water, set back efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and allow uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, among other things. Such riders are commonplace on annual appropriations bills, but Washington insiders say they've never seen such a breathtaking assault on the environment. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-interior-20110805,0,6952661.story BLOGS What new fuel-efficiency standards mean to you. Environmental groups were pushing Obama to announce a 60 mile-per-gallon fleet-wide standard as the updated fuel standards, or CAFE, mandate. Obama initially indicated he'd go with 57.5 but then, seeming to compromise with critics who had yet to materialize, he announced 54.5. Even 54.5 is an upgrade from the current requirement of just 35 mpg. But, according to analyses by CERES and the Union of Concerned Scientists, Obama isn't just missing an environmental opportunity by setting the bar low for automakers; he's also missing an key opportunity to create jobs and put spending money in consumers pockets. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=94708 Revenue rises but losses widen at Tesla electric car company. Electric car company Tesla Motors Inc. posted a loss of $58.9 million in the second quarter as it sunk money into developing its Model S sedan and a crossover that it is calling Model X. Tesla, based in Palo Alto, is refurbishing an old Toyota factory in Fremont, where it plans to build the cars. The Model S, an all-electric luxury sedan, is expected to go on sale next year. The loss was 53% larger than the $38.5 million the company lost in the same period a year earlier. Revenue, however, grew 105% to $58.2 million. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/08/revenue-rises-but-losses-widen-at-tesla-electric-car-company.html E.P.A. Is ‘Greening the Apple.’ A belated welcome to the blogosphere, E.P.A. I was recently surprised to discover a new kid on the block: the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greening the Apple blog. Introduced in March, the blog was created by the agency’s regional office in New York and is the first one focusing on a single metropolitan area. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/04/e-p-a-is-greening-the-apple/?ref=earth New CAFÉ Standards: Is 54.5 MPG by 2025 Really Enough? Last week, the Obama administration made a dramatic announcement that unfortunately got lost in all the hoopla over the debt ceiling and the political maneuverings thereof. They announced a new set of ambitious fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks that will make a significant dent in our dependence on oil and our carbon dioxide emissions. These new standards require a 5% annual improvement for cars, and 3.5% for light trucks for the first five years, then 5% after that. The end result is the fleet average fuel economy for each automaker will be 54.5 mpg by the year 2025. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/08/new-cafe-standards-545-mpg-2025-really-enough/ Study: Worldwide Sales Of Electrified Vehicles To Hit 32.1 Million In 2025. Japanese research firm Fuji Keizai Group forecasts that combined sales of plug-in hybrid, electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles will hit 32.1 million units worldwide in 2025. Fuji Kezai says that sales of these electrified vehicles will climb to 5.46 million units in 2015, a six-fold increase compared to the approximately 900,000 electrified vehicles sold worldwide in 2010. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/05/worldwide-sales-of-electrified-vehicles-to-hit-32-1-million-in-2/ Fedex To Double The Size Of Its Electric Vehicle Fleet. With a whopping 19 electric vehicles, FedEx's battery-powered fleet isn't all that big. But, with FedEx Express adding more than 4,000 fuel-efficient vehicles within the next two months – including 24 of the electric-only variety – the package delivery company's fleet of electrics will soon more than double in size to, drumroll, 43 units. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/05/fedex-to-double-the-size-of-its-electric-vehicle-fleet/ EPA Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Will Force Some Dirty Coal Plants To Shut Down. Utility companies across the U.S. will shut down and retire aging coal-fired power plants following the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAP). This rule is intended to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide at coal-fired power plants and makes it incredibly costly for utility companies to modernize aging facilities to meet the stringent emissions standards. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/05/epa-cross-state-air-pollution-rule-forces-some-coal-plants-to-sh/ Siemens Study: Electric Cars More Convenient To Refuel Than Engined Cars. German electronics giant Siemens just released the results of a study of Munich EV owners and the results show that drivers in this compact European city find EVs quite suitable for everyday use – not really a big surprise after 10 months and 300,000 kilometers driven. But will the results translate across the pond to the sprawling U.S.? Posted. http://inhabitat.com/siemens-study-electric-cars-more-convenient-to-refuel-than-engined-cars/ BMW Group Releases Results Of UK-Supported EV Trial. The BMW Group released the data from the MINI E field trial in the UK. (Earlier post.) With 62 members of the public and 76 pool users running the battery-powered hatchbacks over two six-month periods, the Government-supported trial is the most in-depth of its kind in the UK to publish its findings. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/minie-20110805.html Increasing Engine Efficiency Through Extreme Compression. Engineers at Stanford University report on preliminary experiments using a lean, diesel-like combustion strategy for compression ratios of 30 to 100:1 with indicated efficiencies resulting from 52 to 60%. Their paper appears in the International Journal of Engine Research. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/compression-20110805.html Fuji Keizai Group Forecasts Global EV, Hybrid And Fuel Cell Vehicle Sales To Reach 32.1M Units In 2025. Japanese research company Fuji Keizai Group forecasts that EV, hybrid (standard and plug-in hybrid) and fuel cell vehicles will have combined worldwide sales of 32.1 million units in 2025. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/fuji-20110805.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2011 12:12:37 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 8, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 8, 2011. 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 Opponents, Supporters Sound Off On Rules' Effects On Jobs. With the U.S. economy again on shaky ground, both proponents and opponents of U.S. EPA's new and proposed air quality rules rushed last week to link their own point of view with job creation and their opponents' with economic costs. Opponents of stringent new standards for greenhouse gases, hazardous air toxics, and emissions linked to smog and soot …Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/08/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Supercomputers May Help Predict Climate Changes Locally. Even a century ago, scientists working out equations on paper understood that gases in the atmosphere absorbed and emitted energy, keeping Earth from being a ball of ice. Today they use supercomputers to make increasingly refined predictions about how the Earth's climate will change. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/07/1806227/supercomputers-may-help-predict.html Emirates Says EU Emissions Rules Could Cost It $1B. Emirates airline says planned European Union emissions requirements could cost the carrier - the Mideast's biggest - as much as $1 billion over a decade. Andrew Parker, a senior vice president for the Dubai-based airline, said Monday the EU's plan would have a "significant financial impact." Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/08/1807418/emirates-says-eu-emissions-rules.html Tougher Air Rules Possible For Valley. Despite some of the cleanest air on record last year, more stringent regulations may be on the way that will cut down on more pollution in the Central Valley. Last year's summer and winter seasons were the cleanest on record, according to a presentation by John Cadrett, a compliance manager for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/05/1805126/tougher-air-rules-possible-for.html Forecasters Change 30-Year Statistics; Weather Service's 10-Year Update Shows Slight Alterations For Redding Area. Normal nighttime temperatures in Redding are warmer than before, while afternoons in Red Bluff are a bit cooler. Both cities are wetter, recently released 30-year climate norms show. It's difficult to produce arguments for or against global warming from the new norms, which are based on 1981-2010 temperature and precipitation data, a National Weather Service forecaster said. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2011/aug/06/forecasters-change-30-year-statistics/?print=1 Offsets Could Make Up 85% Of Calif.'S Cap And Trade. When can 8 percent also mean 85 percent? Only in the convoluted world of climate law. Both numbers attempt to sum up the impact of offsets, a controversial part of California's pending cap-and-trade program. Picking which one best applies is more than a debate over digits. Starting in 2013, California's landmark law will impose cap and trade, a system requiring businesses to account for greenhouse gas pollution. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/08/1 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY State Explores Distribution Of Billions In Carbon Auction Proceeds. California regulators are beginning the process of figuring out how to distribute potentially billions of dollars in revenue from their pending cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions. The California Public Utilities Commission said proposals are due by Oct. 5 regarding how utilities should spend the money -- on the order of $50 billion through 2020, according to state projections of the value of allowances under the market-based system. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/08/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Battle Over Coal For China Highlights Global Economic Change. When a Seattle-based shipping company announced plans last year for a deepwater cargo port that it promised would create hundreds of jobs, it looked like good news… what cargo the company had in mind: coal, and potentially 48 million tons of it a year. That coal would end up in China, where it would fuel the blistering growth of America's biggest competitor. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/07/2491349/battle-over-coal-for-china-highlights.html#storylink=misearch No Surprises Expected In Trucks Announcement Tomorrow. President Obama tomorrow is set to announce the first-ever fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks and vans, and environmental and industry sources say they don't expect any surprises. The new standards, which would apply to model years 2014 through 2018, are the first for a group of vehicles including tractor-trailers, city buses, delivery vehicles, garbage trucks and large haulers weighing more than 8,500 pounds. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/08/14 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTON ONLY VEHICLES O’Malley To Attend Launch Of Maryland’s First Solar Tracking Electric Vehicle Charger. Gov. Martin O’Malley is scheduled to attend the launch of Maryland’s first solar tracking electric vehicle charger. The governor will be taking part in the event in Bethesda on Monday. Last week, O’Malley named members of a group that will plan the integration of electric vehicles into Maryland. The Electrical Vehicle Infrastructure Council includes representatives of automobile manufacturers and dealers, electrical vehicle charging manufacturers, utilities and electrical workers. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/omalley-to-attend-launch-of-marylands-first-solar-tracking-electric-vehicle-charger/2011/08/08/gIQA7mjo1I_story.html GREEN ENERGY Wind Power Gains as Gear Improves. The electric wind turbines built 30 years ago, after the 1970s oil-price shocks increased interest in the industry, often experienced serious problems. Some came apart in bad storms, some did not work well, even in good weather, and still others found insects piling up on the blades, slowing power production. Bird deaths at some early wind farms were alarmingly high. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/08/business/energy-environment/wind-power-gains-as-gear-improves.html?scp=3&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Southeast A Holdout In Mandating Renewable Energy. Atlanta (AP) -- States across the country are gradually forcing or cajoling their electric companies into buying renewable energy, but the trend has fallen flat in the Southeast. The map is striking. Of the 11 states that haven't set even voluntary targets on how much alternative energy utilities must buy, eight of them are Southern states — Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/08/06/national/a075228D69.DTL&type=printable On The Money: Reading Up On Green Investing. The green revolution has fueled a strong interest in potential investment opportunities, particularly in the renewable energy sector. If you'd like to get up to speed about green investing, a number of books offer a range of insights about green investment. Here are a few titles. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/08/1807294/on-the-money-reading-up-on-green.html Green Jobs Gaining Traction In California, But More Jobs Needed In All Sectors. More than 500,000 people are employed in "green jobs" in California and that number is expected to ramp up in the coming years, according to a report released last week. The Environment California Research & Policy Center report, "Building a Clean Energy Workforce: Preparing Californians for New Opportunities in the State's Green Economy," additionally documents nearly 300 green job training programs at more than 130 institutions throughout the state. Posted. http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_18630103 More Apartments, Businesses May Have To Recycle. San Diego estimates that about 3,000 now-exempt groups would have to start programs. Sacramento — Many Californians tend to associate car exhaust and factory emissions with greenhouse gasses blamed for climate change brought on by global warming. But how about paper, cardboard, old lumber and plastic? What role do those waste products play by being thrown away instead of being recycled? Posted. http://m.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/aug/04/recycling-mandate-to-expand-for-apartments/ Concentrated Solar Power Plants Are All Wet. Concentrating solar has promised big additions to renewable energy production with the additional benefit of energy storage -- saving sun power for nighttime -- but there's a catch. Most of the new power plants are big water users despite being planned for desert locations. With solar photovoltaic (PV) prices dropping so rapidly, does concentrating solar still make sense? Posted. http://www.grist.org/solar-power/2011-08-04-when-picking-solar-power-options-its-the-water-stupid MISCELLANEOUS Summit To Discuss Recycling Rules. Stockton - The public is invited to a summit about California's upcoming mandatory commercial recycling regulations and how those rules might be used to create jobs. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel, 110 W. Fremont St. It's hosted by the Recycling Build Infrastructure Now Coalition and the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce. The summit is held as the California Air Resources Board considers new regulations that would require businesses to recycle. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110807/A_NEWS/110809904/-1/A_NEWS05 OPINIONS Obama's Biggest Challenge: Jobs. With the U.S. recovery slowed to a crawl and Europe mired in a new debt crisis, a rebound is far from certain. The central question facing Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign is this: Can the president persuade voters to let him keep his job when so many of them have lost theirs? Last week, after another run of bad economic news, the president and his staff tried their best to sound upbeat. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-mcmanus-column-obama-unemployme20110807,0,4651718,print.column New Climate Research Shifts To Local Impacts. Calverton, Md. – Even a century ago, scientists working out equations on paper understood that gases in the atmosphere absorbed and emitted energy, keeping Earth from being a ball of ice. Today scientists use supercomputers to make increasingly refined predictions about how the Earth's climate will change. The new efforts take the question from global to local scale. Nations, states and communities have lots of climate-related questions: Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/07/3821301/climate.html Another View: Hetch Hetchy Efficiently Sends Drinking Water To 2.5 Million. Re "Imagine a Yosemite with Hetch Hetchy open to all again" (Editorial notebook, Aug. 1): Any discussion about the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System must begin with a simple fact – this is an important regional system that provides drinking water to more than 2.5 million residents and businesses in San Francisco, San Mateo, northern Santa Clara and southern Alameda counties. This same system also efficiently uses gravity to transport water, and creates 1.6 billion kilowatt-hours of clean, greenhouse gas-free hydroelectric power. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/07/3820191/hetch-hetchy-efficiently-sends.html Population And Climate Change: World's Biggest Problems. We live in an information-drenched environment, one in which sports and favorite programs are just a click away. And the ease with which we can do this allows us to focus on mostly comforting subjects that divert our attention from increasingly real, long-term problems. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/06/1805699/population-and-climate-change.html GOP vs. Mother Nature. House Republicans, especially those of the "tea party" ilk, think they know the cause of our country's economic woes: environmental regulations. As a result, they loaded up the appropriations bill that funds the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency with dozens of riders that would encourage deadly pollution of the air and water, set back efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and allow uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, among other things. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/08/1807282/gop-vs-mother-nature.html Population And Climate Change: Bend Baby Curve Like Beckhams. On most days, people around the world admire the footprints of David Beckham. The supertalented British soccer star's maneuvers around and over flummoxed defenders populate many a YouTube video. But for several years, Beckham and his family have been the targets of what the British charmingly call "campaigners" on global warming. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/06/1805828/population-and-climate-change.html Temecula: Mixed Reviews Of Quarry Planner. Granite Construction, which wants to build Liberty Quarry near Temecula, prides itself on character; something it says drives everything it does. Its quarry plan, however, faces strong opposition as it slugs through daylong public hearings attended by thousands. Project foes, who say the quarry would ruin the environment, point to Granite's history of fines and citations as proof the company can't be trusted to safely run the operation. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_granite07.3d3d0c3.html California Led The Way. When President Barack Obama announced an agreement to double fuel-economy requirements, standing with him were industry executives and environmental, public health and labor leaders - all of whom, remarkably, had signed off on the deal. Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/ci_18635779?IADID=Search-www.sbsun.com-www.sbsun.com BLOGS Research Desk: Would Lowering GDP Cut Emissions? All other things being equal, how much would world GDP have to contract for greenhouse gas emissions to fall within a safe threshold? Obviously this is ridiculously far from the optimal solution to climate change, and any quantitative answer would be highly uncertain. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/research-desk-would-lowering-gdp-cut-emissions/2011/08/05/gIQAq2WQ2I_blog.html Who Doesn't Want To Clean Up Trucks In Oakland? This afternoon Alameda County Supervisors Nate Miley and Scott Haggerty are hosting a hearing to “give local Port truckers an opportunity to share their concerns about the Drayage Truck Rule.” Why is Alameda County revisiting these important public health protections for Oakland residents living along the busy 880 freight corridor? Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dbailey/who_doesnt_want_to_clean_up_tr.html How Can You Tell The Difference Between A Climate Denier & An Environmentalist? 'Pico of the Caribbean' sez: "go read about me mate, or I'll unbuckle your swash." Image credit: Russ George. Short answer: there is little difference between the thought patterns of deniers & environmentalists. Most of us don't have the time or expertise to maintain a current, in-depth understanding of science and public policy issues. Instead, a values test is imposed as novel or contradictory information is encountered. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/08/how-can-you-tell-difference-between-denier-an-environmentalist.php New Piston Ring Coating From Federal-Mogul Reduces Ring Friction By Up To 20%; Improved Fuel Economy And Reduced CO2 Emissions. Federal-Mogul Corporation has developed a new piston ring coating that delivers a direct improvement in fuel economy and CO2 emissions by reducing ring friction by up to 20% as compared to nitride or other commonly used coatings. CarboGlide is Federal-Mogul’s third and most advanced generation of its DLC (diamond-like carbon) coated ring technology. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/carboglide-20110808.html Southern California Edison's Roadmap Charts A Course To The Smart Grid. If you're going to drive from your home to somewhere you've never been before, it pays to have a map. And, if you're going to turn a region from a place where electric vehicles are a niche market and electrical power comes from a few large plants into one where EVs are the rule and power is far more dispersed, it also pays to have a document that lays out the course. In other words, a map. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/08/southern-california-edison-roadmap-smart-grid/ General Motors Invests $7.5 Million In Solar Energy Firm Sunlogics. General Motors has invested $7.5 million and taken an undisclosed stake in Sunlogics, a global solar energy systems provider. This significant lump of cash will help Sunlogics establish facilities in Michigan and Canada. Additionally, GM Ventures says it signed commercial agreements with Sunlogics for the installation of solar-powered charging stations at select Chevrolet dealerships and other GM-owned sites, as well as a power purchase deal that calls for the installation of solar arrays at some of the automaker's facilities. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/07/general-motors-invests-7-5-million-in-solar-energy-firm-sunlogi/ Obama To Announce Fuel Efficiency Standards For Heavy-Duty Vehicles On Tuesday. As you may remember, the Obama Administration called for the first-ever fuel efficiency standards for heavy-duty vehicles back in early 2010. By October of 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had whipped together proposed fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions guidelines for on-road 3/4-ton and 1-ton trucks, vans, buses, semis and so on with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 8,500 pounds or more. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/07/obama-to-announce-fuel-efficiency-standards-for-heavy-duty-vehic/ BMW Launches Program To Transform Landfill Gases Into Hydrogen Fuel. BMW’s Spartansburg, South Carolina plant is launching a program to convert methane gas into hydrogen. If successful, the manufacturing facility will be able to power its fleet of production vehicles with hydrogen fuel-cells. A longer battery life, continuous power, and a quick recharge are just some of the benefits of hydrogen fuel cell technology. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/bmw-transforms-landfill-gases-into-hydrogen/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2011 11:34:30 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 9, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 9, 2011. 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 Feds to Help on Pollution. People in Mira Loma and San Bernardino have been fighting for years to reduce air pollution that disproportionately affects children and poor neighborhoods in the Inland area. Both communities are hot zones for microscopic diesel emissions that penetrate deep into the lungs, dramatically increasing the risk of cancer and respiratory problems. Posted. http://www.pe.com/columns/cassiemacduff/stories/PE_News_Local_D_cass09.3f83dc2.html CLIMTE CHANGE EPA set to miss deadline on ozone rules. The Obama administration, facing withering criticism from industry that environmental rules are behind the stalled economy, appears poised to miss another key deadline for new standards to clean up smog, lobbyists and environmentalists contend. After agreeing to work with environmentalists who had sued over the standards, the Environmental Protection Agency has delayed issuing rules on low-level ozone, the main ingredient in smog, four times since 2010. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-na-ozone-20110809,0,6836518.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fscience%2Fenvironment+%28L.A.+Times+-+Environment%29&utm_content=Google+Reader GREEN ENERGY Schools of fish help squeeze more power from wind farms. A new wind farm design mimics a school of fish to exploit wind turbulence, and could dramatically improve power output. Familiar propeller-style wind turbines with large sweeping blades have almost reached their limit of efficiency. But in a wind farm, they must be spaced widely apart to avoid turbulence from the other turbines. This has limited wind farm power output to around two watts per square metre of land at favourable sites. Posted. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14452133 Huge San Benito County solar farm proposal has its day in court. A proposal to build one of the world's largest solar farms south of Silicon Valley had its day in court Monday as a long-simmering battle between the Bay Area investors supporting the project and environmentalists who say it will harm wildlife finally came before a judge. At the center of the debate is a $1.8 billion, 399-megawatt solar farm proposed for Panoche Valley, an arid expanse of rangeland and barbed wire 50 miles southeast of Hollister. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_18641569?source=rss http://www.contracostatimes.com/science/ci_18641569 FERC pulls plug on Northern Calif. wave power project. Wave power's prospects in California suffered another setback last week when federal regulators quietly yanked a permit for a pilot project that was to operate off the coast of Sonoma County in the northern part of the state. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission told the Sonoma County Water Agency that it will cancel a permit issued in 2009 for a "hydrokinetic" project off the coast because of a lack of funds. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/08/09/8/ Innovations create major gains in wind energy. While many wind turbines built 30 years ago, when high oil prices boosted interest in the industry, have experienced serious issues, the technology has vastly improved and wind farm operators have learned ways to run the turbines more efficiently. In recent years, operators have discovered the importance of turning off the machines in high winds and finding the most effective locations for the farms at the outset. Turbines have also increased in size and capacity. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/08/09/9/ VEHICLES Obama calling for fuel standards for big vehicles. Fire trucks and concrete mixers, semis, heavy-duty pickups and all trucks in between will, for the first time, have to trim fuel consumption and emissions of heat-trapping gases under new efficiency standards being announced Tuesday by President Barack Obama. The White House says the standards the president was announcing will save businesses billions of dollars in fuel costs, help reduce oil consumption and cut air pollution. The standards apply to vehicle model years 2014 to 2018. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA?SITE=TXBEA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/obama-to-announce-first-ever-fuel-standards-for-work-trucks-buses-other-heavy-duty-vehicles/2011/08/09/gIQAtgsu3I_story.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/9/obama-calling-fuel-standards-big-vehicles/ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/08/09/national/w000631D16.DTL http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/09/obama-to-announce-fuel-standards-for-big/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_9702b650-6bdb-538e-92cd-a11b6330dd55.html http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18643948?nclick_check=1 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18643932 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18643941 Truck Makers Face Fuel-Efficiency Rules. The Obama administration will require truck manufacturers to meet new fuel-efficiency standards lowering carbon-dioxide emissions for large trucks and buses by as much as 20% by 2018. The rules, which President Barack Obama will unveil Tuesday, are the first-ever for the commercial-truck industry and will apply to large vehicles such as 18-wheelers, garbage trucks and delivery trucks. The administration will require manufacturers to begin offering more fuel-efficient vehicles as early as 2014 with the biggest reductions coming by 2018. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904140604576496712022208854.html?KEYWORDS=vehicles Liquid flow battery could slash electric car charge times. If we've said it once, we've said it roughly two or three dozen times: electric cars are a long way from mainstream adoption. Their limited range, long recharge times and prohibitive pricing all mean they're more suited to Dharma H Ippie than Joe P Ublic. That could soon be about to change, however, if scientists at 24M Technologies and MIT get their way. They're working on a super-affordable semi-solid flow battery, dubbed Cambridge Crude, that could allow an electric car to be recharged in minutes using infrastructure already in place at petrol stations. Posted. http://crave.cnet.co.uk/cartech/liquid-flow-battery-could-slash-electric-car-charge-times-50004657/ OPINION No clean air without clean cars. WITH summer holidays upon us, Marinites are making travel plans. This year, more than last, many must factor in the high cost of gas. Average Californians now spend 7.19 percent of their income on gas; a 2.54 percent increase from 2010. The price of oil has increased by 25 percent since Jan.1. This increase, in addition to limiting travel, also impacts summer bank accounts. Californians will likely spend more than $15 billion on gas this summer, making it a lot harder for them to enjoy holiday weekends while increasing our dependence on oil. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_18641276 BLOGS Study: Researchers At Ford, U Of M Say Enough Lithium Exists To Power Electric Vehicles Til 2100. A team of researchers from the University of Michigan and Ford has assessed the global availability of lithium and compared it to the potential demand from widespread use of electric vehicles. The result? Don't you worry your pretty little head about it. The researchers concluded that sufficient lithium exist to power electric vehicles through until 2100 or beyond. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/09/researchers-at-ford-u-of-m-say-enough-lithium-exists-to-power-e/ Yosemite Installs Largest National Park Solar Array. Yosemite National Park is known for El Capitan and the breathtaking views captured by Ansel Adams, but visitors may soon remember another sight from their trip. Yosemite has installed the largest solar power array of all the national parks with a 672 kW system that will provide 12 percent of the park's power needs. Posted. http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3572 New Study Shows That Bike Sharing Programs Actually Save Lives. We have long touted the benefits and general awesomeness of bike sharing. Not only is it a cheap and easy way to zip around cities, but swapping a pedal-powered two wheeler for a gas-guzzling car is one of the easiest ways to curb carbon emissions and make our world a greener place. But now we have an even better reason to promote bike sharing: they actually save lives. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/new-study-shows-that-bike-sharing-programs-save-lives/ UK Opens Free Solar-Powered Highway EV Charging Network from Ecotricity. The first three of many free EV charging points have just opened in the UK in Hertfordshire, Reading, and Gloucestershire. The Ecotricity charging points will be part of a network of free, 100% green energy powered charging stations expected to be completely installed by September that are juiced up with energy from Ecotricity’s solar or wind energy parks across the UK. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/uk-opens-free-solar-powered-highway-ev-charging-network-from-ecotricit/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:12:56 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 10, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 10, 2011. 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 Air District: Help take control of pollution to avoid fine. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has created a new plan for keeping ozone levels below the EPA limit, even as local drivers and businesses brace for a $29 million noncompliance fee. That controversial annual fine, which could go into effect as early as the fall, will tack on $12 to valley car registrations and charge large businesses that haven't invested in emissions-reducing technology. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1206333696/Air-district-Help-take-control-of-pollution-to-avoid-fine CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon contracts lose Chicago exchange as attention shifts to Calif. market. Commodity trading house IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) Inc. is phasing out the Chicago Climate Futures Exchange and shifting its focus to California. ICE's decision comes at a tough time for environmental commodities trading. Financiers dabbling in U.S. emissions trading have been reassessing their business in the United States since the Senate set aside legislation to create a national cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/09/4 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Can an industry with big trucks and small wallets cut fuel use? Truckers face a relatively gentle on-ramp as they comply with the Obama administration's new fuel efficiency standards, an industry group said yesterday. The Obama administration set the first-ever standards for the industry yesterday. From 2014 to 2018, heavy-duty trucks will have to get 10, 15 or 20 percent more efficient, depending on the type of truck (Greenwire, Aug. 9). Getting there won't take much more than "off the shelf" technology, according to the White House. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/10/2 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Fuel-efficient auto effort already supports 151,000 jobs, report states. More than 151,000 Americans already have jobs aimed at making cars and trucks more fuel-efficient, according to a new report. The number of clean-vehicle technology jobs is also expected to increase as the automotive industry embraces new fuel economy standards. "We know the technology exists to make cleaner vehicles, we know that cleaner vehicles can lead to savings at the pump, …Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/10/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY White house announces 20% emissions cut for heavy trucks by 2018. The White House today announced the first-ever efficiency standards for heavy trucks and work vehicles, which would improve the fuel economy of tractor-trailers by 20 percent. The standards, which will apply to vehicles produced between 2014 and 2018, are expected to save $50 billion in fuel costs over the life of the vehicles while slashing 270 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/09/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Heavy Trucks to Be Subject to New Rules for Mileage. Big tractor-trailer trucks will have to get 20 percent more miles per gallon by the 2018 model year under the first-ever fuel economy rules for heavy vehicles, announced Tuesday by President Obama. The rules mimic the “light duty” fuel economy standards for cars and sport utility vehicles that have been in place since 1975. But they are more complex, tailored to cover vehicles including garbage trucks, which must get a 10 percent improvement, and pickups and vans too big to be covered by the existing rules, which must now make a 15 percent improvement. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/science/earth/10truck.html?_r=1&scp=8&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse First fuel-efficiency and greenhouse-gas emissions standards for trucks announced. President Obama and truck makers reach agreement on fuel economy and pollution standards for big rigs, work trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles. Reporting from Washington— President Obama announced the first fuel-efficiency and greenhouse gas standards for long-haul rigs, work trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles Tuesday, the second mileage pact with manufacturers in less than a month. The regulations call for reductions on fuel consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions by 2018 of 9% to 23%, depending on the type of vehicle. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-trucks-20110810,0,6810898.story High-speed rail price tag soars again, this time on pace to surpass $60 billion. For the second time since voters approved California's massive bullet train project, the state on Tuesday raised the total price tag for the first stretch by several billion dollars -- and now the cost for the entire rail line is on pace to skyrocket to an eye-popping $60 billion to $80 billion or even more. http://www.mercurynews.com/california-budget/ci_18645051?source=rss Michigan leads U.S. in clean car jobs, UAW-backed study says. Michigan has 24 percent of U.S. jobs related to "clean" car technology, the most of any state, a report by the UAW and two environmental groups said. The state has 38,067 of the 155,466 U.S. workers who make products that increase fuel efficiency or reduce emissions, according to a study released by the UAW, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the National Wildlife Federation. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110809/OEM05/308099812/1186 By SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Heavy-duty fuel efficiency standards to reduce oil imports by a third by 2025. In a preview yesterday of what is to transpire later this morning at the White House, senior administration officials said new fuel efficiency standards for heavy- and medium-duty trucks, vans and buses will reduce carbon pollution from tractor-trailers by about 20 percent, medium-duty trucks and vans about 15 percent and vocational vehicles from fire trucks to garbage haulers, by about 10 percent. Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2011/8/9/Heavy-dutyfuelefficiencystandardstoreduceoilimportsbyathirdby2025.aspx First All-Electric Subscription Plan: Car 2.0 Pricing. Recently, Tesla, a trailblazer in revolutionizing the current era of electric cars announced the end of production of the original Roadster. Tesla is phasing out the Roadster, which cost over $100k the past few years, and phasing in its new Model S, which will have a version as low as $57,400. As Tesla spokesperson Khobi Brooklyn explained in a Fast Company article titled “The End of an Era“ that the roadster made huge advances in the all-electric vehicle (EV) …Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2011/08/08/first-all-electric-subscription-plan-car-2-0-pricing/ GREEN ENERGY Calif. Solar Plant Faces Lawsuit. An initiative to build one of the world's largest solar power plants is finally having its day in court. Located in Panoche Valley, south of Silicon Valley, the $1.8 billion, 399-megawatt facility is the center of a debate between environmentalists who support green energy and environmentalists who fear the plant will harm wildlife. The proposal, slated to break ground in 2013, was approved last year by the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, but environmental groups including the Sierra Club …Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/10/9 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FERC Pulls Plug On Northern Calif. Wave Power Project. Wave power's prospects in California suffered another setback last week when federal regulators quietly yanked a permit for a pilot project that was to operate off the coast of Sonoma County in the northern part of the state. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission told the Sonoma County Water Agency that it will cancel a permit issued in 2009 for a "hydrokinetic" project off the coast because of a lack of funds. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/09/8 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS An Economist for Nature Calculates the Need for More Protection. Dawn is breaking over this remote upland region, where neat rows of coffee plants cover many of the hillsides. The rising tropical sun saturates the landscape with color, revealing islandlike remnants of native forest scattered among the coffee plantations. But across this bucolic countryside, trouble is brewing. An invasive African insect known as the coffee berry borer is threatening the area’s crops. Local farmers call the pest “la broca”: the borer. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/science/09profile.html?ref=earth OPINIONS Utilities Cash In When You Go Solar. I recently got a copy of a utility bill for a Minnesota business that has a 40 kilowatt (kW) solar PV array. I wanted to learn how quickly they'd pay off their array with the electricity savings. I was shocked. Payback time was 30 years. Even if the business owner had received a generous $2.00 per Watt rebate on top of federal tax incentives, it would still take 22 years to recoup the investment. It all came down to the way utilities account for solar power under "net metering" rules. Posted. http://www.grist.org/solar-power/2011-08-08-clever-accounting-lets-utilities-cash-in-when-you-go-solar BLOGS Fuel Economy: It’s Not Just for Cars Anymore. The Obama administration issued fuel economy standards on Tuesday for medium and heavy trucks, the first time the government has regulated vehicles over 8,500 pounds. The vehicles in this category range from the very largest S.U.V.’s, and pickup trucks that are too big to be household vehicles, all the way to 18-wheelers, which have a maximum loaded weight of 80,000 pounds. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/fuel-economy-its-not-just-for-cars-anymore/?scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Natural Carbon Storage Off the California Coast? A new study from the University of Southern California finds that the cool waters off the coast of Los Angeles are acting as a carbon sink by sequestering more carbon than other parts of the world’s oceans. Lisa Collins, a lecturer at the USC Dornsife College, spent four years studying samples from floating sediment traps in the San Pedro Basin as a way to determine what’s falling through the water column and how deep it’s getting. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/08/09/natural-carbon-storage-off-the-california-coast/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Getting more voices into the climate game, starting with Steven Chu. It's easy to overthink the problem of climate change skepticism, to get caught up in sophisticated theories about the psychology of communication. (Er, guilty.) But the question of how to influence public opinion does have some simple answers. One thing that changes people's minds is receiving signals that trusted people and institutions are in agreement on an issue, that it's no longer contested, that it's socially "safe" to accept it. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-08-09-getting-more-voices-into-climate-game-starting-with-steven-chu U.S. Postal Service Reports $400 Million in Energy Savings Since 2007. Reports of the imminent bankruptcy of the U.S. Postal Service are here once again – the latest news being a loss of $3.1 billion in the third quarter of this fiscal year – but if rain, snow and gloom of night can’t stop the carriers from their appointed rounds, then what’s a little financial uncertainty? Not only is the mail still being delivered, but according to the latest sustainability report from USPS, it is being delivered with about 30 percent less energy than in 2003. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/08/postal-service-reports-400-million-energy-savings-2007/ O.C. human waste now powers hydrogen cars. An experimental fuel cell is turning the Orange County Sanitation District into a filling station for hydrogen cars. The fuel cell, which produces both hydrogen and electricity from waste gas at the Fountain Valley sewage treatment plant, began a three-year demonstration run June 1; a “grand opening” will be held Aug. 16. If it proves useful, the project could be expanded in coming years. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2011/08/09/o-c-human-waste-now-powers-hydrogen-cars/134715/ Pike Research forecasts hybrid electric locomotive sales could reach nearly 500 units from 2011 to 2020; to utilize 514 MWh of battery capacity by 2020. According to a recent report from Pike Research, hybrid locomotive sales will reach nearly 500 units during the period from 2011 to 2020, representing an increasing portion of the total market. During that period, hybrid locomotive sales will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.4% under a baseline forecast scenario, with annual unit sales surpassing 100 locomotives by 2020. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/pike-20110810.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:29:18 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 11, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 11, 2011. 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 It's been a banner year for breezes and clean air in the Valley. Sacramento is enjoying cleaner air, which officials attribute to this year's cool spring and summer, the lack of major forest fires and continued success in state vehicle emission-control programs. The summer's air quality is good news for those taking advantage of outdoor recreation – gardening, jogging, golfing, hiking and finding pleasure in the region's scenic views. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/11/3830243/its-been-a-banner-year-for-breezes.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/11/1811120/its-been-a-banner-year-for-breezes.html Industry asks to reopen Bush-era lawsuit over ozone rules. As the White House decides whether to tighten the nationwide limits on smog that the George W. Bush administration had chosen, power companies and large manufacturers are asking a federal court to hear their claims that even the old rules are too strict. U.S. EPA has delayed the release of its final update to the air quality standards for ozone four times, most recently last week. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/11/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Building Cap-and-Trade System ‘An Ingenious Approach’ The world’s first cap and trade system just for buildings could prove a model for other municipalities seeking to cut emissions, according to a forthcoming journal article. Tokyo’s emissions trading program, launched in April 2010, demonstrates that effective regulation of building emissions is possible, according to the article by Yuko Nishida and Ying Hua. The piece will appear in the August 10 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Building Research and Information. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/08/11/building-cap-and-trade-system-an-ingenious-approach/ China, California likely to dictate US carbon market. Successful carbon cap-and-trade programmes in China and California are likely to be necessary preconditions of any US national market in greenhouse gas emissions, according to market pioneer Richard Sandor. Richard Sandor: Cautiously optimistic about prospects of a "bottom up" US carbon market developing. “We need to have China surpass us to wake up the politicians in Washington,” Sandor told Environmental Finance. “And all eyes will be focused on cap-and-trade in California…Posted. http://www.environmental-finance.com/news/view/1914 Emissions cap not low enough for E.U. to continue buying Chinese offsets. China's plan, announced last week, to set absolute limits on greenhouse gas emissions is unlikely to persuade the European Union to continue financing project-based greenhouse gas reductions in China under the United Nations' Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). While the absolute cap on Chinese industry emissions represents a major policy change, after 2012, the European Union plans to restrict offset credits from Chinese projects. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/11/9 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS The rise, fall, then rise again of a powerful global warming gas. Call it "The Case of the Missing Methane." Scientists were stumped when the concentration of the powerful greenhouse gas leveled off at the end of the 20th century, after increasing for nearly a century. Now a pair of studies published yesterday in Nature presents two different, seemingly conflicting, theories about what happened. One study argues that changing agricultural practices, especially among Asia's rice farmers, caused the methane slowdown between 1980 and 2000. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/11/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES In Auto Test in Europe, Meter Ticks Off Miles, and Fee to Driver. Eindhoven, the Netherlands — As Sander Van Dedem recalled watching the charges tick up every 10 seconds on the dashboard meter on the way to the airport, he resolved to try public transportation next time. “Looking at the money makes you realize that a car isn’t always a good idea,” said Mr. Van Dedem, a commercial sales manager for I.B.M. here. But his pricey ride was not in a taxi. He was driving his own Volvo XC60. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/science/earth/11meter.html?ref=earth Ford and SunPower to bundle electric cars with rooftop solar power. Electric-car makers and solar manufacturers have long known they share the same potential customers -- highly educated and affluent people who are fascinated by technology and care about the environment and energy independence. SunPower (SPWRA), Silicon Valley's largest solar manufacturer, and Ford on Wednesday announced a partnership that is a first for the auto and solar industries. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_18653385 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18656111 U.S. awards $175M for advanced technology projects to improve fuel economy. The U.S. Department of Energy today awarded more than $175 million in funding to support projects and research that accelerate the development of advanced vehicle technologies. The funding will support 40 projects across 15 states aimed at improving the fuel efficiency of future cars and trucks. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110810/OEM05/110819984/1186 U.S. electric vehicle battery maker gets a jolt from GM. 2011 hasn't been a banner year for American battery manufacturers, but an announcement by General Motors Co. today suggests that at least one of them will get a shot in the arm. GM today selected A123 Systems Inc. as a supplier for an as yet unknown passenger vehicle that will be sold in the United States as well as Europe and Asia, the markets that are a surer bet for adopting electric cars. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/11/4 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY New electric car can power your home. Nissan's Leaf electric car can feed power from its battery back into a family home and run appliances for up to two days under a new project the Japanese car-maker unveiled Tuesday. Using the "Leaf to Home" system, the lithium-ion batteries of the zero tailpipe emission Leaf can be used as an emergency power backup for the home during a natural disaster or a power blackout, Nissan said. Posted. http://www.mid-day.com/lifestyle/2011/aug/100811-nissan-electric-car-power-home-leaf-technology.htm GREEN ENERGY Europe Lodges WTO Complaint Against Canada Over Renewable Energy. The European Union lodged a complaint at the World Trade Organization against Canada over subsidies the province of Ontario gives to renewable-energy producers that use domestic technology. Under Ontario’s feed-in tariff program, created by the province’s Green Energy Act, above-market rates are paid to producers of renewable energy provided it is generated with a certain percentage of Canadian-made equipment. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-11/europe-lodges-wto-complaint-against-canada-over-renewable-energy.html http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/11/us-eu-canada-trade-idUSTRE77A2WU20110811 Massive Solar Project Gets Approval To Build. Palm Springs, Calif.—Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has approved a massive solar project proposed for a large swath of desert east of Palm Springs. The proposed project would be built on 4,100 acres of public lands by Desert Sunlight Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of First Solar Inc. According to the announcement issued Wednesday …Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_18655704 http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110811/NEWS07/108110318/Feds-approve-massive-solar-project-Desert-Center-?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage Feds approve massive desert center solar project. With federal approval of First Solar's 550-megawatt Desert Sunlight project Wednesday, three of the four fast-tracked industrial-scale solar projects on public land east of the Coachella Valley are, or soon will be, hiring. “We're going to see people back to work pretty quick,” said Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit. “There will be a large number of construction jobs at the start. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108110318 Palm desert couple take on hoa over solar. A Palm Desert couple who want to help the environment and shave utility costs are battling their homeowners association over the right to install solar panels on their condominium, a situation in which other condo owners in the valley could find themselves. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108100312 San Mateo County gets to work on energy-efficiency plan. Redwood City -- The assignment was to write their visions for a greener San Mateo County -- big ideas only, three per person, on Post-it notes to share. Janet Davis was already on her 15th Post-it when meeting organizers called for the discussion to begin. "It's why we're here," said Davis, who came to kick off the county's Energy Efficiency Climate Action Plan at a public meeting with a sprinkling of concerned county residents. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county/ci_18658081 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18658081 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18658081 Hybrid plant slated for Los Angeles County. The California Energy Commission yesterday approved construction of a hybrid power plant in Los Angeles County. The 570-megawatt plant, which will be built about 60 miles north of the city of Los Angeles, will create energy with a combination of natural gas and solar thermal. During daylight hours solar equipment will provide about 10 percent of the peak power generated, the commission said in a statement. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/11/10 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Test flight set today for 13,000-mph Hypersonic Falcon glider. Ready for a 12-minute flight from New York to Los Angeles? You can't buy tickets quite yet, but today DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, is conducting a second flight test of its unmanned Falcon Hypersonic Technology vehicle. A drawing of the unmanned Falcon Hypersonic Technology vehicle developed by the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/08/test-flight-set-today-for-13000-mph-hypersonic-falcon-glider/1 http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18660533 Pregnant California women show high levels of flame retardant. The levels of PBDEs in their blood were among the highest ever recorded, a UC San Francisco study says. PBDEs, mostly banned in California since 2004, are harmful to the liver, thyroid and nerve development. Pregnant California women have registered some of the highest levels of the toxic flame retardant PBDE in their bodies ever recorded worldwide, according to a new study released by researchers at UC San Francisco on Wednesday. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-flame-retardants-20110811,0,4523300,print.story Capitol Alert: Harry Reid a fan of 'gentleman' Jerry Brown. Gov. Jerry Brown has a fan in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. On a media call this morning ahead of a clean energy summit in Las Vegas this month, the Nevada Democrat said he was "elated" to have Brown join the conference, touting Brown's longtime advocacy of renewable energy. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/10/v-print/2494764/capitol-alert-harry-reid-a-fan.html Alternative fuel firm under scrutiny after blast. An alternative energy company is under scrutiny after it was revealed that a powerful explosion that blew two employees out of the building was similar to another one that occurred last year at a facility operated by the same owner. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/10/1810949/state-joins-la-probe-into-alternative.html (paid subscription only) OPINION Political smog. The White House is caving to pressure and delaying new ozone standards despite a scientific consensus that the minimum standard is too high. Health is too important to allow politics to interfere. Former President Bush had a nasty tendency to put politics ahead of science; one of the more flagrant examples of this occurred in 2008, when the Environmental Protection Agency set a weaker standard on ozone, the key ingredient in smog, than the agency's scientific advisory panel had unanimously recommended. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-ozone-20110811,0,3038912.story NRDC: It's Not Just the Heat, It's the Smog Pollution -- Analysis shows suburbs, rural areas, even national parks suffer from dangerous "bad air" days this summer. Washington - Most of the nation – from seaside suburbs to our national parks - has experienced health-threatening "bad air" days this year due to smog pollution, according to a new analysis of government air pollution data by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/11/v-print/3831191/nrdc-its-not-just-the-heat-its.html http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/extremes/story/2011/08/Report-details-2000-unhealthy-air-alerts-in-2011/49920218/1 Would looser environmental regulations help the economy? Republicans in the House of Representatives are waging an all-out war to block federal regulations that protect the environment. They loaded up a pending 2012 spending bill with terms that would eliminate a broad array of environmental protections, everything from stopping new plants and animals from being placed on the endangered species list to ending federal limits on water pollution in Florida, Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/13/1810002/would-looser-environmental-regulations.html (paid subscription only) LEWIS W. DIUGUID: Give Mother Earth a weekly day off. Global warming naysayers will continue to deny that humans worsen the health of the planet until the rising tide overtakes coastal homes and 100-degree heat is a Midwest constant. The prevailing science provides clear evidence that the polar ice caps are melting. Arctic shipping lanes, which for the centuries of humanity's existence have been frozen, are now clearing in parts. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/10/2495099/lewis-w-diuguid-give-mother-earth.html#storylink=misearch Opinion: Hooking up to the grid: Reforming access is imperative. There is significant excitement over the new law requiring 33 percent of California’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020. (Thanks to author, state Sen. Joe Simitian.) But, without reforming the process of connecting renewables to the grid, the economic benefits that can be delivered to our communities by clean renewable energy will remain limited. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?1=1&_c=zwws650pg8t4z7&xid=zwwl3eyzutlswz&done=.zwwlnmmw5bn2kt&_credir=1313079470&_c=zwws650pg8t4z7# BLOGS Imparting Energy Smarts to Young Consumers. While some members of Congress lament the prospect of switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, one California nonprofit, Zilowatt, is spreading the energy conservation message at a grass-roots level. The group, whose motto is “Start Small,” wants to change energy habits by teaching consumers in grades K to 12 that the best light bulb is one that’s turned off. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/imparting-energy-smarts-to-young-consumers/?ref=earth More than 150,000 Jobs Exist in the Clean Car Sector; New Standards Will Create More. Today President Obama is speaking at a factory in Holland, Michigan that makes lithium batteries for advanced hybrid electric cars. We have heard a lot of bad news about the economy lately, but when the President stands in the Johnson Controls’ plant, we will hear a different truth: clean cars have powered Detroit’s turnaround and put Americans back to work. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/plehner/already_151000_jobs_exist_in_t.html New Smog Standards Will Prevent Respiratory Illness, but Polluters Don't Want to Clean Up Their Mess. American homeowners know that companies don’t have the right to dump garbage in our backyards. If we found a pile of solid waste on our lawn, we would demand they haul it away. Even if we learned it would cost the company money to clean it up, we wouldn’t just let them leave garbage in our yard. We would make them get rid of it. Yet every day, companies are dumping garbage into our lungs in the form of air pollution. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/plehner/new_smog_standards_will_preven.html Faced with daunting mpg standards, automakers seek "cure" for vehicle weight. Stringent fuel economy guidelines unveiled by the Obama administration in late July will force the automotive industry to explore cost-effective lightweight materials for use in future vehicles, according to some industry analysts. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/10/faced-with-daunting-mpg-standards-automakers-seek-cure-for-ve/ Urban green energy's skypump lets you drive like with the wind. We doubt that charging your electric vehicles using solar will become passé any time soon, but when it does, at least we have options when comes to fossil fuel-free electrons. Urban Green Energy is teaming with General Electric to create charging stations that funnel power from the wind directly into your EV's batteries. They even have a clever name: the skypump. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/10/urban-green-energy-skypump-wind-power/ DOE awards $7 million to advance hydrogen storage systems. It appears the U.S. hasn't completely backed away from hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with a new Department of Energy (DOE) announcement saying it will award nearly $7 million over five years for cost analysis to support the development of hydrogen storage for fuel cell systems, including those used for transportation. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/10/doe-awards-7-million-to-advance-hydrogen-storage-systems/ DOE To Invest $50 Million More In Solar Manufacturing. Over the course of the next two years, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will invest $50 million into its SUNPATH (Scaling Up Nascent Photovoltaic At Home) program. The DOE says this multi-million investment is to assist the U.S. in reclaiming its competitive edge in solar manufacturing. SUNPATH is the second phase of the Photovoltaic Manufacturing Initiative (PVMI), which, in turn, is part of the DOE's SunShot Initiative. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/10/doe-to-invest-50-million-in-solar-manufacturing/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:34:33 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 12, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 12, 2011. California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 12, 2011. 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 Report details 2,000 unhealthy air alerts in 2011. You may have thought bad air pollution was on the way out, but not so. A report from the Natural Resources Defense Council counts more than 2,000 code orange alerts in U.S. communities and national parks from Jan. 1 to early August. Code orange means the air's too unhealthy for people with lung disease, older adults and children. NRDC, a pro-environmental advocacy group, is hoping the Environmental Protection Agency will consider this as they prepare to release new clean air standards. Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/extremes/story/2011/08/Report-details-2000-unhealthy-air-alerts-in-2011/49920218/1 http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/08/us-2000-unhealthy-air-alerts-2011.php Obama, EPA hearing from both sides on ozone rule. The Obama administration once again may be poised to delay action on a tougher ozone standard as it tries to do no harm to the fragile economy. Buffeted by industry on one side and environmental groups on the others, the administration has missed several deadlines to change the standard for smog from the level set by the Bush administration in 2008. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/08/obama-epa-hearing-from-both-sides-on-ozone-rule/1 New Rules and Old Plants May Strain Summer Energy Supplies. Washington — As 58 million people across 13 states sweated through the third day of a heat wave last month, power demand in North America’s largest regional grid jurisdiction hit a record high. And yet there was no shortage, no rolling blackout and no brownout in an area that stretches from Maryland to Chicago. But that may not be the case in the future as stricter air quality rules are put in place. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/business/energy-environment/new-rules-and-old-plants-may-strain-summer-energy-supplies.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Air quality, fire officials to team up; guidelines designed to help manage smoke from wildfires. In an effort to try to keep sooty air out of residents' lungs, local air quality managers will now have a direct role in determining how a fire will be fought if it erupts on federal land in California. Earlier this month, the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and the California Air Resources Board released a set of guidelines that encourage fire managers and air quality officials to work together to plan how to manage fires once they ignite. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2011/aug/11/air-quality-fire-officials-to-team/?print=1 Report: Valley air thick with smog. Ozone pollution days rank sixth in U.S. so far this year. The Coachella Valley is the sixth-worst out of 250 areas across the United States for high ozone pollution days so far this year, according to a report released Thursday. Joshua Tree National Park ranked fifth. The valley had 36 days of “Code Orange” ozone levels that exceeded the federal standard, according to the Washington-based Natural Resources Defense Council. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110812/NEWS01/108120305/Valley-air-thick-smog-report-finds?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage Pollution at the moderate level, not many changes in weather forecast. Moderate ozone air pollution is forecast today and Saturday in both the foothills and on the valley floor by the Butte County Air Quality Control District. When there is moderate air pollution, unusually sensitive people, including those with respiratory ailments and children, should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. Ozone is a summertime pollutant that forms when certain gases — in this area largely from vehicle exhaust — are heated by sunlight. Posted. http://www.chicoer.com/breakingnews/ci_18662074 Airlines fight EU rules on air quality. The European Union is starting to look like an environmental bully in the friendly skies — and the behavior could end up pushing global carriers out of its airspace. Airlines that fly into and out of EU nations are fighting to overturn a new rule that could cost them billions of dollars for their carbon dioxide emissions — including emissions generated beyond European airspace during international flights. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/11/no-friendly-skies-between-us-eu/ CLIMATE CHANGE Cap and Trade Becomes a Bludgeon in Republican Primary Brawl. Cap and trade is back. The controversial system to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that was used potently against Democrats last year is being turned into ammunition against Republican candidates for president. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) repeatedly tore into former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty last night for his past support of a cap-and-trade program during an Iowa debate featuring eight Republicans seeking their party's nomination. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/08/12/12climatewire-cap-and-trade-becomes-a-bludgeon-in-republic-18500.html?pagewanted=print http://www.grist.org/list/2011-08-12-critical-list-bachmann-goes-after-pawlenty-on-cap-and-trade-a-bu http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/12/1 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Car exhaust system maker fined $560,000 by California. • State says it sold non-California certified catalytic converters • Results from industry-wide probe The California Air Resources Board has fined Car Sound Exhaust Inc., a Rancho Santa Margarita maker of catalytic converters a total of $560,000 for air quality violations. “There are instances where companies are not aware of ARB’s requirements,” said CARB Enforcement Chief James Ryden. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=19101 Ford announces plan to sell rooftop solar panels with electric vehicles. Auto companies with electric vehicle offerings are increasingly taking the opportunity to build links between their vehicles and renewable energy. Perhaps in response to those who say (incorrectly) that EVs do nothing to help mitigate carbon emissions – due to a prevalence of coal-fired electricity generation – manufacturers are forging strategic partnerships with solar companies to shore up the environmental case for the electric car. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/08/ford-announces-plan-sell-rooftop-solar-panels-electric-vehicles/ GM awards A123 contract for battery packs. A123 Systems Inc., a growing U.S. lithium-ion battery company, says it has received a contract to provide battery packs for a General Motors global vehicle program. Jason Forcier, vice president for A123's Automotive Solutions Group, said that A123 will be supplying "thousands to tens of thousands" of battery packs to GM. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110811/OEM05/110819982/1186 Clean car sites are the go-to stump for Obama's jobs message. President Obama yesterday used an appearance at a Michigan vehicle battery plant to repeat a talking point familiar to voters and observers by now: Clean cars mean more jobs, less pollution and a big boost for a failing industry. "Every day, hundreds of people are going to work on the technologies that are helping us to fight our way out of this recession," Obama said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/12/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY In Frederick, aiming to build ‘green homes’ that don’t break the bank. Anyone paying attention to the “green building” market knows that most of the eco-friendly abodes that have proliferated across the country in recent years have been million-dollar trophy homes. But the developers of the new North Pointe neighborhood in Frederick are taking things in the other direction: They’re building energy-efficient townhouses and duplexes geared toward middle-class buyers. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/in-frederick-planning-green-homes-that-dont-break-the-bank/2011/08/03/gIQAr4n0AJ_story.html Castro Valley library's solar project has it saving green. The county's newest library isn't just going green -- but saving a lot of it, too. The Castro Valley Library's rooftop solar project -- which included the installation of 880 solar panels -- recently was completed. The $1.6 million, 277-kilowatt system went online in May, after six months of construction. Danielle Kirchner, the library's circulation supervisor, said during the solar project's first month of operation, the library's energy bill dropped from nearly $6,000 in May 2010 to a credit of more than $3,800 in May 2011. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18663104?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18663104?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com IKEA to go 100 percent renewable, starting with $6.5 billion in solar panels. Lots of companies talk about going green, but the scale of Swedish furniture retailer IKEA's ambition is breathtaking. In its quest to get 100 percent renewable, the firm skipped right over the usual, intermediate step of buying renewable power from a third party. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-08-12-ikea-to-go-100-percent-renewable-starting-with-6.5-billion-in-so MISCELLANEOUS Ray Anderson, ‘greenest CEO in America,’ dies at 77. Ray Anderson, 77, often called the “greenest CEO in America” for his crusade to turn his billion-dollar carpet company into an environmentally sustainable enterprise, died Aug. 8 at his home in Atlanta. He had liver cancer. Mr. Anderson was the founder of Interface, the largest producer of commercial carpet tiles. For 20 years, he ran the business in compliance with government regulations but never thought much about the environment. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/ray-anderson-greenest-ceo-in-america-dies-at-77/2011/08/10/gIQAGoTU7I_story.html Transit ridership surges throughout Bay Area. When John Leyba boarded Caltrain on Tuesday morning at the Diridon Station in downtown San Jose, he found it "insanely crowded" -- standing room only most of the way to San Francisco, where he works for PG&E as a business analyst. And when he transferred onto a Muni bus at 4th and King streets, he barely made it inside the door. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county/ci_18663245?source=rss Nanoparticles in sunscreen may be unsafe, scientists say. Although summer may be coming to a close, the debate on sunscreen safety rages on. Earlier this summer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declined to put warning labels on sunscreens that contain nanomaterials, while requiring other labeling information. Sunscreen manufacturers increasingly are producing sunblocks with nanoscale ingredients, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, because they rub on clearly without leaving a white film or paste. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/nanoparticles-sunscreen-may-be-unsafe-scientists-say-11962 Proposition 84’s $7 Million Grant to Pave Way for Powerhouse Science Center Groundbreaking. Sacramento’s Premier Science Learning Center Breaks Ground This Fall. Sacramento, CA. – A large, colorful banner was unfurled for the first time Thursday, Aug. 11, draped over an aging building that was once a power station but now displays a new placard in the name of education. A banner ceremony took place at the historic PG&E Power Station B, the planned location of the Powerhouse Science Center, which is situated in the River District at 400 Jibboom Street in Sacramento. Posted. http://my.rosevillept.com/detail/185286.html OPINIONS STEWARD: Global warming is melting Al Gore’s brain. Former veep’s only defense of his bogus climate theory is potty language. Al Gore, the world’s foremost pseudo- scientist, is blasting skeptical scientists for their adherence to the centuries-old scientific method. Having tested the man-made global warming hypothesis with empirical observations, many scientists have come to different conclusions, causing Mr. Gore to become the Lenny Bruce of the environmental extremist gang. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/11/global-warming-is-melting-al-gores-brain/ Viewpoints: We need all the solar energy we can get – so remove barriers now. Recent articles in The Bee have highlighted a hot debate: Where should California best develop new solar energy? Some say we should build big plants in the desert; others argue for solar on our homes, where the land has already been drastically altered. In all this talk, we sometimes seem to forget how urgent it is to transition from fossil fuels. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/12/3832643/we-need-all-the-solar-energy-we.html Our View: New data cast doubt on global warming. A scientific poll shows that 69 percent of Americans believe it is at least "somewhat likely" that scientists falsify data to support their beliefs, of which 40 percent believe it is "very likely." Only 6 percent believe it's "not likely at all." New hard-science global warming data from NASA may back up the cynics. If tornadoes ravage the Great Plains, we are told it's more evidence of global warming. Posted. http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/global-109052-warming-believe.html#ixzz1Uq7JYfit BLOGS Ahead of deadline, groups express concern over release of climate-change documents. Four groups have written a letter to University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan expressing concern that UVa. may turn over protected records to a conservative group seeking documents related to climatologist Michael Mann. The university had agreed to turn over documents requested by the American Tradition Institute Environmental Law Center in January as part of a Prince William County circuit court judge's ruling in May. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/city-state/2011/aug/11/ahead-deadline-groups-express-concern-over-release/ A Magnate’s Green Epiphany. Ray C. Anderson, a leading green business advocate and founder of Interface, one of the world’s largest carpet manufacturers, died this week. He’d spent the last 17 years promoting the benefits of sustainable business practices, not only for protecting the environment but for boosting the bottom line. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/a-magnates-green-epiphany/#more-110741 Once-Scorned Light Bulbs Are Advancing. In my Pragmatist column in Thursday’s Home section, I describe the latest advancements in energy-efficient light bulbs in response to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, part of which takes effect next January. Much of that discussion focuses on so-called C.F.L.’s, or compact fluorescent light bulbs. While they have improved in recent years, the technology continues to be hampered by worries about its environmental impact in landfills because C.F.L.’s contain mercury. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/once-scorned-compact-fluorescents-are-advancing/ As Ecosystems, Cities Yield Some Surprises. In Boston, scientists measuring the city’s greenhouse gas emissions have found what they call a “weekend effect,” a clear drop-off in the amount of carbon dioxide entering the city’s atmosphere on Saturdays and Sundays. In Fresno, researchers have discovered that backyard water use increases with wealth, as does backyard biodiversity. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/as-ecosystems-cities-yield-some-surprises/ Fountain Valley hydrogen station fills 'er up with sewer gas. As General Motors, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and other major automobile manufacturers prepare to bring hydrogen cars to market by 2015, the availability and sustainability of the hydrogen fuel to power them remains an issue. Later this month, what is believed to be the world's first sewage-powered hydrogen fuel station will open in Fountain Valley, offering a renewable-energy solution to one piece of the sustainability puzzle. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/08/hydrogen-fuel-waste-water-treatment-plant.html Bachmann knocks Pawlenty on cap-and-trade at Iowa debate. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) wants to tether former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty to his past support for cap-and-trade policies to curb climate change, even though Pawlenty has fled from the position during the GOP presidential campaign. The two Minnesotans traded blows at Thursday night’s GOP debate in Iowa ahead of that state’s critical straw poll on Saturday. (The Hill’s Cameron Joseph has much more from the Iowa debate here). Posted. http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/176593-bachmann-knocks-pawlenty-on-cap-and-trade-at-iowa-debate Opposing Clean Air Protections, Industry Lobbyists Misrepresent When Updated Standards Must Be Met. Industry lobbyists are cynically exploiting anxieties over current economic conditions to oppose Americans’ right to be protected against unhealthy smog pollution. Because they don’t have the facts or science or law on their side, these lobbyists have been reduced to misrepresenting the way the Clean Air Act works and its extended timelines for reducing pollution. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jwalke/industry_will_have_plenty_of_t.html Scientists Isolate Plant Gene That Could Lead to Cheaper, More Efficient Ethanol Production. A research team at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) has isolated the gene that controls the amount of ethanol production a microorganism is capable of. Isolating the gene, which is called clostridium thermocellum, could allow scientists to experiment with altering a part of the microorganism’s DNA to make it produce more ethanol from a single plant. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/scientists-isolate-plant-gene-that-could-lead-to-cheaper-more-efficient-ethanol-production/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:26:48 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 15, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 15, 2011. 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 Sacredness of Temecula-area quarry site adds to fight. Imagine having the Garden of Eden in your backyard and watching it disappear, one explosive blast at a time. Leaders of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians say something similar will happen if a proposed Temecula-area quarry is approved in the area where they believe the world began. "The origin of the Luiseño people is the single most important account in our culture," Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro said. "Our present-day practices, beliefs and social structure are directly related to our creation." Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_sacred14.3ddd799.html Odors, air emissions and livestock mortality composting. Nearly all people initially think that a dead animal, if told nothing else about the carcass, smells badly. This is because typically their experiences are limited to road kill and mice in the garage. A well-managed composting system for on-farm mortality does not have to be an air quality concern! Similar to other areas of livestock production there are air emissions from composting livestock mortality. Greenhouse gases and ammonia are all emitted from the compost site. Posted. http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle-news/Odors-air-emissions-and-livestock-mortality-composting-127757193.html?ref=193 EPA stays tight-lipped on ozone review. Two weeks after missing a self-imposed deadline for a review of the national air quality standards for ozone, the Obama administration dropped few hints about its plans Friday when it told a federal court it will need more time to make a decision. The filing with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia does not say when U.S. EPA will release a final rule that was sent to the White House in mid-July. The interagency review process should be finished soon, "after which EPA expects expeditiously to sign the final action," the filing says. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/15/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Obama administration encounters opposition to international climate agenda. President Obama spoke of lofty intentions to help the world reduce greenhouse gases when he addressed delegates to United Nations talks in Copenhagen in 2009. “We have charted our course, we have made our commitments, and we will do what we say,” he said. “Now I believe that it’s time for the nations and people of the world to come together behind a common purpose.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/obama-administration-encounters-opposition-to-international-climate-agenda/2011/08/01/gIQAnRWoFJ_story.html With Post-Its and Checklists, Schools Cut Their Energy Bills. Simple yellow Post-it notes with the message “When not in use, turn off the juice,” pointedly left on classroom computers, printers and air-conditioners, have helped the Mount Sinai School District on Long Island save $350,000 annually on utility bills. Energy consumption in New York City’s 1,245 school buildings is down roughly 11 percent since 2008, as motion detectors have been installed on classroom lights and unused refrigerators and freezers have been unplugged for the summer. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/education/15energy.html?_r=1 New study blames human beings for half of arctic ice melt. About half the recent record loss of Arctic sea ice can be blamed on global warming caused by human activity, according to a new study by scientists from the nation's leading climate research center. The peer-reviewed study, funded by the National Science Foundation is the first to attribute a specific proportion of the ice melt to greenhouse gases and particulates from pollution. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/14/1815947/new-study-blames-human-beings.html (paid subscription only) http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/14/2499493/new-study-blames-human-beings.html#storylink=misearch Parking? Yes, there's an app for that. Everyone who drives has had the frustrating experience of circling the block in search of an elusive parking space, or pulling into a garage to discover that it is full. All that time spent driving around in search of parking wastes time and gas -- and emits even more of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. That's where "smart parking" comes in -- the use of wireless technology and smartphone apps to make parking far easier, from directing you to open spots to facilitating online payments. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_18671794 Flurry of lobbying as Calif. Approaches final cap-and-trade design. As California's cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases nears the finish line, industry and environmental groups are still polarized on most of the major issues, from how many allowances industries should get for free to the stringency of the offsets system. Public comments were due last week on the second-to-last version of California's cap-and-trade program, which will be the first economy wide market-based system in the country for corralling greenhouse gas emissions when it takes effect next year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/15/2 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Northeast states considering low-carbon fuel rule based on Calif. model. A group of 11 states in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions is working on a plan that could cut the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by as much as 15 percent over the next 10 to 15 years. The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) is set to release a framework for a low-carbon fuel standard pending the completion of an economic analysis, which could happen as early as this month. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/15/2 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Carbon emissions from soil could limit sequestration efforts – study. The carbon-sucking potential of tropical forests could be diminished significantly by decaying leaves and plant matter, a new study from Nature Climate Change says. The culprit is a process known as the priming effect, said Emma Sayer, lead author of the study and a researcher at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in the United Kingdom. The extra CO2 that is expected to enter the atmosphere in the coming decades will encourage overall plant growth in the forests. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/15/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Small-scale experiment yields a 'sponge' that traps power plant CO2.There is a new sponge that researchers hope could absorb greenhouse gases from power plants one day. In a recent study, scientists at Lehigh University created a new material that pulls carbon dioxide and methane selectively from a stream of other gases. In theory, the new spongy substance could sop up heat-trapping gases emitted from the burning of coal or natural gas. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/15/4 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY What is cap-and-trade? Program would lower greenhouse gas emissions, but panned by Tea Party. The cap-and-trade approach to handling greenhouse gases, while controversial, is hardly complex. The basic premise of the pollution management program involves imposing mandatory limits - the caps - on the amount of allowable emissions from certain businesses. Step two grants companies’ credits - basically, licenses allowing them to release a specific amount of carbon dioxide or other pollutants into the air. Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/08/12/2011-08-12_what_is_capandtrade_program_would_lower_greenhouse_gas_emissions_but_panned_by_t.html#ixzz1V7ummfXI DIESEL EMISSIONS Pittsburgh panel OKs diesel limits for contractors. Pittsburgh City Council has approved a bill that would limit diesel emissions on contractors' vehicles used in city-subsidized construction projects. The bill was hailed as the first clean-air law passed by council since the middle of last century, though Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's office says he was still reviewing the bill and uncertain if he would sign it. The bill passed Tuesday with a veto-proof 8-0 majority, however, making that a formality. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18468351 CARB rejects port truckers bid. After agreeing to a panel hearing, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has decided against a recommendation to delay the scheduled emissions upgrades for drayage trucks in the Port of Oakland. We did not accomplish our intended outcome,” Ronald Light, executive director of the West State Alliance told Fleet Owner following the hearing. The hearing was designed to give truckers hauling in and out of the area port the opportunity to voice their concerns about the impact of the scheduled Phase II …Posted. http://fleetowner.com/management/news/carb-rejects-port-truckers-0815/ VEHICLES DRIVING GREEN: Electric vehicle practicality. As Chevrolet Volts and Nissan Leafs trickle into area showrooms, we have reached the dawning of the age of Duracell. Mass-produced electric vehicles are finally breaking out of their niche after languishing for more than a century, as other manufacturers are jockeying to bring their battery electric and extended-range electric cars to market as quickly as possible …Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/driving-green-electric-vehicle-practicality/2011/08/12/gIQATzo0BJ_story.html Surprise! Ford's V-6 gamble turbocharges sales of F-150. Five years ago, when Ford considered a push to put a pricey, premium V-6 in more F-150s, it seemed like a dangerous gamble with a macho, full-sized pickup known for toughness and capacity. To many dealers and company insiders, it seemed like a bad joke. "I once said, "Bubba don't buy nothing but a V-8, and we've got a lot of Bubbas out here,'" recalls Martin Gubbels, owner of Big Sky Ford-Lincoln in Torrington, Wyo. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110815/OEM06/308159983/1254 BY REGISTRATION ONLY Ford's new option: Home solar power. Floor mats, mag wheels -- and now solar panels for the roof of your house. The list of dealer-offered options gets a first with the 2012 Ford Focus Electric. Ford has teamed up with SunPower to offer a residential solar-power system. The system, which can produce 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, doesn't directly charge the vehicle's battery. But Ford says it can provide enough electricity to the house to balance out the strain that a 1,000-mile-per-month driver puts on the electric bill. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110815/OEM06/308159977/1186 BY REGISTRATION ONLY U-M Eco-Driving Index tracks environmental impact of new vehicles. A new national index by the University of Michigan shows that emissions of greenhouse gases per driver of newly purchased vehicles are down fourteen percent since late 2007. UMTRI researchers developed the index as part of Sustainable Worldwide Transportation. The U-M Eco-Driving Index estimates the average monthly amount of greenhouse gases produced by an individual U.S. driver who purchased a new vehicle that month. Posted. http://www.umtri.umich.edu/news.php?id=2854 Not sure about buying an EV yet? Just rent it first! Major US and Europe car rental companies are proposing and announcing the integration of electric vehicles (hybrid, plug-in and full electric) into their fleets, giving consumers the opportunity to rent almost every EV commercially available as soon as they hit the market. cars21.com summarised their offers below, focusing on the offer of plug-in and full electric vehicles to rent. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/63820110812.php GREEN ENERGY Corbett downplays Pa. green energy, conservation. A newspaper says the Corbett administration is putting aside renewable energy and energy conservation efforts emphasized by previous governors as it focuses on Pennsylvania's booming natural gas industry. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/onSYHd) that the administration has stripped employees from offices that oversee utility efforts to save energy and help schools and local governments conserve energy. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18684667 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18684667 One solution to the variability of wind power is more wind. The output from a single wind turbine can vary widely over a short period of time, as wind goes from gusty to calm. The adjacent graphic (from this report [PDF]) illustrates how a single turbine in Texas provided varying power output over a single day, varying from under 20 percent of capacity to near 100 percent! Posted. http://www.grist.org/wind-power/2011-08-11-solving-wind-powers-variability-with-more-wind-power Are California’s Renewable Energy Goals Achievable? California is committed to a renewable energy portfolio to provide 33 percent of its electricity by 2020 from qualifying resources such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and small hydroelectric facilities. Can this portfolio succeed? Ambitious goals take more than legislative action to have a chance for success. It takes an actual plan that can be implemented with actual engineering accomplishments. Posted. http://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Renewable-Energy/Are-Californias-Renewable-Energy-Goals-Achievable.html MISCELLANEOUS More colleges offering organic, sustainability agriculture programs as consumer interest grows. Misha Manuchehri slowly picks her way through plots of barley, wheat and peas. Every so often, the graduate student in crop science at Washington State University stoops to pluck an errant weed at a farm just off campus. With a bachelor’s degree in organic agriculture already under her belt, Manuchehri plans to continue her studies and ultimately find work in sustainable agriculture. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/more-colleges-offering-organic-sustainability-agriculture-programs-as-consumer-interest-grows/2011/08/15/gIQAlWcSGJ_story.html OPINIONS High-speed rail: on track to better travel. When The Chronicle endorsed Proposition 1A, the $9.95 billion bond measure that provided California's share of funding for the statewide high-speed rail system, the newspaper said it represented an "ambitious vision that is well tailored to the state's transportation and environmental needs." The Chronicle argued that we will see the "economic and environmental benefits of connecting urban centers with growing inland cities that don't have major airports - and providing an alternative to the cattle-call flights between the Bay Area and Southern California." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/14/INBD1KL73V.DTL&type=printable 'Leaf To Home': A Charging System That Powers Your Ev (And Then Some). Back in November, when I was invited to visit Nissan's American headquarters outside of Nashville to give the Leaf - the company's revolutionary, emissions-free electric vehicle - a spin, my main concern wasn't with how the car handled on Tennessee's lonely back roads (it handled just fine) but with its sleeping arrangements. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/15/1816631/leaf-to-home-a-charging-system.html (paid subscription only) Editorial: don't put brakes on transportation funding. The trauma of the past two weeks has driven the point home: America must reduce its national debt. However, we dread the next major battle between Republicans trying to cut spending and Democrats fighting to maintain the status quo. Rep. John Mica, a Florida Republican, proposes to cut federal funding for highway and mass transit construction and repair by a third. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108140313 Thumbs down: home owners associations should allow solar panels on condominiums. The Palm Valley homeowners association is setting the wrong example by denying a Palm Desert couple's request to install solar panels on their condo. The homeowners want to go green to save money on electricity and help the environment, a practical and noble effort. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108120339 Fuel efficiency? Be careful what you wish for. One of the persistent canards of the free-us-from-foreign-oil crowd is that if we can make our cars more economical – get more miles to the gallon – we can win release from Middle Eastern oil dependency. Not exactly. As Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe Columnist, explains: “Americans use energy far more efficiently than in decades past, and for that reason they consume more energy.” Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2011/08/12/fuel-efficiency-be-careful-what-you-wish-for/47991/ BLOGS Film on Climate Refugees Strikes a Chord. During the shooting of his 2010 documentary “Climate Refugees,” the Irish-American filmmaker Michael Nash visited nearly 50 countries in about 18 months, interviewing politicians, scientists, health workers and victims of floods, cyclones, hurricanes and droughts. His conclusion was that short- and longer-term changes in climate are causing vast numbers of people to abandon their jobs, homes and countries to seek better lives elsewhere, or to simply survive. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/film-on-climate-refugees-strikes-a-chord/?ref=earth After 2 studies, methane puzzle persists. One climate-science conundrum, two research teams, two independent approaches, two seemingly conflicting conclusions. The unsolved mystery, or perhaps now, twice-solved mystery: Why did atmospheric methane levels, steadily on the rise since record-keeping began, abruptly level off and stabilize in the last three decades? Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/after-2-studies-methane-puzzle-persists/?ref=earth Measuring your plastic footprint. With climate change and carbon dioxide emissions dominating the environmental conversation much of the time, the issue of plastic pollution tends to get short shrift. Still, the problem is worrying enough to be stirring serious concern among environmental and scientific experts, especially when it comes to plastic that ends up in the oceans, where it never quite biodegrades and can form a swelling gyre of sludge. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/measuring-your-plastic-footprint/?ref=earth Usda, DOE award $12.2 million to 10 bioenergy crop projects. The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have awarded ten grants totaling $12.2 million to spur research in biofuel and bioenergy crops. The specific goal is to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of growing bioenergy crops. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/15/usda-doe-award-12-2-million-to-10-bioenergy-crop-projects/ DOE awards $175 million for development of advanced vehicle technologies. Can you build a better car for $175 million? The U.S. Department of Energy hopes so, and Secretary Steven Chu has announced that the DOE will award more than that amount over the next three to five years to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced vehicle technologies. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/14/doe-awards-175-million-for-development-of-advanced-vehicle-tech/ White house says job growth will come from higher mpg standards . Yesterday, President Obama visited the Johnson Controls advanced battery manufacturing plant in Holland, MI (pictured) and talked about how cleaner cars will add jobs to the American economy. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/12/white-house-says-job-growth-will-come-from-higher-mpg-standards/ How the 54.5 mpg cafe standard will really equal 40 mpg in the real world. First there was 62 miles per gallon, then 56.2 mpg, then 54.5 mpg, and now we could be looking at 40 mpg for Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) in 2025. What's that you say, you thought 54.5 was the official number? Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/12/how-the-54-5-mpg-cafe-standard-will-really-equal-40-mpg-in-the-r/ Nissan Leaf Will Power Homes in Japan. This week, automaker Nissan announced a two-way charging system that will allow the new all-electric Nissan Leaf to not only charge up, but also to reverse the flow of electricity to allow the car to power the home for brief periods during power outages or shortages. Considering the recent calamity in Japan’s power generation system, and the numerous blackouts that occurred in the aftermath, this capability will certainly be appreciated. Meanwhile, energy saving measures in the wake of the disaster have reduced Tokyo’s electric demand by about a third. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/08/nissan-leaf-able-power-homes-japan/ Agave as a Biofuel? A new study by University of Sydney and England's Oxford University researchers is investigating the possibility that the agave plant could be farmed as a fuel source in the Australian outback. The agave plant is best known as a Mexican plant used to distil tequila and mescal….'In terms of producing ethanol, agave is about the same as sugar cane - but the advantage over sugar cane is they survive in very dry areas on little water,'' The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 29 July. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/agave-biofuel/ Lifting the Lid on Climate Activism. With legislative remedies falling far behind the threat of climate change, nonviolent direction action is increasingly being seen as the critical next step for environmental activists and advocates. Filmmaker Emily James spent more than a year embedded with British activist outfits like Climate Camp and Plane Stupid to document their clandestine activities and offer unprecedented access to a community of people who refuse to sit back and tolerate the destruction of their world. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/lifting-lid-climate-activism/ Ecotricity Rolls Out the World’s First Wind Powered Car Charger. Ah Ecotricity, how we love your innovative and awesome ways. Not content with pioneering electric highways and eco-friendly supercars, the UK based renewable energy company has created the world’s first wind turbine-powered post for charging electric vehicles. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/ecotricity-rolls-out-the-worlds-first-wind-powered-car-charger/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:17:54 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 16, 201.. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 16, 2011. 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 Mining officials, Pechanga members argue over quarry. Attorney for Granite Construction says the Native Americans failed to notify firm of mountain peak's sacred status. A Pechanga representative disputes charges that religious claims are not authentic. A contentious hearing on Monday over a massive rock quarry proposed near Temecula drew hundreds of people and sparked a heated exchange between mining officials and representative of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-quarry-20110816,0,4758895,print.story EPA Resists Calls to Strengthen CO Standard. The EPA has declined to change the national air quality standards for carbon monoxide, but will require more focused monitoring in densely populated areas. The agency yesterday said its review of the science showed that air quality standards set in 1971, at nine parts per million over eight hours and 35 ppm measured over one hour, protect public health and the environment. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/08/16/epa-resists-calls-to-strengthen-co-standard/ CLIMATE CHANGE U.S. cities try to adapt climate change. Adapt to climate change? While some members of Congress debate its scientific validity, U.S. cities are going beyond efforts to mitigate climate change with lower greenhouse gas emissions. They're at the forefront of an emerging trend: adaptation. "It's a new field," says Brian Holland, director of climate programs at ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA. His association launched a Climate Resilient Communities program last year to help cities study effects of climate change and finance ways to adapt. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/08/us-cities-adapt-climate-change/1 More than 2,000 protesters rally outside Australian Parliament House against carbon tax plans. More than 2,000 protesters gathered outside Australia’s Parliament House on Tuesday to demonstrate against government plans for an unpopular anti-pollution tax that many Australians believe will raise the cost of living. Prime Minister Julia Gillard is set to pass the legislation, which will tax the country’s biggest carbon gas emitting businesses, with the support of independent lawmakers and the environmentally focused Greens party. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/more-than-2000-protesters-rally-outside-australian-parliament-house-against-carbon-tax-plans/2011/08/16/gIQAHyVMIJ_story.html Rick Perry thinks Texas climate scientists are in a ‘secular carbon cult’. Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) has watched firsthand the ravages of a warming climate, first as his state's agriculture commissioner (killer droughts and record heat in 1996 and 1998) then as governor (droughts in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, with Texas' hottest July in history). Perry declared the 1996 drought "the worst natural disaster in Texas in the 20th century." Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-skeptics/2011-08-15-rick-perry-thinks-texas-climate-scientists-secular-carbon-carbon Calif. stakeholders press CARB on emissions cap-and-trade design. Washington -California stakeholders have urged the state's air-quality regulator to adopt changes to the design of its cap-and-trade program, which is aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions, in order to reduce compliance costs, comments filed last week show. Comments were due by Thursday on the proposed regulations published in July. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/6377910 U.S.-based emissions tracking system spreads to Europe. A commercial network for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions is expanding into Europe. Earth Networks is working with the E.U.-funded Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) to add 25 new European locations to its planned global greenhouse gas tracking network. Scientists from the ICOS project will help Earth Networks site its European monitoring points and advise the company on data standards and instrument calibration. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/16/4 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Terminal operators at ports of L.A. and Long Beach agree to cut diesel emissions. Seven terminal operators at the ports will undertake cleanup projects under a settlement reached with California Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris. Terminal operators at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach that were alleged to be in violation of diesel emission standards will be undertaking cleanup projects estimated to cost $1 million apiece under a settlement reached with California's attorney general. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-diesel-settlement-20110816,0,6646925,print.story http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/15/3840087/ports-of-la-long-beach-settle.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/15/1817387/ports-of-la-long-beach-settle.html http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_18687742 http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_18686015 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18687742 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/15/ports-of-la-long-beach-settle-pollution-lawsuit/ http://www.inlandnewstoday.com/story.php?s=20411 Newworld Capital Group Acquires Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls, LLC. New York -- NewWorld Capital Group today announced that it has acquired Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls, LLC, a leading developer and manufacturer of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides abatement products for on-road and off-road heavy-duty diesel-powered vehicles. Joining New World in this investment are Ingleside Investors, North Sky Capital, and Spring Mountain Capital. Posted. http://www.abc12.com/story/15267792/newworld-capital-group-acquires-cleaire-advanced-emission-controls-llc http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/08/15/prweb8717683.DTL http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=74421&news_category_id=36 FUELS Falling diesel prices more a short-term blip. Though diesel fuel prices in the U.S. took a welcome nosedive over the past two weeks, dropping an average of over 10 cents per gallon between Aug. 1 and Aug. 15 experts not only believe the decline will be short-lived, but it will also be muted given the broader economic uncertainty now occurring. “It’s a positive for trucking that diesel fuel prices are now falling, but a lot of the benefit is getting washed out because of all the economic volatility at the moment “ and broad volatility is not good,” Jonathan Starks, director of transportation analysis for research firm FTR Associates, told Fleet Owner. Posted. http://www.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?expire=&title=Falling+diesel+prices+more+a+short-term+blip&urlID=458548967&action=cpt&partnerID=97626&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffleetowner.com%2Fmanagement%2Fnews%2Ffalling-diesel-prices-longterm-0816%2F VEHICLES More electric vehicle charging stations showing up in Southern Arizona. Sahuarita is joining the electric car revolution. Saturday, community leaders celebrated the availability of two new charging stations. "This unit right here is the inverter," said Jason Trible. Trible was showing off his Nissan Leaf at the event. His Leaf will be more convenient to drive now that there are two charging stations near his home. Posted. http://www.fox11az.com/news/local/More-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-showing-up-in-Southern-Arizona-127791823.html Charge your EV as easily as your toothbrush. Charging an electric vehicle (EV) is considering different options: overnight at home with low-power source, at fast-charging stations in the public space, but also, less predictable, just by parking on a special spot, equipped with wireless charging. cars21.com summarises the assets and drawbacks of wireless charging, how likely it could happen and for which use. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/63920110816.php Drivers rewarded for driving electric cars. Parts of the Wasatch Front have spent several days under a red air-quality alert. More than half of the air pollution comes from vehicle emissions. To reduce emissions, people can drive less or take public transportation. A third option is to drive an electric car, which emits no pollution. To encourage more people to do option No. 3, Salt Lake City has installed six charging stations throughout the city. Posted. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700171147/Drivers-rewarded-for-driving-electric-cars.html Los Angeles County's Politicians Sound Off On Transportation. We contacted Los Angeles County’s congressional delegation to see where each member stood on transportation issues. Here are some of their comments. 1. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other transportation advocates want to build 30 years’ worth of projects in 10 years. What is your position on America Moving Forward? Sen. Barbara Boxer, Democrat: This initiative will improve the local economy by creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, reduce carbon pollution emissions, and ease traffic congestion. Posted. http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/08/los-angeles-countys-politicians-sound-transportation FuelCell to show off hydrogen fuel process. Danbury's FuelCell Energy Inc. is preparing to show off Tuesday in California the capability of its alternative power plant to co-generate renewable hydrogen to run automobiles. With state and federal energy and air-quality authorities looking on, FuelCell is scheduled to demonstrate its hydrogen fueling station installed at the Orange County Sanitation District in Fountain Valley, Calif. Posted. http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news19993.html GREEN ENERGY Dominion study: Projects generate billions for Va. Dominion Virginia Power generation and conversion projects will produce more than $3.3 billion in economic benefits by 2015, a study released Monday by the utility concludes. The nine projects, some of which date to 2007, will support more than 14,200 construction jobs through 2015, according to Chmura Economics & Analytics, the Richmond Company that conducted the study. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/15/dominion-study-projects-generate-billions-for-va/ OPINIONS EDITORIAL: Into the ozone with the O Force. Whether it's ozone or carbon dioxide, the cost of overregulating the air around us is more than the nation can afford. Even the Obama administration may be taking a breather, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday held off on issuing proposed new ozone standards. The agency claims more regulations are necessary because the conveniences of modern industrial society are making the planet toasty, but the pause has raised alarm in radical environmental circles. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/15/into-the-ozone-with-the-o-force/print/ The Clear Case for the Gas Tax. Unless Congress extends it, the 18.4 cents-a-gallon federal gas tax will expire on Sept. 30. Allowing that to happen would be tremendously destructive. It would bankrupt the already stressed Highway Trust Fund, with devastating effects on the country’s highways, bridges, mass transit systems and the economy as a whole. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/opinion/the-clear-case-for-the-gas-tax.html?scp=10&sq=fuels&st=cse Another Global Warming Oops Moment. One of the hilarious aspects of global warming’s “settled science” is how unsettled it actually is. To the point that one day such and such is bad for us and the next day it’s good for us, or vice versa. Here’s the latest Global Warming Oops Moment: “Until now, tropical forests were considered to be among the planet’s strongest allies in the battle against global warming. Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2011/08/15/another-global-warming-oops-moment-7/48095/ BLOGS In Chrysler Deal, Cellulosic Ethanol Firm Gets a Prominent Partner. Chrysler entered into a memorandum of understanding with the cellulosic ethanol producer ZeaChem, it was announced Monday. But though the automaker builds so-called flex fuel vehicles that run on an E85 ethanol formulation, it is unclear exactly what might come of the new partnership. Vince Muniga, a spokesman for Chrysler powertrain operations, said in a telephone interview that Chrysler “is looking at a lot of alternative fuels, …Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/in-chrysler-deal-cellulosic-ethanol-firm-gets-a-high-profile-partner/?scp=7&sq=fuels&st=cse QUARRY: Debate over sacred site continues at hearing. A proposed Temecula-area quarry will not harm sites deemed sacred by a local American Indian tribe, an expert and lawyer speaking on behalf of the quarry's developer said this morning. Also, Liberty Quarry lies outside the property where the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians believe the world began, according to Mark Harrison, an attorney for Granite Construction. "From the tribe's own maps, this is not a place of creation," he said. Posted. http://blogs.pe.com/news/digest/2011/08/quarry-debate-over-sacred-site.html Industry Pleads That EPA Has "Discretion" to Violate Clean Air Act. Industry lobbyists have stooped to a new low in their furious campaign opposing stronger protections against smog pollution. They now have resorted to arguing that the Environmental Protection Agency has “discretion” to maintain Bush administration smog standards that EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has acknowledged forthrightly are “not legally defensible.” Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jwalke/industry_lobbies_president_to.html Report: General Motors electrified vehicle lineup set to expand with a123 deal. General Motors' recently inked deal with A123 Systems has led to speculative reports popping up across the media. For example, The Detroit Bureau reports that "well-placed sources" confirm the automaker's intentions to "put at least one battery-electric vehicle into production by 2014." GM's tie up with A123 Systems opens the door; it seems, for a range of future electrified vehicles. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/15/general-motors-electrified-vehicle-lineup-set-to-expand-with-a12/ Brazil to Study Sugarcane for Jetfuel Production. Brazil, Embraer and the Inter-American Development Bank have announced that they will jointly fund a sustainability analysis for producing renewable jet fuel using Brazilian sugarcane as a feedstock. Brazil is already the world's leading producer of ethanol derived from sugarcane. In an extraordinary partnering, the World Wildlife Fund will serve as an independent reviewer and advisor for the study, Boeing announced on its website. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/brazil-study-sugarcane-jetfuel-production/ USDA, DOE and US Navy to invest up to $510M over next 3 years to build out drop-in biofuel production capacity for military and commercial transportation. US President Barack Obama announced that the US Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Navy will jointly invest up to $510 million ($170 million each) during the next three years in partnership with the private sector to produce advanced drop-in aviation and marine biofuels to power military and commercial transportation. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/navy-20110816.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:47:42 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 17, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 17, 2011. 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 Wider Bad-Air Alert System Beginning In Valley. A blitz of bad-air alerts will fill Twitter, Facebook and maybe even flashing freeway signs on a half-dozen summer days when ozone peaks dangerously in the San Joaquin Valley. The local air board Thursday is expected to approve the alerts, which amount to a plea for you to drive less and shave those ozone peaks. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/16/1818985/wider-bad-air-alert-system-beginning.html (paid subscription) http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/16/2501873/new-alert-methods-of-bad-air-quality.html#storylink=misearch Dutton disputes implementation of his 2010 pollution law. Sacramento - After years of butting heads, state Senate Minority Leader Bob Dutton and officials at the California Air Resources Board finally seemed to be on the same page last summer when it came to Senate Bill 1402. The measure, authored by Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, was meant to improve communication between the air board and the businesses it regulates. It passed the Legislature unanimously. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/politics/stories/PE_News_Local_D_airboard17.3f92416.html Valley Locales Striving For Pollution Reduction. An old, gas-powered lawnmower causes as much air pollution as 40 modern vehicles - because it has no emission controls. That was one of the revelations an official of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District made on Aug. 8 to the Riverbank City Council. The Valley's main pollution problem is geography, said John Cadrett. It lies in a basin surrounded by mountains and in summer is "like a bowl with the lid pressed down tight," giving no escape for the heat and pollution. Posted. http://www.theriverbanknews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=37036 EPA's planned phaseout of harmful refrigerant hits snag. Eighteen months after the Obama administration came out with new rules to stop refrigerants in air conditioners from thinning the Earth's protective ozone layer, an unexpected quirk has divided the industry and could have implications for the atmosphere. Much of the equipment being installed in American homes is still getting its cooling power from an ozone-depleting gas that was supposed to be phased out, says a group of disgruntled appliance makers, including the makers of Carrier and Trane air conditioners. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/17/2 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Perry and Romney split on global warming. A sharp divide has emerged between two leading Republican presidential candidates on the issue of climate change. While apparent front-runner Mitt Romney believes the world is getting warmer and that humans are contributing to that pattern, Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday called that “a scientific theory that has not been proven.” Taking questions at the storied Politics and Eggs breakfast in Bedford, N.H., Perry was asked about a passage in his book, “Fed Up!,” in which he expresses skepticism of the science behind global warming. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/perry-and-romney-split-on-climate-change/2011/08/17/gIQAgawNLJ_story.html Perry says he doesn't believe in global warming. Bedford, N.H. -- GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry told New Hampshire voters Wednesday that he does not believe in manmade global warming, calling it a scientific theory that has not been proven. "I think we're seeing almost weekly, or even daily, scientists that are coming forward and questioning the original idea that manmade global warming is what is causing the climate to change," the Texas governor said on the first stop of a two-day trip to the first-in-the-nation primary state. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/17/3843843/perry-says-he-doesnt-believe-in.html Council OKs Climate Action Plan that regulates future energy uses. Plan expected to meet tougher state-required greenhouse-gas emissions rules. The City Council approved a broad-based Climate Action Plan (CAP) last night that could make Pleasanton "one of the greenest cities in California" in the coming years. Nearly three years in the planning stage, the new plan is aimed at creating a structure of regulations and goals on environmental issues to conform to a new state law, called AB 32, which requires that cities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. Posted. http://www.pleasantonweekly.com/news/show_story.php?id=7558 U.S. cities are leading the way in climate change adaptation. Cities across the United States are taking action to go beyond mitigating the effects of climate change. With Americans already struggling with extreme weather events such as heat waves and flooding, cities are at the forefront of a new trend: adaptation. “We're already seeing consequences of climate change," said Brian Holland, director of climate programs at ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA, "and those will only intensify." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/17/11 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS US Government to invest $510M in advanced, drop-in biofuels. US announces historic investment to jump-start “drop-in” biofuels at commercial scale. Jet fuel, diesel in focus — USDA, DOE, USN to share tab, and leverage private investment. The US seeks to definitively break its addiction on imported oil. In Washington, President Obama today announced that the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Navy …Posted. http://biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2011/08/16/usda-doe-usn-to-invest-510m-in-advanced-drop-in-biofuels/ VEHICLES Electric cars get a charge out of Portland street. Electric car drivers will get a charge out of a block-long stretch of a downtown Portland street that's been dubbed "Electric Avenue," and it may also help the automotive industry and others make important decisions as the use of electric cars evolves. Seven electric charging stations from six different manufacturers have been installed at Portland State University as part of a two-year study that will examine which chargers get the most use, who's plugging in, and what they do while their car drinks up a charge. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ELECTRIC_AVENUE?SITE=WIMAR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/16/electric-cars-get-a-charge-out-of-portland-street// http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/portland-unveils-electric-avenue-a-block-long-bank-of-electric-car-charging-stations/2011/08/16/gIQAWbhqJJ_story.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18693505 A fuel-cell system first: hydrogen, electricity and heat energy. California has seen the commissioning of the world’s first tri-generation fuel cell and hydrogen energy station, which will provide transportation fuel to the public and electric power to the Orange County Sanitation District’s wastewater treatment plant in Fountain Valley. The fuel cell is called a tri-generation system because it produces hydrogen, electricity and heat. Posted. http://www.greenbang.com/a-fuel-cell-system-first-hydrogen-electricity-and-heat-energy_19648.html GREEN ENERGY DWP restores solar program for homeowners. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power will once Again offer financial incentives for city homeowners to generate solar power starting Sept. 1, officials decided Tuesday. The City Council voted 13-0 to resume the Solar Incentive Plan, which had been halted in April when demand exceeded the program's budget. Now, $60 million will be made available for the program for at least each of the next two years. Posted. http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_18695985?source=rss MISCELLANEOUS Judge Rejects Groups’ Effort to Remove Bike Lane. A judge on Tuesday dismissed an effort by Brooklyn residents to remove a hotly contested bicycle lane installed by the city on Prospect Park West, in one of the most closely watched controversies over a signature policy of the Bloomberg administration. The decision represented a significant victory for the city and its transportation commissioner, Janette Sadik-Khan, whose campaign to create streets more oriented to pedestrians and bicyclists has divided New Yorkers and prompted a fierce political debate. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/nyregion/effort-to-remove-prospect-park-west-bike-lane-is-rejected.html?_r=1&ref=earth American chemistry council spent $1.65m to lobby. The American Chemistry Council spent $1.65 million in the second quarter to lobby the government on issues ranging from greenhouse gas emissions to anti-terrorism security for chemical facilities, according to a recent disclosure report. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/16/1818380/american-chemistry-council-spent.html (paid subscription only) Transportation commission reaches out to South County: Watsonville Civic Plaza gets two tenants. Watsonville -- Two tenants have moved into a long-vacant office in the Civic Plaza on Main Street. The Monterey Bay Air Pollution Control District and the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission celebrated the opening of their shared office with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday. "People wanted us to be more accessible to this part of the county," said George Dondero, executive director of the Santa Cruz-based transportation commission. The air quality agency, which has stationed inspectors in the city for several years, led the way. Posted. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_18697219 City to further study leaf blower ban. Burlingame officials aren’t ready to ban leaf blowers but want more time to research the issue. On Monday, the City Council met to discuss a possible ban of gas-powered leaf blowers. After about three hours of discussion, the council voted to further explore the issue through a subcommittee of Mayor Terry Nagel and Councilwoman Ann Keighran. The Burlingame Citizen’s Environmental Council recommended the ban to maintain clean air and water while cutting down on air and noise pollution. Posted. http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=165342&title=City%20to%20further%20study%20leaf%20blower%20ban OPINIONS SCHNARE: Campaign advice for ‘all of the abovers’ Wind power can be more expensive and dirty than we think. As most of the Republican presiden- tial hopefuls stake their posi- tions to win the hearts of the party’s base, the Tea Party has made it safe for honest conservatives to stand up and demand more than spin. If we can demand fiscal responsibility, however, we also should demand fiscal honesty. And, if there is a subject where Republicans should be willing to be honest, it is on environmental and energy policy - in particular, climate change. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/16/campaign-advice-for-all-of-the-abovers/ New study doesn't hit the mark for air pollution deaths. Don't be surprised if you see some coverage soon about a new study claiming that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) could be killing thousands of Californians every year. The study will likely be touted as "confirmation" of previous work that first made PM2.5 a health scare in the early 1990s. Don't be further surprised if this new study is then used by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to gin up more regulations that will make it harder to drive a diesel truck or run most businesses in this state. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/columnist/henry/x560461816/New-study-doesnt-hit-the-mark-for-air-pollution-deaths New Auto Fuel Economy Standards Will Regulate Us To Death. Do you happen to like having a car that you feel safe driving under heavy traffic and freeway-speed conditions; that accommodates big-box shopping forays, fledgling soccer teams, golfing gaffers and tuba players; and that affords Texas-sized range capabilities without overnight power recharging delays? Well tough. Get over it! Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2011/08/16/new-auto-fuel-economy-standards-will-regulate-us-to-death/ BLOGS Trout Fishing in a Climate-Changed America. As difficult as it is to predict precisely how the planet will warm over the next century or so, it is even harder to refine predictions of how those changes will affect specific species. That’s because warmer temperatures alone are not the only driver of what happens to, say, four varieties of trout. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/trout-fishing-in-a-climate-changed-america/?ref=earth Light-Bulbs, Responsibility and the Demise of the Common Good. In a move truly reflective of how bizarre American political life has become, there really was a bill sponsored by House Republicans, considered by Congress last week, that would have essentially rolled back the clock on energy saving technology, in the name of “personal freedom”. And it almost passed. The bill, introduced by Joe Barton (R-TX), was intended to overturn a 2007 law (passed under the Bush administration) that would begin phasing out production of energy-guzzling incandescent light bulbs in 2012. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/08/light-bulbs-responsibility-demise-common-good/ China's Feed in tariff for Solar Power. China’s government has introduced a unified grid solar power tariff, which analysts believe may produce a quickened pace for introducing solar power to private residences, along with boosting the stock of companies involved in solar development. According to the National Development and Reform Commission, Beijing has set the solar power price charged by power plants to grid operators at 18 US cents per kilowatt-hour …Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/chinas-feed-in-tariff-solar-power/ President of Ferarri Announces They’ll Never Make an Electric Vehicle. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemelo just announced, quite plainly, to Engadget that he doesn’t believe in electric vehicles and therefore the world shouldn’t hold its breath for a Ferrari EV. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/president-of-ferarri-announces-theyll-never-make-an-electric-vehicle/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:23:51 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 18, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 18, 2011. 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 White House looks to curb smog-rule impact. The Obama administration is promising to blunt the impact of its pending ozone standards by ensuring flexibility for industries, but it likely won’t have enough wiggle room to win over its fiercest critics. In an effort to refute industry’s claims that a tighter smog standard will put a damper on economic recovery, the White House and the EPA have repeatedly vowed to use flexibility allowed under the Clean Air Act when the rules are implemented. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61594.html Previous EPA smog crackdown didn't hurt local economies – report. If the last time U.S. EPA updated its nationwide smog standards is any indication, a plan to further ratchet down pollution limits won't slam the economy in parts of the country with dirtier air, according to an analysis released today by a liberal think tank. Oil companies, manufacturers and large business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce sounded the alarms in 1997 when, under the watch of President Clinton, the agency moved to tighten the air quality standards for ground-level ozone, the main component of smog. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/18/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Rick Perry calls global warming an unproven, costly theory. The Texas governor says scientists have 'manipulated data' to win research dollars. Reporting from Bedford, N.H. - Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday reaffirmed his view that global warming is an unproven scientific theory that has been advanced, at least in part, by scientists who have "manipulated data," and he argued that programs intended to limit climate change are costing the nation "billions if not trillions" of dollars that he believes could be better spent elsewhere. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-0818-perry-global-warming-20110818,0,1895804.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/18/MNF51KONBS.DTL&type=printable http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110817/A_NEWS/110819904&cid=sitesearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/17/perry-says-he-doesnt-believe-in-global-warming/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_453a552f-3b5c-5da1-a078-fac000545577.html Climate law will increase REU rates; Redding cost could rise 1.5% to 27%. California's campaign to curb its greenhouse gas emissions could cost Redding Electric Utility ratepayers as soon as next year. An emissions cap and trade program under Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, may force REU to raise rates anywhere from 1.5 percent to 27 percent, Elizabeth Hadley, legislative and regulatory analyst for the utility, recently told the City Council. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2011/aug/17/climate-law-will-increase-reu-rates/ Climate Change: GHG Emissions Allowance Prices Tumble. As California regulators weigh whether to move ahead with a carbon cap-and-trade program, the price for greenhouse gas emission rights last week in Europe sunk to nearly an all-time low. The reason is plentiful supply and ongoing economic sluggishness. Benchmark certified emissions reductions stemming from offset projects hit 7.4 euros/ton, or about $10.53. Posted. http://www.cacurrent.com/storyDisplay.php?sid=5563 DIESEL EMISSIONS Engineer to Measure Vehicle Emissions on Highways. Study will focus on particulate matter concentrations, which are increasingly implicated in human death and illness. Riverside, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) -- Heejung Jung, a University of California, Riverside assistant professor of engineering, has received a $41,000 grant from the UC Transportation Center to build a portable device, install it on test vehicles and use it to map real-time particulate matter concentrations on Southern California highways. Particulate emissions from burning transportation fuels are increasingly implicated in human illness and death. Posted. http://newsroom.ucr.edu/2706 VEHICLES GM plans to roll out Cadillac ELR, a luxury electric compact car. The Cadillac ELR will use a drivetrain similar to what GM developed for the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt. Cadillac, the upscale General Motors Co. brand, plans to come out with a luxury electric compact car — based on the decidedly blue-collar Chevrolet Volt. GM said Wednesday that the Cadillac ELR will use a drivetrain similar to what it developed for the Chevrolet Volt, which will enable the new model to travel some distance on only electricity before a gas motor kicks in to act as a generator and extend the vehicle's range. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cadillac-ev-20110818,0,2441947.story http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110817/OEM04/110819903/1186 GREEN ENERGY Cash-Rich Companies Begin to Make Renewable Energy Investments. With major U.S. corporations holding tens of billions of dollars in cash on their balance sheets, a financing tool for renewable energy projects that lost its luster during the credit crunch at the end of 2008 is staging a comeback. Specialized "tax equity" deals that had been a major source of financing for the wind and solar industries are getting a fresh look by companies outside the financial sector, such as Google. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/08/18/18climatewire-cash-rich-companies-begin-to-make-renewable-e-3023.html?pagewanted=print Do alternative designs for wind turbines work? Propeller wind turbines are the most common way of using one of the most abundant energy sources on Earth to generate electricity. The tall three-bladed fans are the ubiquitous symbol of wind energy, but they aren't the only design on the market. Vertical axis turbines, where the rotating axis stands upright, have been around as long as their horizontal brethren but have failed to catch on at large scales. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/18/4 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Bashing E.P.A. Is New Theme in G.O.P. Race. The Environmental Protection Agency is emerging as a favorite target of the Republican presidential candidates, who portray it as the very symbol of a heavy-handed regulatory agenda imposed by the Obama administration that they say is strangling the economy. Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota wants to padlock the E.P.A.’s doors, as does former Speaker Newt Gingrich. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/18/us/politics/18epa.html?ref=earth Most GOP candidates have harsh words for EPA. The Environmental Protection Agency is emerging as a favorite target of the Republican presidential candidates, who portray it as the very symbol of a heavy-handed regulatory agenda imposed by the Obama administration that they say is strangling the economy. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota wants to padlock the EPA's doors, as does former Speaker House Newt Gingrich. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas wants to impose an immediate moratorium on all environmental regulation. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/politics-government/ci_18703251 http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics-government/ci_18703251 Free smog check Saturday in Fresno. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and Valley Clean Air Now are teaming again up to encourage owners to cleanup their old cars during the “Tune In & Tune Up” event this Saturday at the Fresno Fairgrounds. Free vehicle emissions tests will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the parking lot on Maple and Butler avenues. Fresno-area drivers who own older cars can have their vehicles inspected, and will be provided with a voucher for up to $800 if the car does not pass an emissions test. Posted. http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/environment/10929-free-smog-check-saturday-in-fresno Polystyrene ban: Bill would put California first. California would become the first state in the nation to ban the use of polystyrene foam to-go food containers under legislation pending in the Assembly. Opponents are pushing hard to keep the measure bottled up in committee. A key reason is that Gov. Jerry Brown could sign it into law.As mayor of Oakland, Brown secured elimination of plastic foam cups and containers at the Oakland Coliseum. Various environmental groups back the ban as a way to reduce litter and marine pollution while encouraging greater use of biodegradable or compostable alternatives. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=zxgh3egjupdzhp# http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_18701446?source=rss OPINIONS Opinion: CARB was wise to give California business a warm-up year for global warming law. The National Football League's preseason is under way. Especially after this locked-out summer, players, owners and fans are eager for teams to get back on the gridiron and work out the kinks before the full weight of the regular season kicks in. For businesses in California, 2012 will be a preseason, of sorts, for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Just as football's preseason is designed to allow teams to get up to speed for the regular season, 2012 will give businesses, regulators, and investors a chance to climb the learning curve without penalties. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18701690 http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_18701690?nclick_check=1 PAID SUBSCRIPTION Revive Alerts To Spare The Air. About this time two years ago, as students were returning to school and people were busy driving around, air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley soared, causing ozone to reach levels that violated federal air quality standards. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/17/1820040/revive-alerts-to-spare-the-air.html BLOGS Weather Alerts Are Imperiled, NOAA Warns. Without money to build a new satellite, the federal government will no longer be able to forecast severe weather events far enough in advance for communities to take life-saving action five years from now. That was the message that Jane Lubchenco, the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, delivered on Wednesday at a town-hall-style meeting in Denver. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/weather-alerts-are-imperiled-noaa-warns/ Never Mind a Tiger in Your Tank: How About An Alligator? Researchers at the Lafayette campus of the University of Louisiana are looking for green substitutes for diesel fuel. The prime one now in use is soybeans, which are used to make biodiesel oil. But soybeans are also needed for human consumption and animal feed. Now the researchers think they have identified a potential source for biodiesel that currently goes straight to landfills: alligator fat, about 15 million pounds of it every year. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/never-mind-a-tiger-in-your-tank-how-about-an-alligator/ A Republican Shout-Out for Wind Energy. In The New York Times on Thursday, John M. Broder writes about a blood sport that has become quite popular among the field of Republican presidential candidates: attacks on the Environmental Protection Agency. Yet the candidates recently found time to rally behind clean wind energy, a topic some voters identify with a somewhat more liberal agenda. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/18/a-republican-shout-out-for-wind-energy/ Clouds Part for U.S. Solar Industry. A potentially dim week for the American solar power industry ended on a bright note instead. Solar advocates mounted a last-minute push Monday to prevent sweeping cuts to a federal loan guarantee program for clean energy development in a Republican budget plan. The cuts would have essentially closed the program, which is popular with solar power developers, and rescinded billion of dollars in loan commitments for dozens of projects. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/clouds-part-for-u-s-solar-industry/ Have Solar Panels, Will Travel. A thing of sheer beauty is berthed in Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong: the Tûranor PlanetSolar, a vessel that is circumnavigating the globe to prove that solar energy can power water transportation. Designed in New Zealand, built in Germany and flying a Swiss flag, the 102-foot boat has completed about two-thirds of a voyage that began in Monaco last September. So far it has sailed nearly 24,000 miles. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/18/have-solar-panels-will-travel/?ref=earth#h Revisiting Climate and the Food Supply. When I was researching a June article on the threat that climate change poses to the food supply, scientists described numerous difficulties they have encountered in seeking to forecast food production. They cited uncertainty about whether crops would be hit harder by drought or heat. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/18/revisiting-climate-and-the-food-supply/ Jerry Brown calls for high speed rail to move forward. Gov. Jerry Brown said this afternoon that California's embattled high-speed rail project should move forward, despite growing criticism about the project's management and cost. While the nation is in a "period of massive retrenchment," Brown told The Fresno Bee's editorial board, "I would like to be part of the group that gets America to think big again." The Democratic governor has said little publicly about the project since it came under fire this year in Sacramento, with cost estimates rising and lawmakers questioning its oversight. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/08/jerry-brown-calls-for-high-spe.html#ixzz1VOjn3xD9 Gov. Brown discusses high-speed rail and moving water around the state. Gov. Jerry Brown told The Fresno Bee's editorial board of his plans for two major infrastructure projects in California. He said he still backs high-speed rail, but believes the governmental authority overseeing the project in California needs to do a better job on the project. He also said that in the next year, his administration will have a detailed proposal to build a water conveyance system around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Posted. http://fresnobeehive.com/opinion/2011/08/gov_brown_talks_about_high-spe.html#ixzz1VOkfl9F7 New one-pot methanol-mediated process for conversion of wood and cellulosic solids to liquid fuels. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) have developed a one-pot process for the catalytic conversions of wood and cellulosic solids to liquid and gaseous products in a reactor operating at 300–320 °C and 160-220 bar. Little or no char is formed during this process. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/ucsb-20110818.html California's cap-and-trade needs to be well-designed to protect manufacturers. Vice President of Communications for the California Manufacturers & Technology Association. California has lost a third of its manufacturing sector and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) continues to try to implement the state's AB 32 carbon reduction program in a cost-effective manner. The rest of the country has lost a large portion of its manufacturing as well, but at least temporarily given up on mandatory carbon reductions. Posted. http://foxandhoundsdaily.com/blog/gino-dicaro/9330-californias-cap-and-trade-needs-be-well-designed-protect-manufacturers Infographic: What it would take to meet Obama’s 2035 clean energy goals? In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve America's energy security, President Obama has laid out a goal for the U.S. to generate 80 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2035. To replace coal, which is currently the dominant source of electricity, we would need to rely on other energy sources. Posted. http://www.climatecentral.org/blogs/interactive-2035-electricity ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2011 11:22:16 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 19, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 19, 2011. 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 Air district funds give marine highway project boost. The Port of Stockton's marine highway project got another shot of funding Thursday, this time from San Joaquin Valley air cops, who hope to reduce the number of diesel-belching big rigs traveling daily over the Altamont Pass. The project would allow some cargo containers to be shipped on barges rather than relying entirely on trucks. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District approved another $750,000 in funding on top of a $13 million federal grant already landed by the port. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110819/A_NEWS/108190316 Air District supports alerts, bus retrofits, lawn equipment. As the first day of school approaches for many Kern County students, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is preparing for its new "air alert" program. During a Thursday meeting, district board members discussed air alerts, a program that will notify valley residents before an ozone violation likely will occur, in the hopes of changing their behaviors. In previous years, ozone levels soared during the start of the school year, when many parents drove their kids to and from school and idled their cars in the parking lots. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x254541916/Air-District-supports-alerts-bus-retrofits-lawn-equipment Pollution officials testing air samples after mystery stink. San Diego — One of two tests to determine the source of the strange smell that permeated a wide swath of the region Wednesday was inconclusive, officials with the county Air Pollution Control District said. The test, which looked for 56 hydrocarbon compounds, found levels that were within normal range as measured at other sites where sampling is routine, said Mahmood Hossain, the agency’s chief of monitoring and technical services. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/aug/18/samples-or-strange-smelling-air-being-analysed/ Mecca odor audit finds 'disheartening' inaction. The director of the state agency overseeing toxic waste disposal said Thursday she is disheartened by an audit of how contaminated soil was processed in Mecca for years with officials' knowledge, but no permits. Debbie Raphael, director of the California Department of Toxic Substance Control, said the almost seven years of inaction was due not to “political intentionality,” but stymied bureaucrats. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110819/NEWS01/108190306/Mecca-odor-audit-finds-disheartening-inaction Toxics chief: State will do better regarding Mecca. The new head of California's toxic substance control agency vowed Thursday to win back the trust of a small Coachella Valley community after an audit found that the state allowed hazardous materials to be shipped there illegally for at least seven years. It took a combination of children becoming ill, community outrage and disclosures in the press before the Department of Toxic Substances Control used its authority to stop shipments to a soil-recycling plant that never had state authorization to operate, agency director Debbie Raphael said. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_mecca19a.3b91863.html Air district funds give marine highway project boost. The Port of Stockton's marine highway project got another shot of funding Thursday, this time from San Joaquin Valley air cops, who hope to reduce the number of diesel-belching big rigs traveling daily over the Altamont Pass. The project would allow some cargo containers to be shipped on barges rather than relying entirely on trucks. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110819/A_NEWS/108190316&cid=sitesearch 2010 Saw Largest CO2 Rise for 22 Years. Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rebounded in 2010 but still remained six percent below 2005 levels, according to an analysis by the Energy Information Administration. Energy-related CO2 underwent a historic decline in 2009. That year the economy as measured by the real gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 3.5 percent compared to the previous year, but emissions fell by over 7 percent. Last year, CO2 emissions saw their largest absolute and percentage increase (213 million metric tons or 3.9 percent) since 1988. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/08/19/2010-saw-largest-co2-rise-for-22-years/ CLIMATE CHANGE Critters moving away from global warming faster. Animals across the world are fleeing global warming by heading north much faster than they were less than a decade ago, a new study says. About 2,000 species examined are moving away from the equator at an average rate of more than 15 feet per day, about a mile per year, according to new research published Thursday in the journal Science which analyzed previous studies. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/18/2503688/critters-moving-away-from-global.html#storylink=misearch Finally, PolitiFact calls out GOP candidate on climate. At long last, mainstream media begins to pay attention to the flat denial of basic climate science being pushed by right-wing Republican presidential candidates. Last year, my work on Climate Zombies -- climate-denying candidates running for Congress -- earned me a snippet on a New York Times blog, but most mainstream media ran stories presenting climate science as an issue with two sides. Things have been changing as the media realize that people who deny climate science also deny other scientific realities. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-skeptics/2011-08-18-finally-politifact-calls-out-gop-candidates-on-climate DIESEL EMISSIONS Clean Truck Cagematch: A Deep Fissure in the Industry is Exposed! A band of Oakland port trucking bosses said they were for clean air…before they were against it. And one another. First the West State Alliance, a group hell-bent on fighting the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports, struck out in trying to persuade state regulators at the California Air Resources Board to gut port diesel truck standards to dramatically reduce toxic pollutants. So they pleaded their case to the Alameda County Supervisors, who recently held a public hearing to talk about it. Posted. http://www.cleanandsafeports.org/2011/08/clean-truck-cagematch-a-deep-fissure-in-the-industry-is-exposed/ VEHICLES 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid: Hi, tech. Bye, performance. Cornwall, N.Y. Overreaching is as much of a problem in automotive engineering and design as it is in politics. Consider the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid sedan, the subject of this week’s column. The Sonata Hybrid is one of six new Sonata models, along with the base GLS, the GLS PZEV (partial zero-emissions vehicle, designed to meet tough California Air Resources Board clean-air standards), the mid-level SE, the top-grade Limited and the California top-grade Limited PZEV. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2011/08/18/gIQAWh0uPJ_story.html Charging stations move electric cars out of city. Charging stations that can fill the batteries of an electric car in 30 minutes or less are moving from the city to the country. A $2 million federal stimulus grant will finance 22 fast-charging stations in smaller cities in the northwestern corner of the state, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced Thursday. After they are installed next year, electric car owners will be able to go on vacation to the coast or the mountains and home again without having to stop overnight to charge up. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/18/charging-stations-move-electric-cars-out-of-city/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_64624c49-e42d-500d-80c6-377b6bdc0b84.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18708570?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Japan plans new fuel economy norms for automakers, report says. Japanese automakers would need to boost their fuel economy by 24.1 percent by fiscal 2020 to meet the new standards being drawn up by the government, the Nikkei business daily reported today. The tentative guidelines, which could take effect as early as next spring and measures improvement from a base year of fiscal 2009, will apply to average fuel economy for an automaker's entire vehicle lineup, the newspaper said. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110818/OEM05/308189787/1186 State phasing out vehicle-emission testing. New technology has led the state to begin easing up and eventually phasing out the state's emission-testing law. A car's computers can tell you everything, such as how tightly your gas cap is fitting, what your fuel efficiency is and even what your wheel speed is to control the brakes. Now this new technology has an added bonus: It's part of the reason behind the easing up and eventually phasing out of the state's emission-testing law. Posted. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015951255_emission19m.html GREEN ENERGY Google Pushes for Greener Buildings, Leads by Example. Google has taken to its public blog this morning to talk about the company’s focus on building greener, more sustainable workplaces for its employees. The company is involved in several green initiatives, including energy and water audits, the use of green building materials, and competitive programs that pit teams against each other to become the greener office. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/google-pushes-for-greener-buildings-leads-by-example/2011/08/18/gIQASSlpMJ_story.html Green Jobs Predictions Proving a Pipe Dream. Clean tech isn't turning out to be the economic engine politicians promised. Flanked by a cadre of local political leaders, Mayor Chuck Reed of San Jose used a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a solar power company last week to talk up the promise of the green economy. Reed called the opening of the new headquarters of SolFocus, which produces large, free-standing solar panels, an “enormously important” development for the city’s economy. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/jobs/story/green-jobs-predictions-proving-pipe/ Pushing out more oil using solar power. There's an adage in the oil industry: The best place to find oil is in an oil field. And what better fields to find oil in than those that you already own, that already have infrastructure, with wells already drilled? That's the logic behind enhanced oil recovery (EOR), a technique that helps produce oil that is usually left in an underground reservoir. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/19/4 MISCELLANEOUS Jon Huntsman turns to Twitter to criticize Perry. Salt Lake City -- Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman on Thursday turned to Twitter to attack a rival, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, for his positions on evolution and climate change. "To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy," Huntsman tweeted. Although Huntsman didn't mention Perry by name, the tweet was sent within hours of a campaign stop by Perry in New Hampshire where was asked by the crowd about both topics. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/18/3847191/jon-huntsman-turns-to-twitter.html Plastic bag lobby wins favorable revision for school textbooks. Under pressure from the American Chemistry Council, a lobbying group for the plastics industry, schools officials in California edited a new environmental curriculum to include positive messages about plastic shopping bags, interviews and documents show. The rewritten textbooks and teachers' guides coincided with a public relations and lobbying effort by the chemistry council to fight proposed plastic bag bans throughout the country. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/19/3847824/plastic-bag-lobby-wins-favorable.html#storylink=misearch MECCA: Regulators allowed illegal hazmat shipments for years. An executive with an Anaheim environmental cleanup company emailed California officials in 2007 and asked why large volumes of hazardous waste were being shipped to a plant in Riverside County that had no state permit to accept such materials. "(State officials are) aware of this, but continue to allow the operation," wrote George Caamano of Remedy Environmental Services, adding that the plant in Mecca had been accepting hazardous waste for more than two years. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_mecca18.399041b.html OPINIONS MILLOY & DUNN: Air-pollution scare debunked. EPA uses phony statistics to justify costly air-quality rules. What if today’s levels of air pollution didn’t kill anybody? That certainly would be bad news for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has spent the past 15 years stubbornly defending its extraordinarily expensive and ever-tightening air-quality regulations. The EPA claims airborne fine particulate matter kills tens of thousands annually and that the prevention of those deaths will provide society $2 trillion annually in monetized health benefits by 2020. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/18/air-pollution-scare-debunked/ BLOGS Jon Huntsman believes in evolution and global warming, so can he win a Republican primary? Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman continues to seek the moderate ground in the 2012 GOP presidential race, tweeting Thursday that he believes in evolution and climate change. “To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming,” read a tweet from his personal account. “Call me crazy.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/jon-huntsman-believes-in-evolution-and-global-warming-but-can-he-win-a-republican-primary/2011/08/18/gIQAIyuBOJ_blog.html Getting ready for a wave of coal-plant shutdowns. Over the next 18 months, the Environmental Protection Agency will finalize a flurry of new rules to curb pollution from coal-fired power plants. Mercury, smog, ozone, greenhouse gases, water intake, coal ash—it’s all getting regulated. And, not surprisingly, some lawmakers are grumbling. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/getting-ready-for-a-wave-of-coal-plant-shutdowns/2011/08/19/gIQAzkZ0PJ_blog.html Mapping Antarctic Ice In Motion. Put the arguments over how fast Antarctic ice is melting to one side for the moment. The latest study of the southern continent, by a group of scientists led by Eric Rignot of the University of California, Irvine, shows how fast the ice rivers are moving and where they are going. The map of ice in motion, which traces parts of the eastern Antarctic region that have previously been hard to see, offers a new and powerful tool for the study of the dynamics of ice melting into the southern seas. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/18/mapping-antarctic-ice-in-motion/?ref=earth Biofuels -- not a dirty word. Even before this year's fight over ethanol subsidies, biofuels had an image problem. Once darlings of the alternative-energy crowd, biofuels in recent years took the blame for rising food prices. (Never mind that a 2009 study from the Congressional Budget Office said higher oil prices had a much bigger effect on food prices than corn-ethanol did.)These days, electric cars get all the love. But biofuel research hasn't died. Most biofuel startups now focus on using raw materials that humans don't eat. And the federal government keeps funding them. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/energy/detail?entry_id=95626 What Does CARB Regulation Mean for Californian Cap-and-Trade? In my last blog entry on California’s proposed cap-and-trade program, I mentioned the importance of offset credits in helping businesses achieve their climate goals. Since then, the California Air Resource Board (CARB) – California’s regulatory agency responsible for addressing climate change, among other air pollution issues – has issued an update to their proposed cap-and-trade rules which, if left unchanged, would undermine California’s offset market, making it significantly more difficult and costly for businesses to meet their climate goals. Posted. http://sustainablebusinessforum.com/paulraybould/53746/what-does-carb-regulation-mean-californian-cap-and-trade BMW looks to landfills for hydrogen power. Automaker BMW has launched a pilot program to turn the methane gas emitted by landfills into hydrogen.
Once the methane has been converted to hydrogen, BMW hopes to use the energy source to power hydrogen fuel-cell-driven equipment in its 1.2 million-square-foot Spartanburg, S.C., plant that produces the company’s new X3 Sports Activity Vehicle.
Finding a cheap, efficient source of hydrogen gas has always been a major issue in the evolution of fuel-cell technology. Posted. http://www.tgdaily.com/sustainability-features/57985-bmw-looks-to-landfills-for-hydrogen-power ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:55:06 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 22, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 22, 2011. 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 Drivers encouraged to stay in the zone. Unlike most new fees and taxes, this one might actually go away - if residents heed a new alert system when air quality deteriorates. Starting next month, San Joaquin Valley motorists will pay an extra $12 when they register their vehicles. Why? Ozone pollution exceeded federal standards on seven days last year, triggering a $29 million penalty from the federal government. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110822/A_NEWS/108220316&cid=sitesearch CLIMATE CHANGE Hopes low before South Africa climate change talks. Johannesburg—South Africa's foreign minister said Monday she is hoping for compromise but expects only incremental progress in climate change talks she's hosting, further lowering hopes the Durban meeting will produce a dramatic agreement to stop global warming. There are fears that "politics cannot deliver on what science requires," Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told South African business leaders in a speech Monday. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/south-africa-hopes-for-only-incremental-progress-in-climate-change-talks/2011/08/22/gIQARMwqVJ_story.html http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_18731391 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/22/hopes-low-before-south-africa-climate-change/?print=1 FUELS Farmers sought for biofuel project. Farm officials, hoping to get California farmers to plant as much as 25,000 acres of Camelina, an oilseed, for a biomass start-up project are offering incentives to growers in San Joaquin County and other areas of the Central Valley and Southern California. Camelina, which grows on marginal land, would be feedstock for a biofuel plant producing jet fuel substitute to be built in Bakersfield and begin production in late 2012. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110822/A_BIZ/108220301&cid=sitesearch UCR to use $1.2m grant to seek fuel alternatives. Finding ways to reduce fuel consumption in cars and trucks by changing drivers' habits will be the focus of a federally funded three-year research project at University of California, Riverside, it was announced this week. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108190303 Brazil to build world's largest ethanol plant. Petrobras, Brazil's state oil company, and São Martinho, a sugar and ethanol group, have announced plans to build the world's largest ethanol plant. "The plant will surely be the world's largest sugar-cane ethanol distillery," said Fabio Venturelli, head of Nova Fronteira Energia, the joint venture that will run the facility, which is slated to produce 700 million liters of biofuel annually. About 70 percent of the funding will come from the Brazilian Development Bank, according to Venturelli. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/22/11 BY PAID SUBCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Volkswagen on road to carbon-free car: report. London (Reuters) - Volkswagen will within two weeks unveil one of the first single-seater cars, with the potential for zero emissions, the Financial Times reported on Monday. VW's one-seat concept car will illustrate the carmaker's ambitions to build electric vehicles that generate no carbon dioxide, the FT said, citing the company's head of research, Jurgen Leohold. "It's a new kind of mobility, a new vehicle concept. Also, it's physics," he said. Emissions. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/22/us-volkwagen-emissions-idUSTRE77L2AQ20110822 Ford, Toyota to work together on hybrid trucks. A chance meeting in an airport lobby between the top executives of Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. has evolved into a deal between the auto giants to jointly develop a gas-electric hybrid engine for pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/22/1825289/ford-toyota-to-work-together-on.html Study: Clean vehicle jobs likely to rise. The function of at least 151,000 U.S. auto manufacturing jobs is to produce fuel-efficient vehicle technologies, with that number likely to grow, according to a report released Tuesday by the UAW and two environmental groups. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108200366 Where Will We Plug In? Electric cars, which have come and gone at least twice since the dawn of the automobile era, are back. The first mass-market EVs are here and more are rolling silently over the horizon. The Obama administration loves cars with cords and wants 1 million on the road by 2015. That’s an ambitious, but not impossible, goal. Most major automakers promise to have an electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid in showrooms by then. Their commitment seems solid, and some are making big promises. Posted. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/08/ev-charging-infrastructure/ Human waste now powers hydrogen cars in California county. An experimental fuel cell is turning the Orange County Sanitation District into a filling station for hydrogen cars. The fuel cell, which produces both hydrogen and electricity from waste gas at the Fountain Valley, Calif., sewage treatment plant, began a three-year demonstration run June 1; a "grand opening" was held Aug. 16. If it proves useful, the project could be expanded in coming years. Posted. http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/22/2369705/human-waste-now-powers-hydrogen.html GREEN ENERGY Is LEED Greenwash? According to Environmental Leader yesterday the U.S. District Court in New York City dismissed a lawsuit charging the U.S. Green Building Council with false advertising over its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. This is such an interesting case because it speaks to the heart of the perennial question: What is greenwash? Generally, greenwash applies when the following can be said about a company or organization's green claims: - No meaningful or verifiable criteria - …Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/22/idUS88775971720110822 Japan pins hopes on green power laws, risks abound. (Reuters) - Japan's lawmakers have the opportunity to show how strong their support is for boosting renewable power supply to replace nuclear reactors with the passage of a green energy subsidy scheme likely within days. The country is struggling to overhaul its energy policies after the March quake and tsunami triggered a nuclear disaster that shattered the public's confidence in the safety of the atomic industry and delayed the restart of idled plants. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/22/us-japan-renewables-idUSTRE77L1AR20110822 Trains That Run Like, and on, the Wind. It will not be easy to run a national railroad on renewable energy like wind, hydro and solar power, but that is what Deutsche Bahn of Germany aims to do, for one simple reason: It is what consumers want. Deutsche Bahn says it wants to raise the percentage of wind, hydro and solar energy used in powering its trains from 20 percent now to 28 percent in 2014 and to become carbon-free by 2050 — targets that exceed the German government’s already ambitious national goals. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/22/business/energy-environment/trains-that-run-like-and-on-the-wind.html?scp=3&sq=green%20energy&st=cse 'Solar trees' sprout up in Santa Clara County-owned parking lots. The frustrating search for a shady spot to park is about to get easier. But the new trees being planted at nine big parking lots in the South Bay aren't leafy green saplings, they're big silver specimens with 12-foot-tall trunks and broad steel canopies that will shield cars from the sun -- and produce solar power. Known as "solar trees" because they are topped with photovoltaic cells, the "groves" are sprouting up in parking lots at Santa Clara County government buildings and health clinics in San Jose and Gilroy, and at Elmwood jail in Milpitas. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_18730466?source=rss Cogentrix Solar Applications Denied. Federal land managers are rejecting a Goldman Sachs-owned company's applications to develop solar projects on public lands in the sun-drenched Nevada desert; years after the subsidiary filed more claims to build glimmering solar farms than anyone else. For years Goldman's Cogentrix Solar Services, LLC held exclusive rights to develop solar plants on nearly as much federal land in Nevada as all other companies combined - even though the firm had neither written plans nor inked agreements with utilities to buy the power they proposed to make. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/20/ap-exclusive-blm-rejects-goldman-sachs-02/?print=1 Monday newsmaker: Training renewable energy workers. Larry McLaughlin is director of the Advanced Transportation Technology and Energy Center at College of the Desert. It is one of seven centers established by the California Community College System to develop curriculum and conduct training for workforce development in emerging transportation and energy industries. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108220303 State sets up auctions for utilities to buy small renewable energy contracts. California regulators last week approved a variation on a feed-in tariff for small-scale renewables. The California Public Utilities Commission's "renewable auction mechanism," or RAM, is intended to fill in the gaps between other renewables programs like the general renewables portfolio standard, which sets an overall target of 33 percent renewables by 2020, and the California Solar Initiative, which gives out rebates for rooftop solar and solar hot water heaters. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/22/7 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY 'Green' economy fails to deliver on promised number of jobs. Mayor Chuck Reed of San Jose, Calif., cut the ribbon this month to open the new SolFocus headquarters, where the company produces free-standing polar panels. Clean technology is the next wave of innovation, said the mayor. It is also meant to drive the green economy, but in the San Francisco Bay Area and much of the country, green jobs aren't adding up to what many politicians envisioned. President Obama once promised to create 5 million green jobs over 10 years. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/22/10 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS As Governor, Perry Backed Wind, Gas and Coal. In the opening days of his presidential campaign, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas has railed against a favorite target, the Environmental Protection Agency, and declared himself a “skeptic” on the subject of humans as the cause of global warming. If Mr. Perry wins the White House, his national energy policy will focus on cutting federal regulations, especially at the E.P.A., his spokesman, Mark Miner, said. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/us/21ttenergy.html?scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse OPINIONS Pollution Starts In Bay Area. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District keeps telling us valley people to stop polluting the air. But … If they would get up early in the morning and go to Interstate 5 or Highway 33 and look towards the north, they will see a very brown layer of air coming through the Altamont Pass. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/20/1822814/pollution-starts-in-bay-area.html Letter: Valley positioned to lead the way. There is a direct correlation between ozone pollution and vehicular emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Program was created to foster the use of alternative fuels. The valley is perfectly positioned to lead this effort. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108180361 BLOGS Republicans and global warming. Here’s a story Juliet and I just put up on the web. Read it and then take cover! Excerpt: Four years ago in New Hampshire, campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, John McCain said to voters, “I do agree with the majority of scientific opinion, that climate change is taking place and it’s a result of human activity, which generates greenhouse gases.” He made global warming a key element of every New Hampshire stump speech. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/achenblog/post/republicans-and-global-warming/2011/08/19/gIQAy7sMQJ_blog.html PICKET: EPA imposes Obama's cap and trade regs- energy prices 'skyrocket'. Although Congress never managed to pass President Barack Obama's cap and trade plan, the Environmental Protection Agency's new regulations imposed on coal plants did the job for the president and Democrats on the hill pushing for C & T. Back during the days of campaign 2008 Barack Obama told the San Francisco Chronicle: (emphasis is mine) The problem is not technical, and the problem is not sufficient mastery of the legislative intricacies of Washington. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2011/aug/20/picket-obama-08-energy-prices-will-skyrocket-under/ What Drives Cities’ Runaway Growth? Urban areas are growing even faster than urban population is, and by 2030 urbanized land around the globe will expand by 590,000 square miles — an amount almost equal to the land mass of Mongolia, according to a new study. The rapid urbanization occurring around the world, particularly in China and India, is the product not just of population growth or economic growth. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/22/the-city-limits-are-expanding-everywhere/ Fracking Oversight Raises Staffing Questions. A panel charged with advising New York officials on regulating a controversial form of natural gas extraction known as hydrofracking will first examine whether the state government has enough staff members to properly monitor and enforce new drilling regulations. The panel of business, environmental and government representatives met for the first time on Thursday, with 15 of its 17 members gathering in Albany or taking part via videoconference. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/19/staffing-is-top-concern-in-fracking-oversight/ Solar Shift. Developers are moving toward photovoltaic panels for utility-scale solar plants Photovoltaic solar panels are becoming the new black for large-scale solar projects in California. Developers of what’s billed as the world’s largest solar project, spanning 7,000 acres in Blythe, California, say the plant will get half of its 1,000 megawatts from photovoltaic panels. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/08/21/solar-shift/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Video: Stanford University Unveils Solar-Powered Xenith, The Car That's More Aerodynamic Than A Bike. Tipping the scales at a scant 375 pounds, the solar-powered Xenith has a 4-inch thick thin chassis made of a blend of carbon fiber, titanium and aluminum. A novel steering system puts the driver in control of the front wheel, while a computer steers the two rear wheels. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/22/stanford-university-solar-powered-xenith/ Gasoline Demand Falls To 10-Year Low In July. The American Petroleum Institute (API) reports total petroleum deliveries (a measure of demand) fell by 0.5 percent in July, compared to the same month in 2010. Though miniscule, July marks the first time in 2011 that deliveries actually dropped when compared to the previous month. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/22/gasoline-demand-falls-to-10-year-low-in-july/ Report: Solar Energy Could Match Coal's Price By 2015 In China; Globally By 2020. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/08/21/solar-energy-match-coal-price-2015-china-globally-2020/ US Emissions Rose 4% in 2010, Partly Due to Increased Coal Use. Despite all of the ongoing efforts to increase renewable energy and curb our carbon footprints, carbon dioxide emissions in the United States rose 3.9 percent last year. While this is upsetting in itself, what’s even more worrisome is the fact that the Energy Information Administration contributes much of the rise to increased economic activity. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/us-emissions-rose-4-in-2010-partly-due-to-increased-coal-use/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:26:44 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 23, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 23, 2011. 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 Air board asks drivers to cut trips to avoid fine. San Joaquin County officials are turning to local residents to try to save the region from again being fined for ozone pollution. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has asked drivers to reduce trips and avoid idling engines, as weather patterns create the possibility of another air violation this week. Last year, the region became the nation's first air basin to be fined for failing to meet the federal deadline for reducing ozone pollution. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18738596?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18738596?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/23/2508488/air-board-asks-drivers-to-cut.html#storylink=misearch S.J. Valley calls first ever Air Alert. San Joaquin Valley air-quality cops have called their first Air Alert this week, hoping to avoid spikes in ozone pollution and costly federal penalties. The Air Alert begins today and ends Sunday. Motorists are asked to not idle their cars and to carpool to work or school, among other actions. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110823/A_NEWS/110829985&cid=sitesearch http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/22/2507765/valley-faces-bad-air-alert-this.html#storylink=misearch http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/08/22/2013293/sjv-air-district-calls-air-alert.html CLIMATE CHANGE Climate-change researcher cleared of misconduct by National Science Foundation. An investigation by the National Science Foundation has found no evidence of wrongdoing or misconduct by Penn State climate-change researcher Michael Mann. Mann, Penn State professor of meteorology, was the target of accusations from climate-change skeptics after thousands of e-mails exchanged between climate-change researchers were hacked from the University of East Anglia and made public. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/23/2508662/climate-change-researcher-cleared.html#storylink=misearch Ford, Toyota bank on hybrid alliance to boost pickup fuel economy. Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp., by partnering to build a hybrid system for light trucks, hope to cross one of the auto industry’s biggest hurdles – significantly boosting the fuel economy of large pickups and SUVs. The two automakers plan to jointly develop hybrid technology for light trucks as U.S. regulators finalize plans to toughen fuel economy requirements for pickups later this decade. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110822/OEM05/110829992/1186 Analysts forecast lower prices for Calif. cap and trade. California will see about 10 percent lower prices in its first-in-the-nation economywide cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases due to the economic downturn and several regulatory developments, market analysts said yesterday. Average prices should be about $36 per ton for the entire lifetime of the market, down from the $40 per ton predicted six months ago by carbon market analysis firm Point Carbon. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/23/4 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Hydrogen cars fill up at sewage plant. Fountain Valley, Calif. -- A Southern California sewage treatment plant has been turned into a filling station for hydrogen-powered cars, officials said. An experimental fuel cell at the Orange County Sanitation District facility in Fountain Valley produces both hydrogen and electricity from waste gas, The Orange County Register reported Monday. Jeffrey P. Brown, a senior engineer at the Sanitation District, said the waste plants' fuel cell project was unique. Posted. http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2011/08/22/Hydrogen-cars-fill-up-at-sewage-plant/UPI-78291314059192/ GREEN ENERGY LED lights outshine the economics of solar-powered bulbs – report. Homeowners looking to save electricity costs should replace all their incandescent light bulbs with LED-based lights instead of installing a small solar photovoltaic system, a report by J.P. Morgan shows. Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, will become mainstream over the next 12 months as improving technology and performance and higher subsidies lead to a rapid drop in costs, according to the report. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/23/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS A way with worms. Two Antelope mothers deal with some slimy characters – the kind that prefer staying underground, like to do dirty work and can wriggle out of tight spots. But the two neighbors, entrepreneurs who launched a worm supply business from their homes, praise these creatures for turning waste into rich soil. Kate Waldo sums up the glamour and allure of their worm-breeding operation: "It's becoming less weird." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/21/v-print/3849444/a-way-with-wormsthis-is-going.html OPINIONS Opinion: California can lead American to energy freedom. America suffers from a substance abuse problem. Maintaining our national industries and our jobs requires us to consume millions of tons of fossil fuels each and every day. Unfortunately, our addiction to fossil fuels comes with a high price, perhaps even higher than what we pay at the pump or for our monthly utility bills. Consuming these chemicals also comes with what economists call externality costs -- invisible, indirect expenses widely shared by human society. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18735465?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Op-Ed: AES Aims for Greener Future. AES' new power plant will be smaller and more efficient, Project Development Director Jennifer Didlo says. AES Southland is excited about the prospect of modernizing our power plants, including our Redondo Beach facility, which will result in smaller, cleaner, more efficient and more attractive facilities. We're also eager to answer questions that have been asked about our plans. Posted. http://redondobeach.patch.com/articles/op-ed-aes-aims-for-greener-future Power export plan isn’t dead yet. Victoria – He would never quite admit it, but former premier Gordon Campbell’s push for self-sufficiency in clean electricity has always looked to me like a long-term strategy to export hydroelectric power. It still looks that way. B.C.’s spring and summer runoff match perfectly with peak air-conditioner season in California. But the recent review of BC Hydro operations discusses how the prospects for exports have changed since Campbell’s 2007 energy plan. Posted. http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_thompson_nicola/clearwatertimes/opinion/128251613.html BLOGS Huntsman, Romney believe in global warming, but not action. Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman has been in the headlines lately for his outspoken belief in manmade global warming. All of a sudden, for at least one candidate, vocal environmentalism appears to be a strategic maneuver aimed at distinguishing himself from his rival Republicans. Huntsman isn’t alone among 2012 contenders or other prominent Republicans in affirming man’s involvement in climate change. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/huntsman-romney-believe-in-climate-change-but-dont-act/2011/08/22/gIQAhdpuYJ_blog.html Climate of suspicion. A thoughtful reader wrote in to say the problem with the Climate Debate was the way it has become polarized, and that the best way to persuade the unpersuaded is to drop the confrontational tone and present it as a search for common ground. So here goes: We all love the earth, so let’s be careful with it, and not do anything that can’t be undone. The science on warming may not be perfect, but it’s raised very very serious warnings. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tom-toles/post/climate-of-suspicion/2011/08/23/gIQAB3o0YJ_blog.html Ford-Toyota Partnership: Hybrid Market Leaders Double Up. Ford and Toyota, companies that both have had success developing and marketing vehicles with full hybrid powertrains, jointly announced on Monday that they would work together to create new hybrid systems for light trucks and sport utility vehicles. The brands expect to have products in the marketplace before the end of the decade, they said. In addition to hybrid technology, the automakers plan to collaborate on the development of standards for in-car telematics and Internet-based services. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/23/ford-toyota-partnership-hybrid-market-leaders-double-up/?scp=9&sq=vehicles&st=cse One billion vehicles hit the road. Are we ready for two billion? Last year, for the first time in history, a billion cars and trucks hit the road. Sadly, we’ll never know who registered the world’s one-billionth vehicle, but, according to the industry trade journal Ward’s, which reported the numbers, it’s increasingly likely that the lucky prize-winner could have hailed from China, India, or Brazil: The market explosion in China played a major role in overall vehicle population growth in 2010, with registrations jumping 27.5%. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/one-billion-vehicles-hit-the-road-are-we-ready-for-two-billion/2011/08/22/gIQA1am4WJ_blog.html Analysts Cut Carbon Price Forecast for California. Carbon may come cheaper than first predicted when California’s cap-and-trade program finally gets rolling. Analysts at Thomson Reuters have dropped their projections of what polluters would pay for emissions permits from $40 to $36 per metric ton of CO2-equivalent gases. Emilie Mazzacurati, who heads the firm’s North America Carbon Team, says pushing back the compliance date to 2013 and fears of a double-dip recession are behind the 10% trimming from its prior forecast. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/08/22/analysts-cut-carbon-price-forecast-for-california/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Not Free to Choose: The Reality behind Clean Energy Standards. The new stealth approach to energy policy being pushed under the guise of a Clean Energy Standard is frankly dishonest. Climate activists failed to achieve comprehensive greenhouse gas controls in the United States in the form of a cap-and-trade program. And while they pursue incremental greenhouse gas regulation at both the federal and state level, they have not given up on their Holy Grail of a comprehensive national regime to control greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.american.com/archive/2011/august/not-free-to-choose-the-reality-behind-clean-energy-standards Study Warns of Boomerang Effects in Climate Change Campaigns. Climate change campaigns in the United States that focus on the risks to people in foreign countries or even other regions of the U.S. are likely to inadvertently increase polarization among Americans rather than build consensus and support for policy action. In contrast, locally focused campaigns that highlight the risks to fellow residents of a state or a city are less likely to activate strong partisan differences. Those are the conclusions of a forthcoming study published online this week at Communication Research. Posted. http://bigthink.com/ideas/39811 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:49:28 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 24, 2011 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 24, 2011. 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 Air board asks drivers to cut trips to avoid fine. Fresno, Calif. (AP) -- San Joaquin County officials are turning to local residents to try to save the region from again being fined for ozone pollution. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has asked drivers to reduce trips and avoid idling engines, as weather patterns create the possibility of another air violation this week. Last year, the region became the nation's first air basin to be fined for failing to meet the federal deadline for reducing ozone pollution. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/08/23/state/n065533D64.DTL Hot weather has air officials on ozone alert. Valley warned of potential health risks. The San Joaquin Valley has not been hit with any one-hour violations of federal air quality standards so far this year. That's the good news. The bad news? Valley air pollution coupled with hot, stagnant air – like what's forecast through the weekend – creates perfect conditions for dangerous peaks in ozone levels, and the potential for a one-hour violation. Air quality officials are urging Valley residents to take precautions to avoid ozone spikes, which are not only unhealthy but also costly. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/23/v-print/2509478/hot-weather-has-air-officials.html CLIMATE CHANGE Study probes climate change in Great Lakes cities. A new University of Michigan project will help city leaders in the Great Lakes region plan for dealing with climate change. The Kresge Foundation is helping fund the $1.2 million project, which will last three years. Organizers say much climate change research has been done on global and national scales, but little is known about its potential effects on the local level. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18745867?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18745867?IADID=Search- www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com More greenhouse gas rules set for Sutter hospital in Santa Rosa. The list of environmental requirements that Sutter Health must meet to build its planned $284 million hospital north of Santa Rosa grew Tuesday. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors tentatively added a condition envisioned to help further offset greenhouse gas emissions linked to the hospital's development and operation. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110823/ARTICLES/110829797/1350?Title=More-greenhouse-gas-rules-set-for-Sutter-hospital-in-Santa-Rosa VEHICLES Hertz to Begin Renting Electric Cars in China. Hong kong — In the West, electric cars appeal to a do-it-yourself environmentalist personality, one who believes in taking individual actions to help address the collective problems of air pollution and global warming. But when Hertz starts renting electric cars in China later this week, it will offer the vehicles with chauffeurs — a nod to China’s resistance to recognizing other nations’ driver’s licenses or the International Driving Permit. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/business/global/hertz-to-begin-renting-electric-cars-in-china.html UCR: Key to cutting gas use might be drivers. Todd Muntz's car can tell him when air pressure in the tires is running low, when it's due for an oil change and even when the next turn he needs to make is coming up. "It's pretty amazing what they can do," he said. "My first car didn't even have shoulder belts," said Muntz, 59, of Riverside. His next car might tell him what speed to drive for current traffic conditions and which route he should take to avoid idling and wasting gas. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_ecogrant24.38fdd5d.html Opel/Vauxhall said to be considering hybrid partner. General Motors Co.'s European unit Opel/Vauxhall is considering taking on a partner in the field of fuel-saving hybrid powertrains in order to share development costs, as the brand rolls out more gasoline-electric cars. "Hybrid technology is becoming increasingly more important. We are not holding any concrete talks but a cooperation would be certainly a good way to cut costs," Opel CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung today. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110824/COPY01/308249775/1193 OPINIONS Ways To Reduce Emissions in Face of Bad Air Alerts Triggered by High Temps, Increased Traffic. Temperatures throughout the San Joaquin Valley today will range from the mid to upper ‘90s. I remember when I lived along the Atlantic seaboard, temperatures in the 90s were dreaded due to the oftentimes high humidity associated with them. In California’s Central Valley, high temperatures many times mean high ozone. According to information in the Fresno Bee, “The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District issued [a bad-air] alert Monday to encourage residents and businesses to help minimize smog-forming emissions.” Posted. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/print/9291 SAYED SADREDIN: Strategies to avoid another ozone fine, and clean valley's air while we're at it. As many of you know, despite significant improvements in our air quality, under an arcane provision of federal law, valley residents and businesses are subject to a penalty of approximately $29 million per year for failing to meet the federal one-hour standard for ozone. In 1996, the San Joaquin Valley air basin racked up 56 days where ozone levels exceeded federal health-based standards for one-hour ozone readings. Last year, there were only seven such days. If anything, valley residents and businesses deserve a reward and not a penalty. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/community/x952942279/SAYED-SADREDIN-Strategies-to-avoid-another-ozone-fine-and-clean-valleys-air-while-were-at-it Public opinion on climate just tipped. One of the hallmarks of tipping points is that you don't know when you're in one. There's growing agreement that peak oil, for example, happened between 2004 and 2008. Still, you're never sure about such inflection points until well after the fact. This week, though, sure feels like the tipping point on public opinion on climate, and so I'm going to stick a fork in it right here, folks. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-08-23-public-opinion-on-climate-just-tipped BLOGS Taking Stock of Campus Sustainability. Colleges and universities across the country have quickly taken to measuring their environmental footprint: energy efficiency, consumption levels, renewable energy targets, number of green buildings, recycling rates, water use and even the prevalence of sustainability curriculums. But in this rush to go green, two of the three sustainability pillars have remained largely in shadow. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/23/taking-stock-of-campus-sustainability/ A social movement to fight climate change? Dave Roberts writes that a big problem in climate-change politics so far is that the campaign has been “an extremely intellectualized, top-down sort of undertaking, and as we saw with painful clarity during the climate bill fiasco, an elite-driven strategy isn’t going to cut it.” What environmentalists need, Roberts says, is the sort of social movement that organized labor once wielded, and that feminism and civil rights created. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/a-social-movement-to-fight-climate-change/2011/08/12/gIQAnRgCbJ_blog.html California asbestos deposits mapped. Asbestos is in our state rock, and it's in more places than you might think. The U.S. Geological Survey this week released a comprehensive map of all the known places in California where asbestos is found, including mines and exposed natural formations. Off-roaders in the Clear Creek Management Area, in San Benito and Fresno counties, are all too familiar with white asbestos in the form of the mineral chrysotile. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/08/california-asbestos-deposits-mapped.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:56:38 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 25, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 25, 2011. 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 Crews to let burning propane tanker in N. Calif. town burn itself out, avoiding risky maneuver. Firefighters are letting a burning propane rail tanker burn itself out after determining the rail car held much less propane than previously thought, a fire official said late Wednesday. Firefighters had spent most of Wednesday preparing for a bold attempt to drain a burning propane rail tanker to head off a catastrophic explosion in a Northern California town, where thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/firefighters-work-to-keep-burning-rail-car-from-exploding-near-northern-calif-neighborhood/2011/08/24/gIQAedWcaJ_story.html CLIMATE CHANGE California panel reaffirms carbon trading program. The California Air Resources Board approves a revised analysis ordered by a judge. Opponents plan another challenge to the long-delayed program to trade emissions permits. The California Air Resources Board voted to reaffirm its cap-and-trade plan Wednesday, a decision that puts the nation's first-ever state carbon trading program back on track, for now. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cap-trade-20110825,0,1958108,print.story Air Resources Board Reapproves AB 32 Scoping Plan. California’s ambitious effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is taking a big step forward. The California Air Resources Board has signed off on an updated plan to comply with the goals of AB 32. That's the state's landmark global warming law, which requires California to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. The plan is called a "scoping plan" - and it includes everything from the state's cap-and-trade program to low carbon fuel standards for vehicles. Posted. http://www.capradio.org/articles/2011/08/24/air-resources-board-reapproves-ab-32-scoping-plan State affirms cap and trade as climate policy of choice. Sacramento, Calif. -- State air regulators gave a green light yesterday -- for the second time -- to cap and trade as the way to reduce greenhouse emissions from industrial sectors under California's global warming law, A.B. 32. The Air Resources Board's action was somewhere between a technicality and a line in the sand. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/25/6 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Study links El Niño weather events with civil wars in tropical countries. El Niño weather conditions cause torrential downpours and crop-killing droughts in the United States, but a study released Wednesday theorizes that this hot-climate cycle can contribute to far deadlier outcomes in parts of the developing world. The study published in the journal Nature said the probability that new civil wars will break out in 90 tropical countries such as Burma and Colombia doubles in years when El Niño Southern Oscillation arms the climate, compared with cooler La Niña years. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/study-links-el-nino-weather-events-with-civil-wars-in-tropical-countries/2011/08/23/gIQAMq07bJ_story.html Researchers find changing climate pattern can double civil conflicts. El Niño, a global climate pattern that warms the central Pacific Ocean, doubles the risk of civil conflicts in tropical nations. That's the conclusion of research published today in the journal Nature that adds to a growing debate over the role climatic conditions play in triggering or exacerbating violence. Researchers from Princeton and Columbia universities say their analysis is the first to demonstrate that global climate shifts can help cause unrest. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/25/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY EPA uses up to 4-year delay to protect sensitive data from emissions reporting. Responding to privacy concerns across various industrial sectors, U.S. EPA will defer the mandatory reporting of potentially sensitive data tied to greenhouse gas emissions for up to four years. Businesses prepare their greenhouse gas emissions numbers by plugging in certain values -- raw materials, fuel types and quantities, production volumes and other information -- into an equation. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/08/25/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Toyota expands Prius range with seven-seat variant. Toyota Motor Corp. plans to debut the Prius+, a seven-seat version of its Prius hybrid car, at the Frankfurt auto show next month, ahead of European sales beginning in the first half of 2012. Designed to extend the appeal of the Prius range to families and those needing more space, the Prius+ offers a three-row seating format. The car is 155mm longer, 30mm wider and 85mm taller than the third-generation Prius hatchback, from which it is derived. The wheelbase has been extended by 80mm. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110825/COPY01/308259906/1193 GM partners with battery supplier LG on electric vehicles. General Motors said today that it is partnering with its battery cell supplier, LG Group, to develop electric vehicles. The agreement, signed Wednesday by GM CEO Dan Akerson and LG President Juno Cho, will “help GM expand the number and types of electric vehicles it makes and sells,” the automaker said in a statement. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110825/OEM05/110829946/1186 EVI and UPS Announce the Purchase of 100 Zero-Emission, All-Electric, Delivery Vehicles. Stockton, Calif. -- Electric Vehicles International (EVI) announced that UPS is purchasing 100 fully electric commercial delivery vehicles for deployment in locations throughout California. This purchase marks the largest deployment of zero emission delivery vehicles in California, and one of the largest single deployments of commercial all-electric vehicles in the world. EVI and UPS have been working for over two years on this project, including a successful 90-day demonstration in the fall of 2010. Posted. http://www.sunherald.com/2011/08/25/3374342/evi-and-ups-announce-the-purchase.html Daimler builds hydrogen stations for upscale, fuel cell-powered electric cars. Germany will become the first country completely accessible to fuel cell vehicles in 2015, when carmaker Daimler and the Linde technology group will build 20 new hydrogen filling stations. The result will quadruple the number of public stations available and make it possible for a fuel cell vehicle to reach any location in the country. Daimler's plans to start mass-producing fuel cell vehicles next year were severely limited by the lack of public hydrogen filling stations in Germany. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/25/2 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY China considers revising electric vehicle goals. Proposed targets for electric vehicle production now seem far-fetched to the Chinese government, prompting a re-evaluation of its strategy to curb fuel consumption and reduce emissions. Beijing hoped to develop a technological advantage in electric vehicle technology over foreign competitors, but the time frame for development was seen as too narrow. An article in a Communist Party journal raised doubts about Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's electric vehicle proposal. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/25/7 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Gov. Brown seeks to extend California energy surcharge. The levy on electric bills has been in effect since 1997 and raises $400 million a year for renewable energy and efficiency programs but is set to expire at the end of the year. Brown sees its reauthorization as a way to create more high-tech jobs. In a major effort to create more high-tech jobs, Gov. Jerry Brown is sponsoring legislation to extend a state program that collects about $400 million a year from utility customers and invests it in renewable energy and efficiency programs. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-energy-surcharges-20110825,0,443927,print.story MISCELLANEOUS Toxic dump near Kettleman City agrees to pay penalties. The site operated by Waste Management Inc. will pay $400,000 in fines and spend $600,000 on upgrades to manage hazardous materials at the facility. The nearby community of mostly low-income farmworkers is plagued by birth defects. A toxic waste dump near a San Joaquin Valley community plagued by birth defects has agreed to pay $400,000 in fines and spend $600,000 on laboratory upgrades needed to properly manage hazardous materials at the facility, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-toxic-kettleman-20110825,0,5545429,print.story OPINIONS Opinion: When writing regulations, make sure to consider all pertinent data. It is all too familiar to hear criticism of California’s regulatory process, also known as promulgation (10 points if you can say that five times fast), so when Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and the recently appointed Jobs Czar Michael Rossi highlight regulatory reform as key to restoring California jobs the pronouncements garner the requisite ‘bravos’ and ‘hear, hears’. Is all regulation bad? Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?1=1&_c=zy3raccmsclm3g&xid=zy1qxpx6dkpj84&done=.zy2h6648z3o5jh&_credir=1314291856&_c=zy3raccmsclm3g China Eyes Competitive Edge in Renewable Energy. China’s State Council (the national cabinet) is currently reviewing a set of massive funding proposals for seven key “strategic emerging industries”: environmentally friendly and energy-efficient technologies, next-generation IT, biotechnology, high-end equipment manufacturing, alternative energy, alternative materials, and alternative-energy vehicles. Posted. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/08/china_energy_competitiveness.html BLOGS Gas Is Cheaper, but We’re Still Driving Less. Driving less? Perhaps stubbornly high gasoline prices are getting you down. All the bad economic news may be holding you back from shopping or eating out as much. Or maybe you don’t have a job to drive to in the morning. Obviously, you are not alone. MasterCard SpendingPulse put out its weekly gasoline report Tuesday, and demand for gasoline is going south fast. For the week ending Aug. 19, demand for gasoline at gas stations across the country was down by 4.2 percent compared to the same week a year ago. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/gas-is-cheaper-but-were-still-driving-less/?ref=earth Business Studies Become Environmentally Friendly. “Through the roof” is how Adam Zak, an executive recruiter, describes the demand for workers with sustainability-related job skills. “We estimate about a 40 percent increase over last year in the search assignments we are asked to conduct for these kinds of individuals,” said Mr. Zak, whose clients include companies like Coca-Cola, Andersen Windows and Del Monte. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/business-studies-become-environmentally-friendly/?ref=earth California's cap-and-trade program reaffirmed by board. California's carbon-trading program got back on track Wednesday, after the Air Resources Board voted to reaffirm its original plan to create a market for carbon emissions permits. The cap-and-trade program would be the first state-run market in the nation, creating the largest carbon market in the U.S. Wednesday's action is unlikely to forestall further court squabbling, which began in 2009 when environmental justice groups accused the Air Resources Board of failing to adequately consider alternatives. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/08/cap-and-trade-program-reaffirmed-by-california-board.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Climate change: Drought, floods, tornadoes part of 'new normal'? Oklahoma has always been known for its bad weather. But this year has beat all others, in nearly every category. In a year in which the continental U.S. has experienced its most extreme weather on record, Oklahomans may well be the symbols of the "new normal" of unpredictable weather extremes caused by shifting climate due to a buildup of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. The irony won't be lost on those who follow the political debate over climate change in Congress. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/08/climate-change-drought-floods-tornados-part-of-new-normal.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 California toxic waste case settled. A toxic waste dump near a San Joaquin Valley community plagued by birth defects will pay $400,000 in fines and spend $600,000 on laboratory upgrades needed to properly manage hazardous materials at the facility, federal authorities announced Wednesday. The settlement capped an 18-month joint investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control into the Chemical Waste Management landfill about 3 1⁄2 miles southwest of Kettleman City, a community of 1,500 mostly low-income Latino farmworkers. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/08/california-toxic-waste-case-settled.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Melting ice will loose highly toxic chemicals. Some of the most dangerous pollutants we know, called persistent organic pollutants, have been frozen in the Arctic tundra and ices caps since they were banned in the U.S. in 1979 and internationally in 2001. But climate change is bringing the return of the repressed, according to a new study in the journal Nature Climate Change. POP exposure causes a range of health effects, potentially affecting the endocrine, reproductive, immune and nervous systems. It causes cancer and can cause death outright. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=95969 Nature paper examines cosmic ray climate change hypothesis, gives support. From the journal Nature, a much-awaited paper examining the role of cosmic rays and ammonia in cloud formation, a phenomenon important to understanding global warming/climate change. Those looking for a clean answer of whether additional natural or human factors are vital to cloud formation won't find it here. Instead, there's more uncertainty about the process. Than first believed. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/business/scitech/article_dafc761e-ce6a-11e0-9c24-001cc4c03286.html Air Board Should Move Ahead with AB 32 Scoping Plan: California's Blueprint for Transitioning to a Clean Energy Economy. Moments ago the Air Resources Board voted 9-0 to re-adopt and move ahead with the AB32 Scoping Plan -- California’s blueprint for transitioning to a clean energy economy. The new analysis will supersede the original study that the San Francisco County Superior Court found lacking earlier this year. In today’s monthly Board meeting, the ARB considered the findings of its evaluation of alternatives to the Scoping Plan for achieving the goals of AB32. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kgrenfell/air_board_should_move_ahead_wi.html Activists to Air Board: Keep the Cap, Lose the Trade. Members of the “environmental justice” movement lost a major round to air officials on Wednesday, when the latter voted to keep California’s nascent cap-and-trade plan on track. The program is a key component of the state’s landmark strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Activists sued to stop the program, claiming it does little to curb toxic emissions from industrial facilities and farming operations. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/08/24/activists-to-air-board-keep-the-cap-lose-the-trade/ Down on the Farm: Nuts to Renewable Energy. California is just a few votes away from changing the rules to allow farmers to connect machines that create bioenergy to the electrical grid, a privilege that has thus far been reserved for farm-generated wind and solar energy. Passage of the bill — SB 489 — would mean they could use the byproduct of their crops as fuel to create electricity. Russ Lester, the owner of Dixon Ridge Farms, has been leading the charge to get the rules changed. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/08/24/another-renewable-energy-frontier-farm-biomass/ For business, California’s cap and trade law provides new opportunities. Gina DiCaro of CMTA implied in his piece, California's cap-and-trade needs to be well designed to protect manufacturers, that California’s landmark clean energy law, AB 32, threatens our state’s manufacturing industry. Manufacturing in California has faced a range of threats for some time as a result of larger economic trends – including heavy investment by the Chinese government to grow Chinese manufacturing companies in virtually every sector. Posted. http://foxandhoundsdaily.com/blog/david-hochschild/9354-for-business-california%E2%80%99s-cap-and-trade-law-provides-new-opportunities What will move the US towards Renewables? The Army's Need for Fuel? On 10 August Secretary of the Army John McHugh announced the creation of a new Energy Initiatives Office Task Force, whose purpose is to assist the Army face challenges arising from rising fuel costs. Army officials hope that Energy Initiatives Office Task Force will be fully operational by 15 September and assist in developing the large-scale renewable energy projects the Army is seeking in its quest to achieve energy security, The Army News Service reported. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/what-will-move-us-towards-renewables-armys-need-fu/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:48:26 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 26, 2001. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 26, 2011. 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 RESOURCES BOARD State's EPA chief has been fighting political fires for decades. The new boss at California's EPA spent 30 years in government and worked on some key environmental cases, but he's still managed to fly under the radar. Matt Rodriquez, appointed last month by Gov. Jerry Brown (D), isn't well-known among environmental groups. That prompts some to ponder how he will approach his job overseeing five other environmental agencies, each with their own sprawling responsibilities and governor-appointed leader. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/26/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Weather cycles cause a drop in global sea level, scientists find. The global sea level this summer is a quarter of an inch lower than last summer, according to NASA scientists, in sharp contrast to the gradual rise the ocean has experienced in recent years. The change stems from two strong weather cycles over the Pacific Ocean — El Niño and La Niña — which shifted precipitation patterns, according to scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/weather-cycles-cause-a-drop-in-global-sea-level-scientists-find/2011/08/25/gIQA6IeaeJ_story.html Assessing Climate Change in a Drought-Stricken State. Texas has endured its worst one-year drought in recorded history. And the hottest July. August is on course to be hotter still, setting another record. So, is this the result of climate change? Scientists hedge, particularly when it comes to the drought, because they are reluctant to pin any single weather event on climate change. They point to La Niña, an intermittent Pacific Ocean phenomenon that affects storms, as the immediate cause. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/26/us/26ttdrought.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Hansen Says Obama Will Be 'Greenwashing' About Climate Change if He Approves Keystone XL Pipeline. NASA scientist James Hansen, who galvanized the environmental movement decades ago with his congressional testimony about the dangers of climate change, said yesterday that President Obama has a rare opportunity to show he is not a "hopeless addict." Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/08/26/26climatewire-hansen-says-obama-will-be-greenwashing-about-72041.html Hurricane Irene, Global Warming and the Rising Cost of Storm Surge Damage. Sea levels are higher today than when past major hurricanes have struck the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. With climate change, they'll rise further, making storm surges more dangerous and costly. When the words "hurricane" and "global warming" end up in the same sentence in a news story, typically the subject is whether climate change is or will make Atlantic hurricanes stronger or more frequent. Unlike many other aspects of climate change, that's one point where legitimate scientists argue, and the jury is still out. Posted. http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/hurricane-irene-storm-surge-0811 FUELS Cutting budget? 'Green Scissors' look like the tool. It's a rare and strange alignment of the political stars, which might be a sign of an idea whose time has arrived: Rep. Wally Herger is singing in political harmony with the environmentalists at Friends of the Earth and the Naderite consumer group Public Citizen. The cause? Scrapping tax credits on ethanol that, however well-intentioned originally as a move to curb the nation's dependence on imported oil, have proven an immense boondoggle. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2011/aug/25/cutting-budget-green-scissors-look-like-the-tool/?print=1 Compressed Natural Gas Station Opens in Santa Ana. A new compressed natural gas fueling station has been opened in Santa Ana, California by Waste Management of Orange County. PetroCard operates the Clean N’ Green station and will sell CNG to commercial fleets including transit agencies, school districts, taxis, cities, and municipalities. Supporters of CNG say that the price of fuel is one-third below the cost of gasoline and diesel. Posted. http://domesticfuel.com/2011/08/25/compressed-natural-gas-station-opens-in-santa-ana/ Old Newspapers + Secret Ingredient = Cheap Biofuel. Today’s fishwrap is tomorrow’s biofuel: a research team from Tulane University has found a low cost, energy efficient way to recycle ordinary newspapers into butanol biofuel, which can be used as a drop-in replacement for gasoline. The secret ingredient is a bacteria found in animal droppings, which naturally produces butanol as it digests the news. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2011/08/26/old-newspapers-secret-ingredient-cheap-biofuel/ VEHICLES UPS buys 100 electric-power trucks for California routes. A Stockton-based electric vehicle manufacturer announced Thursday that United Parcel Service is purchasing 100 all-electric commercial delivery vehicles for deployment throughout California, including the Sacramento area. Electric Vehicles International called the purchase the largest deployment of zero-emission delivery vehicles in California and one of the largest single deployments of commercial all-electric vehicles in the world. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/26/3862493/ups-buys-100-electric-power-trucks.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/25/BU7I1KRF10.DTL http://www.ttnews.com/articles/lmtbase.aspx?storyid=1476 GREEN ENERGY CLP Says Australian Carbon Plan May Cut Value of A$1.7 Billion Coal Plant. CLP Holdings Ltd. (2), Hong Kong’s biggest electricity producer, said a plan by Australia to put a price on carbon emissions from July may impair the value of its Yallourn brown coal power station in Victoria state. “The possible introduction of climate change legislation may have a significant impact on TRUenergy’s business, in particular on the Yallourn brown coal-fired generation business,” CLP said in its 2011 interim report. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-26/clp-says-australian-carbon-plan-may-cut-value-of-a-1-7-billion-coal-plant.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/08/26/bloomberg1376-LQJ6ET6K50XV01-5RFKMA2A1TO9H59EKNGH07IIB0.DTL Brown unveils tax package to boost clean-tech industry. California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) introduced a tax package yesterday aimed at wooing clean technology companies and others to consider building manufacturing plants in the Golden State. Surrounded by executives from Tesla Motors Inc., Solyndra Inc. and other clean-tech companies, Brown proposed reversing an income tax provision from former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and extending a sales-tax exemption for startups and established companies that buy a large amount of equipment. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/08/26/25 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Waste-to-energy technology makes progress in U.S., but critics remain. From the sidewalk there's almost no evidence that behind the walls of the energy-from-waste plant in Alexandria, Va., an incinerator is burning garbage at more than 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit and providing electricity to thousands of homes. "Everything that the resident puts out on the street in a trash can comes here," said Bryan Donnelly, the facility manager. At his location, that amounts to about 350,000 tons of municipal waste per year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/08/26/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Environmental groups sue S.F. over landfill plans. Environmental groups have sued San Francisco over that city's plans to send train loads of its trash to rural Yuba County. In separate filing in San Francisco Superior Court on Thursday, Yuba Group Against Garbage and Sustainability, Parks, Recycling and Wildlife Legal Defense Fund alleged that San Francisco officials violated state law by failing to conduct an environmental impact report on efforts to transport up to 5 million tons of trash to a landfill in the city of Wheatland. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/26/3862586/environmental-groups-sue-sf-over.html OPINIONS Climate change and extreme weather; California's prisoner shuffle; science vs. theology. Wet, wild, worse? Re "Weather extremes may be the new norm," Aug. 24 It is missing the point to suggest that the weather we have had this past year (with its temperature extremes, violent storms, droughts and floods) may be the "new normal." These new weather patterns are but the tip of the iceberg, a faint indication of the truly horrendous weather that science has shown we have in store for us if we don't act now to head off the worst effects of climate change. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0826-friday-20110826,0,4554247,print.story Viewpoints: Energy program generates ratepayer benefits. Although it is one of the best- kept secrets in Sacramento, the Public Interest Energy Research Program has been the driving force behind California's blitz to accelerate the generation of clean energy and to continue our ranking as the nation's most energy-efficient state. Since its inception in 1996, more than $700 million from the program has been directed into energy research, development and demonstration projects in the state. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/26/3862556/energy-program-generates-ratepayer.html BLOGS G.M. Link-Up With LG Chem Will Range Beyond Batteries. General Motors and South Korea’s LG Group are teaming up to develop electric vehicles, though to what extent the two companies will collaborate is not yet known. The automaker announced an agreement to jointly design and engineer plug-in cars with LG Chem, a subsidiary of the South Korean conglomerate, on Thursday. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/g-m-link-up-with-lg-chem-will-range-beyond-batteries/?scp=10&sq=vehicles&st=cse Time to Start Work on a Panic Button? For two decades, the world’s governments have failed to meet their own commitment to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the main heat-trapping gas. As frustration builds among scientists, some of them have begun to argue for research on a potential last-ditch option in case global warming starts to get out of control. It is called geoengineering — or directly manipulating the Earth’s climate. The idea sounds like science fiction, but it is not. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/time-to-start-work-on-a-panic-button/?ref=earth Fire officials warn of carbon monoxide detector scam. Officials are warning residents of a scam to sell overpriced carbon monoxide detectors. The scammers send out mail solicitations directing residents to buy a detector from them or face fines under SB 183. That legislation does require the detectors in all single-family residences, but no public agency is pressuring consumers to buy a particular product, said officials from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/08/monoxide-detector-scam.html Los Angeles neighborhood bears the brunt of air pollution. As summer temperatures rise, so do fears of asthma and other illnesses caused by all the air pollution converging on the east Los Angeles community of Boyle Heights. With its proximity to freeways, industrial sites and shipping corridors, activists say the geography of Boyle Heights brings a disproportionate health burden to residents. Determined to reduce the adverse health effects caused by air pollution, residents and activists of this historically immigrant community are taking proactive and innovative measures to improve their environment. Posted. http://newsdesk.org/2011/08/historic-los-angeles-neighborhood-continues-to-bear-the-brunt-of-air-pollution/ Climate Change May Not Cause Hurricanes, But It Can Make Them Much Stronger. The perhaps inevitable question: So what's the connection between climate change and Hurricane Irene? The stock answer is that it's hard if not impossible to blame any extreme weather event and climate change, but it does contribute to making hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, even blizzards (for a while at least) more likely. As for hurricanes, one of the factors contributing to their strength is warm ocean water--hurricanes need ocean surface temperatures to exceed 79°F. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/08/climate-change-can-make-hurricanes-more-intense.php US breaks ground on first industrial-scale carbon capture project. Construction begins at Illinois plant as Department of Energy pledges $41m for research projects. The US government's carbon capture and storage (CCS) efforts stepped up a gear this week, with the start of construction on the government's first industrial-scale scheme and funds worth $41m set aside for another 16 research projects. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/aug/26/us-carbon-capture-and-storage-biofuels ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:00:35 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 29, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 29, 2011. 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 Global climate worry up slightly since 2009 – poll. London (Reuters) - Global concern about climate change has risen only very slightly over the past two years, as consumers have focused on more immediate economic worries, according to an opinion poll published on Sunday. Nielsen's latest global online environment and sustainability survey showed that 69 percent of 25,000 Internet users in 51 countries were concerned about climate change in 2011, slightly up from 66 percent in a similar poll in 2009, but down from 72 percent in 2007. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/28/us-climate-concern-survey-idUSTRE77R1WR20110828 UVa. turns over FOIA-requested climate-change papers to critics. A conservative group seeking documents related to former University of Virginia professor Michael Mann has received records from the school Thursday in the wake of a judge’s order but remained mum as to what information they contained. A Prince William County judge in May had ordered the university to turn over documents requested by the conservative-leaning, environmentally focused American Tradition Institute (ATI) that the group thought were not exempt from disclosure. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/25/uva-turns-over-foia-requested-climate-change-paper/ That CO2 warming the world: Lock it in a rock. Sometime next month, on the steaming fringes of an Icelandic volcano, an international team of scientists will begin pumping “seltzer water” into a deep hole, producing a brew that will lock away carbon dioxide forever. Chemically disposing of CO2, the chief greenhouse gas blamed for global warming, is a kind of 21st-century alchemy that researchers and governments have hoped for to slow or halt climate change. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/28/that-co2-warming-the-world-lock-it-in-a-rock/?page=all http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/27/3866874/that-co2-warming-the-world-lock.html Seeing Irene as Harbinger of a Change in Climate. The scale of Hurricane Irene, which could cause more extensive damage along the Eastern Seaboard than any storm in decades, is reviving an old question: are hurricanes getting worse because of human-induced climate change? The short answer from scientists is that they are still trying to figure it out. But many of them do believe that hurricanes will get more intense as the planet warms, and they see large hurricanes like Irene as a harbinger. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/us/28climate.html?hpw GreenX, ICE Launch Calif. Carbon Futures. Exchange firms GreenX and IntercontinentalExchanges have today launched futures contracts tied to the California carbon market. ICE announced that the first trade of the California Carbon Allowance forward contract took place this morning. The transaction was for 100 contracts between NRG Power Marketing LLC and Shell Energy North America (US) L.P. at a price of $17.00 per allowance. ICE says that this was the first ever exchange-cleared trade based on California’s forthcoming cap and trade program. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/08/29/greenx-ice-launch-calif-carbon-futures/ Longer, hotter heat waves in store for California. California can expect more frequent and more dangerous heat waves in the coming decades, the result of global warming and the state's aging population, according to a new climate-modeling study commissioned by the California Air Resources Board. Researchers using a new, more comprehensive weather-modeling method found that the incidence of prolonged hot spells – those lasting 10 or more days –could rise by a factor of two to ten by the 2090s, depending on the region. Posted. http://yubanet.com/california/Longer-hotter-heat-waves-in-store-for-California_printer.php http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2011/2011-08-28-091.html ICE Announces First Trade of California Emissions Contract. CHICAGO, Aug. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- IntercontinentalExchange (NYSE: ICE), a leading operator of global regulated futures exchanges, clearing houses and over-the-counter (OTC) markets, today announced the first trade of the California Carbon Allowance forward contract. In addition to being the first trade of this cleared contract on ICE, it is the first ever exchange cleared trade based on California's new cap and trade program. Posted. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ice-announces-first-trade-of-california-emissions-contract-128580553.html FUELS U.S. Gasoline Unchanged at $3.61 a Gallon, Survey Shows. Updates with highest and lowest prices in 18th paragraph.) -- The average price for regular gasoline at U.S. filling stations was unchanged at $3.6093 a gallon. The price covers the two-week period ended Aug. 26 and is derived from a survey of about 2,500 filling stations nationwide by Camarillo, California-based Trilby Lundberg. The average price is about 30 percent above a year earlier, when the average was $2.7722. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/08/28/bloomberg1376-LQNH431A74E901-0F12LJAR6R7BMO97J9QS4G8ELE.DTL What’s gooey, smelly and very, very valuable? It’s after midnight in a gritty urban alleyway, empty except for clusters of 10-foot by 4-foot green dumpsters and a smaller, locked 250-gallon metal green container. A pickup with headlights off comes to a quiet stop. Men approach the green container, break the lock, toss a hose inside and swiftly pump the contents into a large tank on the pickup’s bed. Within moments, the truck whisks away. Another four containers are emptied within the next hour. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=zyg6y54j7h985z&xid=zy1w5awkgid5tq&done=.zyg6y54j7hv85z# VEHICLES Ford, Toyota will work jointly on hybrid plan. Toyota Motor Corp. and Ford Motor Co. have agreed to develop hybrid technology for large pickups and SUVs as U.S. regulators work out details of tougher fuel economy requirements for pickups starting in 2020. They also agreed to work together on telematics and other in-vehicle Internet-based services. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110829/OEM01/308299996/1186 GREEN ENERGY Altamont Pass wind farm gets major upgrade. For years, environmentalists have raised alarms about the slaughter of red-tailed hawks, golden eagles and other raptors that have fallen victim to the whirling blades of thousands of wind turbines along the Altamont Pass in eastern Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Now the most iconic wind farm in California is getting a major upgrade that promises to drastically reduce the number of bird deaths. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_18778324 MISCELLANEOUS Loudoun inventor’s green car strikes chord with Leesburg. Nick Turner drove past a group of 16 construction workers sitting on a curb, and 32 eyeballs locked onto the car he’d built. A guy walking into Office Depot laughed with delight and said, “I knew the economy was bad, but this is ridiculous!” Outside a bar the other night, drunk people were lining up for rides, hanging off the back of the car and asking how they could get one, too. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/loudoun-inventors-green-car-strikes-chord-with-leesburg/2011/08/26/gIQAdvjilJ_story.html OPINIONS Betting the farm against climate change. Global warming is extracting real costs, even in states where the governors are in denial. Leon Trotsky is reputed to have quipped, "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you." Substitute the words "climate change" for "war" and the quote is perfectly suited for the governors of Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, all of whom have ridiculed or dismissed the threat of climate change even as their states suffer record-breaking heat and drought. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-linden-climate-20110828,0,5003857,print.story Regs Run Amok: SMUD's 'solar highways' face many regulatory speed bumps. Should “green” projects get fast-tracked through regulations designed to protect the environment? To the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, "solar highways" are a really bright idea. Like all utilities in California, it's under an edict to ramp up solar and other renewable energy. Putting solar panels along mostly unused roadsides is much better than taking up productive farmland. Placing the arrays close to homes and businesses also reduces the need for expensive transmission lines. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/08/28/v-print/3864651/green-plan-in-slow-lanesmuds-solar.html BLOGS Hurricanes and Climate Change. I have a short piece going into Sunday’s paper on the question of whether hurricanes are getting stronger because of climate change. In it, I outline the views of Kerry Emanuel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who takes the position that they are, and Thomas R. Knutson of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, who believes it would be premature to conclude they are getting stronger over a long stretch of time. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/27/hurricanes-and-climate-change/?ref=earth Which electric car is the most green? The Times business section is taking a look at a new crop of electric cars. The Times' Jerry Hirsch found there are significant difference in how these cars fare when it comes to carbon emissions: Is it worth the added expense to reduce your dependence on oil? What are you willing to pay to reduce carbon emissions in your neighborhood? The Nissan Leaf creates about 1.8 tons of carbon emissions in a year's driving, or about 13,500 miles, according to federal estimates. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/08/which-electric-car-is-the-most-green.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 State: Death toll to rise from warming. A warming climate and an aging population will bring a rise in heat-related deaths over coming decades in California, a new, state-sponsored study says, with heat waves rising in dangerousness as well as frequency. Heat spells lasting 10 days or more could rise two to 10 times by 2090, the study’s estimates show, while the number of heat-related deaths among people 65 and older could rise by nine times — between 3,526 and 8,800 for the nine urban areas studied, up from an average of 500 today. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2011/08/26/state-death-toll-to-rise-from-warming/136605/ Researchers demonstrate integrated process for the production of high-octane renewable gasoline from biomass sugars. A team lead by George Huber from U. Mass, Amherst and Charles Wyman from the University of California, Riverside (and a co-founder of Mascoma) earlier his year reported in the RSC journal Green Chemistry on an integrated, two-stage aqueous phase hydrodeoxygenation (APHDO) process for the production of high-octane renewable gasoline from maple wood (as a representative of lignocellulosic biomass). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/ningli-20110827.html Scientists Find a Bacterial Strain That Recycles Newspapers Into Biofuel! With more and more people getting their news from the internet and the rising popularity of e-readers, some people think that newspapers may soon be obsolete. But scientists at Tulane University have found a new use for the morning news: converting it to biofuel! The Tulane scientists have found that a newly discovered bacterial strain, which they are calling TU-103, can actually turn newspapers into butanol to power cars. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/scientists-find-a-bacterial-strain-that-recycles-newspapers-into-biofuel/ USDA Announces 900 Federal Energy Projects for Farms and Small Businesses. President Obama made a group of announcements related to biofuel policy on his bus tour through the Midwest this summer, with the aim of boosting the nation’s biofuel production while helping rural communities create new jobs and build a sustainable economy. Now another piece of the rural sustainability puzzle is falling into place, with the announcement of a new round of renewable energy and energy efficiency grants for more than 900 farms and small businesses. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/08/usda-renewable-energy-and-energy-efficiency-grants/ Jailed over Big Oil's Attempts to Wreck the Planet. I didn’t think it was possible, but my admiration for Martin Luther King, Jr., grew even stronger these past days.As I headed to jail as part of the first wave of what is turning into the biggest civil disobedience action in the environmental movement for many years, I had the vague idea that I would write something. Not an epic like King's “Letter from a Birmingham Jail, ” but at least, you know, a blog post. Or a tweet. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/jailed-over-big-oils-attempts-wreck-planet/ 2012 Ford Explorer EcoBoost. Ford is no stranger to convincing buyers to embrace smaller displacement, forced-induction engines over their larger, naturally-aspirated counterparts. A little less than a year ago, skeptics wondered whether typically change-averse full-size truck consumers would be willing to swap their tried-and-true V8 for the turbocharged V6 EcoBoost engine now available in the F-150. According to Ford, that question has been answered – fully 41 percent of its half-ton pickups are rolling out the door with a forced-induction six-cylinder under the hood. Posted. http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/29/2012-ford-explorer-ecoboost-first-drive-review/ The top 10 electric cars most likely to succeed. It's still early as electric and plug-in hybrid cars roll out, but it's time to call likely winners and also-rans. The crystal ball is still cloudy on electric and plug-in hybrid cars. They’re still being made in limited numbers, and delivered to very specific test markets. And half the really exciting ones aren’t even here yet. Still, it’s time to make some predictions about what will succeed and what will fail in the marketplace. Posted. http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/blogs/the-top-10-electric-cars-most-likely-to-succeed ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:58:56 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 30, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 30, 2011. 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 Pittsburgh-area coke shop fined $114K for smog. The Allegheny County Health Department has fined a Pittsburgh-area coke plant $114,000 for repeated air pollution violations. Officials with Shenango Inc. on Neville Island, just west of the city, did not immediately return calls Tuesday. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18787972 FUELS Exxon Wins Prized Access to Arctic With Russia Deal. The American oil company Exxon Mobil won a highly coveted prize in the global petroleum industry on Tuesday by striking an agreement to explore for oil in a Russian sector of the Arctic Ocean that is opening for drilling even as Alaskan waters remain mostly off limits. The agreement seemed to supersede a similar but now-defunct partnership that Russia’s state oil company, Rosneft, reached with BP earlier this year. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/business/global/exxon-and-rosneft-partner-in-russian-oil-deal.html?hp California Fuel Switchover Issues. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) created regulations for vessel emissions reductions for California waters as part of its continued mission to improve air quality around the state. The new requirements came into effect in July 2009, under California Code of Regulations (CCR), Section 2299.2, Fuel Sulfur and Other Operational Requirements for Ocean Going Vessels within California Waters and 24 Nautical Miles of the California Baseline. Posted. http://www.maritime-executive.com/pressrelease/california-fuel-switchover-issues VEHICLES Portland Plans for Transit All Powered by Electricity. To drivers passing by on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the structure rising above the parking lot is mostly unremarkable. But to the eco-elites who gathered in this green-leaning city in June for its unveiling, it represented a blueprint for the filling station of the future. The roof of the 12-foot-tall steel canopy, built by EV4 Oregon, is covered with solar cells that generate power for a pair of ECOtality Blink Level 2 electric-vehicle chargers at the base. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/automobiles/portland-plans-for-transit-all-powered-by-electricity.html?scp=9&sq=vehicles&st=cse Calif. Lawmakers Re-Calibrate Inflation Law. Re-calibrate. That's what California legislators did last week to their already controversial law that requires all automotive service providers to check customer tire inflation pressures. On Aug. 24, both houses of the California legislature unanimously passed a second bill that requires tire and auto service providers have and utilize tire gauges that are accurate within +/- 2 psi. Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law on Aug. 25. Posted. http://www.tirereview.com/Article/91140/calif_lawmakers_recalibrate_inflation_law.aspx GREEN ENERGY In Seattle, work starts on 'greenest' office building. The Bullitt Center is billed as the first commercial building designed to carry its own environmental weight. It'll be six stories, but expectations are sky-high. These days, there are plenty of "green" buildings, with solar heating, insulated windows, self-generated electricity. But what would it take to construct an office building at competitive leasing rates that generated its own energy and processed its own waste — for 250 years? Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-green-building-20110830,0,7620689,print.story Ivanpah plant closer to completion. Ivanpah - A white crane towers over the Mojave Desert floor where hundreds of workers gather below and inside a hulking gray structure that is part of a multi-million dollar bet that solar energy will prove a reliable technology for powering California homes and businesses. Sitting on 3,600 acres of public land near the Nevada state line, the solar project - its formal name is the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station - has been under construction for nearly a year. Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_18783438?source=rss MISCELLANEOUS New Director for Air Pollution Control District. Monday, August 22, the Santa Barbara Air Pollution Control District Board announced the appointment of Louis David Van Mullem, Jr. as its new District Director and Air Pollution Control Officer. After his first day on the job, he said he predicted a bright future for him and his team. “It’s like drinking water out of a fire hose. I really had a good first day,” he said. “I met everybody, and what a fantastic team. It’s a great group. I’m going to have a lot of fun, and we’re going to have a lot of fun together.” Posted. http://www.independent.com/news/2011/aug/30/new-director-air-pollution-control-district/ OPINIONS Republicans Against Science. Jon Huntsman Jr., a former Utah governor and ambassador to China, isn’t a serious contender for the Republican presidential nomination. And that’s too bad, because Mr. Hunstman has been willing to say the unsayable about the G.O.P. — namely, that it is becoming the “anti-science party.” This is an enormously important development. And it should terrify us. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/29/opinion/republicans-against-science.html?src=me&ref=general Our View: High-speed rail needs leadership. Gov. Jerry Brown is stepping in to fill a void that has been hampering progress on the system. California's high-speed rail project once was the political darling of the state -- so much so that voters approved a $10 billion bond for the project. But as economic conditions deteriorated, and cost estimates increased, opponents began picking apart the project. It didn't help that the California High- Speed Rail Authority was politically tone deaf and didn't know how to respond to opponents. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/08/30/2022388/our-view-high-speed-rail-needs.html FACT CHECK: Bachmann energy claims oversimplified. America's energy future can't be unlocked as simply as Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann makes it sound when she depicts the nation as the "king daddy dogs" of energy. Even if environmentalists folded and Washington regulators got out of the way, much of the energy is too expensive for companies to develop. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/article_4dd88ae3-b4d3-5acb-8ab7-8275b2ce1a19.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/30/1836600/fact-check-bachmann-energy-claims.html Port-suit folly. Wasting public funds on pointless court battles will not unclog the traffic at Riverside railroad crossings. And the City Council should avoid tossing money into needless crusades driven by political posturing. The Riverside City Council last week dropped the city's lawsuits against the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach . The city sued the ports in 2009, charging that port expansion plans failed to address the effects of resulting train traffic on Riverside. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/editorials/stories/PE_OpEd_Opinion_D_op_30_ed_portsuit1.2d9af49.html BLOGS MIT researchers improve upon methods to model urban air pollution. Researchers at MIT have developed a new detailed air-quality model to simulate the effects of physical, chemical, and meteorological processing of highly reactive trace species in urban areas. The new metamodel is capable of efficiently simulating the urban concentration, surface deposition, and net export flux of these species that are important to human health and the global climate. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/mit-20110829.html Panda Poop Could be the Key to Cheap and Efficient Biofuel Production. Giant Pandas are well-loved for their distinctive appearance and sedentary nature. Now they will receive even greater adoration and attention for their bowel-based contribution to the development of a clean energy future. In a national meeting at the American Chemical Society, researchers presented a study identifying panda poop as a source of enzyme-producing bacteria that breaks down plant materials in a way that is useful for biofuel production. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/panda-poop-unlocks-the-possibility-of-cheap-and-efficient-biofuel-production/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:44:33 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 31, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 31, 2011. 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 Alexandria coal plant may shut by 2012. Alexandria’s controversial coal-burning power plant, once considered one of the largest single sources of air pollution in the Washington area, will probably close by October 2012, its owner and the city announced Tuesday. The surprise announcement culminates a 12-year battle to close the six-decade-old Potomac River plant, which local activists and environmentalists blame for causing or contributing to dozens of cases of serious illness each year. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/alexandria-coal-plant-may-shut-by-2012/2011/08/30/gIQA4JBjqJ_story.html VEHICLES Via Zipcar, Ford Seeks Young Fans. It wasn’t long ago that car-sharing services like Zipcar were perceived as a threat to the sales volumes of traditional automakers. But the Ford Motor Company is taking the view that drivers who rent from Zipcar by the hour just might be potential customers down the road. Ford and Zipcar are expected on Wednesday to announce an unusual partnership in which the Detroit automaker will supply its vehicles to Zipcar locations on 250 college and university campuses in the United States. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/business/ford-and-zipcar-join-forces.html?scp=5&sq=vehicles&st=cse Report: Nissan and Mitsubishi to standardize EV-home powering system. Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. aim to jointly develop a technology that allows electric vehicle owners to power their homes from car batteries, a news report says. Cooperation could lead to unified standards for the technology, which attracted interest in Japan following widespread power outages in the wake of the country's March 11 earthquake. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110830/OEM05/110839995/1186 Beijing Rethinking Electric Car Policy. A debate raging largely behind closed doors among members of China’s ruling élite mirrors a wider debate that has been gathering steam this year: the viability of electric vehicles, at least over the next few years. An FT article says that Beijing is rethinking its focus on electric cars as a means of reducing fuel consumption and improving air quality, as it looks increasingly likely the country will fall far short of ambitious goals to sell 1 million electric vehicles by 2015 and 5 million by 2020. Posted. http://agmetalminer.com/2011/08/29/beijing-rethinking-electric-car-policy/ GREEN ENERGY Gov. Brown calls for action on clean energy. Las Vegas -- In his first out-of-state trip since taking office in January, California Gov. Jerry Brown said Tuesday that he plans to forge ahead with aggressive renewable energy policies amid growing evidence of climate change. "Climate change has become more obvious, and we see great opportunity in investing in wind, solar and energy efficiency, or 'negawatts,'" Brown told a gathering here of 700 clean energy advocates. "This is like the computer industry when it first started. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_18790164?source=rss Solaria, already expanding in Fremont, seeks a second solar factory site. Fremont-based solar energy company Solaria wants to buck the grim trend of companies scaling back manufacturing operations in California. The company has already been ramping up production of solar equipment at its Fremont complex, but says it needs another facility to keep up with demand. "Ideally it'll be a California location," said Dan Shugar, the company's CEO. "That's our first choice." Solaria wouldn't identify locations where it has begun to scout for a new complex. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18790099 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18790099 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18790099 Fremont solar tech firm Solyndra to shut down, lay off hundreds of workers. Solyndra, a Fremont solar tech manufacturer, announced Wednesday it is suspending operations and immediately laying off 1,100 employees. The company said it will also file for bankruptcy. "Despite strong growth in the first half of 2011 and traction in North America with a number of orders for very large commercial rooftops, Solyndra could not achieve full-scale operations rapidly enough to compete in the near term with the resources of larger foreign manufacturers," the company said in a statement. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_18795739 Biden calls for new clean energy policy for US. The United States can't lead the world in the 21st century with its current energy policy, Vice President Joe Biden told alternative technology supporters Tuesday at a clean energy summit in Las Vegas. The nation is already trailing China and Germany in green technology, Biden said. It will trade its dependence on foreign oil for a dependence on foreign clean energy technology if its leaders don't act to help fledging green researchers and businesses, he said. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/article_64f93d07-abd8-574c-8bd8-535f9d7c8538.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/30/1837420/biden-calls-for-new-clean-energy.html BLOGS Documenting a Collapsing Ice Shelf. One of the more dramatic events in the Arctic in recent years was the detachment, in 2010, of a large section of the ice shelf attached to Petermann Glacier, in northwest Greenland. A chunk of ice measuring 100 square miles, about four times the size of Manhattan, broke loose and floated away. The possible connection of this event to global warming drew immediate interest, including a hearing in Congress. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/documenting-a-collapsing-ice-shelf/?scp=10&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Steinberg bill would give locals power to raise fuel surcharge. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg is pushing last-minute legislation to give local governments power to seek new fuel surcharges to fund certain transit projects. Senate Bill 791 would allow local transportation agencies to seek voter approval for a "regional transportation congestion reduction charge" on gasoline or diesel. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/08/steinberg-bill-would-give-loca.html Study finds fewer Americans concerned about climate change in 2010 than in 2008. QUESTION: Does anybody really care about this stuff outside of the "green" community? I know I sure don't. Asked by Rick Abell, Steamboat Springs, Colo. ANSWER: As someone who cares deeply, and who is often surrounded by people who care, it can be easy to forget that not everyone attaches the same level of importance to environmental issues. I understand -- not everyone is an environmental science student who has to think about climate change on a daily basis. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inthepeninsula/detail?entry_id=96530 Is Cap and Trade Unfair? I should probably start by putting my cards on the table. I’m not really an advocate of cap and trade as compared with other forms of regulation. What I care about is getting effective carbon restrictions in place, whether they take the form of cap and trade, a carbon tax, industry-wide regulations, or something else. The big advantage of cap and trade from that perspective is that some systems are already up and running, and unlike a carbon tax, it doesn’t directly violate any political taboos. Posted. http://legalplanet.wordpress.com/2011/08/30/is-cap-and-trade-unfair/ Global biofuels production up 17% in 2010 to hit all-time high of 105 billion liters. Global production of biofuels increased 17% in 2010 to reach an all-time high of 105 billion liters (28 billion gallons US), up from 90 billion liters (24 billion gallons US) in 2009. High oil prices, a global economic rebound, and new laws and mandates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, and the United States, among other countries, are all factors behind the surge in production, according to research conducted by the Worldwatch Institute’s Climate and Energy Program for the website Vital Signs Online. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/08/wwi-20110831.html Shutting Down America’s Dirtiest Coal Plants Will Not Affect Our Power Supply. When the EPA announced its new regulations for coal plants back in July, the right wing media had a field day saying that the new rules, which will force the nation’s dirtiest plants offline, would result in a strained electric grid, putting the lights out on millions of Americans. But, just like so many things fear mongering anti-environmentalists preach, this just isn’t true. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/shutting-down-americas-dirtiest-coal-plants-will-not-effect-our-power-supply/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2011 12:29:14 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 1, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 1, 2011. 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 Apple blasted for alleged pollution by suppliers. Apple is defending itself against a fresh barrage of criticism from Chinese environmental activists over alleged pollution by the manufacturers who make its iconic iPhones, iPads and other products. In a report issued Wednesday, a group of nongovernmental organizations accused the technology giant of violating its own corporate responsibility standards by using suppliers it said its investigations found are violating the law and endangering public health by discharging heavy metals and other toxins. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CHINA_APPLE_POLLUTION?SITE=AZTUS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/1/apple-blasted-for-alleged-pollution-by-suppliers/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/apple-fends-off-criticism-over-alleged-pollution-by-suppliers-in-china/2011/09/01/gIQA8FQLtJ_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/31/2520106/apple-blasted-for-alleged-pollution.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/31/1839800/apple-blasted-for-alleged-pollution.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18802155 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18802155 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/01/apple-blasted-for-alleged-pollution-by-suppliers/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_be110c36-ba7b-5967-b701-74563c2e1db8.html CA city, tribe, ecologists fight proposed quarry. Antique shops line the streets of Temecula, Calif.'s quaint downtown fashioned after the Old West, with tour vans waiting to whisk visitors to scenic vineyards outside the city and hot air balloons gliding above the greenery. It's a postcard image amid a series of desert towns in inland Southern California -- one that hundreds of residents, ecologists and members of an Indian tribe fear is threatened by a proposal to build a quarry on a mountain overlooking the city. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9PF4OG00.htm http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-quarry-20110901,0,411413.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/09/01/state/n013827D02.DTL http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_quarry01.11caff86b.html Calif. metal scrapper settles air pollution suit. A metal recycling company accused of releasing toxic substances into the air agreed Wednesday to pay nearly $3 million to settle a lawsuit, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said. Deputy District Attorney Daniel Wright said SA Recycling LLC, an automotive and appliance shredding company, agreed to the settlement Wednesday and it was signed by Superior Court Judge Debre K. Weintraub. The civil lawsuit and settlement were filed last week. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/08/31/2519874/calif-metal-scrapper-settles-air.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18798626 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18798626 http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_18799989 Valley air sets cleanliness mark in August. For the first time on record, the San Joaquin Valley had no August violations of the one-hour federal ozone standard. Air officials said a new blitz of alerts about bad-air days might have been the difference, especially last week when pollution nearly eclipsed the federal standard. If the Valley continues to avoid the violations over the next three years, the federal government will revoke a $29 million penalty for ozone levied on the region. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/01/2520692/valley-air-sets-cleanliness-mark.html#storylink=misearch In Stockton, heat takes August off. For the first time in 20 years, Stockton made it through August without hitting 100 degrees. The relatively cool weather may help explain why the San Joaquin Valley, for the first time since record-keeping began in the 1980s, saw ozone pollution levels stay within a federal standard each day of the month. Last week, expecting ozone levels to rise, Valley air cops called their first-ever Air Alert. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110901/A_NEWS/109010311&cid=sitesearch CLIMATE CHANGE Few insurers planning for climate change – report. New York - Only one in eight insurers has a formal policy in place to manage climate risk, despite rising evidence that environmental changes are exacerbating insurers' disaster losses, according to a coalition of public interest groups. The coalition, Ceres, looked at 88 filings from six states by insurance companies, using a form developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Ceres said it was the first-ever effort to quantify how U.S. insurers manage climate risk in their day-to-day operations. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/01/insurance-environment-idUSN1E77T1B720110901 Cap, trade, emit, breathe. The Byron Sher Auditorium at the California Environmental Protection Agency headquarters transformed into a lively flurry of green last Wednesday morning. Dozens of activists and environmentalists, who arrived by bus from as far away as Los Angeles and the Bay Area, wore green shirts and held green signs that read “Cap-and-trade didn’t work in the EU.” Some even sported bandanas over their faces to symbolize the need for cleaner air. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/cap-trade-emit-brea/content?oid=3469233 Neb. governor urges Obama to deny pipeline permit. Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman urged President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday to deny a federal permit for a pipeline that would carry Canadian oil over an aquifer that supplies drinking and irrigation water to parts of several states. Heineman said he supports pipeline projects but opposes the proposed TransCanada Keystone XL route that would cross the vast Ogallala aquifer. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/31/neb-governor-urges-obama-to-deny-pipeline-03/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_f298e2ef-046e-56f3-a15e-4f45802fba91.html The polarizing effect of cap-and trade. Last week a crowd of residents from Richmond, Huntington Beach, and Hunter’s Point, to name a few, gathered at the California State Capital in Sacramento to rally against the cap-and-trade proposal in the AB32 Scoping Plan. Their testimonies were heart breaking, telling stories of their children with asthma and other pollution-related health problems associated with living in close proximity to some of California’s largest refineries. There really isn’t an argument against access to clean air. Posted. http://sustainableindustries.com/articles/2011/09/polarizing-effect-cap-and-trade Calif. cap-and-trade proposal criticized as inadequate, harmful to industry. The California Air Resources Board said it must produce a final regulation on cap and trade for greenhouse gases by Oct. 28, but many stakeholders are objecting to the proposal as unfair, bad for jobs, and filled with mistaken assumptions, unworkable features and requirements that will be impossible to meet. Continuing the rulemaking process, CARB staff released formal 15-day changes on July 25 and 27 to an initial proposed regulation that the board released in December 2010. Posted. http://www.cospp.com/news/2011/09/1490602313/calif-cap-and-trade-proposal-criticized-as-inadequate-harmful-to-industry.html Canada: Quebec Publishes Draft Regulation On Cap-And-Trade System. In July 2010, the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), of which Quebec is a partner, published detailed operational rules for a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas (GHG) allowances with a view to setting up a North American regional carbon market. According to these rules, as a first step, all partner states and provinces that will participate in the WCI North American regional carbon market must adopt regulations to implement a GHG cap-and-trade system in their respective jurisdictions. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.mondaq.com/canada/article.asp?articleid=143922&login=true&nogo=1 DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB fines motor carrier $59,050 over port emissions violations. The California Air Resources Board has fined an in-state motor carrier nearly $60,000 for dispatching trucks to the state’s ports that didn’t meet emissions requirements spelled out in CARB’s port truck regulation. CARB recently fined IVVE Transportation of Ontario, CA, for violating CARB’s Drayage Truck Regulation. From the fine, $44,287 will go to the California Air Pollution Control fund, which is used to support air quality research, and $14,762 will go to the Peralta Community College district to fund diesel education classes. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Aug11/082911/083011-03.shtml GREEN ENERGY Seattle office building aims to set new 'green' standard. Workers are digging a hole on Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood for a new office building unlike any commercial structure the planet's ever seen before. You want green? There's never been anything greener. The Bullitt Center, which celebrated its official groundbreaking this week, has been designed to produce as much energy as it consumes. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/01/2520400/seattle-office-building-aims-to.html#storylink=misearch California Moves to Avoid Europe's Perils in Encouraging Green Power. The state has become one of few governments worldwide—and the first in the U.S.—to finalize a unique auction program to ramp-up renewables. Trying to avoid the potential perils of European-style feed-in tariffs, California regulators are moving forward with a new financing technique to stimulate immediate development of small-scale renewable energy projects. Posted. http://solveclimatenews.com/news/20110830/california-feed-in-tariff-auction-europe-spain-germany-solar-power ‘Solar home rule’ could power the D.C. economy. For many years the citizens of Washington, D.C., struggled for the basic right to elect their own leaders. In 2011, they should use their political home rule to maximize the economic benefits of local renewable energy with "electricity home rule." Currently, residents and businesses in D.C. spend over $1.5 billion dollars a year on electricity. Posted. http://www.grist.org/solar-power/2011-08-31-solar-home-rule-could-power-d.c.s-economy MISCELLANEOUS Bill requires Air Resources Board to have member with small-biz experience. The California Senate has passed a bill that ensures that at least one member of the California Air Resources Board has experience running a small business. The move was cheered Wednesday by The National Federation of Independent Business, which has urged Gov. Jerry Brown to sign the bill. Advocacy groups contend that CARB is one of the state’s most powerful agencies that can have very broad impact on small businesses. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/09/01/calif-air-resources-board-business.html?s=print Air Pollution Documentary Premiers in Santa Monica. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) premiered “The Right To Breathe,” a documentary film about the hazards of air pollution in Los Angeles, at the Women in Green Forum at the Sheraton in Santa Monica Tuesday. “I think a lot of people forget how bad [the air pollution] is,” the film's director Alexandre Phillipe told The Lookout. Posted. http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2011/September-2011/09_01_2011_Air_Pollution_Documentary_Premiers_in_Santa_Monica.html OPINIONS LETTERS: The Californian, Sept. 1, 2011. There is not one square foot of concrete in North County that didn't get its source of sand and rock from a quarry of some kind. That is true worldwide. ... When will we learn that without the products, without developers (nasty word), we would be living in an uncivilized type of environment that our great-grandparents worked so hard to upgrade? ... Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/letters/article_3027c043-5feb-5d18-93c0-2f8d4c93219f.html BLOGS Sierra magazine ranks UC Irvine among top 10 green schools. An environmentally minded magazine has named UC Irvine as one of America's top 10 coolest schools for green initiatives. For a second year, Sierra magazine ranked UC Irvine No. 6, noting it as one of the most energy-efficient schools, the Daily Pilot reported. In its iSeptember/October issue, the magazine singled out the school's use of a co-generation facility to meet most of its heat and electricity needs. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/09/sierra-magazine-ranks-uc-irvine-among-top-10-green-schools.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2011 13:00:21 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 2, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 2, 2011. 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 Obama halts controversial EPA regulation. Washington (AP) — President Barack Obama on Friday scrapped his administration's controversial plans to tighten smog rules, bowing to the demands of congressional Republicans and some business leaders. Obama overruled the Environmental Protection Agency and directed administrator Lisa Jackson to withdraw the proposed regulation to reduce concentrations of smog's main ingredient, in part because of the importance of reducing regulatory burdens and uncertainty for businesses at a time of rampant uncertainty about an unsteady economy. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gO5p7VJR33dSckCBKxCtNC8px9oA?docId=e973aea6f4694cfa84948931c2df278f AP Newsbreak: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/02/us-usa-obama-epa-idUSTRE7813TB20110902?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=71 http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/obama-directs-epa-to-withdraw-controversial-proposed-regulation-on-smog-standards/2011/09/02/gIQApB0hwJ_story.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/obama-pulls-back-proposed-smog-standards-in-victory-for-business/2011/09/02/gIQAisTiwJ_story.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/2/obama-halts-epas-proposed-air-quality-regs/ http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/03/science/earth/03air.html http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-ozone-20110902,0,6899709.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/09/01/bloomberg1376-LQWG9I6K50YV01-6DD19E2E8A3PO1K8APPHKS92GO.DTL http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_0321c16f-653e-55ab-bec3-003329222c8c.html http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/62554.html San Joaquin Valley's August ozone under the limit. But valley air pollution district's figures disputed. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District announced that last month had no violations of the limit for ozone, a component of smog, as measured by the hour. Officials credited the new Air Alert campaign, which urges residents and businesses to cut down on driving and take other steps when the ozone risk is high. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/01/1841658/august-ozone-under-the-limit.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/01/2520692/valley-air-sets-cleanliness-mark.html http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=19253 http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/article_7e52ac7e-d57e-11e0-94d0-001cc4c03286.html Air-quality researchers tackle health implications of ultra-fine particles. Three studies by a University of California, Davis, air-quality research group are adding to the growing body of data suggesting that very fine and ultra-fine airborne metal particles are closely linked to serious human-health problems, including heart disease. UC Davis air-quality expert Thomas Cahill and colleagues report the findings of the three studies in the September special issue on aerosols and health of the journal Aerosol Science and Technology. Posted. http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=9995 Pa. withdraws from 5 federal pollution lawsuits. Pennsylvania has withdrawn from five federal environmental lawsuits. The state's decision to end its participation in the federal cases has raised concerns from local, state and national environmental organizations, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://bit.ly/ouf5Bj reports Friday. Neither the governor's office nor the Department of Environmental Protection announced that the state had ended its participation in the one lawsuit concerning ozone, or publicly discussed the reasons for withdrawing from the other lawsuits, the paper reports. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18812890 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18812890?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com CLIMATE CHANGE Market, Politicians Going Separate Ways on Climate Change: View By the Editors - Hurricane Irene’s residue is likely to include a confusing debate over whether insurers or property owners are responsible for storm-caused water damage. There’s no lack of clarity, however, over whether the insurance industry believes in climate change and its ties to lethal weather: It does. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-09-01/market-politicians-going-separate-ways-on-climate-change-view.html Climate change threatens mental health too: study; Droughts, floods have psychological impact. Climate change doesn't just wreak havoc on your physical surroundings -- it affects your mental health too. Flooding, drought and superstorms cause actual psychological fallout, according to Australian researchers. "The damage caused by a changing climate is not just physical," they said in a report released this week by the Brain and Mind Institute at the University of Sydney. Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2011/09/02/2011-09-02_climate_change_threatens_mental_health_too_study_droughts_floods_have_psychologi.html Conservatives just as wrong on climate economics as they are on climate science. Just a quick note to follow up on my two posts about conservative pundits and their flailing attempts to respond to the charge that Republicans are anti-science. The fact that conservatives are so proudly flat-earth on climate science has preoccupied the press and pundits to the point that it's obscured another conservative pathology, one that is, if anything, more consequential: their discredited take on the economics of climate policy. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-skeptics/2011-09-02-conservatives-just-as-wrong-on-economics-as-on-science The ‘radical’ faces of climate change. Those of us who believe the overwhelming number of scientists who document and report on the existence of climate change tend to use those scientific conclusions to convince skeptics. There may be a better way. There are a number of institutions respected for their credibility and cautious approach to facts that have adopted this science and acted on the conclusion that climate change is occurring, that it is caused by us, and that the consequences are alarming. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-skeptics/2011-09-02-the-radical-faces-of-global-warming Study: Reducing Soot is Fastest Way to Slow Climate Change. Soot second only to carbon dioxide when it comes to global warming emissions. A new study finds that reducing carbon-rich soot emissions could be the fastest and most economical way to slow climate change and protect human health. Those dust-like particles released in the exhaust of diesel-powered vehicles and wood fires rank second only to carbon dioxide as a major cause of global warming. Posted. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/environment/Study-Reducing-Soot-is-Fastest-Way-to-Slow-Climate-Change-129070528.html GREEN ENERGY It’s not easy being green. Q: I’m really confused about the whole green building movement. There seem to be conflicting messages, especially when it comes to products advertised as being green. They appear to be the same products I saw 10 years ago. If it’s so important to be environmentally friendly, why didn’t companies push this agenda decades ago? After all, we’ve been concerned about the earth since the 1970s, right? I want to be a responsible person but don’t want to get hoodwinked. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/products-that-claim-to-be-green-can-have-unexpected-problems/2011/08/28/gIQANVZpwJ_story.html OPINIONS INNIS: No health benefits without affordable energy. New air-quality rules will further impoverish poor communities. The Environmental Protection Agency insists that its air-quality initiatives will protect minority and poor Americans from pollution that disproportionately affects their health and impairs “environmental justice.” Their argument is not convincing. Public health, pollution control and justice are important goals. However, the EPA’s proposed rules actually undermine those objectives by impairing access to affordable, reliable energy - thus impairing people’s health and welfare. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/1/no-health-benefits-without-affordable-energy/ Obama blows smog in everyone’s face. President Obama has yanked back the EPA's proposed new restrictions on ground-level ozone (i.e. smog). That's a huge win for Big Business, which had claimed it couldn't weather an economic downturn AND keep from suffocating people at the same time. But it's an equally huge loss for everyone else -- especially since the reason the EPA was revising the smog standards in the first place was because the allowable limit was well above safe levels, according to the agency's science advisors. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-09-02-obama-blows-smog-in-everyones-face BLOGS Obama decides against tougher ozone standards. President Obama decided Friday not to raise federal ozone standards for air pollution, causing a rift with environmentalists but winning praise from industry groups and congressional Republicans. In his decision, relayed to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, Obama cited the need to remove uncertainty for businesses that would be affected. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/09/obama-decides-against-change-in-ozone-standards/1 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/09/02/140142406/obama-withdraws-proposed-regulation-on-smog A balloon and hosepipe as the answer to climate change? It's just pie in the sky Increasingly bizarre attempts at geo-engineering simply deflect attention from the fact we need to cut greenhouse gases. It's atmospheric liposuction: a retrospective fix for planetary over-indulgence. Geo-engineering, which means either sucking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere or trying to shield the planet from the sun's heat, is an admission of failure, a failure to get to grips with climate change. Is it time to admit defeat and check ourselves into the clinic? Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/sep/02/giant-balloon-and-hosepipe-geoengineering Can New Refrigerators Help Cool Global Warming? News of global warming continues to worsen, with epic storms and melting Siberian permafrost. As assaults continue on the already beleaguered atmosphere in the form of massive, dirty energy projects pushed through by a new cadre of increasingly ignorant politicians, there are, indeed, a steady stream of efforts, some tiny, some substantial, that are actually trying do something about the problem. One of these came out of Washington last week in the form of a new set of energy efficiency standards for refrigerators. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/new-refrigerators-cool-global-warming/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2011 16:02:21 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 6, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 6, 2011. 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 Stung by the President on Air Quality, Environmentalists Weigh Their Options. For environmental groups, it was the final hard slap that brought a long-troubled relationship to the brink. In late August, the State Department gave a crucial go-ahead on a controversial pipeline to bring tar sands oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast. Then on Friday, leading into the holiday weekend, the Obama administration announced without warning that it was walking away from stricter ozone pollution standards that it had been promising for three years and instead sticking with Bush-era standards. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/science/earth/04air.html?scp=3&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Divisive Pollution Rule Remains on Schedule. As the Obama administration pulls back on a broad rule to combat ozone pollution, a different rule that would also reduce smog-forming chemicals in Texas remains on track. The White House announced on Friday that ground-level ozone levels would be reviewed in 2013 rather than tightened immediately, a move welcomed by conservatives in Texas and elsewhere. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/us/04ttpollution.html?scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Leaked Cables Offer Glimpses Into Relations of U.S. and China. This capital city’s skies were clogged with pollution, as is often the case, and China’s government was concerned. So it summoned officials of the American Embassy here to a meeting. But the session had nothing to do with hazy skies. Rather, Chinese officials were peeved that the Americans were monitoring pollution themselves, and posting on Twitter for anyone to read, their more precise findings, which usually judged the smog far worse than official Chinese readings. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/05/world/asia/05china.html?scp=6&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Obama flip on smog rules stuns environmentalists. For environmental groups, it was the final hard slap that brought a long-troubled relationship to the brink. In late August, the State Department gave a crucial go-ahead on a controversial pipeline to bring tar sands oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast. Then on Friday, leading into the holiday weekend, the Obama administration announced without warning that it was walking away from stricter ozone pollution standards that it had been promising for three years and instead sticking with Bush-era standards. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/04/v-print/3883369/obama-flop-on-smog-rules-stuns.html Administration retreats from tougher smog rules. Washington – The Obama administration is abandoning its plan to immediately tighten air-quality rules nationwide to reduce emissions of smog-causing chemicals after an intense lobbying campaign by industry, which said the new rule would cost billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs, officials said Friday. The White House announcement that it was overruling the Environmental Protection Agency's plan to adopt a stricter standard for ground-level ozone…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/03/v-print/3882039/administration-retreats-from-tougher.html Shell pays $500,000 to Harris County for pollution. Shell Chemical L.P. has agreed to pay $500,000 to Harris County over five different air pollution events at its Deer Park refinery. The settlement was reached after the county accused Shell of failing to notify officials about the toxic releases. There are two schools and many homes close to the Shell refinery in Deer Park, about 18 miles southeast of Houston. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18834615 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18834615?nclick_check=1 Air alert in Valley; restricted driving urged. Air officials are calling on Valley residents to cut back on driving and idling while an air alert is in effect this week. The alert -- called when the area is in danger of exceeding a federal standard for ozone -- started Monday and will run through Thursday or possibly Friday, according to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. It's the second air alert of the season. The first, in late August, successfully avoided an ozone violation. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/05/2526235/second-air-alert-under-way-in.html Air Pollution Documentary Premiers in Santa Monica. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) premiered “The Right To Breathe,” a documentary film about the hazards of air pollution in Los Angeles, at the Women in Green Forum at the Sheraton in Santa Monica Tuesday. “I think a lot of people forget how bad [the air pollution] is,” the film's director Alexandre Phillipe told The Lookout. Posted. http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2011/September-2011/09_01_2011_Air_Pollution_Documentary_Premiers_in_Santa_Monica.html Obama’s Continued Failures on the Environment and Jobs. On Friday September 2, President Obama directed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator, Lisa Jackson, to withdraw proposed regulations on ground level ozone. Ground level ozone is the main component of smog. Obama’s decision overruled the position of the EPA and the unanimous opinion of its panel of scientific advisors in the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC). Posted. http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/09/05/18689538.php CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Cap Revival Led by Gillard Called Stupid by Xstrata. Julia Gillard, determined to join efforts to reduce global warming, intends to revive cap and trade as Europe puts curbs on the United Nations-run emissions credit market and the U.S. opts out entirely. The Australian prime minister’s plan to make factories and utilities either cut the nation’s greenhouse gases or pay for pollution-curbing programs abroad may force companies to buy an average 66 million metric tons of credits a year starting in 2015,… Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-06/carbon-cap-revival-led-by-gillard-called-stupid-by-xstrata.html Climate, evolution thorny issues for GOP hopefuls. GOP presidential candidates gathering at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley on Wednesday will spar over jobs, the economy and foreign policy - but the televised matchup will become especially tricky if it wanders into two topics related to science: climate change and evolution. Both inspire fiery debate, pitting science and research against deeply held personal beliefs. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/06/MNCO1KV7MR.DTL&type=printable San Francisco Bay developers, enviros spar over sea-level regs. San Francisco Bay planners are in the home stretch of a two-year effort to address sea-level rise. The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission's (BCDC) development plan for the coastline is up for a vote early next month. If it passes, the agency could use it as justification to deny permits for development in coastal areas susceptible to flooding. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/06/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTTION ONLY GAO finds geoengineering methods too 'immature' to fight climate change. No geoengineering methods are ready for use to combat climate change, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released late last month, citing concerns about cost, effectiveness and adverse consequences. "Climate engineering technologies do not now offer a viable response to global climate change," GAO said in the report commissioned by former House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/06/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Mass. steps up efforts to cut school bus pollution. State environmental officials are set to mark the start of the school year by celebrating the successful completion of a program that fitted more than 2,100 school buses with devices designed to cut air pollution from diesel engines. Buses serving at least 300,000 students in 300 communities benefited from the MassCleanDiesel School Bus Retrofit Program. The initiative seeks to reduce children's exposure to diesel exhaust swirling inside the buses as they ride to and from school. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/05/mass-steps-up-efforts-to-cut-school-bus/ FUELS China Challenges U.S. Supremacy in Shale Gas. China has a chance of challenging the United States for shale supremacy. So far, only the United States has significantly exploited domestic reserves of shale gas. But Sinopec, China’s major state-run oil company, is now taking shale seriously and lacks many of the roadblocks that have held back developers in other countries. Many nations have energy trapped in their rocks, but shale gas extraction, born in the U.S.A., has all but stayed here. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/05/business/china-challenges-us-supremacy-in-shale-gas-breakingviews.html?scp=7&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse VEHICLES Daimler to Test Smart Electric Cars in Hong Kong as Smog Worsens. Daimler AG (DAI), the world’s second- largest manufacturer of luxury cars, will provide a trial version of its Smart electric car to partners in Hong Kong as the city battles record pollution. Daimler’s partners in the trial, which include the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Swire Coca-Cola HK, will use the two-seater car for six to 12 months, the carmaker said in a statement today. Stuttgart-based Daimler’s Mercedes Benz unit will offer a service center with technicians and mechanics. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-06/daimler-to-test-smart-electric-cars-in-hong-kong-as-smog-worsens.html China Aims to Rein In Car Sales. After a decade of nurturing China’s auto industry to become the largest in the world, this country’s leaders are having second thoughts. A succession of government officials at a weekend conference called for China’s automakers to shift their focus from making ever more cars and toward producing more fuel-efficient and more advanced models, including gasoline-electric hybrids and all-electric cars. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/05/business/global/china-changes-direction-on-car-sales.html?scp=5&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Bills To Shift Oversight Of High-Speed Rail Faltering. The California High-Speed Rail Authority is facing increased scrutiny from lawmakers as the legislative session draws to a close. Lawmakers proposed several reforms meant to strengthen state oversight of the autonomous rail agency, but with just a week before the end of the 2011 session, the toughest looked unlikely to reach a floor vote, Capitol sources said. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/bills-shift-oversight-high-speed-rail-faltering-12428 Bill pushes gas levy for congestion relief projects. Sacramento lawmakers have a plan to raise money to improve freeways and bolster public transit and bicycle amenities: Let local officials charge more for gas. But Inland area officials don't think Riverside or San Bernardino counties will take lawmakers up on the offer. A bill in the state Assembly, if approved, would allow planning agencies such as San Bernardino Associated Governments and the Riverside County Transportation Commission to ask voters to approve a gas levy. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/politics/stories/PE_News_Local_D_gaslevy06.3f4a63b.html The Coalition's vision for renewable transport. During its first fifteen months, the Coalition Government has been grappling with a series of tough challenges: restoring sustainability to the public finances, rebuilding our economy and delivering our climate change commitments. Conventional wisdom dictates that supporting economic growth is incompatible with cutting carbon. Like most conventional wisdom, this is way off the mark. Posted. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/earth/the-age-of-energy/8741602/The-Coalitions-vision-for-renewable-transport.html GREEN ENERGY Businesses put wind to work. When Brad Crandall Jr. opened the electric bill for his fertilizer manufacturing company in June, it was as if the weight of high energy costs were swept away by a cool breeze. The Pacific Gas and Electric Co. bill was $11.52, down from almost $5,000 a month previously to run the factory in Suisun City. "It was so wonderful," Crandall said. "We all dream of not having a PG&E bill." Crandall's company is saving money by taking advantage of a fast-growing, clean technology. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/04/v-print/3881463/businesses-put-wind-to-work.html Solyndra files for bankruptcy, listing nearly $784 million in debt. Solyndra filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday, listing $783.8 million in secured debts that included $527.8 million that it owes to the U.S. government, court papers show. The Fremont-based solar manufacturer listed assets valued at $859 million, according to U.S. Bankruptcy Court records in Delaware. The filing included Solyndra and its principal owner, 360 Degree Solar Holdings. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/green-energy/ci_18834925 SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS Where the Jobs Aren’t. With the economy stagnating and unemployment high, where are the jobs of the future going to come from? A few years ago, it seemed as though the Green Economy could be a big part of the answer. New clean-energy sources could address environmental, economic and national security problems all at once. In his 2008 convention speech, Barack Obama promised to create five million green economy jobs. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/opinion/brooks-where-the-jobs-arent.html?scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Obama's tie to (bankrupt) Solyndra [Most commented]. You may not know about Solyndra, an industrial solar panel company based in Fremont, Calif., but that doesn't mean you shouldn't. It was the first company to receive federal stimulus funds, totaling $535 million. Yet the company just filed for bankruptcy protection. And, it should be noted, House Republicans are investigating because one of Solyndra's main investors was a bundler for President Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. Here's what it means for all of us: Posted. http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2011/09/obamas-tie-to-bankrupt-solyndra-most-commented.html California leaders are killing jobs. California’s “jobs gap” with the rest of America jumped to a record high, according to new calculations. In 2010, I devised the “jobs gap” to measure how much worse unemployment is in California than in the rest of America. The jobs gap is calculated by subtracting the national unemployment level from California’s. Of course, the major factor affecting California’s economy is national economic policy. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/2011/09/california-leaders-are-killing-jobs Solyndra collapse raises tough policy questions. The bankruptcy of an Obama pet project - solar panel maker Solyndra, based in Fremont - is a political embarrassment for the White House. It went from showcase to basket case, laying off 1,100 workers and eating up $535 million in stimulus-program money. The episode deserves a serious look - which Republicans in Congress are only too happy to supply - to see if financial warning signs were ignored or whether the firm won special treatment because a prime investor was a White House donor. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/05/EDMJ1KVGQG.DTL&type=printable Thomas Elias: State air board credibility hit through lack of change. The departed administration of ex-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been thoroughly discredited, its record of bending public policy to the whims of campaign donors often demonstrated and his own lack of trustworthiness amply proven. But pockets of Schwarzenegger's influence and the lack of integrity he epitomized remain in place fully eight months after his departure from office, one of the most notable at the California Air Resources Board. Posted. http://www.sgvtribune.com/opinions/ci_18831550 Steve Scauzillo: Some companies make green jobs out of regulations. There were no new jobs created in the United States this past August. Unemployment stayed at 9.1 percent but we all know that California is worse at 12 percent unemployment. You will hear President Obama talk about employment Thursday when he presents his plan for job creation to the American people. That is, if you are not watching the football game. Posted. http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_18820616 ‘Houston, San Joaquin Valley Has A Problem": Cars Causing Smog. In California, or more precisely the San Joaquin Valley, our problem isn’t droughts, hurricanes or floods; it’s smog – at least right now it is. Beginning this year assessed will be an annual $29 million penalty, the money presumably going to help clean this smog up. San Joaquin Valley motorists will have to pay an extra $12 added to what would be our usual registration fees. Is this fair? The penalty may be justified, but the fact that Valley motorists are on the hook for this expense may not be. Posted. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/print/9332 BLOGS Getting a Grip on the Grid. One of the crucial factors that limits the capacity of the electricity grid is the temperature of the lines; as their metal is heated by the current flowing through them, the lines get longer, and they sag, and can contact trees or other objects. That development helped set off the great Northeast blackout of August 2003. But the utility companies have never had a precise idea of what the temperatures are, or where their lines are in relation to obstructions below. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/05/getting-a-grip-on-the-grid/?ref=earth Hot air and fading hope in Washington’s climate fix. It has been a brutal summer for climate change ‘deniers’ and, perhaps, an even nastier one for greens. Washington is a long way from the North Pole but the hot air is everywhere. The planet’s vital white skullcap – the reflective dome of Arctic ice – is thinning, scattered and melting towards new record lows. Icebreakers are crunching easily through weak ice close to the pole, shipping lanes are wide open north of Russia and Canada and there’s a new resource rush. Posted. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/americas/hot-air-and-fading-hope-in-washingtons-climate-fix/article2154430/ Germany Sets New Renewable Energy Record. While the latest green headlines in the U.S. are mostly depressing with growing signs that the Obama administration will approve the proposed Keystone Pipeline and the bankruptcy of Solyndra, at least we have some good news coming from across the ocean. According to a new report by the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), the German renewable energy sector broke a new record in the first half of 2011, generating 20.8 percent of the country’s power production. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/generating-gloomy-news-germany-setting-new-record-renewable-energy-usage/ The Dark Side of Apple’s Supply Chain. As surprising as it may seem (or not) there are problems with Apple’s suppliers in China, namely that many are not exactly environmentally friendly citizens. A coalition of environmental organizations cited “pollution and poisoning” problems in Apple’s China supply chain in two reports on the “Other Side of Apple.” Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/dark-side-apples-supply-chain-core/ Biofuels Propel Blue Angels Over Labor Day Weekend. Labor Day weekend often means that very last summer barbecue, final road trip, baseball pennant race showdowns, and for some lucky communities, the chance to watch the Blue Angels soar above crowds in their awesome aerial formations. This year, the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the long-form name for the Blue Angels, wowed visitors with their pilots’ stunts at the Patuxent Naval Air Station in southern Maryland over the weekend. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/biofuels-propel-blue-angels-labor-day-weekend/ One-step hydrotreatment process for conversion of vegetable oils to renewable diesel and LPG. Researchers from Japan and Mexico have developed a one-step hydrotreatment process over catalysts containing Ni-Mo and solid acids for the conversion of vegetable oils (Jatropha, palm and canola) to renewable diesel and LPG fuels. A paper on their work appears in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels. Jatropha oil produced the highest yield (wt %) of renewable diesel (83.5%), with 4.9% LPG. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/09/liu-20110906.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 10:31:26 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 7, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 7, 2011. 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 5 Air Pollution Facts and Myths. Extreme heat across much of the U.S. this week is triggering potentially unhealthy levels of air pollution, at least for those especially sensitive to dirty air, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. When air pollution levels rise, people are wise to stay indoors, or at least avoid heavy exertion outdoors when ozone levels are highest (typically in the afternoon and evening on hot summer days). That message should be particularly heeded by the elderly, babies and young children, and those with asthma, emphysema or other lung and heart conditions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/09/06/hearstmaghealth5936703.DTL The 20 States with the Most Toxic Air. Coal- and oil-fired power plants produce almost half the toxic air pollution in the U.S., according to a new report by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Physicians for Social Responsibility, which identifies the 20 states with the biggest polluters and the worst air quality. For those who follow these issues, the results are not at all shocking. Some states have big, old power plants that have been around since before the Clean Air Act was passed. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/09/06/hearstmaghealth6128852.DTL CLIMATE CHANGE Professor turns to law to protect climate work. A former University of Virginia professor who has drawn the ire of climate change skeptics is entering the legal fray over a conservative group’s pursuit of his emails and documents related to his work. Attorneys for Michael Mann, now a professor at Pennsylvania State University, have filed a motion to intervene in a case brought by the American Tradition Institute’s (ATI) Environmental Law Center and Delegate Robert G. Marshall, Prince William Republican. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/6/professor-turns-to-law-to-protect-climate-work/ Climate change sparks concern over future of U.S. breadbasket. The United States' breadbasket has a seemingly unending supply of grain, meat, dairy, fruit, vegetable and other food resources. Those harvests feed many Americans and nations around the world, but scientists and agronomists are worried that climate change will hurt growing conditions and production in the Midwest. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/09/07/8 DIESEL EMISSIONS California lawmakers OK truck rule, CARB requirement. A couple of bills to advance through the California Legislature are intended to improve safety around certain large vehicles and to impose a rule on the state’s Air Resources Board. One bill to advance through the statehouse would require a construction vehicle in excess of 14,000 pounds that operates at, or transports construction or industrial materials to and from, a mine or construction site to be equipped with an automatic backup audible alarm. Dump trucks already are required to be equipped with backup alarms on construction and mine sites. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Sep11/090511/090611-02.shtml GREEN ENERGY State should extend energy levy. If you're a customer of an investor-owned utility such as Southern California Edison, among the line items on your monthly power bill is a 1.5% fee called the public goods charge. It will go away if it's not renewed by the Legislature this week — but that would be a mistake, because it is a vital tool to help the state achieve its ambitious goals to clean up its power supply and reduce its carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-powerfee-20110907,0,988873.story Solar industry undergoes more reshuffling. Solar equipment manufacturers are closing down or consolidating in the wake of falling prices for photovoltaic systems. This year so far, mergers and acquisitions are up 33 percent in the industry, totaling $3.3 billion according to Bloomberg. Much of this activity resulted from Chinese competition on the market, forcing photovoltaic cell prices to drop 42 percent. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/09/07/6 VEHICLES Big steps forward for fuel-efficient vehicles. The following editorial appeared in the Kansas City Star on Tuesday, Sept. 6: Americans are driving more fuel-efficient vehicles and reducing the demand for gasoline, new figures show. It's an encouraging development at a time when pump prices remain stubbornly high. Gasoline consumption fell by 2 percent from January to July of 2011 compared with the same months in 2010, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Fuel efficiency accounted for half of the decline, while higher gas prices and consumers cutting back because of the uncertain economy caused the other half. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/07/1848499/big-steps-forward-for-fuel-efficient.html OPINION In the Land of Denial. The Republican presidential contenders regard global warming as a hoax or, at best, underplay its importance. The most vocal denier is Rick Perry, the Texas governor and longtime friend of the oil industry, who insists that climate change is an unproven theory created by “a substantial number of scientists who have manipulated data so that they will have dollars rolling into their projects.” Never mind that nearly all the world’s scientists regard global warming as a serious threat to the planet, with human activities like the burning of fossil fuels a major cause. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/07/opinion/in-the-land-of-denial-on-climate-change.html?_r=2 Solar company's demise spotlights Obama's folly. Last year, President Barack Obama came to the Bay Area to tout "green jobs" at an event at solar panel manufacturer Solyndra's Fremont plant. Quoth the president: "The true engine of economic growth will always be companies like Solyndra." Last Wednesday, Solyndra announced it was shuttering its remaining Fremont factory, laying off 1,100 workers and filing for bankruptcy. It was a sorry day for the Bay Area. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110907/A_OPINION0619/109070304&cid=sitesearch Increasing CAFE standards is only the second-best solution to greener cars. Higher CAFE standards force manufacturers to build cars that get better mileage, or at least adjust the mix of vehicles they sell. In the decades since the first set of CAFE standards were imposed, we've gone from an average fuel economy of just 13.1 mpg to a less-awful 22.5 mpg. As time goes on, that value will increase, as the Obama administration recently set a target of 54.5 mpg by 2025. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/07/cafe-standards-gas-tax/ BLOGS Have You Had Your Daily Moment of Climate Dread? Frequent visitors here know about my comparison of shifting concerns about human-driven climate change to water sloshing in a shallow pan — lots of motion but little real significance. Today The Onion took a bitingly amusing look at the (lack of) depth of climate worries in America in a piece titled, “We Need To Do More When It Comes To Having Brief, Panicked Thoughts About Climate Change.” Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/have-you-had-your-daily-moment-of-climate-dread/?scp=10&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Wind Industry Lobbies for Tax-Credit Extension. So far 2011 has been a good year f0or wind energy projects. Installations in the first six months of 2011 were almost double what they were in the comparable period in 2010 in terms of total megawatts (2,151 versus 1,250), according to the American Wind Energy Association. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/wind-industry-lobbies-for-tax-credit-extension/?ref=earth Policing Your Power-Hungry Appliances. Before they leave the house, my friends in England literally pull the plugs on many of their appliances.Perhaps it’s a vestigial reflex from the old days, when Victorian houses still had less-than-safe 220-volt lines tacked to the walls. But for whatever reason, when we’re off to the pub in Hertfordshire, the plugs to the television, electric teakettle and other power-hungry products are yanked before we go. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/policing-your-power-hungry-appliances/?ref=earth CarbFix: A Revolutionary Experiment To Trap Away CO2 Forever by Turning It Into Harmless Rock. Iceland is well know for its use of renewable energy, particularly geothermal energy, but soon the country could be combating climate change in a very different, but equally innovative way. Sometime this month, the group of American and Icelandic designers and researchers behind the CarbFix experiment will begin pumping “seltzer water” into a deep hole on the edge of a volcano to lock away carbon dioxide — forever. The carbonated liquid will react with the basalt rock that lies deep beneath the surface to form limestone, meaning that the CO2 will never be able to escape and warm our planet. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/carbfix-a-revolutionary-experiment-to-trap-away-co2-forever-by-turning-it-into-harmless-rock/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2011 11:29:58 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 8, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 8, 2011. 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 More heat, bad air expected in Central California through Thursday. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution District said the valley air basin continues to be in an Air Alert through Thursday. This includes the counties of Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and portions of Kern. Pollution levels spiked on Tuesday at 119 ppb in the Fresno area. A reading of 125 ppb is considered a violation of the federal one-hour ozone standard. High temperature, ozone build-up and lack of atmospheric mixing brought about an extremely high risk for a possible exceedance on Wednesday. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/07/1849457/more-heat-bad-air-expected-in.html It's another bad-air day; take it easy. Athletes and people with asthma and heart disease should curb outdoor activity today because of poor air quality in Fresno and Kings counties, a Fresno allergist said, as near triple-digit temperatures continue in the Valley. Dr. A.M. Aminian warns that athletes and physical education students should avoid extended periods of outdoor exertion and that anyone with asthma and heart disease should not take part in outdoor activities. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/08/2529364/its-another-bad-air-day-take-it.html#storylink=misearch Lawyers plot next steps in legal battle over ozone rule. The Obama administration's scrapping of a proposed new rule that would toughen ozone standards has put lawyers involved in litigation over the existing regulations on alert. Litigation before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia had been put on hold when President Obama took office in early 2009 and U.S. EPA considered whether to revise the rules first introduced the previous year, at the tail end of the George W. Bush administration. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/09/07/1 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE UN chief calls for urgent action on climate change. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that urgent action was needed on climate change, pointing to the famine in the Horn of Africa and devastating floods in northern Australia as examples of the suffering caused by global warming. Ban lashed out at climate change skeptics during a speech at the University of Sydney, arguing that science has proven climate change is real. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18847700 Will environmental regualtion hurt California job growth? Joel Fox has written an interesting piece about his hope that California will roll back some environmental regulations. He quotes a piece I wrote several years ago when I was asked to give my prospective views on the likely impacts of AB32. He is correct that I assumed that while California would be an environmental leader with respect to enacting carbon dioxide mitigation legislation that I thought that the rest of the country would be ramping up its regulations. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Green-Economics/2011/0907/Will-environmental-regualtion-hurt-California-job-growth GREEN ENERGY Shocker: Power demand from US homes is falling. American homes are more cluttered than ever with devices, and they all need power: Cellphones and iPads that have to be charged, DVRs that run all hours, TVs that light up in high definition. But something shocking is happening to demand for electricity in the Age of the Gadget: It’s leveling off. Over the next decade, experts expect residential power use to fall, reversing an upward trend that has been almost uninterrupted since Thomas Edison invented the modern light bulb. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hfT760VvUJ6z-T2-NJQLzJcbnQrg?docId=1f4c0b7e473f45738ef6da5376a93529 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-government/despite-the-proliferation-of-electronic-gadgets-us-homeowners-are-using-less-power/2011/09/07/gIQAqBrg9J_story.html http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011109080303 DOE to offer loan guarantee for solar rooftop project. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a conditional guarantee to cover 80 percent of a $344 million loan for the biggest residential solar rooftop project ever in the United States. A company called SolarCity plans to install, own and operate up to 160,000 rooftop installations on as many as 124 military housing developments in 33 states over the next five years. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/doe-to-offer-loan-guarantee-for-solar-rooftop-project/2011/09/07/gIQAVvQbAK_story.html SolarCity plans 160,000 solar energy systems on military bases. SolarCity, one of the country's largest residential solar energy system providers, plans to double the amount of rooftop installations across the country by setting up sun-powered systems on 160,000 homes and other buildings on military bases. The five-year, $1-billion SolarStrong project targets rooftop solar installations at 124 military housing developments in 33 states. SolarCity has already lined up a conditional commitment for a $344-million loan guarantee from the federal government. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-solarcity-20110908,0,2694911.story MISCELLANEOUS Program Retraining Workers for ‘Green’ Economy Graduates First 50 Students. As President Obama prepares to roll out a jobs program in a nationwide address tomorrow, the first 50 people to enroll in a six-month program to retrain workers for jobs in biofuels, sustainable biotechnology, and other cleantech industries are graduating today. The students began their technical training earlier this year with classes at UC San Diego Extension and Mira Costa College under a two-year, $4-million grant from the California Department of Labor. Posted. http://www.xconomy.com/san-diego/2011/09/07/program-retraining-workers-for-green-economy-graduates-first-50-students/ OPINION Going Green but Getting Nowhere. YOU reduce, reuse and recycle. You turn down plastic and paper. You avoid out-of-season grapes. You do all the right things. Good. Just know that it won’t save the tuna, protect the rain forest or stop global warming. The changes necessary are so large and profound that they are beyond the reach of individual action. You refuse the plastic bag at the register, believing this one gesture somehow makes a difference, and then carry your takeout meal back to your car for a carbon-emitting trip home. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/08/opinion/going-green-but-getting-nowhere.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Obama environmental policy buckles under pressure. The following editorial appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Wednesday, Sept. 7: President Barack Obama gutted his credibility on environmental issues Friday when he ordered Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to back away from new restrictions on ozone pollution. He cited the slow and sluggish economy and said his order shows he has "continued to underscore the importance of reducing regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty." That sounds a lot like Gov. Rick Perry, who hopes to be the Republican seeking to unseat Democrat Obama in next year's presidential election. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/08/1850134/obama-environmental-policy-buckles.html In jobs speech, a test for the president on clean energy. President Obama's jobs speech tonight is seen by some as a symbol of his commitment to clean energy -- and a gauge of his willingness to defend the emerging industry against Republican ridicule. It comes as the White House is signaling a retooled emphasis on "old school" highway jobs, as one Republican strategist said approvingly, to caffeinate national employment and consumer spending. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/09/08/2 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY BLOGS Humboldt Residents Say Not In My Backyard To Wind Farm. A proposed wind power project in California’s Humboldt County ShellWind Energy, Inc. (SWE) is drawing some serious “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) responses. During a Ferndale City Council meeting on September 1, 2011, residents expressed concerns about construction noise, use of large trucks, the visual impact of the wind turbines, light pollution and the effect on property values, the Eureka Times Standard reports. Prior to the meeting, residents sent letters to the Ferndale City Council opposing the project. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/humboldt-residents-backyard-wind-farm/ SANDAG still has time to make meaningful change with its SB 375 plan. 60 years of government structures and polices that subsidize sprawl development have not been dismantled in nine short months by San Diego’s new regional plan! Like so many attention grabbing stories, Ethan Elkind’s blog post proclaiming California’s first Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) a “dud” is a poorly informed piece that doesn’t do justice to the movement for sustainable, equitable communities. Yes, San Diego County’s draft SCS, compiled by its regional agency SANDAG, needs significant improvement. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/aeaken/with_carbs_leadership_sandag_s.html Global Warming Concerns Decline in US and China. It probably won’t surprise Celsias readers to learn that concern about global warming has tapered off in the United States. That country, after all, just went through the sort of financial crisis that portends another Great Depression when it saw its credit rating downgraded for the first time in recorded history. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/global-warming-concerns-decline-us-and-china/ "In the denial of global warming, we are witnessing the most vicious and so far most successful attack on science in history." “…in the denial of global warming, we are witnessing the most vicious, and so far most successful, attack on science in history.” Those strong words are from James Lawrence Powell in his recent book The Inquisition of Climate Science. The book chronicles the campaign of denial which has resulted in the widespread failure of public understanding of climate science and the long delay in addressing what is now an urgent and pressing threat to the human future. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/denial-global-warming-we-are-witnessing-most-vicio/ Electric Vehicles: Breaking Track Records For 115 Years. On this date in 1896, an electric car won one of the first automobile races in the United States. Amidst jeers from the crowd to “get a horse!” the ur-EV built by the Riker Electric Motor Company slowly completed five laps around a horse racing track in Cranston, RI. It took 15 minutes for the car to go about five miles. One hundred and fifteen years later, Toyota Motorsport’s P001 (above) broke the lap record for EVs at the Nürburgring last week, becoming the first electric car to break the eight minute barrier on the 12.92 mile Nordschleife circuit. Posted. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/09/electric-vehicles-breaking-track-records-for-115-years/ Australian Government releases discussion paper on mandatory CO2 standards for new light-duty vehicles beginning in 2015. The Australian Government has released a discussion paper outlining the issues involved in the setting of mandatory standards to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from passenger vehicles from 2015. The planned CO2 standards will complement the Government’s carbon price scheme and help to reduce carbon emissions from light vehicles. The paper does not set targets, but asks industry and the community to help shape the new standards by presenting possible approaches for consideration and debate. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/09/ozco2-20110907.html Is the EPA Letting the Chemical Industry Regulate Itself? The American Chemistry Council is trying to influence how the EPA prioritizes the chemicals it chooses to evaluate for safety. The ACC—a group that supported Obama's recent decision to drop the effort to tighten Bush-era ozone standards, and that spent $1.65 million lobbying government agencies, including the EPA, in the second quarter—says the EPA lacks a "consistent, transparent process" for evaluating which chemicals need further evaluation. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/09/is-epa-letting-chemical-industry-regulate-itself.php ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:23:04 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 12, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 12, 2011. 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 Valley air alert called off for today. An air alert for the Valley will not be extended to today because of lower temperatures and an increased chance for thunderstorms this weekend that could bring rain to the Valley floor. "All that will help move out the pollution that has been forming in the Valley," said Jaime Holt, spokeswoman for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/09/2531291/valley-air-alert-will-end-today.html#storylink=misearch Appeals court warms to EPA's revised 'hot spot' rule. Federal judges considering a challenge to a U.S. EPA rule that regulates emissions from new transportation projects appeared supportive today of the agency's legal position. All three judges on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia panel expressed skepticism about the arguments made by the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental groups about EPA's "hot spot" rule. The rule allows the construction of new transportation projects as long as developers undertake efforts to offset additional emissions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/12/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION CLIMATE CHANGE Legislators push through eleventh-hour CEQA exemptions. California's legislative session ended Saturday night with several bills allowing exemptions from environmental laws headed to the governor's desk and a renewable energy investment fund on the chopping block. Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has until Oct. 9 to sign S.B. 292, to speed construction of a football stadium in downtown Los Angeles, which passed both houses of the Legislature late last week. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/12/8 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Nissan develops cheaper, smaller charger for EVs. Tokyo - Nissan has developed a charger for electric vehicles that's smaller, about half the price, and easier to install. Nissan Motor Co., Japan's No. 2 automaker, said Monday the new charger will go on sale in November in Japan and is planned later for the U.S. and Europe, although dates are not set. The basic model of the revamped charger will cost about half the price of the current model, which is stockier and has more parts, and costs 1.47 million yen ($19,000). Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/12/nissan-develops-cheaper-smaller-charger-for-evs/ http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/12/nissan-develops-cheaper-smaller-charger-for-evs/ Fuel cell vehicles for mass market from 2014 onwards. Electric mobility with fuel cells and batteries is a major topic when talking about the future of passenger cars. During f-cell 2011, the 11th edition of a congress and trade fair held on September 26 and 27 in Stuttgart, vehicle manufacturers will report on their latest progress in the field. Daimler already announced they will sell fuel cell vehicles from 2014 onwards – one year earlier than planned. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/65320110912.php Peugeot’s Future Car is Called “World’s First Diesel Hybrid”. Here’s the latest future car to peek out from behind the Frankfurt Motor Show curtain, the Peugeot HX-1 plug-in hybrid. It features gullwing doors and a unique design the company calls “the first diesel hybrid in the world.” Peugeot says its goal with this concept car was to create a conveyance for six passengers that uses plug-in hybrid technology and can still deliver sporty performance while maintaining fuel efficiency. Posted. http://mashable.com/2011/09/10/peugeots-future-car/ GREEN ENERGY Around the World on Solar Power Alone. Almost a year ago, the Turanor PlanetSolar, a sleek catamaran that bears a resemblance to a giant water beetle, set off from Monaco on a voyage around the globe. Later this month it will arrive in Singapore, having amassed proof that it is possible to traverse the world’s oceans on solar power alone. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/12/business/global/around-the-world-on-solar-power-alone.html?scp=9&sq=fuels&st=cse OPINION CEQA and the art of the deal. Rather than expedite a few favored projects individually, the Legislature should embark on a careful and comprehensive review of the California Environmental Quality Act. Legislators got the right result by the wrong process when they approved an expedited judicial review for AEG's much-discussed downtown Los Angeles football stadium. The project is too important, and the state's system for reviewing such projects too flawed, to allow procedure to stand in the way of progress. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-ceqa-20110912,0,2142139,print.story Dan Morain: Creating jobs? Not California. California lawmakers love jobs, or so they say. They ended their legislative session by pushing "reforms" to "create" jobs. They sought to slash regulations to fast-track fancy new sports arenas, maybe a new studio and other cool places. They considered tax breaks to put more money into the accounts of entrepreneurs and moguls in the hope that they might hire a few working stiffs. Speaker John A. Pérez and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg issued press releases the other night crowing about their bills to "create jobs." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/11/v-print/3897992/creating-jobs-not-california.html Did global warming cause hurricane Irene? Scientists can't say that global warming caused hurricane Irene or Katia or tropical storm Lee. But they can say that global warming produces the conditions that lead to hurricanes. Americans should be reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for severe weather to come. Ithaca, N.Y. Like many people, I spent the last weekend in August mesmerized by the steady progress of hurricane Irene as she followed the script so carefully laid out by the National Weather Service’s Hurricane Tracking Center. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2011/0912/Did-global-warming-cause-hurricane-Irene BLOGS The Green Jobs Numbers. Now, more than ever, prospects for “green jobs” are being treated as a red flag in partisan debate. Media Matters, a nonprofit watchdog group, has documented a Fox News report proclaiming that the costs of green jobs exceed the benefits. A recent New York Times article, pointing to lackluster programs in California, concluded that “public efforts to stimulate creation of green jobs have largely failed.” A column by David Brooks in The New York Times was pointedly titled “Where the Jobs Aren’t.” Posted. http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/12/the-green-jobs-numbers/?scp=3&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Flooding Brings New Wrinkle to Fracking Report. The floods in upstate New York are raising new concern about plans for natural gas drilling in New York. The areas most affected by the disaster happen to sit on the Marcellus Shale, the rich natural gas field that the natural gas industry hopes to open for future drilling using horizontal hydraulic fracturing, the controversial extraction method that is currently under public review in New York. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/upstate-flooding-brings-new-wrinkle-to-fracking-report/?ref=earth Study: Replacing coal with natural gas would do little for climate change. The great hope among energy wonks is that natural gas is the short-term salve for our climate woes. After all, burning natural gas for electricity emits just half the carbon dioxide that burning coal does. Plus, the United States seems to have an abundance of gas, particularly in the Marcellus Shale, and low natural-gas prices are already prodding many electric utilities to retire their coal plants. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/study-replacing-coal-with-natural-gas-would-do-little-for-climate-change/2011/09/09/gIQAkCVQFK_blog.html DOE Awards $15 Million for Electric Vehicle Adoption Programs. As President Obama was preparing to address a joint session of Congress to propose the $447 billion American Jobs Act, Energy Secretary Steven Chu was busy announcing a series of financing initiatives aimed at spurring clean energy research, commercial development and job creation. Included was nearly $15 million of financial support for 16 projects in 24 states and the District of Columbia “to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EV) across the nation…Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/doe-awards-15-million-electric-vehicle-adoption-programs/ http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/12/doe-selects-16-projects-to-speed-adoption-of-plug-in-vehicles/ Toyota makes Prius a priority as automaker faces a 'turning point'. Two weeks after Japan's March 11 earthquake knocked out more than 650 of Toyota Motor Corp.'s suppliers, halting worldwide production, the automaker had to decide where to focus its resources. It picked the Prius. "We were rapidly burning through cash," said Atsushi Niimi, head of production. "We decided we had to get things going bit by bit to survive through this, so we prioritized the cars our customers wanted most." http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110911/OEM/309119974/1186 Google Announces That it Has Been Carbon Neutral Since 2007. “The carbon footprint of your life on Google is zero.” It may be hard to believe, we know, but the search giant announced for the first time today that it is completely carbon neutral and has been since 2007. In a blog post they detailed how the road to this announcement was paved with many different actions — from installing solar panels at their headquarters, to purchasing large amounts of wind energy and reducing as much of the energy that their employees use as they can. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/google-announces-that-its-been-carbon-neutral-since-2007/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:40:34 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 13, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 13, 2011. 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 Texas Utility to Idle Boilers, Coal Mines in Response to New EPA. Luminant, the largest electricity producer in Texas, announced this morning that it will shut down two of its coal-fired boilers and close three lignite coal mines in response to a recent clampdown on interstate air pollution by U.S. EPA. To meet tougher limits on sulfur dioxide, a chemical that causes soot, haze and acid rain, the company will idle two units with a combined capacity of 1,200 megawatts at the Monticello Steam Electric Station in northeastern Texas. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/09/12/12greenwire-texas-utility-to-idle-boilers-coal-mines-in-re-68196.html?pagewanted=print http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-09-12/energy-future-sues-to-block-epa-cross-state-pollution-rules.html http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-texas-power-20110912,0,1825871.story?track=rss http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/09/12/1 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/12/texas-power-provider-closing-units-over-epa-rule/ 'Cancer villages' one offshoot of China's economic growth. Beijing – To fight the cancer stalking their village, some late-stage patients in Xinglong, southwest China, eat bugs every day, in hope of a folk cure. Farmer Cui Xiaoliang hopes for another, more substantial remedy. "I wish all the polluting factories would move away, but I worry, even if they move, it will be impossible to clean up all their waste in a short time," says Cui, 40, who blames nearby chemical firms for the deaths by cancer of his father and an aunt. Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2011-09-12/China-pollution-cancer-environmental-activists/50376252/1 Manufacturers take aim at Boiler MACT in letter to lawmakers. A coalition of business and manufacturing groups today asked Congress to prevent U.S. EPA from moving ahead with a toxics rule for industrial boilers and incinerators. The coalition, led by the National Association of Manufacturers, comes the same day the House Energy and Power Subcommittee is set to vote on a bill (H.R. 2250) by Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) that would delay and limit a future EPA rule by setting maximum available control technology for mercury and other pollutants from boilers. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/13/7 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE World Bank looks to South African climate talks. International climate change negotiators in Africa later this year will be looking back on the famine now sweeping eastern parts of the continent, and ahead to predictions that climate change will hurt Africa's future food production, a World Bank expert said Tuesday. "The challenges are overwhelming," Andrew Steer, the World Bank's special envoy on climate change, said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Africa needs to triple food production by 2050," he said. "At the same time, you've got climate change lowering average yields .... So, of course, we need something different." Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18883711?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Rare undersea volcanic vents show oceans' increasing acidity likely to hurt biodiversity, endanger ecosystem stability, say Stanford researchers. Stanford researchers have gotten a glimpse into an uncertain future where increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere will lead to higher levels in the ocean as well, leaving the water more acidic and altering underwater ecosystems. Posted. http://news.stanford.edu/news/2011/september/acidsea-hurt-biodiversity-091211.html Energy-savvy military base bumps up against Calif. cap-and-trade law. Twentynine Palms, Calif. -- With fields of solar panels and a pilot microgrid project, the sprawling Marine base here is at the forefront of U.S. military efforts to lessen its reliance on the vulnerable civilian power grid. But a key component of the energy-conscious base has been ensnared by California's global warming law. At issue is the Air Ground Combat Center's cogeneration plant that produces electricity and hot water primarily from natural gas. Built eight years ago, the 7.2-megawatt plant provides at least 57 percent of power used by the base's 16,000 or so Marines, sailors and civilians. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/13/4 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY EPA drops objections to court case over Bush smog plan. Now that it has scrapped a plan to further tighten the smog limits set by U.S. EPA under President George W. Bush, the Obama administration has told a federal court that it has no problem with reopening the litigation over that standard in court. The rules, which were finalized in 2008, face lawsuits from both flanks. States and public health groups sued EPA over the ground-level ozone standard of 75 parts per billion, planning to argue that it wasn't as strong as science advisers said was needed to protect people. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/13/2 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Redding, Calif., looks to join in county climate action plan. The city of Redding, Calif., is seeking to help form regional air pollution regulations. Redding Vice Mayor Dick Dickerson is worried that the Shasta County Air Pollution Control Board will take too much control of city affairs as it develops a plan to carry out A.B. 32, a state law reining in greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/13/12 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Biodiesel is the fuel of the future, entrepreneur says. While examining his latest research project, a global selection of castor oil plants growing in his backyard, Mahesh Talwar, 55, tells of the time he tried to change the engine of his Toyota sedan to make it more fuel-efficient. He thought he'd build a hybrid himself. Turns out, he didn't just change the engine, but also ended up accelerating the car through his garage. Laughing now, he explains he accidentally connected two wires, leading the car to accelerate and plow through the garage wall of his previous home in Ventura. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/12/biodiesel-is-the-fuel-of-the-future-entrepreneur/ VEHICLES Frankfurt: Mercedes-Benz shows off plug-in hydrogen car. We're not quite sure what dignified Mercedes was thinking with that ridiculous exclamation mark. Mercedes says the 125! is meant as a look ahead to cars beyond 2025, the kind of talk that usually indicates to us this is a design exercise that will go, basically, nowhere. Still, it has some interesting ideas inside. "With the F125! we want to show that large, comfortable and safe cars have an excellent future, partly because they are able to operate with no emissions," says Thomas Weber, Mercedes' design chief. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/09/mercedes-benz-125-hydrogen-fuel-cell-plug-in/1 Researchers close in on solid-state auto battery. Two companies are racing to develop the Holy Grail of electric and hybrid vehicles: a solid-state battery. The technology is not expected in showrooms until the next decade, one expert says, as researchers tackle energy storage and manufacturing challenges. Solid-state batteries store energy in thin, solid film, not liquid. They would give electric vehicles more range than the current 70 miles or so. And they are lighter than current lithium ion batteries, which use a liquid electrolyte. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110913/OEM06/110919974/1186 MISCELLANEOUS Transcript: Mercury News interview with PG&E CEO Anthony Earley. Here is a transcript of Mercury News staff writer Paul Rogers' interview with new PG&E CEO Anthony Earley, who starts his job on Tuesday. Earley's opening remarks: "I start on Tuesday at PG&E and I am looking forward to it. I'm really looking forward to this opportunity. I know it is going to be a challenge, but PG&E has been one of the iconic companies in our industry for as long as I've been involved. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_18880480?nclick_check=1 PAID SUBSCRIPTION Gentlemen, Start Conserving. Is green Nascar an oxymoron? After all, the sport is all about watching gas guzzlers drive at high speeds in circles for hours. Until 2007, race cars used leaded fuel. Tens of thousands of fans still drive to races in recreational vehicles and other gas hogs. But more than any other American sport, Nascar is also a for-profit business, and like many companies these days, it is focused on cutting costs by recycling, conserving and generating its own energy. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/sports/autoracing/for-nascar-going-green-is-good-business.html?scp=3&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse OPINIONS PD Editorial: A false choice between jobs and pollution. Talk about a phony choice: your job or your health. If you believe the Republican leaders of the House of Representatives and the GOP presidential candidates, scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are conspiring to undermine the American economy. And what is it that these supposed zealots have in mind? Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110912/OPINION/110909501 BLOGS China Caps Energy Use in Low-Carbon Plan. China looks determined to take the challenge of sustainable growth by the horns. It has its tasks for itself clearly set out for the next five years. It is going to work towards achieving low carbon energy targets. Energy efficiency and clean technology are going to be the watchwords for policy-makers. The 12th Five Year Plan (2011-2015) documents spell that out. It is a clear indication of the Chinese focus towards balancing growth with environmental sustainability instead of maximizing economic growth alone. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/china-caps-energy-use-low-carbon-plan/ Ownership costs for plug-in vehicles to drop significantly by 2030. A UK analysis of total ownership costs for the cars of tomorrow found that low-carbon vehicles will make substantial progress in bridging the current cost gap, when compared to traditional gasoline-powered cars, by 2030. The big question is whether – or when – will advanced vehicles be seriously cost-competitive? Might we really have to wait decades? Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/13/ownership-costs-for-plug-in-vehicles-to-drop-significantly-by-20/ ‘Green’ Jobs, the IT Analogy. Several pundits and writers have recently suggested that the green economy is small and unlikely to be a major source of job growth anytime in the near future. So, the argument goes, it’s not a worthy investment. As evidence for the first claim, some critics of green policies have cited the job growth figures from our recent “Sizing the Clean Economy” report while arguing that the bankruptcy of Solyndra, a solar photovoltaic manufacturer, illustrates both the failures of green policies and the weakness of the industry. Posted. http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-avenue/94872/%E2%80%98green%E2%80%99-jobs-the-it-analogy ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:54:15 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 14, 2011 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 14, 2011. 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 Economists say sea level rise could be costly. Economists say erosion from rising sea levels and storm damage could cost California hundreds of millions of dollars in lost tourism and tax revenues. The Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/pQSYKP) says the San Francisco State study released Tuesday shows climate change and rising seas this century will diminish state beach appeal to tourists. The California Department of Boating and Waterways-commissioned study examined sea level projections at five beach communities. One of them was Venice Beach, which could lose up to $440 million in tourism and tax revenue if the Pacific Ocean rises 55 inches by 2100. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/14/1859644/economists-say-sea-level-rise.html VEHICLES Cooper, Goodyear, PPG each get $1.5 million in U.S. funds to boost fuel economy. The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $1.5 million grants to Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and PPG Industries Inc. to study, evaluate and develop technologies for improving the fuel economy of the nation's vehicle fleet. The grants, the first awarded by the DOE to companies in the tire industry, will fund vastly different projects: Cooper aims to cut the weight of replacement passenger-vehicle tires and improve fuel efficiency by 3 percent.Goodyear will work on technology to keep truck tires properly inflated automatically without external assistance. PPG will study new materials for reduced rolling resistance and better pressure retention. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110913/OEM01/110919939/1186 GREEN ENERGY House probing $528M loan to failed solar company. Leaders of a House subcommittee want to make the Obama administration answer for putting taxpayers on the hook for a half-billion-dollar loan to a now-bankrupt solar panel manufacturer. A hearing Wednesday will examine what went wrong with Solyndra Inc., which received a federal loan of nearly $528 million and recently filed for bankruptcy. GOP leaders of the subcommittee describe the loan as a "half-billion bust" that raises red flags about the administration's efforts to generate more jobs in the renewable energy sector. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/14/lawmakers-will-wait-on-testimony-from-solar/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/article_8949e01a-374f-58a0-9cb9-6f404f35cd47.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/14/1859407/lawmakers-will-wait-on-testimony.html http://www.c-span.org/Events/Lawmakers-Probe-Solar-Energy-Company/10737424118/ Orange, black and green: Pacific earning recognition for increased environment, sustainability efforts. Turns out, University of the Pacific is cooler than anyone thought. The midtown campus has moved up sharply on the Sierra Club's annual list of colleges and universities tackling climate change and making efforts to become more sustainable. Pacific, ranked 117th a year ago, has moved up to 68th on Sierra magazine's list of "coolest schools" in America. University of Washington was top rated. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110914/A_NEWS/109140326&cid=sitesearch OPINION Would looser environmental regulations help the economy? Republicans in the House of Representatives are waging an all-out war to block federal regulations that protect the environment. They loaded up a pending 2012 spending bill with terms that would eliminate a broad array of environmental protections, everything from stopping new plants and animals from being placed on the endangered species list to ending federal limits on water pollution in Florida. The terms also include a rollback of pollution regulations for mountaintop mining and a red light on federal plans to prevent new uranium mining claims near the Grand Canyon. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/07/13/1810002/would-looser-environmental-regulations.html BLOGS Five myths about the Solyndra collapse. There are still plenty of nagging questions about the collapse of Solyndra, the California-based solar-panel maker that went bankrupt last month after getting $535 million worth of loan guarantees from the Obama administration. Such as: Did the Energy Department fail to do due diligence? And did the White House intervene inappropriately in pressing for the loan guarantees? But as Solyndra becomes the newest political chew toy, there’s been no shortage of hyperbole about the affair — especially over what it means for energy policy more broadly. On Tuesday, for example, Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), who chairs the oversight subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said that Solyndra’s downfall proves “that green energy isn’t going to be the solution.” That’s quite a leap. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/five-myths-about-the-solyndra-collapse/2011/09/14/gIQAfkyvRK_blog.html Replacing Coal With Gas Is No Panacea, Study Says. Although power plants fired by natural gas emit about half the carbon dioxide that conventional coal plants do, shifting from coal to natural gas to generate electricity will do little to slow climate change, according to a new study from the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/replacing-coal-with-gas-is-no-panacea-study-says/?scp=5&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse ‘Serious’ Error Found in Carbon Savings for Biofuels. The European Union is overestimating the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions achieved through reliance on biofuels as a result of a “serious accounting error,” according to a draft opinion by an influential committee of 19 scientists and academics. The European Environment Agency Scientific Committee writes that the role of energy from crops like biofuels in curbing warming gases should be measured by how much additional carbon dioxide such crops absorb beyond what would have been absorbed anyway by existing fields, forests and grasslands. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/serious-error-found-in-carbon-savings-for-biofuels/?ref=earth Database Tracks a Congressional Onslaught. Resentment of the Environmental Protection Agency and “job-killing” environmental regulations is a hallmark of this session of the Republican-dominated House of Representatives. In a wave of legislative proposals, lawmakers have sought to scale back protections ranging from the Endangered Species Act to limits on mining around the Grand Canyon. Representative Henry Waxman, the California Democrat, has declared the chamber “the most anti-environment House in history.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/reversing-environment-rules-the-database/?ref=earth California approves pay-as-you-drive 'green' insurance program. State regulators have approved an auto insurance policy that rewards car owners for driving less and potentially emitting fewer pollutants into the atmosphere. The new program, called SAVE, will go on sale in January by CSE Safeguard Insurance Co. Motorists will be charged only for the number of miles they drive. "This is a true pay-by-the-mile program, where our customers pay for the miles they drive," said CSE President Pierre Bize. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/09/auto-insurance-green-pay-as-you-drive.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MoneyCompany+%28Money+%26+Company%29&utm_content=Google+Reader Rising sea levels could take financial toll on California beaches. Beach communities in California will suffer huge economic losses in tourism and tax revenues as rising sea levels eat away at the California coastline over the next century, according to a state-commissioned study released Tuesday. As climate change warms the ocean, causing it to swell, storm damage and erosion will narrow the state's beaches and diminish their appeal to tourists, recreational visitors and wildlife, economists at San Francisco State predict. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/09/rising-sea-levels-could-take-financial-toll-on-california-beaches.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project: The Denial Ends Today. Al Gore is mad as hell about his campaign to get the word out about global warming being smothered by a heavily funded doubt campaign and a disinterested media, and he’s not going to take it anymore. But unlike Howard Beale in the 1976 film “Network,” he hasn’t simply gone to the nearest window to shout it out at the top of his lungs. Instead, he decided that the lies have to stop, the truth has to come out, and he formed an organization called the Climate Reality Project to make it happen, and today: September 14th 2011 is the day, through an event called 24 Hours of Reality. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/al-gores-climate-reality-project-denial-ends-today/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:28:16 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 15, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 15, 2011. 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 AIR QUALITY: Bill would let districts collect revenue. A bill on Gov. Jerry Brown's desk would let the South Coast Air Quality Management District try to cash in on the millions of dollars in research and other clean-air ventures it sponsors.The district, which includes western Riverside and San Bernardino counties, was the sponsor of legislation that would give air-quality agencies the power to negotiate revenue-sharing agreements with grant recipients. Under such deals, districts would have a stake in anything developed with district money. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/politics/stories/PE_News_Local_D_airdistrict15.41671d0.html EPA hearing on gas drilling pollution in W. Pa. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold three public hearings in September on the agency's proposed standards to reduce air pollution from oil and gas drilling operations. The first public hearing will be held in Pittsburgh from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the David Lawrence Convention Center on Ft. Duquesne Blvd. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_18901749?nclick_check=1 CLIMATE CHANGE With millions of dollars at stake, utilities fight over emission rights. As the nation's fleet of coal-fired power plants gets ready for a new emissions trading program meant to clamp down further on acid rain, soot and smog, utility lawyers and lobbyists are doing battle over an obscure accounting question that will decide whether certain power companies make money or pay it out to their competitors. The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which was finalized by U.S. EPA in July, will require coal plants in Eastern states to hold allowances for their emissions starting on Jan. 1. Posted. BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/09/15/1 EPA lets greenhouse gas deadline slip, promises new schedule. It's official: U.S. EPA has announced that it will miss a Sept. 30 deadline to propose a greenhouse gas rule for the power sector. "EPA is working on a new schedule to propose greenhouse gases standards for power plants and will be announcing a new schedule soon," the agency said in a statement this morning. "EPA has engaged in an extensive and open public process to gather the latest and best information prior to proposing pollution standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants, one of the largest stationary sources of carbon pollution. We will fully consider all this information to develop smart, cost-effective and protective standards." Posted. BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/09/15/2 GREEN ENERGY Furor Over Loans to Failed Solar Firm. Republican lawmakers, escalating the political furor over the collapse of a solar equipment manufacturer that received a $528 million government loan, released excerpts from Obama administration e-mails on Wednesday suggesting that the White House pressed federal officials to wrap up their review of the loan quickly for political purposes. In the e-mails, officials at the Office of Management and Budget expressed frustration that they were being put under time pressure to sign off on the loan to the company, Solyndra, two years ago so that Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. could announce its approval at a groundbreaking for a factory. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/15/us/politics/in-solyndra-loan-guarantees-white-house-intervention-is-questioned.html?hp White House defends Solyndra loan at hearing. Obama administration officials Wednesday denied Republican charges of White House interference in a $528 million federal loan guarantee to Bay Area solar manufacturer Solyndra, warning that the company's failure should not lead the nation to abandon a potential multitrillion-dollar solar energy market to China. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/15/MNAL1L4G4G.DTL VEHICLES Solo drivers of low-emission autos fume over fees to use carpool lanes. Drivers of electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles enjoy a special perk: They can drive solo in California's carpool lanes. But under a controversial plan proposed by local traffic agencies, those drivers will have to pay to use two heavily used carpool lanes that are being converted to toll roads. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-carpool-20110914,0,5332687.story MISCELLANEOUS Unplugged, the Small Appliance Recycling Program, to Launch in British Columbia. On October 1st, 2011, British Columbians will be able to recycle their used or broken small appliances at over 100 convenient drop-off locations through a new and unique program called Unplugged, the Small Appliance Recycling Program. Unplugged will divert approximately two million small appliances previously destined for the landfill, helping to reduce pollution, save energy, and protect the environment. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/15/3912832/unplugged-the-small-appliance.html#storylink=misearch OPINION Is It Weird Enough Yet? Every time I listen to Gov. Rick Perry of Texas and Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota talk about how climate change is some fraud perpetrated by scientists trying to gin up money for research, I’m always reminded of one of my favorite movie lines that Jack Nicholson delivers to his needy neighbor who knocks on his door in the film “As Good As It Gets.” “Where do they teach you to talk like this?” asks Nicholson. “Sell crazy someplace else. We’re all stocked up here.” Thanks Mr. Perry and Mrs. Bachmann, but we really are all stocked up on crazy right now. I mean, here is the Texas governor rejecting the science of climate change while his own state is on fire. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/opinion/friedman-is-it-weird-enough-yet.html?scp=6&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Harrop: Global warming is here, all right. Bark beetles and egrets don't care whether Governor This or Senator That believes in global warming. They feel it in their whatevers. Responding to warmer temperatures, plant life and wildlife are moving north or uphill to cooler elevations, according to a new study published in Science magazine. For example, higher temperatures in the Rocky Mountains have set off a population explosion of bark beetles now devouring its beautiful pine forests. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/harrop/article_823d93c9-a018-56ec-9cf9-52bdd36475c4.html Editorial: Marin green job training program showing results. SELF-EMPLOYED contractors have been a big part of Marin's economy over the past few decades — creating jobs and spending money at other local businesses. They also have taken a huge hit as the local construction, remodeling and and housing industries have contracted along with overall economy. This is an ideal time for those workers to update their skills and make themselves more marketable. A nearly $400,000 grant through the state is helping them do just that — and building on the success of a two-year-old green jobs program. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_18897322 Lack of credibility fouls the air in ozone debate. It's September in the valley and the air is thick. But it's not ozone stinkin' up the place, it's hypocrisy. I'm sure you all read how, for the first August since we've been tracking air pollution, the valley didn't violate the so-called one-hour standard. And perhaps you also read how air quality advocate groups didn't take the news so well. Nooo. In fact, they came out swinging. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/columnist/henry/x130699409/Lack-of-credibility-fouls-the-air-in-ozone-debate BLOGS Separating Issues from Myths in Obama’s Solyndra Situation. Brad Plumer of the Washington Post has filed a really nice, tight deconstruction of five myths being propagated in the wake of the failure of Solyndra, a solar company that received more than $500 million in fast-tracked loan guarantees from the Department of Energy and became a photo opp for President Obama last year. (A House committee held a hearing on the company and the administration this morning.) Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/14/separating-issues-from-myths/ Japan Plans Floating Windfarm Off Fukushima Coast. Japan’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI) announced it will invest as much as 20 billion yen ($260 million) in a project to build a pilot offshore wind project comprised of six, 2-megawatt (MW) floating wind turbines off the Fukushima coast, according to a Bloomberg News report. A feasibility study running through March 2016 will evaluate the project with an eye towards expanding capacity thereafter. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/japan-plans-floating-windfarm-fukushima-coast/ Range anxiety is clearly not a chronic disorder. GM has made concern about "range anxiety" central to its marketing of the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt. The term may work to instill some doubt in the minds of those cross-shopping the Nissan Leaf, and in fact a study (PDF) by the Technology Strategy Board in the UK found that 100 percent of new electric vehicle owners did have some level of concern about running out of juice before reaching a destination when they first got their cars. However, it turns out range anxiety is not a chronic disorder. Just three months after taking ownership of the EV, 35 percent said they had no more concerns about the range of their electric-only vehicles. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/14/range-anxiety-not-a-chronic-disorder/ BP expanding Brazilian sugarcane ethanol business. BP is expanding its business in Brazil that produces ethanol from sugarcane. The company is increasing its share in Brazilian biofuel company Tropical BioEnergia S.A. to 100%, acquiring the remaining 50% of the company from the joint venture partners for about US$71 million. BP is also taking an additional share of Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer Companhia Nacional de Açúcar e Álcool (CNAA) from LDC Bioenergia S.A. for a price of approximately US$25 million, bringing its holding to 99.97%. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/09/bp-expanding-brazilian-sugarcane-ethanol-business.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:53:07 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 16, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 16, 2011. 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 SD board approves Hyperion oil refinery permit. A state environmental board voted unanimously Thursday to approve a Texas company's request to extend the deadline for starting construction of a $10 billion oil refinery planned for southeastern South Dakota. After hearing closing arguments from lawyers representing Hyperion Resources and groups opposing the project, the Board of Minerals and Environment also approved changes in the permit to reflect updated national air quality standards and new technology. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9PP5OFG1.htm Ruling allows CA agency to issue pollution credits. A Los Angeles judge's decision will allow the region's anti-smog agency to continue granting pollution credits to certain types of projects and to police and fire and other public facilities seeking to expand, according to officials at the South Coast Air Quality Management District. This month, Judge Ann I. Jones approved the agency's environmental review, rejecting arguments by conservation groups that the district did not adequately consider the environmental impacts of issuing pollution credits. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9PP5Q5O0.htm http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/15/2539564/ruling-allows-ca-agency-to-issue.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18902593 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18902593 Lawmakers defiant over federal clean air rule. A threat by one of the state's largest energy companies to shut down generators and layoff hundreds of workers over stricter pollution standards came one day after the EPA issued a letter assuring the company a plan could be worked out to help it comply with the standards. The new rules are designed to significantly reduce smog and soot pollution by requiring 27 states, including Texas, to decrease smokestack emissions, mostly at coal-fired power plants. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44510882 Arvin secures funding to monitor own air. Arvin residents concerned about air quality will be monitoring pollutants themselves, thanks to $130,000 in funding they will receive over two years. The money, which comes from The California Endowment, will be used to purchase air monitoring devices and train residents on how to use them. The goal of the self-collected data is to shed light on the region's pollutants, the locations most affected and their overall prevalence. Historically, Arvin air has been among the worst in the nation. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x616172890/Arvin-secures-funding-to-monitor-own-air CLIMATE CHANGE More Americans believe world is warming. More Americans than last year believe the world is warming and the change is likely influenced by the Republican presidential debates, a Reuters/Ipsos poll said on Thursday. The percentage of Americans who believe the Earth has been warming rose to 83 percent from 75 percent last year in the poll conducted Sept 8-12. U.S. Republican presidential candidates, aside from Jon Huntsman, have mostly blasted the idea that emissions from burning fossil fuels and other human actions are warming the planet. Posted. http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFS1E78E1TF20110915?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0 Economists say sea level rise could be costly. Economists say erosion from rising sea levels and storm damage could cost California hundreds of millions of dollars in lost tourism and tax revenues. The Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/pQSYKP) says the San Francisco State study released Tuesday shows climate change and rising seas this century will diminish state beach appeal to tourists. The California Department of Boating and Waterways-commissioned study examined sea level projections at five beach communities. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/09/14/state/n055510D12.DTL http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18891727 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18891727 Observations of climate change from indigenous Alaskans. Personal interviews with Alaska Natives in the Yukon River Basin provide unique insights on climate change and its impacts, helping develop adaptation strategies for these local communities. The USGS coordinated interviews with Yup'ik hunters and elders in the villages of St. Mary's and Pitka's Point, Alaska, to document their observations of climate change. They expressed concerns ranging from safety, such as unpredictable weather patterns and dangerous ice conditions, to changes in plants and animals as well as decreased availability of firewood. Posted. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-09/usgs-ooc091311.php FUELS Clean fuel will save lives in port areas. The study, released online by Environmental Science & Technology, examined the air around the Margrethe Maersk as it followed California regulations requiring ships to switch to low-sulphur fuels and slow down as they approach the coast. This showed a big reduction in the emissions of several worrying pollutants: “Within regulated waters absolute emission reductions exceed 88% for almost all measured gas and particle phase species,” noted the study, led by chemist Daniel Lack of the NOAA. Posted. http://www.portstrategy.com/news101/news-extra/clean-fuel-will-save-lives-in-port-areas UMTRI study: Driving habits can cut fuel consumption. While driving a fuel-efficient vehicle is the best way to save gas, motorists can still cut fuel consumption nearly in half by driving slower and less aggressively, properly maintaining their vehicles, and avoiding congested roads, according to UMTRI researchers. "Driving a light-duty vehicle in the United States is currently more energy-intensive than using a bus or a train and even flying," said UMTRI research professor Michael Sivak. Posted. http://www.umtri.umich.edu/news.php?id=2896 VEHICLES Chrysler's U.S. green car loan bid could be in jeopardy. Republican leaders in the House of Representatives want to halve the balance of a U.S. government loan fund established to help the auto industry make more fuel efficient cars and trucks. If plans to shift some $1.5 billion from the Energy Department advanced technology fund to disaster assistance are carried out, serious questions would be raised about Chrysler's ability to fully capitalize on its bid for new financing. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110915/OEM05/309159784/1186 GREEN ENERGY Sacramento solar fees too high, Sierra Club says. Sacramento County and most of its cities are charging excessive fees when it comes to permits for solar power projects, according to a new study. The Sierra Club said that solar permitting fees in all but one city, Galt, well exceeded the cost of processing those permits. The city of Sacramento charges the highest fees, about $19,000, followed by Sacramento County, which charges about $15,000 per project, the Sierra Club said. Galt had the lowest fees at $1,500 per project. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/15/3913685/sacramento-solar-fees-too-high.html#mi_rss=Business Solyndra loan: White House pressed on review of solar company now under investigation. The Obama White House tried to rush federal reviewers for a decision on a nearly half-billion-dollar loan to the solar-panel manufacturer Solyndra so Vice President Biden could announce the approval at a September 2009 groundbreaking for the company’s factory, newly obtained e-mails show. The Silicon Valley company, a centerpiece in President Obama’s initiative to develop clean energy technologies, …Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-pushed-500-million-loan-to-solar-company-now-under-investigation/2011/09/13/gIQAr3WbQK_story.html Grant to help develop regional electric car charging stations. The Richmond region has received a federal grant to help develop a network of charging stations for electric vehicles. The $429,051 grant money from the U.S. Department of Energy was given to help the region to "lay educational and policy groundwork for electric vehicle adoption and charging infrastructure installation," the department said. The money was awarded to the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and will go to fund the Richmond Electric Vehicle Initiative. Posted. http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/2011/sep/13/tdbiz01-grant-awarded-to-help-develop-regional-ele-ar-1304530/ OPINIONS Do Individual Acts Help Save the Planet? Re “Going Green but Getting Nowhere,” by Gernot Wagner (Op-Ed, Sept. 8): Bringing your own bag to the supermarket may not do much to reduce carbon emissions, but it’s an easy act that keeps people involved in a movement that desperately needs support. Mr. Wagner writes that the changes necessary to avert climate change are so large that they are “beyond the reach of individual action.” One individual’s actions, like voting, protesting, boycotting or donating a small amount to charity, won’t solve big problems. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/15/opinion/do-individual-acts-help-save-the-planet.html?scp=3&sq=air%20pollution&st=Search Editorial: Uncle Sam play venture capitalist? See Solyndra. In March 2010, the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers issued a standard but stern warning about Solyndra, a California solar panel manufacturer: The company wasn't making money and never had, which raised "substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern." Yet when President Obama visited Solyndra's plant in Fremont two months later, he gave a rousing pep talk and declared that "the future is here." Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/story/2011-09-13/Solyndra-Obama-bankrupt-solar/50393704/1 On climate change, there is no room for partisan politics. When it comes to foreign policy, the saying goes that politics stops at the water's edge. When it comes to climate science, we say that politics should stop at the atmosphere's edge. One of us is a Republican, the other a Democrat. We hold different views on many issues. But as scientists, we share a deep conviction that leaders of both parties must speak to the reality and risks of human-caused climate change and commit themselves to finding bipartisan solutions. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_18902162 BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.insidebayarea.com/opinion/ci_18902162 BLOGS EPA delays its greenhouse-gas rules. Not a big deal — or is it? Earlier today, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced that the agency would miss its agreed-to Sept. 30 deadline for new climate-change rules. Normally, that wouldn’t be headline-worthy. Air-pollution regulations are, after all, big and complicated. The EPA often asks for extensions so that staffers can have more time to thrash out the technical details. It’s not always a big deal. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/epa-delays-its-greenhouse-gas-rules-thats-no-big-deal--or-is-it/2011/09/15/gIQAiuAKVK_blog.html Electric Cars, the Do-It-Yourself Way. Seth Walker, a communications consultant for sustainable enterprises, sent this photo yesterday from Portland, Ore., of a Volkswagen Beetle with an unusual accessory — an extension cord. Seth wrote: This is an all-electric 1974 VW bug retrofit. The car was plugged into a public charging station (about the size of a solar-powered parking meter) on the street near Portland State University. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/16/electric-cars-the-do-it-yourself-way/?scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=Search Al Gore: ‘The message still has to be about the reality we’re facing’. The years since Al Gore released “An Inconvenient Truth” in 2006 have not been kind to climate hawks. Cap-and-trade died in the Senate, skeptics have renewed their attacks on climate science, and the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, Rick Perry, denies that there’s even a problem. So what has the former vice-president decided to do about it? Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/al-gore-the-message-still-has-to-be-about-the-reality-were-facing/2011/09/12/gIQAZjNxMK_blog.html Newest US City to Be Built Just for Testing Green Technologies. Up to 20 square miles of virgin desert in New Mexico will soon be home to the nation’s newest town, only with a twist — no one will live there. Developer Pegasus Global Holdings (a communication, technology and defense contractor) and the state of New Mexico have announced plans to create a “mid-sized” smart city that they are calling The Center for Testing, Evaluation and Innovation. Details are vague, but the concept is clear enough: design a town that mirrors real cities in order to test sustainable infrastructure and technologies to see if they would work in the actual built environment without fear of disrupting real communities. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/newest-us-city-to-be-built-just-for-testing-green-technologies/ American Green Vehicle IP Goes to China. Though we have all become accustomed to China as a major net exporter of goods to global markets in recent years, in the automotive world, China’s burgeoning domestic car market inspires all the major global auto companies to compete vigorously for a piece of the action. The size of the Chinese market is set to grow hugely in the near term, …Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/intellectual-property-transfer-green-vehicle-tech-chinese-companies-price-admission-chinas-domestic-car-market/ Toyota pins comeback hopes on hybrids; predicts they'll be 20% of market by 2020. Toyota has suffered some blows to its image over the last few years with a series of recalls and that whole unintended acceleration thing, and the company has taken matching hits to its bottom line. But nothing was as damaging to the company – in every sense – than the earthquake that struck on March 11. After the quake, Toyota found itself losing massive amounts of cash and sinking in worldwide rankings as damaged factories were unable produce the company's most popular vehicles. American manufacturers GM, Ford, and Chrysler picked up market share on their home turf. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/15/toyota-pins-comeback-hopes-on-hybrids/ Thailand to offer $3,317 credit for purchase of vehicles with up to 1.5-liter engines. Thailand's government is discussing a tax rebate of up to 100,000 baht ($3,317 U.S. at the current exchange rate) for buyers of vehicles with engines that displace 1.5-liters or less. The move could cost the government an estimated 30 billion baht ($99.5 million U.S.), with up to 500,000 buyers possibly snatching up qualified vehicles to take advantage of the rebate. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/16/thailand-credit-purchase-clean-vehicles/ 3,790-mile trip shows how a Chevy Volt can burn more gas than a Prius. With school back in session, it's time for some students to answer the age-old question: "How did you spend your summer vacation?" Nine-year-old Jared Paramonoff's summer tale included a Chevrolet Volt, a 3,790-mile road trip and even a border crossing or two. Immediately after Andreas Paramonoff drove his Volt from Southern California to Western Canada,…Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/16/3-790-mile-trip-confirms-chevy-volt-burns-more-gas-than-electric/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:38:22 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 19, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 19, 2011. 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 EPA chief on verge of quitting after Obama rejected pollution proposal. The ozone almost did her in. Lisa Jackson, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, was on the verge of quitting two weeks ago after President Obama rejected her centerpiece proposal for strict new air-pollution regulations, The Post has learned. Jackson told intimates she had been convinced Obama would back her up despite aggressive lobbying from Capitol Hill Republicans and business interests. Posted. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/epa_air_rage_at_bam_HB4xP0FSqv2aCNQvzqaFCN Bay Area Spare the Air officials urge less driving today, energy conservation. Officials issued a Spare the Air Health Alert for today, suggesting the public drive less and reduce energy usage. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued the alert for the fifth time this year. "Due to the amount of air pollution we generate daily by driving and from other sources, unhealthy levels of smog are expected to accompany high temperatures," Air District Executive Officer Jack Broadbent said. Posted. http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_18927203 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18923960 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18923960?nclick_check=1 5 die at biker fest; carbon monoxide suspected. Clarksville, Tenn. (AP) - Fumes from a generator leaked into a camper, killing three men and two women who were at a biker festival to raise money for needy children, an organizer for the event said. Police were investigating the deaths but said no foul play was suspected. Two of the men worked security into the early morning hours Sunday during the festival's party, which featured motorcycle drag races, live music and bikini and tattoo contests. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/19/5-die-at-biker-fest-carbon-monoxide-suspected/ NOAA finds air pollution plummets by up to 90% when ships switch to low-sulfur fuel. In 2010, a team of researchers led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) mounted instruments on an aircraft and the vessel Atlantis to capture emissions from container ships off California's coast. The team found that as container ships shifted from bottom-of-the-barrel bunker fuel to low-sulfur fuels, air pollution plummeted, with some pollutants dropping by as much as 90 percent. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/18/noaa-finds-air-pollution-plummets-by-up-to-90-when-ships-switch/ Evangelicals press Republicans to drop EPA mercury fight. House opponents of U.S. EPA regulations for mercury and air toxics are getting push-back from an unusual source: pro-life Christian evangelicals, with whom they are often allied politically. The Evangelical Environmental Network has run radio spots last week and this week in three markets, targeting a trio of Energy and Commerce Committee senior Republicans -- Reps. Fred Upton of Michigan, Ed Whitfield of Kentucky and Joe Barton of Texas.The ads focus on the effect of mercury on the health and neurological development of unborn children. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/19/3 CLIMATE CHANGE GOP senator sought money from renewable energy program he now calls 'reckless'. Republican Sen. David Vitter says the Obama administration has been "reckless" as it awards billions of dollar taxpayer subsidies for renewable energy projects, including a $528 million loan to a now-bankrupt California solar panel maker. The Louisiana senator and other Republicans have pounced on the bankruptcy of Fremont, Calif.-based Solyndra Inc., saying the White House rushed to approve a loan guarantee to the politically connected company without adequate oversight. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SOLAR_MANUFACTURER_VITTER?SITE=PAREA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/19/2544161/senator-was-not-always-critical.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18927174 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18927174 Va. court sides with insurer in global warming case. The Virginia Supreme Court ruled in favor of an insurance company Friday in the nation’s first legal test of whether insurers may be liable for claims arising from global warming. The justices unanimously ruled that environmental problems allegedly caused by power-producer AES Corp.’s emission of greenhouse gases were not “occurrences” covered by a commercial liability policy issued by Steadfast Insurance Co. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/16/va-court-sides-insurer-global-warming-case/ Study shows how a global CO2 regime might prod laggard nations to reduce emissions. It's frustrating when someone else gets a free ride off of your hard work, but when it comes to curbing greenhouse gas emissions, researchers may have found a way to make sure everyone pulls his fair weight. Countries that go through all the trouble of scrubbing flue gases, buying carbon offsets and building wind farms may find it difficult to contend with nations that continue to spew greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from power and industrial plants. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/19/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Glut of unsold allowances complicates RGGI reform. New York -- Efforts to reform the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) are complicated by an overabundance of unsold allowances from recent auctions, state regulators were warned at a public meeting under way today. Though the overallocation of allowances under the RGGI program means a lowering of the cap would have to occur for the system to be effective, carbon market experts also noted that the excess allowances still held in state accounts could keep the market moribund to 2018 even if that cap is lowered. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/19/14 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS The Battle in Seattle & Beyond. According to a front page expose in the Seattle Times “truck drivers who serve Seattle’s busy shipping port say they’re losing patience with chronically low pay and poor working conditions.” No truer words have been spoken. Port truck drivers, community activists, environmentalists and faith leaders used the backdrop of the annual American Association of Port Authorities convention in Seattle to bring attention to the dirty and broken port trucking industry plaguing workers and communities in port cities around the country. Posted. http://www.cleanandsafeports.org/2011/09/the-battle-in-seattle-beyond/ FUELS Biodiesel plants back from the brink. Across the nation, biodiesel plants have been restarting or ramping up production, spurred by a revived federal tax credit and renewable energy mandates. For more than three years, the SoyMor Biodiesel plant sat idle — victim of a slump that took down more than a quarter of the plants in the industry. But biodiesel is booming again, and a sign of the revival happened recently in this small southern Minnesota town. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-biodiesel-plants-20110919,0,3249373,print.story VEHICLES Automakers Resolve to Drop a Few Pounds. THE 64th Frankfurt Motor Show offers ample evidence that automakers still cannot agree on what energy source will power the cars of the future — petroleum, hydrogen, electricity or some fuel yet undiscovered. But they all agree on one point: cars are going to have to become lighter. A lot lighter. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/automobiles/autoshow/in-frankfurt-automakers-vow-to-drop-a-few-pounds.html?scp=1&sq=vehicles&st=cse Lawsuits could stall high-speed rail plans. Even if state officials can scrape together the billions of dollars needed to fund California's ambitious high-speed rail plans, lawsuits from local cities and opposition groups still could delay, divert or derail the project altogether. In the Bay Area, cities and nonprofits are suing over issues with the route and environmental studies. In Southern California, the city of Palmdale has gone to court over fears that rail officials will pull a planned Antelope Valley line through the city and reroute the tracks up I-5 instead. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/lawsuits-could-stall-high-speed-rail-plans-12588 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/19/MN4D1L5MQ8.DTL Toyota says rechargeable Prius will be be priced at $32,760. Toyota Motor Corp., the world's biggest seller of gasoline-electric cars, said today the rechargeable version of its Prius hybrid will cost $32,760, including transportation costs, when it goes on sale early next year. The car goes as far as 15 miles solely on electricity, after which it runs as a standard 49 mpg Prius, Bob Carter, Toyota's group vice president for U.S. sales, told reporters here today. Toyota dealers will start selling the car in 14 states on the West and East coasts in March, he said. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110916/RETAIL/309169803/1186&template=printart New California Law Allows EV’s to be Towed for Not Charging. The state of California is known for its firsts, and this is defiantly one for the books. California Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law a bill that allows all fully electric vehicles, as well as plug in hybrid electric vehicles, to be towed if the vehicle parked in a designated electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid charging parking space is not plugged in. EVs are becoming a common sight on the roads in some parts of California. Posted. http://gas2.org/2011/09/15/new-california-law-allows-evs-to-be-towed-for-not-charging/ Price of electric vehicle batteries to fall as manufacturing capacity outstrips demand. The total worldwide manufacturing capacity of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles will greatly exceed supply unless demand by automakers increases significantly in the short-term, according to new research by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. As a result of the overcapacity, battery prices are poised to fall. Automakers have committed to producing up to 839,000 plug-in electric vehicles worldwide by 2013, up from just 124,000 to be delivered by the end of 2011. Posted. http://www.pacetoday.com.au/news/price-of-electric-vehicle-batteries-to-fall-as-man GREEN ENERGY Questions Raised Over Letting Another Lender Help a Failing Solar Company. The political brawl over Solyndra, the solar array manufacturer that received $528 million in government aid and then went bankrupt, shifted focus Friday to a decision by the Energy Department that allowed another lender to step in to help rescue the company. That decision in February gave Solyndra a temporary reprieve and a chance to survive, but it also forced the government to waive its privilege as first creditor in the event of a bankruptcy — which then occurred at the end of August. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/17/us/politics/queries-over-government-letting-another-lender-aid-solyndra.html?ref=earth Chinese Protesters Accuse Solar Panel Plant of Pollution. In a fresh indication of growing public anger over pollution, hundreds of demonstrators in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang on Sunday were camped outside a solar panel manufacturing plant that stands accused of contaminating a nearby river. The demonstration was the latest move in a four-day protest that has sometimes turned violent. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/world/asia/chinese-protesters-accuse-solar-panel-plant-of-pollution.html?ref=earth Senator was not always critical of loan program. Republican Sen. David Vitter says the Obama administration has been "reckless" as it awards billions of dollar taxpayer subsidies for renewable energy projects, including a $528 million loan to a now-bankrupt California solar panel maker. The Louisiana senator and other Republicans have pounced on the bankruptcy of Fremont, Calif.-based Solyndra Inc., saying the White House rushed to approve a loan guarantee to the politically connected company without adequate oversight. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/19/v-print/1866751/senator-was-not-always-critical.html OPINIONS Obama’s green-energy scam. The Issue: The Obama administrations’ financing of the now-bankrupt company Solyndra. ***The bankruptcy filing by Solyndra, an Obama-favored green-energy firm with a half-billion- dollar taxpayer loan guarantee, is one whopping, green “I told you so” (“Let the Sun Shine In,” Editorial, Sept. 15). This is a green eye for the Obama administration, which is making Ozone Al Gore look better every day. The Obama administration rushed this loan guarantee through for political reasons. Posted. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/letters/obama_green_energy_scam_bbCWdmTjzmFvm2U24j6DWL#ixzz1YPv7qYoJ Al Gore and the battle for climate opinion. Al Gore isn't going away. And neither is global warming. With Gore's latest high-profile global warming-awareness event, "24 Hours of Reality", now over, political science still looks like the trickiest discipline in the entire realm of climate science. "Lots of people out there are wondering why floods, droughts and storms are more powerful than in the past," Gore says. "While the political system too rarely is responding." Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/columnist/vergano/story/2011-09-16/al-gore-climate-change/50438464/1 Solyndra crash shows shakiness of market subsidies. Solyndra, the Fremont solar-panel manufacturer that went belly up last week, was the subject of a hearing Wednesday all the way in the nation’s capital. Lawmakers on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Committee on Oversight and Investigations wanted to get to the bottom of how the much-hyped “green” company scored a half-billion-dollar federal loan guarantee two years ago this month. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/2011/09/solyndra-crash-shows-shakiness-market-subsidies Sustainable growth: Forward-thinking state mandate or misguided environmental mantra? For some, sustainable growth means jobs near their homes. It means easier access to trains or buses or bicycle trails. It means filling in cities instead of paving over surrounding farmland. For retired engineer Ed Miller of Lodi, "sustainable" is a buzzword born of a 1992 United Nations document that lays out a worldwide vision threatening the sovereignty of the United States and the American way of life. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110918/A_NEWS/109180320&cid=sitesearch Why utilities really want us to go green. I read an alarming article about medical insurance premiums in New York. Health insurance premiums are double and triple the cost of what they were in 2008. Insurance providers are experiencing more cancellations. Spreading that liability over fewer paying customers is becoming a serious problem. So, those who keep the insurance have to foot more of the bill. Enter the world of energy conservation, which in simple terms means using less or "going green." Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/18/v-print/1866180/why-utilities-really-want-us-to.html BLOGS Seeking better answers to climate change, extreme weather questions. The United States has suffered from a record number of billion dollar natural disasters this year, from the Mississippi and Missouri River flooding to Hurricane Irene and the Texas drought. With each of these events, many have wondered - did climate change have anything to do with this? Reporters and members of the public wanted to know: has climate change vaulted us into a new normal, as some climate scientists have warned for years, in which these kinds of devastating events will occur more frequently, and be more severe? Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/seeking-better-answers-to-climate-change-extreme-weather-questions/2011/09/18/gIQA7ViTfK_blog.html Cosmic Breitbart Climate Blunder. Earlier this month, I noticed a glaring error in an astonishingly distorted Sept. 6 piece on climate, clouds and cosmic rays on Andrew Breitbart’s Big Government blog. There’s been plenty of overheated gushing on this subject by climate naysayers in recent weeks, triggered by an important, but heavily over-interpreted, experiment. But this piece stands out. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/cosmic-breitbart-climate-blunder/?pagemode=print EPA Chief: Cap & Trade a Distant Hope. Remember those national carbon trading bills that were moving through Congress as Barack Obama was setting up shop in the Oval Office? The head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency says: Don’t hold your breath. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s appearance on KQED’s Forum Wednesday seemed to confirm that her boss is picking his battles carefully. “What America’s talking about right now is jobs,” Jackson told host Michael Krasny. “Green jobs are what we have to be working on with everything we do.” Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2011/09/15/epa-chief-cap-trade-a-distant-hope/ Subway Train Wheels: The Next Power Source? Think of how much energy it takes to stop a moving subway train as it screeches into each and every station along its route. Right now, that energy is mostly dissipated as heat and noise. Imagine being able to capture some of that energy so that it can be used again. That’s exactly what that Vycon, a California company, proposes to do with it in its Regen (short for regeneration) energy storage system. They call it “energy recycling.” Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/subway-trains-next-power-source/ Green Drive Expo: CalCars' Felix Kramer ready to go beyond cars. In modern history, it is all too rare that a progressive activist is able to achieve his or her goals (just read A People's History if you doubt this). Felix Kramer – a name that should be familiar to many regular AutoblogGreen readers – is at that stage, though, and he took a moment to celebrate the arrival of actual, OEM production plug-in vehicles at the beginning of his speech at the Green Drive Expo in Richmond, CA this past weekend. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/19/green-drive-expo-calcars-felix-kramer-ready-to-go-beyond-cars/ Proposal Can Break Deadlock on Shipping Emissions. A report published yesterday by Oxfam and WWF shows how a proposed deal to apply a carbon price to international shipping can tackle the huge and growing greenhouse gas emissions from ships, and raise billions of dollars to help developing countries tackle climate change, without unfairly hitting developing countries. The deal offers a solution to the deadlock on shipping emissions that has lasted more than a decade. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/proposal-can-break-deadlock-shipping-emissions/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:48:44 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 20, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 20, 2011. 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 China solar company pledges toxic waste cleanup for factory targeted in pollution protests. A solar panel maker targeted by violent protests over pollution from one of its factories in eastern China has apologized and says it will do what’s necessary to clean it up. Jinko Solar Holding Co., parent company of the factory in Haining city west of Shanghai, said in a statement Monday that initial tests showed pollutants may have spilled into a nearby river due to “improper storage of waste.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/china-solar-company-pledges-toxic-waste-cleanup-for-factory-targeted-in-pollution-protests/2011/09/19/gIQAmS4xgK_story.html New air alert issued in San Joaquin Valley. Fresno, Calif. (AP) --The San Joaquin Valley is under a new air alert as high temperatures, a high-pressure system and stagnant wind combine to trap smog. Air pollution officials are asking residents to limit driving and not idle cars while waiting for students after school or at drive-thru windows. It's the third air alert of the year issued by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution District. The district is under a three-year federal fine for violating ozone standards set by the Clean Air Act. So far this year, no violations have occurred. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/09/20/state/n110256D23.DTL#ixzz1YWGOMAmi http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/20/2nd-day-of-smog-warnings-in-san-francisco/ http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/20/1868376/2nd-day-of-smog-warnings-in-san.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18935530 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18935530 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110920/WIRE/110929993 http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=19384 http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20110920/NEWS01/110920004 http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_650d53d4-e386-11e0-8b16-001cc4c03286.html 2 schools to test ways to get city drivers around traffic jams. The University of California, Los Angeles, and Rutgers University will study ways to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution in Los Angeles and New York. The two schools, which won a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation, will develop technology to monitor traffic and air quality and offer drivers alternate ways around traffic tie-ups. Those routes would be sent through on-board navigation devices. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/20/23 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY EPA grants air permit to Shell for Arctic drilling. Shell Oil Co. on Monday took a step closer to tapping vast petroleum reserves off Alaska's Arctic coasts when the federal Environmental Protection Agency approved an air quality permit for one of the company's drilling vessels. The EPA approved the air permit for the drilling vessel Noble Discover, which Shell hopes to use for exploratory wells in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska's northwest coast, and its support fleet of oil spill response and supply vessels. Shell Alaska spokesman Curtis Smith said the permit was a hopeful step. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18930887 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18930887 CLIMATE CHANGE Clinton raps GOP climate change stands. POLITICO's MJ Lee reports that Bill Clinton, midway through the second day of the Clinton Global Initiative, took a shot at the GOP contenders over climate change: “If you’re an American, the best thing you can do is to make it politically unacceptable for people to engage in denial” about climate change, the former president said on the first day of the Clinton Global Initiative’s seventh annual meeting in New York City. “I mean, it makes us – we look like a joke, right? Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/63944.html Ex-President Clinton: Green movement needs money. Former President Bill Clinton's annual philanthropic conference will get under way in New York City with a discussion about climate change. The Clinton Global Initiative is set to begin Tuesday morning with an opening session focused on addressing global climate challenges in coming years. The session will be co-hosted by Mexican President Felipe Calderon and South African President Jacob Zuma. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/20/bill-clintons-annual-meeting-to-begin-in-nyc/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_8f169c81-6b01-560e-8f1a-c8aa12d99d84.html The Carbon Tax, Then and Now. In the debate over climate legislation in 2009 and 2010, it was conventional wisdom that a price on carbon was the sine qua non of effective climate policy. All Very Serious People knew that you could not reduce carbon emissions or drive clean energy innovation without a price on carbon, either through a carbon tax or a cap and trade system. Indeed, leading venture capitalist John Doerr used to travel around the country hammering home the three top things that the government needed to do to catalyze a clean energy revolution. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/energysource/2011/09/20/the-carbon-tax-then-and-now/ Green groups ask Obama for greenhouse gas timeline. Environmentalists stepped up the pressure on the Obama administration today to set a firm, near-term deadline to finalize greenhouse gas rules for electric utilities. Nineteen CEOs of major environmental groups told President Obama in a letter that they were "deeply concerned" by U.S. EPA's announcement last week that it would miss a Sept. 30 deadline to propose new source performance standards (NSPS) for carbon dioxide emissions from utilities. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/20/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Climate Group launches campaign for a low carbon economy. New York -- The Climate Group called for accelerated action to reduce impacts of climate change yesterday, urging the creation of a coalition of 200 of the world's business, government and thought leaders to build the foundation for a low-carbon economy. A panel of distinguished guests, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Quebec Premier Jean Charest, expressed their support for clean and sustainable development at the opening ceremony of Climate Week NYC 2011. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/20/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY U.N. climate chief bullish amid growing doubts about Durban talks. United Nations -- The head of the U.N. system's climate change offices continues to express confidence that the Durban, South Africa, international climate negotiations are headed toward success, despite reports of worsening rifts between developed and developing nations. With 11 weeks to go before the next major round of talks, observers fear that negotiations over annual financing for poor nations to respond to climate change could be stalling again. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/20/8 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Solar company projects cost parity with fossil fuels. Thin-film solar cell manufacturer First Solar Inc., the world's largest, expects its new designs to cost less than their Chinese counterparts and will compete directly with fossil fuels without government subsidies. David Eaglesham, First Solar's chief technology officer said that his company has produced a solar cell that converts 17.3 percent of sunlight into power, an improvement on the company's 11.7 percent average. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/20/9 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES GM OK's electric vehicle cooperation with China. Shanghai -- General Motors Co. agreed Tuesday to deepen cooperation with its flagship Chinese partner on development of electric vehicle knowhow amid pressure from Beijing to hand over proprietary technology. GM would not say how much it's investing in the venture with Chinese state-owned partner Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corp., and gave few details of the deal. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/19/1868143/gm-board-in-china-set-to-deepen.html#ixzz1YW6Yrge3 Chinese government to provide major support for EVs, but challenges remain. The government of China is expected to adopt a plan later this year that foresees around a million plug-in vehicles and more than 2,300 charging stations by 2015. Recently the government representatives have announced that further incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles will be adopted. Chinese government to provide major support for EVs, but challenges remain. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/65820110920.php?AlertDate=2011-09-19 GREEN ENERGY Senators didn't always slam energy loan program. Louisiana Sen. David Vitter and other Republicans have criticized the Obama administration for awarding billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies for renewable energy projects, including a $528 million loan to a now-bankrupt California solar panel maker. But the GOP lawmakers haven't always been so critical of the program. Documents obtained by The Associated Press show the Louisiana Republican wrote to the Energy Department at least seven times since 2009 seeking money for projects that would benefit his home state. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SOLAR_MANUFACTURER_VITTER?SITE=NEYOR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/19/2544161/senator-was-not-always-critical.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18935308 China Shuts Solar Panel Factory After Antipollution Protests. The Chinese authorities have suspended production at a solar panel factory after protests by residents who blame the plant for fouling the air and water, a government Web site said Monday. Since Thursday, the Zhejiang JinkoSolar Company factory has drawn hundreds of protesters, some of whom overturned vehicles and ransacked offices inside the plant in the city of Haining, in Zhejiang Province. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/world/asia/china-shuts-solar-panel-factory-after-anti-pollution-protests.html?scp=10&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-china-solar-20110920,0,2015603.story Lessons on Solyndra and clean energy development. The collapse of Solyndra, putting 1,100 people out of work and the Fremont company into bankruptcy, is filled with cautionary tales. It shows what can happen when politics accelerates a decision to invest $535 million of taxpayer money in a fledgling enterprise. Worse yet, it shows the perils of an administration attaching its reputation to the fate of one company - and ignoring warnings that it may have placed a bad bet. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/19/EDA11L5KPG.DTL&type=printable GOP rep: Appoint special counsel in Solyndra loan. Washington -- The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee on Monday called for an independent investigator to look into a $528 million loan approved by the Obama administration for a now-bankrupt solar energy company. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said an outside lawyer is needed to determine "whether politics played a role" in the Energy Department loan for California-based Solyndra Inc., which declared bankruptcy this month and laid off its 1,100 workers. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/19/1867655/gop-rep-appoint-special-counsel.html#ixzz1YW7TySQX The small-town energy revolution. Until recently, the idea of powering a local economy with 100 percent renewable energy seemed unrealistic. That has changed: there's a small town energy revolution underway. Take Juehnde, a village in the German state of Lower Saxony: it reached total self-supply by 2006 with biogas and wood chip heating. It now attracts visitors from around the world (e.g. from Thailand). Posted. http://www.grist.org/energy-policy/2011-09-19-the-small-town-energy-revolution Ohio governor prepares energy and environment plans for his newly gas-rich state. The nation's fourth-largest carbon dioxide-emitting state is about to get a new energy policy that its governor says could be a model for the entire country. This week, industry representatives, state officials, academics and environmentalists are gathering in Ohio to craft a new energy plan for the state that will culminate in a major energy proposal from Gov. John Kasich (R) by next spring. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/20/1 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Leasing now an attractive option for home solar installation. Leasing has emerged as an effective option for homeowners who would like to use solar panels but are wary of the upfront costs. "We debated owning or leasing," Myphuong Le, a Denver resident. "But when you consider that service and replacement are part of the lease, it looked like a better deal." More than half of Colorado's 5,861 kilowatts of solar panels installed in the first half of this year were leased, according to the Colorado Solar Industries Association. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/20/10 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Led by Demand in China, Energy Use Is Projected to Rise 53% by 2035. Global energy demand will increase 53 percent from 2008 through 2035, with China and India accounting for half of the growth, the United States Department of Energy said on Monday. China and India will consume 31 percent of the world’s energy by 2035, up from 21 percent in 2008, the department’s International Energy Outlook projected. In 2035, Chinese energy demand will exceed that of the United States by 68 percent, it said. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/business/energy-environment/energy-demand-is-expected-to-rise-53-by-2035.html?scp=5&sq=fuels&st=cse OPINIONS Keep tabs on solar energy subsidies. Whatever the reality, the optics are bad and getting worse: The Obama administration loaned $535 million to a Fremont solar start-up that received venture capital funding from one of Obama's major campaign donors, only to have the company plunge into bankruptcy. House Republicans are investigating, and Democrats are demanding answers to their questions. Making the picture worse still, the FBI has served search warrants and picked through the building that housed Solyndra and the homes of executives. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/19/1867814/keep-tabs-on-solar-energy-subsidies.html#ixzz1YW741IsC BLOGS Solar Installations Rise, but Manufacturing Declines. Installations of solar panels are still expanding in the United States, but manufacturing is down, and a great deal of factory capacity is idle, according to a report on the solar energy market for the second quarter of this year. The number of solar cells put on the roofs of houses has retreated, yet nonresidential rooftop installation is thriving, according to the report, produced by the Solar Energy Industries Association and a consulting firm, GTM Research. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/solar-installations-rise-but-manufacturing-declines/?ref=earth For Obama, Peer Pressure from Nobel Laureates. With his approval rating among American voters at an all-time low, President Obama could use a little support from his peers. But this month nine fellow recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and the Dalai Lama, sent the president a letter urging him to veto the construction of a huge pipeline that would bring bring crude oil to the United States from Canada. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/for-obama-peer-pressure-from-nobel-laureates/ EPA grants air permit for Shell oil drilling in Arctic. If you're looking for a smog-free venue, one of the last places left might be the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, the remote stretch of frigid water between Russia and Canada at the top of the planet. To help open the door to offshore oil and gas exploration in the Arctic, though, the Environmental Protection Agency on Monday issued a final air quality permit that will allow Shell Oil's Noble Discoverer drill ship and the rest of Shell's drilling fleet to emit more than 250 tons of pollutants a year into the Arctic air while looking for oil. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/09/arctic-oil-shell-epa-air-permit-chukchi.html $43-million settlement approved for asbestos victims in Libby, Mont. For decades, the residents of Libby, Montana have lived a double life. On the outside, the town of 3,000 people along the Kootenai River is a picture postcard of why western Montana is one of the most gorgeous places in the country. Unseen, though, is how asbestos pollution from a former W.R. Grace & Co. mine has sickened more than 1,300 residents with a deadly lung disease, killing many of them and turning Libby into the deadliest Superfund site in the nation's history. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/09/libby-montana-asbestos-settlement.html Schwarzenegger urges regional action on climate change. Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, speaking about climate change at a United Nations forum in New York this morning, said he will "keep pushing regional governments around the world to come off the sidelines" to enact green energy programs such as California did during his tenure. "We don't have to wait anymore for the national capitols to make it happen," Schwarzenegger said. " Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/09/schwarzenegger-urges-regional.html 2011 Carbon Disclosure Project S&P 500 findings: Majority of US companies taking climate change action, despite absence of mandatory rules. The 2011 S&P 500 report from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) has found that while national and global policy remains uncertain, most large US companies recognize the opportunity to gain strategic advantage from acting to address climate change. Posted. https://www.cdproject.net/en-US/WhatWeDo/CDPNewsArticlePages/CDP-SP500-findings-Majority-of-US-companies-taking-climate-change-action-despite-absence-of-mandatory-rules.aspx The Case for a Carbon Tax. The case for putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions from human activity is not arguable. It’s undeniable. But what is arguable is the best way of achieving it in the working of a modern economy. Shi-Ling Hsu, a law professor at the University of British Columbia, argues for a currently less popular way in his newly published book The Case for a Carbon Tax. “There is no policy instrument that is more transparent and administratively simple than a carbon tax.” Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/case-carbon-tax/ China to GM: Give us Chevy Volt secrets or it'll cost $19,000 more. Like many countries, China provides subsidies to support the use of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Considering the heavy levels of pollution often found in China's rapidly growing cities, this seems both admirable and understandable. It can also be significant, with subsidies going as high as $19,300. As General Motors seeks to introduce the Chevrolet Volt to the Chinese market, it's counting on these subsidies to help make the car attractive to potential buyers. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/20/china-to-gm-give-us-chevy-volt-secrets-or-itll-cost-19-000-mo/ EIA projects world energy use to increase 53% by 2035; oil sands/bitumen and biofuels account for 70% of the increase in unconventional liquid fuels. Worldwide energy consumption will grow by 53% between 2008 and 2035 with much of the increase driven by strong economic growth in the developing nations, especially China and India, according to the reference case in the newly released International Energy Outlook 2011 (IEO2011) from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/09/eia-20110920.html This Thursday is World Car-Free Day. World Car-Free Day – a day when people organize their own events to explore alternative transportation – is coming up this Thursday, September 22nd. The event is loosely run by the World Carfree Network (WCN), but individual events are being planned by people all over the world and submitted via wiki to the WCN website. Participating events include everything from group cycling to work to people standing in the streets to protest the lack of non-car transportation options in their cities. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/this-thursday-is-world-car-free-day/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:40:19 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 21, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 21, 2011. 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 Today expected to be a 'Spare the Air' day in region. Dirty, hot air is predicted to be the order of the day as summer goes out with a sizzle. Autumn arrives Friday but not before the work week finishes with temperatures around 100 every day in Sacramento. The high on Tuesday was 99 degrees. A strong Pacific Ocean high pressure system is causing the hot spell that has gripped the Central Valley this week. Along with the expected temperature today of near 100 degrees is a prediction that the Sacramento region will reach an unhealthy level of atmospheric pollutants, making it the fourth "Spare the Air" day this summer. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/21/3926169/today-expected-to-be-a-spare-the.html#ixzz1YbarMcV7 http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/21/1869665/today-expected-to-be-a-spare-the.html Latinos at risk without new pollution standards. Washington -- Latinos would have a higher risk of disease and death without tougher standards that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed for ozone and toxic emissions, environmental and Latino groups said Tuesday. Latinos would also be affected more than other groups because they're more likely to live in polluted areas, according to a report prepared by the groups. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/20/MN9K1L77J2.DTL#ixzz1YbU1aIJR http://www.ocregister.com/news/report-318014-ozone-latinos.html 3rd day of smog warnings in San Francisco. San Francisco—A third day in San Francisco's smog siege has authorities urging residents to limit driving and ride bicycles. The San Francisco Chronicle (http://bit.ly/oyZr9F) says air pollution is expected to approach unhealthy levels Wednesday. Elevated ozone levels have plagued the East Bay region since Monday. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District's third Spare the Air Day declaration urges residents to take bikes, public transit or carpools instead of driving solo, to cook indoors rather than barbecue and to avoid using gas-powered gardening equipment. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CA_SAN_FRANCISCO_SMOG_CAOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Other AP Stories http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/21/BAON1L6KV2.DTL http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18943634 http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18937575 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/21/3rd-day-of-smog-warnings-in-san-francisco/ http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18943634?IADID=Search- www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110921/ARTICLES/110929923 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110921/ARTICLES/110929923?Title=Spare-the-Air-Day-today- http://clayton.patch.com/articles/lots-of-smog-extreme-heat-third-spare-the-air-day-this-week CLIMATE CHANGE Study for G20 on raising climate change funding suggests carbon price, targets fuel subsidies. Amsterdam — Global financial institutions are recommending raising money to fight climate change by trimming subsidies for fossil fuels, putting a price tag of $25 per ton on carbon emissions and collecting a surcharge on aviation and shipping fuels. The recommendations are part of a draft paper by the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international groups prepared for a meeting Friday in Washington of G20 finance and development ministers. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/study-for-g20-on-raising-climate-change-funding-suggests-carbon-price-targets-fuel-subsidies/2011/09/21/gIQA5BTPkK_story.html Emerging-market CO2 trade unlikely until at least 2020: researchers. International climate policy should continue to support the Kyoto Protocol's project-based carbon emissions reduction mechanism in developing countries because carbon trade might not materialize in emerging markets in the current decade, Germany's Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy said in a government-sponsored policy paper published Tuesday. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/8365382 Carbon Retirement – the future of offsetting? Carbon trading has not had the greatest press of late, considering the cyber crime hitting the European spot markets earlier this year, ongoing concerns over the efficacy of industrial gas offsets, and the wave of protest sparked by Australia's proposed cap-and-trade scheme. Critics have also branded carbon offsets simply a mandate for polluters to continue polluting and questioned whether the stated benefits from some projects, most notably forestry and HFC gas schemes, are quite as significant as they seem. Posted. http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/interview/2110454/carbon-retirement-future-offsetting AB 32’s Carbon Market Rounding Into Shape. Seems like only yesterday that those following AB 32 were anticipating the release of the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB’s) initial view of the AB 32 Cap and Trade program. That initial version, known as the Preliminary Draft Regulation (PDR), was made public in the fall of 2009. It was a document that laid out in broad strokes the basic structure of the program, but it left many policy calls for future versions. We are now only about a month away from the CARB Board taking final action to approve the fully detailed program. What a strange trip it’s been. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/09/19/ab-32%E2%80%99s-carbon-market-rounding-into-shape/ Germany to fund new coal plants with climate change cash. The German government wants to encourage the construction of new coal and gas power plants with millions of euros from a fund for promoting clean energy and combating climate change. The plan has come under stiff criticism, but the Ministry of Economics and Technology defended the idea. A spokeswoman said it was necessary as the government switches from nuclear to other renewable energy sources and added that the money would promote the most efficient plants possible. Posted. http://www.thelocal.de/national/20110713-36277.html GREEN ENERGY Solyndra Executives to Invoke Fifth Amendment Rights. The top two executives of a solar-energy company that filed for bankruptcy after getting $528 million in loan guarantees from the Obama administration said Tuesday that they will invoke their constitutional rights against compelled self-incrimination when they appear at a Congressional hearing. The chief executive of Solyndra, Brian Harrison, and Bill Stover, the chief financial officer, hired lawyers in preparation for the hearing this week before the House Energy and Commerce committee and got advice not to say anything, according to a representative of the lawyers. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/science/earth/21solar.html?ref=earth http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/20/1869141/solyndra-execs-to-plead-5th-at.html State utility plant wins top rating. The state's central utility plant downtown has become the third state-owned facility to receive the highest rating for environmental sustainability. The U.S. Green Building Council awarded its LEED platinum designation to the building, which provides chilled water and steam to cool and heat 23 state-owned buildings in the Capitol area. "This central plant is one of the most efficient of its kind in the nation," said Fred Klass, director of the state Department of General Services. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/21/3925694/state-utility-plant-wins-top-rating.html Clean-tech 'accelerator' Greenstart opens in S.F. Greenstart, an "accelerator" to boost fledgling clean-technology companies, opened its reclaimed-wood doors in downtown San Francisco on Tuesday, the first such enterprise in a city that hopes to become a hub for clean tech. "I love this term accelerator because we don't have time to waste; we need this innovation right now to reduce carbon emissions," said Mayor Ed Lee at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/20/BULQ1L6NT6.DTL#ixzz1YbUsuZOT Clean-energy fund invests in commercial retrofits. Not waiting for the feds to get their act together on the matter, a Santa Rosa clean-energy fund is investing an initial $650 million in a program to finance retrofits, solar installations and other efficiency upgrades in older commercial buildings nationwide. Beginning with Sacramento and Miami-Dade County, Ygrene Energy Fund ( www.ygrene-energy.com) is putting up the capital and administering the projects as part of its lead role in a private partnership that also involves Lockheed Martin, Barclays Capital and the global reinsurer Hannover Re. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/20/BUBH1L70O8.DTL#ixzz1YbVF5WnV The military’s historic embrace of smart energy. The U.S. military's embrace of energy efficiency and renewable energy is going to be one of the great stories of the coming decade. It will be a story about technology, the changing face of warfare, geopolitics in the 21st century, and the struggle to change one of the world's largest bureaucracies. But it will also be a great political story. Posted. http://www.grist.org/renewable-energy/2011-09-21-the-militarys-historic-embrace-of-smart-energy MISCELLANEOUS Federal hearings convened in Sacramento bemoan forest rules. A congressional hearing in Sacramento on Monday provided a stage for complaints about the U.S. Forest Service, as off-roading groups, ranchers and others bemoaned access limits and steeper fees. Held at the state Capitol, the hearing by the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands featured just two of its 13 Republican members, including Rep. Tom McClintock of Elk Grove. None of its 10 Democratic members attended. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/20/3923131/federal-hearings-convened-in-sacramento.html#ixzz1YbbY8ryd OPINIONS How to Weaken the Power of Foreign Oil. OUR country has just gone through a sober national retrospective on the 9/11 attacks. Apart from the heartfelt honoring of those lost — on that day and since — what seemed most striking is our seeming passivity and indifference toward the well from which our enemies draw their political strength and financial power: the strategic importance of oil, which provides the wherewithal for a generational war against us, as we mutter diplomatic niceties. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/opinion/how-to-weaken-the-power-of-foreign-oil.html?scp=6&sq=fuels&st=cse Head to Head: After Solyndra, should Congress end – or change – loan guarantees? THE ISSUE: The bankruptcy filing of Fremont-based Solyndra in August has cast harsh new light on the U.S. Department of Energy's loan guarantee program. The solar panel maker received $534 million in loan guarantees. Now Congress is investigating whether the company received special favors from the Obama administration. After Solyndra, should Congress end – or change – loan guarantees? Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/21/3925834/after-solyndra-should-congress.html Letters: 'The great global warming swindle'. Santa Ana, Linda Dean: We're way behind Western Europe, Canada and Latin America in our enlightenment regarding global warming according to Register reporter Martin Wisckol [“Perry’s skepticism of evolution, global warming shared by many,” Sept. 15]. He might have done better to quote some of the many scientists who disagree with the current, popular view rather than deriding us for not following the crowds. I simply googled “Scientists” view of global warming' for the following.... Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/global-318042-warming-latin.html Selling a Bridge to Nowhere: NREL Lithium/Carbon Metric. Back in 2003, for those who know the history of the second coming of electric cars, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was convinced to rewrite the definition of zero emission vehicles to include hybrids. About the same time, Chevron was suing everyone to keep the nickel-metal-hydride battery out of electric vehicles. However, they became the standard for hybrids. The movie “Who Killed the Electric Car” may have been inconclusive but attention did shift to hybrids, which continue to use gasoline, as the EV was crushed. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2011/09/20/selling-a-bridge-to-nowhere-nrel-lithiumcarbon-metric/ BLOGS Weaving ‘Climate’ Into ‘Corporate’. A new report finds more evidence that climate change is gradually moving to the center of corporate strategy. Virtually every big company in the world now pays at least lip service to sustainability, and many of them are starting to take real action to reduce their environmental footprint. The new report from the Carbon Disclosure Project finds that for the first time, a majority of companies in the United States responding to the group’s survey “now integrate climate change into core business strategy.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/weaving-climate-into-corporate/ Banished from the H.O.V. Lane, Prius Drivers May Be First to Embrace New Plug-In Model. Toyota announced last week that its plug-in Prius, with 15 miles of all-electric range, will cost $32,780 when it goes on sale early next year, $8,500 more than the entry-level Prius Two, which costs $24,280. While it’s worth noting that the plug-in car is eligible for a $2,500 federal income tax credit, paying thousands of dollars extra may be a burden happily shouldered by current Prius owners who lost their privileges in California’s high-occupancy-vehicle lanes in July, when the state rescinded their eligibility for single-occupancy driving in the lanes. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/banished-from-the-h-o-v-lane-prius-drivers-may-be-first-to-embrace-new-plug-in-model/?scp=4&sq=vehicles&st=cse Poll Finds Support Among Small Businesses for Tougher Fuel Economy Standards. Findings from a new poll contradict the prevailing wisdom that small-business owners are focused on the twin burdens of regulation and high taxes. Owners are instead more concerned about economic uncertainty and higher costs, including expensive fuel. According to the online poll of 1,257 small-business owners, commissioned by the Small Business Majority, …Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/poll-finds-support-among-small-businesses-for-tougher-fuel-economy-standards/?scp=6&sq=vehicles&st=cse Ex-Automotive Executives Select Start-Ups for Green Incubator. Greenstart, a San Francisco green technology start-up accelerator created by three entrepreneurs with backgrounds in automotive advertising, pulled the sheets off its first round of investments on Tuesday afternoon. The four start-ups in the freshman class will each receive $25,000 to $100,000 in direct investment, as well as mentoring, work space and networking opportunities through the three-month accelerator program. Every one of them, the Greenstart founders hope, will generate revenue within a year, a short time frame by virtually any small-business standard, let alone capital-intensive energy ventures. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/ex-automotive-executives-select-start-ups-for-green-incubator/?scp=7&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse Of Beach Sand, ‘War’ and Carbon. Three years ago, my colleague Andrew Ross Sorkin caught the British entrepreneur Richard Branson on his private island in the Caribbean in a pensive moment. With a little help from his friends, he was thinking hard about the problem of global warming, and whether he might be able to help. Fast-forward to now, and we know Mr. Branson’s answer to his own question. A year after that chin-stroking session on Necker Island, he founded an outfit called the Carbon War Room in Washington that is working on solutions. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/of-beach-sand-war-and-carbon/?ref=earth This Machine Can Suck Carbon Out Of The Air. David Keith is a bit fidgety. Maybe that's because venture capitalists have asked to come see his carbon dioxide machine. Maybe it's because the project is running months behind schedule, as experiments so often do. Maybe it's because his critics say it'll never work. Or maybe it's a taste of excitement, because it seems entirely possible that the trailer-truck-size machine that he's leaning up against is actually going to work. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/09/19/140513014/this-machine-can-suck-carbon-out-of-the-air Is The Future of Solar Technology Looking Bright? Experts Discuss. These are tough times for the solar industry. Companies such as Evergreen solar and SpectraWatt have filed for bankruptcy, while most famously, Solyndra, a recipient of tax dollars under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, closed up shop this month. On top of this, an excess supply of photovoltaic (PV) panels, especially from China, is causing price suppression; cutting the margins for those manufacturers still in business. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/future-solar-technology-looking-bright-experts-discuss/ The (Real) Lessons from Solyndra. The White House is worried that the story of Solyndra, the solar power company that filed for bankruptcy protection after receiving $535 million in loan guarantees, will follow Obama through the 2012 election season. I’ve got a feeling it will stay with us even longer than that. Thomas Friedman once wrote that when historians will look back at the end of the first decade of the 21st century, they will say that the most important thing to happen was China’s green leap forward. My hunch is that the Solyndra episode will be one of the examples they will use to make their case. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/solyndra-real-lessons/ The Cleantech Competitive Advantage -one of Six Changes Driving Business Change. The cleantech-enabled transformation to a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy may be the next industrial revolution. Ernst & Young's work on Six Global Trends Shaping the Business World list those six trends as: emerging markets increase their global power, cleantech becomes a competitive advantage, global banking seeks recovery through transformation, governments enhance ties with the private sector, rapid technology innovation creates a smart mobile world, and demographic shifts transform the global workforce. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/cleantech-competitive-advantage-one-six-changes-dr/ Tesla Motors opens service center in Hong Kong. As last week came to a close, Tesla Motors celebrated the grand opening of its first vehicle service center in Hong Kong. Though the service center was set up to serve some sort of purpose, Tesla claims the Roadster: Requires less routine maintenance than conventional cars, does not need regular oil changes or exhaust system work. Roadsters have no spark plugs, pistons, hoses, belts or clutches to replace. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/21/tesla-motors-opens-service-center-in-hong-kong/ Gasoline vehicles soon to be overtaken by CNG, diesel in India. At a time when gasoline prices frequently fluctuate, cheap compressed natural gas (CNG) and diesel have started to climb the fuel-of-choice charts over in India. According to The Times of India, CNG is so hot that it will soon overtake gasoline as the fuel that powers the majority of vehicles in India. Of course, CNG's rise to the top is not related to saving the environment but to the fact that it's far cheaper than gasoline. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/21/gasoline-vehicles-soon-to-be-overtaken-by-cng-diesel-in-india/ Even without H2 cars, Honda opens UK's first public-access hydrogen station. UK drivers wishing to skip battery electric vehicles while maintaining "zero-emissions" motoring now have a new alternative since Honda has opened the UK's first public-access hydrogen refueling station. Ironically, no automakers offer a fuel cell vehicle in the UK, not even Honda. At the moment, Honda has "no plans" to sell the FCX Clarity in the UK, so we'd argue the hydrogen fueling station is pointless, but Honda says it's not. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/21/honda-uk-first-public-access-hydrogen-refueling-station/ Failure is not an option for global climate change talks. Ahead of the Durban climate change summit, world leaders are demanding quicker action to avert catastrophe. The B4E Climate Summit, which took place in London last week, closed with a determined statement of intent – and a warning. Ambassador NJ Mxakato-Diseko, the South African ambassador at large to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC) talks in Durban later this year, will announce at Durban that failure is not an option. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/blog/global-climate-change-talks-business-b4e-wwf?newsfeed=true UK consortium to develop new drivetrain technology for hybrid & electric vehicles to reduce dependency on rare earth metals. UK-based motor control specialist Sevcon Ltd (earlier post) is leading a collaborative project that includes Cummins Generator Technologies and Newcastle University’s Power Electronics and Drives Research Group to develop a new type of electric traction drive for use in hybrid and pure electric vehicles that will use steel to replace the rare earth magnets used in motors. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/09/sevcon-20110921-1.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:17:35 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 22, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 22, 2011. 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 EPA’s Jackson Says She Respects Obama’s Decision on Ozone. Lisa Jackson, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said she respects President Barack Obama’s decision to quash proposed new smog limits and said the agency will enforce a 2008 rule. States will be notified within days that they must comply with an ozone standard of 75 parts per billion, set under President George W. Bush’s administration, that had been on hold while the EPA moved to tighten it, she said today. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-22/epa-s-jackson-says-she-respects-obama-s-decision-on-ozone-1-.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903791504576586752657473350.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Boxer opposes House GOP move to stall EPA rules. Washington -- California Sen. Barbara Boxer declared war Wednesday on an effort by House Republicans to roll back environmental regulations, warning that blocking the plan in the Democratic-controlled Senate is no sure thing. The House is set to vote Friday on legislation that would delay an Environmental Protection Agency rule to require 27 states that rely heavily on coal-fired electricity generation to reduce power-plant emissions that drift into other states, and another rule that would limit mercury and other pollution from coal-fired plants. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/22/MNJV1L7JM4.DTL Sacramento temperatures soar, but air quality not yet 'unhealthy' It definitely is hot in the Sacramento region today, as temperatures have soared to triple digits, but air quality has not yet reached the "unhealthy" levels predicted. A combination of unseasonably hot weather, low winds and a high pressure ridge prompted the concerns about air quality for today and Thursday, said Jamie Arno, a spokeswoman for the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/21/3926169/today-expected-to-be-a-spare-the.html Attorney general rips San Diego pollution-reduction plan. The state attorney general issued strong criticism of the San Diego region’s draft transportation plan for the next several decades because it “sets too low a bar” in reducing pollution and contains “significant legal problems.” The target of Kamala Harris’ critique is the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan and its companion piece, the Sustainable Communities Strategy, as well as the underlying draft environmental impact report. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/21/state-ag-critical-regional-plan-pollution-reductio/ House GOP bill would roll back air-pollution rules. The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote Friday on a bill that has mushroomed recently into a plan to block the Obama administration's two main rules to clean up air pollution from power plants and change the way the Clean Air Act has worked for 40 years. House Republicans who crafted the bill say environmental regulations harm economic competitiveness. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/21/1870813/house-gop-bill-would-roll-back.html San Joaquin Valley records first ozone violation. Air pollution officials are saying that excessive heat, stagnant air and vehicle exhaust combined Wednesday to push the San Joaquin Valley over the federal smog limit for the first time this year. The Fresno Bee ( http://bit.ly/pojwIY) is reporting that recording stations in Fresno and Parlier violated the one-hour limit for ozone, which can cause asthma and lung problems. The region was fined $29 million annually last year for failing to meet the limits set by the Clean Air Act. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/21/2547997/san-joaquin-valley-records-first.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/21/1870911/san-joaquin-valley-records-first.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/21/san-joaquin-valley-records-first-ozone-violation/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18948435 Parks pollution on the rise. Sequoia and Kings Canyon in California record worst in the country. Air pollution in national parks is at a three-year high, and two adjacent California parks have recorded the worst readings, according to a report by the National Parks Conservation Association. Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency standard for ozone pollution 68 days so far this year, the most of any of the national parks that monitor air quality. Joshua Tree National Park came in second, with 49 days. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_ozone22.408cc28.html http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/air-pollution-rising-national-parks-12712 Study: High levels of traffic pollution can trigger heart attacks. Exposure to high levels of traffic-related air pollution appears to temporarily boost the risk for experiencing a heart attack, new British research suggests. However, the apparent elevation in risk is short-lived, the study team noted, lasting for only one to six hours following exposure and dissipating entirely thereafter. What's more, air pollution exposure may not bump up overall cardiac risk as much as fast-track it, increasing the chances that an individual already facing a probable heart attack threat will experience it slightly sooner than otherwise. Posted. http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medical/heartdisease/story/2011-09-21/Study-High-levels-of-traffic-pollution-can-trigger-heart-attacks-/50495770/1 U.S. Chamber asks House to pass 'TRAIN Act' The House should vote tomorrow to make economic considerations a bigger part of U.S. EPA's Clean Air Act regulatory process, the nation's largest business group said today. In a letter to House members, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce urged support for a bill that would set up a new Cabinet-level commission to study the economic effect of EPA rules and delay two new sets of air pollution limits for the power sector. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/22/9 BY PAID SIBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Global warming's CO2 culprit jumps 45% since 1990. Global emissions of carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming, jumped 45% between 1990 and 2010, and reached an all-time high of 33 billion tons last year, the European Commission reports. The emission cuts in some industrialized countries that are relying more on energy efficiency and renewable power are not enough to offset the escalating demand for energy, especially in developing countries, according to the new report by the EC's Joint Research Centre and PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/09/global-warming-culprit-jumps-45-since-1990/1 US urges faster progress on carbon dioxide storage. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu says all countries need to embrace technologies for capturing and burying carbon dioxide pollution to counter climate change and increase energy production. The U.S. is strongly committed to the process, known as carbon sequestration, and plans to have 10 commercial demonstration projects online by 2016 storing 16-17 million tons of carbon per year, Chu said Thursday following talks on the issue in Beijing. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/22/us-urges-faster-progress-on-carbon-dioxide/ EIA predicts a grim future for carbon emissions. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) issued its "International Energy Outlook" this week. For anyone concerned about the uncontrolled rise in carbon emissions -- the primary heat-trapping gas fueling dangerous global warming -- it paints a very grim future. Under a climate science deniers' fantasy scenario, the EIA projects that global carbon dioxide emissions will rise some 40 percent from 2008 to 2035. Posted. http://www.grist.org/fossil-fuels/2011-09-22-eia-predicts-a-grim-future-for-carbon-emissions Carbon Capture Speeds Up. While the urgency to reduce carbon dioxide emissions has diminished somewhat in the United States for now due to the current political climate, many other regions of the world have strong reduction mandates in place. At the same time, some states are moving forward with their own initiatives. The bottom line is that a handful of pilot programs in the United States continue to evaluate technologies and the business issues of carbon capture and sequestration. And international efforts are picking up steam. Posted. http://www.energybiz.com/magazine/article/234781/carbon-capture-speeds Removing CO2 from factory emissions has major potential – analysis. Carbon capture systems attached to industrial facilities such as gas processing plants could make a significant dent in global carbon dioxide emissions by midcentury, according to a new study. In a new analysis, the International Energy Agency and the U.N. Industrial Development Organization concludes that capture equipment installed on factories outside the electricity sector -- such as ammonia production plants -- could reduce CO2 levels by 4 metric gigatons, or about one-tenth of the level required to halve global emissions from the energy sector by 2050. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/22/6 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Carbon extraction may be necessary if emissions continue to increase. If greenhouse gas emissions keep rising after 2020, new research suggests humans may have to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere on a massive scale. The research, a series of articles to be published in the journal Climatic Change in November, will form the backbone of the next U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports in 2013 and 2014. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/22/9 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Using natural gas the only ‘good news story’. The path to a national energy policy based largely on natural gas is becoming clearer as economic turmoil and rising oil prices cause lawmakers to take a second look at the clean-burning fuel trapped in underground rock, American Gas Association President and CEO Dave McCurdy said Tuesday. In a wide-ranging interview, the one-time Democratic congressman from Oklahoma argued that the nation needs an “all-in” approach to break its addiction to foreign oil. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/20/using-natural-gas-the-only-good-news-story/?page=all VEHICLES Freedom of Choice In Energy Sources (VIDEO). While there’s concern about coal powered electric power plants and their CO2 emissions, renewables and smart grid integration will play an important role in charging electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.automotivedigest.com/video/video.aspx?nid=16&videoIndex=2401 GREEN ENERGY Republicans Attack on Handling of Stimulus Money and Green Jobs. The battle over Solyndra, the California solar equipment manufacturer that took $528 million in government loans and then declared bankruptcy, moved on to a second House committee on Thursday as Republicans broadened their attack on the Obama administration’s management of stimulus money and its pursuit of alternative energy as a way to spur employment. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/science/earth/23energy.html Kind of a big deal: $1.6 billion coming for energy efficiency projects. Two separate initiatives formed this week that could unlock more than $1.6 billion in private investment for energy efficiency projects around the U.S. Yesterday at the Clinton Global Initiative, two of the largest U.S. pension funds, CalPERS and CalSTERS, announced that they would invest $1 billion toward energy efficiency projects. This follows a June announcement at the Clinton Global Initiative, where the AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Teachers announced a similar goal that has already resulted in over $150 million in investment. Posted. http://www.grist.org/energy-efficiency/2011-09-21-kind-of-a-big-deal-1.6-billion-coming-for-energy-efficiency-proj Walmart Installs Solar Panels in 60 Additional California Locations. Once the 60 additional Walmart stores receive solar panels, the company's solar portfolio will total over 75 percent of its stores in California. Walmart is taking part in the adoption of greener technologies throughout California by installing solar panels on its stores. It announced today that it will install solar panels on 60 more California stores. Posted. http://www.dailytech.com/Walmart+Installs+Solar+Panels+in+60+Additional+California+Locations/article22809.htm MISCELLANEOUS FDA phases out inhaler due to environmental impact. Washington -- Asthma patients who rely on over-the-counter inhalers will need to switch to prescription-only alternatives as part of the federal government's latest attempt to protect the Earth's atmosphere. The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday patients who use the epinephrine inhalers will need to switch by Dec. 31 to other types that do not contain chlorofluorocarbons, an aerosol substance once found in a variety of spray products. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_18952963 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Solyndra dragnet widens. The Solyndra dragnet continues to widen. With top executives from the Fremont solar energy company expected to appear -- but refuse to testify -- Friday before a congressional panel seeking answers about Solyndra's sudden bankruptcy despite $535 million in federal loan guarantees, members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday sent letters to the company's two biggest investors asking for a raft of new information." Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_18948942 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS Dan Morain: Biogas would stink less if it bred jobs here. I'll refrain from making too many wisecracks about cow emissions. This is, after all, a family newspaper and I do have standards. The California Energy Commission stepped into the issue the other day, filling a room with 100 energy entrepreneurs, developers, lobbyists and utility executives, plus a smattering of consumer advocates and environmentalists. The discussion focused on regulations governing gas used to fire generators, but not just any gas. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/22/3928980/biogas-would-stink-less-if-it.html Solyndra default casts shadow over clean-energy effort. The following editorial appeared in the Dallas Morning News on Wednesday, Sept. 21: Obama administration defenders argue that high-tech "green energy" companies are inherently risky and need a boost from government subsidies. In principle, that's not inaccurate. We have long supported America's evolving toward cleaner energy sources - like wind, solar and nuclear - and away from higher-polluting oil and coal. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/22/1871604/solyndra-default-casts-shadow.html BLOGS Poll Finds Support Among Small Businesses for Tougher Fuel Economy Standards. Findings from a new poll contradict the prevailing wisdom that small-business owners are focused on the twin burdens of regulation and high taxes. Owners are instead more concerned about economic uncertainty and higher costs, including expensive fuel. According to the online poll of 1,257 small-business owners, commissioned by the Small Business Majority, an advocacy organization that is financed by foundation grants but not composed of dues-paying members, 87 percent of respondents support federal action to increase car and truck fuel efficiency. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/poll-finds-support-among-small-businesses-for-tougher-fuel-economy-standards/?scp=2&sq=green%20vehicles&st=cse 10 ways colleges encourage students to ditch their cars. Today is World Car-Free Day, and environmentalists are encouraging everyone to walk, bike or take public transit to work or class instead of driving. It’s the same message that many college administrators give to students at the beginning of every year. The prime motivations are often logistical (not enough parking), but it’s a cause that many students are backing for green reasons. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/campus-overload/post/10-ways-colleges-encourage-students-to-ditch-their-cars/2011/09/22/gIQAQLPynK_blog.html Survey: Calif. firms take energy-saving steps. California small-business owners are taking steps to save energy costs and cut waste, according to a survey for Small Business Majority, an advocacy group based in Sausalito. According to the Internet survey of 1,257 owners nationwide, 197 of them in California, conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, California business owners: 75% have installed energy-saving light bulbs, appliances, windows and insulation, 86% recycle, 19% have bought hybrid, electric, or alternative fuel vehicles. Posted. http://jan.ocregister.com/2011/09/21/survey-calif-firms-take-energy-saving-steps/64018/ Is Climate Change Already Causing Violent Conflict? For years, the Pentagon has been saying that climate change is perhaps the biggest threat to American security of all. Back in 2004, a report commissioned by Pentagon defense adviser Andrew Marshall, the man behind the restructuring of the US military under Donald Rumsfeld, predicted that “abrupt climate change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries develop a nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies.” Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/climate-change-already-causing-violent-conflict/ Why We Need to Look at Oil the Way We View Salt. To kick off the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo, R. James Woolsey, former Director of the CIA, talked briefly about politics. In the 1970s, during the OPEC oil embargo and the resulting energy crisis, the Carter Administration pushed policies away from oil as a source of energy. 97% of transportation worldwide is still run by oil, but thanks to Carter’s energy policies, only 1% of our power is generated this way. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/turning-oil-salt/ New Study Says L.A.'s Smog Pollution Is 'Worse Than We Thought' Environment California just released a new report, Danger in the Air: Unhealthy Air Days in 2010 and 2011. Guess what, L.A. The top five smoggiest metropolitan areas in the country in 2010 were in California. Ground-level ozone, smog's main component, is one of the most harmful and prevalent air pollutants, exacerbating respiratory illness and causing premature death. Though air quality has improved greatly over the last decade thanks to state and federal policies, the road to clean, healthy air stretches on for miles. Posted. http://laist.com/2011/09/21/new_study_says_las_smog_pollution.php Zero Emission Cargo Equipment: CARB Could Help Make It Happen. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) considers amendments to its measure cleaning up diesel cargo handling equipment at ports and railyards tomorrow. Along with the many minor amendments proposed, CARB has the opportunity to greatly advance Zero Emission Container Movement Systems that are much cleaner and more efficient than their diesel predecessors. The Cargo handling equipment regulation provides much needed relief from air pollution in some of the most heavily impacted communities. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dbailey/zero_emission_cargo_equipment.html Obama Issues Veto Threat to Defend Clean Air Act. This week a House vote is being taken on another anti-EPA bill. The Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation (TRAIN) Act, a Republican bill that would create a multi-million dollar multi-agency committee to analyze the economic cost of 10 EPA rules on smog-causing and heat-trapping gases, fine particulates, mercury, ozone, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide will likely pass the Republican-held House. The bill is redundant. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2011/09/22/obama-issues-veto-threat-to-defend-clean-air-act/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:15:13 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 23, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 23, 2011. 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 White House threatens veto of House bill to delay EPA pollution rules. The White House threatened on Wednesday to veto the latest attempt by House Republicans to thwart pollution regulations, saying the GOP-backed bill would delay and undermine critical health protections. The Republican-controlled House is set to debate and vote on the legislation later this week. The bill sponsored by Rep. John Sullivan, R-Okla., requires the president to set up a Cabinet-level committee to examine the cumulative toll of Environmental Protection Agency rules on electricity and gas prices, electric reliability and jobs. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/white-house-threatens-veto-of-house-bill-to-delay-epa-pollution-rules/2011/09/21/gIQAk2pNlK_story.html EPA chief warns GOP moves may risk public health. Washington -- The chief of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday that Republican-sponsored proposals moving in the House would threaten the agency's ability to regulate toxic air emissions. Administrator Lisa Jackson told a panel of lawmakers that the legislation, coupled with two GOP-offered amendments "would weaken or destroy our ability to address those toxic pollutants," putting thousands of lives at risk every year. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/23/MNPT1L8BSB.DTL&type=printable Texas seeks to block enforcement of EPA rules. Texas has asked an appeals court to halt implementation of new federal air pollution rules. It's the second court motion filed this week by Texas, which has sued the Environmental Protection Agency claiming the rules rely on flawed science and could lead to power outages. Attorney General Greg Abbott initially asked the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington to review regulations, announced in July, for coal-fired power plants. The state on Thursday filed another petition to block enforcement. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18961085?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18961085?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18961085?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Report says Birmingham on pace for high smog rank. A new report says Birmingham is on track to rank among the nation's smoggiest cities in 2011. The Birmingham News reports (http://bit.ly/p1ZVS2) that Environment America, a coalition of environmental advocacy organizations, examined smog statistics in several cities. The group's report looked at the number of days ozone pollution rose above the official level the Environmental Protection Agency considers unhealthy for children, the elderly and people with respiratory disease. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18961392?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18961392?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18961392?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Regional plan to combat pollution gets more scrutiny. State regulators hear criticism of San Diego's first-in-state plan. San Diego County has the state’s first regional long-range transportation plan that seeks to reduce pollution over the next 40 years. Being first isn’t always easy. State air regulators in Sacramento on Thursday heard from nearly two dozen people who, while offering some praise for the San Diego effort, concluded it did not go far enough and would fall short in reducing pollution. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/sep/22/clearing-air-over-sandags-40-year-pollution-reduct/ Cleaning Up Commercial Shipping. Air Pollution: Researchers test the impact of new California fuel regulations intended to reduce air pollution from ocean-going vessels. In an attempt to reduce air pollution from commercial shipping, the state of California now requires ships to switch to cleaner burning fuels as they near the coastline. In a new study, researchers tested the impact of this regulation by measuring emissions from a single container vessel and found that the fuel switch may have greater health benefits than previously expected (Environ. Sci. Technol., DOI: 10.1021/es2013424). Posted. http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/89/i39/8939scene3.html House passes 'TRAIN Act' after adding more anti-EPA measures. The House today passed a Republican-backed bill that would block two of the Obama administration's signature air pollution rules for coal-fired power plants while a new Cabinet-level panel studies the cumulative effect of about a dozen rules on the economy. The vote on the "TRAIN Act" (H.R. 2401), introduced by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.), followed a floor debate between Republicans who argue the struggling economy needs a break from new regulations that would raise the cost of energy, and Democrats who say power companies are exaggerating the costs of cleaning up soot, smog and mercury in the air. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/23bn/1 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE California permits up 1.4 pct, offsets trade-Pt Carbon. San Francisco - California carbon allowances for delivery in 2013 rose to $18.75/t on Thursday, up 25 cents from last week, on the back of a handful of small-volume trades, market sources said. The price was pushed up by three over-the-counter deals for the benchmark December 2013 (v13) allowance contract, which cleared on the IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) on Thursday morning at $18.75/t. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/22/markets-pointcarbon-california-idUSS1E78L21220110922 UN Carbon Market Will Survive Should Kyoto Goals End, EU Says. The United Nation’s carbon market will survive if the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gas-reduction goals for developed nations expire in 2012 without being immediately renewed, the European Union climate chief said. The EU, which gives companies in its emissions trading system the right to import credits from the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism, will probably remain that market’s driving force in coming years, said the bloc’s Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-23/un-carbon-market-will-survive-should-kyoto-goals-end-eu-says.html Why All Eyes Are on San Diego in Greenhouse Gas Push. Eyes across the state are watching San Diego as it puts the finishing touches on a plan to spend $200 billion on transportation projects over the next 40 years. And not all like what they see. This year, a new state law requires the agency to show how its plan to build transit and expand freeways will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks over the next 25 years. Posted. http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/survival/article_1f62480c-e599-11e0-b4b8-001cc4c002e0.html Parking experiment takes national stage. San Francisco's grand experiment to see whether traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by micromanaging the supply of public parking through price manipulation took center stage Thursday at a national transportation conference held in the city. Attending the meeting were transportation officials from across the country who one day may want to start a similar project back home. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/23/BAJP1L8AH3.DTL&type=printable VEHICLES BHS students, high-speed rail advocates at odds. Bakersfield, Calif. -Representatives from the California High-Speed Rail Authority came back to Bakersfield on Thursday to address the new environmental impact report and take questions from the community. Supporters of the project held a presentation in front of the downtown Beale Library. "This project would bring tens of thousands of jobs," one supporter said. "The California Air Resources Board is planning on one million metric tons a day of greenhouse gas emissions reductions (with the implementation) of high-speed rail," …Posted. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/130396058.html GREEN ENERGY Solyndra leaders invoke 5th Amendment at hearing. Top executives from a bankrupt California solar energy company have declined to testify before a congressional hearing investigating their half-billion dollar government loan. Solyndra Inc. CEO Brian Harrison and the company's chief financial officer, Bill Stover, both invoked their Fifth Amendment right to decline to testify to avoid self-incrimination. Harrison told the House Energy and Commerce Committee Friday: "On advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer any questions." Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/house-panel-continues-inquiry-into-failed-solar-energy-company-despite-executives-silence/2011/09/23/gIQAW5gupK_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/23/solyndra-hearing-to-go-on-despite-execs-silence/ http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18960840?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/22/2549067/gop-house-chair-us-solar-industry.html#storylink=misearch http://www.dailynews.com/ci_18960840?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/22/1872221/gop-house-chair-us-solar-industry.html Solyndra stays mum at hearing on failed loan deal. Two months before solar panel maker Solyndra LLC went bankrupt despite receiving more than a half billion dollars in federal loan guarantees, the California-based company’s chief executive traveled to Washington and met with members of Congress. “He said, ‘Solyndra’s future was bright with sales and production booming,’” Rep. Henry Waxman, California Democrat and ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said Friday, recounting his talk in July with Solyndra’s top executive, Brian Harrison. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/23/solyndra-stays-mum-hearing-failed-loan-deal/ Solyndra failure sparks GOP attack on green jobs. Washington -- California Rep. Darrell Issa opened a new front Thursday in the GOP attack on renewable energy subsidies following the bankruptcy of Fremont solar manufacturer Solyndra, accusing the Obama administration of waging a "war on carbon-based energy" and exaggerating claims of new "green jobs." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/22/MN1I1L836E.DTL&type=printable Solar 'pioneers' host open house. A decade ago, friends questioned why Daren and Martina Webster would spend tens of thousands of dollars to put solar panels on the roof of their Valle Vista home, telling the couple that the money would be better spent on a boat, a pool or a new car. Now, with the money they have saved, the couple joke that every time Southern California Edison raises rates, they open a glass of wine to celebrate the decision they made 10 years ago. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/hemet/stories/PE_News_Local_D_esolar23.409a426.html Public goods fee for state energy program to end. Sacramento -- A program that has generated billions of dollars in funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy research over the past 14 years is set to expire at the end of the year after lawmakers refused to renew it, and now state leaders are trying to find a way to replace it. The program is funded by a "public goods" fee that appears on the utility bills of most Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/22/MN311L79F4.DTL&feed=rss.pageone In-fill proposal looks to give Stockton a greener image. With the right kind of development, downtown Stockton could become the kind of place where people live in apartments or condominiums, commute by train to Silicon Valley jobs before returning home, where they can bike or walk to do their shopping or run other errands. It could be the kind of place where residents don't need to own a car, said planning consultant David Early. " Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110923/A_NEWS/109230313&cid=sitesearch OPINIONS Debunking the Myth that Regulations on Big Business are "Job-Killers" Experts say that no, regulations do not in fact destroy jobs--they shift jobs within the economy. So why do even Democrats repeat the Republican talking point? It’s become a mantra on Capitol Hill and a rallying cry for industry groups: Get rid of the job-killing regulations. In recent days, with nearly every one of the GOP presidential candidates repeating that refrain, the political echo chamber has grown even louder. Posted. http://www.alternet.org/story/152503/debunking_the_myth_that_regulations_on_big_business_are_%22job-killers%22_/ Logistics News: Time for Shippers to get Involved to Battle War on Trucking, Mike Regan Says. The war on trucking continues, and it's really time for shippers to get involved, says Mike Regan, CEO of TranzAct Technologies and long-time figure in the trucking industry. Regan has been calling out the worrisome signs, mostly related to government activity and regulations, since late 2010. Posted. http://www.scdigest.com/ONTARGET/11-09-21-2_War_on_Trucking.php?cid=4985 BLOGS With Battery From Texas, E.V. Bus Begins Its Rounds at Heathrow. Heathrow Airport continues to offer a friendly testing ground for new electric-vehicle technologies. In April, BAA, the company that operates the London airport, began a first-of-its-kind electric pod car service to carry passengers between Terminal 5 and outlying parking lots. And this month, the 25-seat Solo EV, the first full-size, all-electric bus at a British airport, went into operation to move British Airways personnel between Terminal 5 and the company’s head office in Waterside, a few miles away. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/with-battery-from-austin-tx-e-v-bus-begins-its-rounds-at-heathrow/?scp=1&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse NASCAR Goes Green: A Job Well Done or a Lipstick on a Pig? Earlier this week NASCAR announced race cars had racked up more than one million miles of driving on Sunoco Green E15 ethanol blend, the official fuel this season. This choice of fuel is part of a greater effort NASCAR is making to green up its auto racing business. Some see it as a great opportunity not just to reduce NASCAR’s footprint, but also to reach about 75 million fans that follow the races on TV and at the tracks. Others believe this is nothing more than greenwashing. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/nascar-green-job-lipstick-pig/ The Military's Clean Energy Mission. Someday, in the not-too-distant future, our country will be getting more than half of its power from energy that is safe, secure, and sustainable. We're not there now, and in fact we have a long way to go in many sectors of the economy. But it's clear to anyone who is paying attention that the countries that lead in the race to implement clean-energy technologies will be more resilient and more prosperous in the years ahead. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/militarys-clean-energy-mission/ Lockheed Stratoliner is a hydrogen-fueled jet with near-around-the-world range. Based on the Bar-tailed Godwit, a bird that makes the longest known non-stop flight without even stopping to feed (7,258 miles – imagine that), the Lockheed Stratoliner is designed to be a go-anywhere jet that's fueled by hydrogen. Oversized wings generate massive amounts of lift, allowing the William Brown-designed Stratoliner to fly at high altitudes in a "low-power state." Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/23/lockheed-stratoliner-is-a-hydrogen-fueled-jet-with-near-around-t/ European automakers define recommendations to standardize charging of plug-in vehicles; 2017 for harmonized application. The European automobile manufacturers, though ACEA, the automobile manufacturers’ trade association, have defined a comprehensive set of recommendations to standardize the charging of electrically-chargeable vehicles. The joint industry proposal will enable the use of one type of plug independent of car make, electricity provider or country. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/09/european-automakers-define-recommendations-to-standardize-charging-of-plug-in-vehicles-2017-for-harmacea-20110923.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:20:01 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 27, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 27, 2011. 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 NRG's Texas coal plants able to meet new air rule. Houston, - NRG Energy Inc, (NRG.N), the second-largest electric power producer in Texas, does not expect to shut units at its coal-fired plants to comply with the latest federal mandate to cut air pollution, a spokesman said. Texas is challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its last-minute inclusion of Texas coal plants under the final Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). The rule mandates much stricter limits on emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide from coal and natural gas-fired power plants beginning in January. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/27/utilities-coal-nrg-idUSS1E78Q0UK20110927 'MythBusters' turns to UCR researcher for help. UC Riverside researcher Kent Johnson didn't get to blow anything up. He didn't get to crash any vehicles together. Nothing was destroyed at all. In that sense, the episode of the popular "MythBusters" TV program in which Johnson appears that airs Wednesday evening on the Discovery Channel is hardly a normal one. On the other hand, it's one of a very few -- two, to be precise -- that will result in the writing of a scientific paper. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/riverside/stories/PE_News_Local_D_mythbusters26.384e3a8.html Oil refineries seek huge tax refunds. Some of the nation's largest oil refineries are seeking huge tax refunds that could force school districts and local governments across Texas to give back tens of millions of dollars they were counting on to pay teachers and provide other services. The refineries want the tax breaks in exchange for buying pollution-controlling equipment. But the cost to public schools would be dear, coming only months after lawmakers slashed education spending by more than $4 billion. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9Q0ENHO0.htm DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB issues $223,295 in diesel violation fines. The California Air Resources Board issued $223,295 in fines for 37 different cases of air quality violations recently. Most of the violations stemmed from trucks and buses failing to meet state requirements for self-inspections. The five highest fines were the following: •$27,000 in fines for the County of Imperial Department of Public Works. The county failed to properly self-inspect its diesel trucks; Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Sep11/092611/092611-06.shtml http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=74805 Panel throws out part of Port of L.A.'s Clean Truck Program. U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals eliminates provision that would have ended trucking companies' use of independent contractors to haul containers from the port. The program is aimed at reducing diesel emissions. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday threw out a key provision of a program aimed at reducing diesel emissions from trucks hauling containers from the Port of Los Angeles. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-trucks-port-20110927,0,5148568.story http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/26/1878561/court-rejects-key-aspect-of-clean.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/26/court-rejects-key-aspect-of-clean-truck-program/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/article_a2f112a3-3377-50ab-8f58-3ac11ee15ecd.html http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/09/27/business-us-port-pollution-california_8702757.html FUELS A Way to Make Motor Fuel Out of Wood? Add Water. A Georgia company says it has overcome a major roadblock in turning agricultural waste into vehicle fuel and other useful chemicals by experimenting with a technology that treats the waste with compressed water heated to very high temperatures. The company, Renmatix, plans to cut the ribbon on a research and development center on Tuesday in King of Prussia, Pa., near the heart of the nation’s chemical and refining industry, to complete development of the process. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/business/energy-environment/using-water-to-turn-wood-chips-into-motor-fuel.html?scp=6&sq=fuels&st=cse Berkeley Lab scientists identify new type of biofuel. Researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute in Emeryville identified a possible new type of biofuel that could replace diesel. The JBEI, run by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory engineered the new fuel, called bisabolane, from two microbes -- a bacteria and a yeast. Fuel made this way, the lab said, would be “clean, green, renewable and produced in the United States.” Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2011/09/27/berkeley-lab-scientists-id-new-biofuel.html VEHICLES Battery options for an older Prius. Dear Tom and Ray: I just got word that my 2005 Prius, with 110,000 miles, needs a new hybrid battery. I got the car new, and it’s been well-maintained, but the battery has not given us the 150,000 or 180,000 miles that we had hoped we could get out of it. Our dealer is willing to replace the battery pack with a new one for $3,500 (another dealer would charge $3,995). Posted. http://www.pe.com/cars/content/click/stories/0919ClickClack1.15ea22a0c.html Hybrid technology soon to be inescapable. Your next car will probably have a little bit of Toyota Prius or Chevrolet Volt in it, whether you think of yourself as a high-tech fuel saver or not. Technologies pioneered by the 50-mpg Prius and the Volt, which burns no gasoline at all on most trips under 40 miles, will soon be omnipresent. Virtually every car will be a hybrid, with so many variations of electric-assistance that some manufacturers won't even use the word. Posted. http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/sc-cons-0922-autotips-20110924,0,1373990.story EV charging standards: European OEMs recommendations. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) has published on 14 September 2011 a position paper with recommendations for the “standardisation of the charging of electrically-chargeable vehicles”. For ACEA, standardisation is a pre-requisite for quicker market uptake of electric vehicles and higher investment into a quick charging network. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/66220110926.php Electric vehicle information and demo center being built. GE Capital Fleet Services is setting up a “customer experience and learning center” for electric vehicles in Eden Prairie, MN. The center will showcase GE’s portfolio of electric vehicle solutions and allow customers to evaluate electric vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles. The facility is expected to open in the spring of 2012. “At GE, we are committed to helping our customers incorporate electric vehicles and other alternative fuel technologies into their fleets,” said Clarence Nunn, president & CEO. Posted. http://fleetowner.com/green/archive/electric-vehicle-info-demo-center-0926/ GREEN ENERGY Consumer product packaging in plastic going green. The decades-old duel between Coca-Cola and Pepsi has entered new territory. As the soda behemoths spar for world's top soft drink, the battle isn't just about what's in their bottles. It's about what's in their plastic. In 2009, the Coca-Cola Co. said it would sell its Dasani water products in bottles containing up to 30 percent sugarcane-based polyethylene terephthalate plastic, or PET. It touted the "PlantBottle" as the latest in eco-friendly food packaging. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/23/BULA1L78PH.DTL#ixzz1ZAT35CIi Looming budget cuts threaten San Jose's expansive solar plan. The gloomy financial forecast that has San Jose considering shuttering its branch libraries and community centers next summer could also claim another casualty: a money-saving solar project at the heart of Mayor Chuck Reed's clean-energy plan. The threatened closures could kill plans to install solar panels at no cost to the city on the roofs or parking lots at libraries and community centers. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/bay-area-news/ci_18981181 http://www.contracostatimes.com/bay-area-news/ci_18981181 State's openness to 'green energy' a big selling point. When Henrik Fisker and Bernhard Koehler decided to start their own luxury electric auto company in 2007, they knew they wanted to set up the business in California. “This was a definite decision,” said Will Powell, a spokesman for Anaheim-based Fisker Automotive, which produces an electric vehicle with a gas-powered “range extender” different from traditional hybrids. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110925/BUSINESS/109250304/State-s-openness-green-energy-big-selling-point?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|p MISCELLANEOUS Gov. Jerry Brown signs 38 bills, vetoes 4. Sacramento -- Gov. Jerry Brown signed 38 bills and vetoed four others on Monday, including a Republican-sponsored measure that would have mandated that one of the state's Air Resources Board members be a small-business owner. In a swipe at Republicans over their refusal to support taxes, Brown attached a message to a bill he signed that imposes a 1 percent fee on the sale of olive trees to raise funds to help certify the trees through a government program. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/27/BAM71L9OAJ.DTL&type=politics http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/09/26/calif-air-board-small-biz-owner-veto.html OPINIONS Climate Change and the Exodus of Species. To most humans, so far, climate change is still more of an idea than an experience. For other species, it is an immediate reality. Many will be left behind as the climate alters, unable to move quickly enough or with nowhere to move to. Others are already adapting. An iconic example of these swift changes is the recent discovery that Atlantic and Pacific populations of bowhead whales — long kept apart by the frozen Arctic — are now overlapping in the open waters of the Northwest Passage. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/opinion/climate-change-and-the-exodus-of-species.html BLOGS Climate Change Takes a Toll on Cultures. A member of Colombia’s indigenous Nukak-Makú people. Climate change will only hasten a trend in which members resettle in urban areas when they come of age, environmental experts warn. There are nearly 7,000 known languages in the world today. It is predicted that half of these, in many cases vessels of indigenous cultures, will vanish over the next 50 years. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/climate-change-takes-a-toll-on-cultures/ Report Says Vehicle Fuel Should Be the Priority, Not Electricity. Research on solar and wind power is all well and good, but a self-assessment by the Department of Energy has found that in the great scheme of energy needs, the government is not investing enough in transportation energy, an area in which those renewable power sources do not play a role. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/transportation-fuel-challenge-dogs-the-u-s/?scp=5&sq=fuels&st=cse California treasurer: Put renewable-energy tax exemption on hold. The head of a California panel that hands out sales tax exemptions to renewable-energy manufacturing companies wants to suspend the program in the wake of the Solyndra scandal. State Treasurer Bill Lockyer said he will ask fellow members of the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority at a meeting Tuesday to not approve any new applications for exemptions from paying California sales tax. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/09/solyndra-california-bill-lockyer-tax-exemption.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MoneyCompany+%28Money+%26+Company%29 EGYPT: Clearing the air pollution after the revolution. Reporting >From Cairo -- When the thick clouds of tear gas and repressive rule lifted last winter, Egyptians breathed more easily. And in a shade of serendipity, the revolution that overthrew President Hosni Mubarak accomplished what the Egyptian Environmental Ministry had failed to accomplish for years: noticeably cleaner air in Cairo. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/09/egypt-revolution-air-pollution.html Carbon Sciences adapting its dry reforming catalyst to target steam methane reforming market. Carbon Sciences, Inc., the licenser and developer of technology for the dry catalytic reforming of methane to produce gasoline and other transportation fuels (earlier post), now plans to commercialize its catalyst as a drop-in replacement in the existing billion-dollar catalyst market for steam methane reforming (SMR). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/09/carbonscismr-20110927.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:14:18 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 28, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 28, 2011. 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 EPA holds hearing in Denver on oil and gas rules. The energy industry plans to tell the Environmental Protection Agency at a hearing Wednesday to take more time to rethink its proposed rules for limiting air pollution at oil and gas wells. Environmental groups, though, plan to argue the proposal could go further. The public hearing in Denver is the second of three on the agency's plan, which includes what would be its first regulations for wells that are hydraulically fractured by blasting water, chemicals and sand underground. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_18994044 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_18994044 Homeowners say Wisconsin law favors big farms, leaves them powerless against smells, pollution. John Adams can’t see the nearly 3,000 cows on the dairy farm two miles from his Wisconsin home, but when the wind blows he can smell them. The stench gives him and his wife headaches. They blame the big farm for contaminating their air and polluting the groundwater well they use for drinking, bathing and watering their garden. They no longer feel safe eating the vegetables they grow. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/homeowners-say-wisconsin-law-favors-big-farms-leaves-them-powerless-against-smells-pollution/2011/09/28/gIQAYYym3K_story.html CLIMATE CHANGE Report: EPA cut corners on climate finding. An internal government watchdog says that the Environmental Protection Agency cut corners when it produced a key scientific document underpinning its decision to regulate climate-changing pollution. The Inspector General report, obtained by The Associated Press in advance of its release Wednesday, says the agency circumvented a more robust review process that was warranted for a technical paper supporting a costly and controversial decision to control greenhouse gases for the first time. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/28/2556574/report-epa-cut-corners-on-climate.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_8d6e07c0-eb7e-591e-84ef-66c8b70ff921.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/28/1880873/report-epa-cut-corners-on-climate.html New IG report faults process in agency's GHG assessments. In a report with wide-reaching political implications, U.S. EPA's inspector general has found that the scientific assessment backing U.S. EPA's finding that greenhouse gases are dangerous did not go through sufficient peer review for a document of its importance. The new report, released today, examines only federal requirements for EPA's "technical support document" and not the accuracy of the scientific studies included within it. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/28/1 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Little preparation under way for climate change at world's seaports. United Nations -- Port operators worldwide have some knowledge that climate change could pose a threat to their operations, but to date, few studies have been undertaken to determine just how serious the threat is. The U.N. Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva is preparing to fill this gap in knowledge. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/28/2 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS In North Dakota, Flames of Wasted Natural Gas Light the Prairie. Across western North Dakota, hundreds of fires rise above fields of wheat and sunflowers and bales of hay. At night, they illuminate the prairie skies like giant fireflies. They are not wildfires caused by lightning strikes or other acts of nature, but the deliberate burning of natural gas by oil companies rushing to extract oil from the Bakken shale field and take advantage of the high price of crude. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/business/energy-environment/in-north-dakota-wasted-natural-gas-flickers-against-the-sky.html?_r=2&hp VEHICLES U.S. to do more research on electric vehicles. The Energy Department wants to devote more of its $3 billion research budget to get more electric vehicles on the road, a strategy it sees as making the biggest difference in reducing oil imports and cutting pollution. Energy Secretary Steven Chu is due to unveil the results of a major review of research spending on Tuesday, one that could shift research dollars away from clean electricity and biofuels toward electric vehicles and modernizing the power grid. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/27/us-usa-energy-research-idUSTRE78Q13220110927 Toyota global production bounces back in August. Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday its global production rose for the first time in a year in August as Japanese automakers continued to recover from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Worldwide output at Japan's biggest automaker climbed 10.6 percent from a year earlier to 626,817 vehicles. Production rose at both domestic and overseas factories, especially in South Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/28/toyota-global-production-bounces-back-in-august/ http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/28/1880712/toyota-global-production-bounces.html U.S. to conduct more research on electric vehicles. The U.S. Energy Department wants to devote more of its $3 billion research budget to get more electric vehicles on the road, a strategy it sees as making the biggest difference in reducing oil imports and cutting pollution. Energy Secretary Steven Chu is due to unveil the results of a major review of research spending on Tuesday, one that could shift research dollars away from clean electricity and biofuels towards electric vehicles and modernizing the power grid. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110927/OEM05/309279844/1186 U.S. green car subsidies aren't cost effective, study says. U.S. government incentives to spur a market for battery-powered autos aren't a cost-effective way to cut oil use and tailpipe emissions compared with boosting sales of hybrids and plug-in cars that go short distances on electricity, a study said. Battery breakthroughs, more-expensive oil and a more-efficient electric power grid will be needed to justify the expense, weight, and …Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110927/OEM05/309279829/1186 University of Delaware enters into partnership to harness energy from electric vehicles. The University of Delaware will work with a commercial company to harness the power of plug-in electric vehicles. The technology was developed at UD, which allows owners of electric vehicles to sell power stored in their vehicles' batteries back to the electric grid while the car is plugged in and not being driven. Now, NRG Energy and UD are partners in eV2G (Electric Vehicle-to-Grid), a joint venture to commercialize the technology. Posted. http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/item/27183 Urban mobility: small, light and electric, the way to go! The benefits of electric vehicles will be mainly appreciated in urban areas: no engine noise, no tailpipe, and a smoother way to drive. However, with an average vehicle occupancy of 1.6 people in the US and Europe, there is only little use for a 5-seater, even if it is electric. The solution? To create small, light and electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/66320110928.php Incentives should target hybrids, not pure EVs – report. The federal government should direct incentives to plug-in hybrids and cars that run short distances on electricity rather than pure electric vehicles to maximize the impact of gas-free cars, according to a new report. Pure electric vehicles with large battery packs -- such as the Nissan Leaf or the Tesla Roadster -- may not reduce emissions or costs, depending on the charging mode, states the report from Carnegie Mellon University. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/28/18 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Start-Up in California Plans to Capture Lithium, and Market Share. A start-up company will announce on Wednesday that it is beginning commercial operations at a factory in Southern California to capture lithium from existing geothermal energy plants, a technology it says has the potential to turn the United States into a major lithium exporter. The plant, built by Simbol Materials near the Salton Sea in the Imperial Valley, will also capture manganese and zinc. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/28/business/energy-environment/simbol-materials-plans-to-extract-lithium-from-geothermal-plants.html?ref=earth Sacramento City Council approves energy retrofit program. The Sacramento City Council approved a program Tuesday night that opens the door to $100 million worth of energy-saving retrofits at office buildings around the city. City officials said the arrangement, part of a national effort launched by British billionaire Richard Branson's nonprofit Carbon War Room group, will create 1,150 jobs. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/28/v-print/1880514/sacramento-city-council-approves.html Brown signs bills to expedite enviro reviews. California Gov. Jerry Brown yesterday signed two laws meant to expedite judicial reviews of environmental issues on large construction projects, earning mixed reactions from environmental groups. One measure limits lawsuits that could delay the construction of a football stadium and the other is a broader bill meant to speed up environmental reviews on other building proposals. The bills are focused on "cutting red tape all over the state," the Democratic governor said. "There are too many damn regulations." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/28/25 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS MILBANK: The GOP role in birthing of Solyndra. Solyndra is trying to rival her big sister Katrina's ability to make the federal government look incompetent. But whose baby is she? Since the solar-energy company went belly-up a few weeks ago ---- leaving taxpayers on the hook for $535 million in loan guarantees ---- a business that was once the poster child for President Barack Obama's green-jobs initiative has instead become a tool for Republicans to discredit most everything the administration seeks to do. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/milbank/article_a1a4af00-5b01-5888-9277-45491a628699.html http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110928/OPINION/110929510 Shedding light on solar scandal. It's hard to tell who is having the worst September - Barack Obama or the Boston Red Sox - but I give the nod to the president, if only because of the scandal involving Solyndra. Perhaps you're asking: "Who the heck is Solyndra? Another White House intern?" Uh, no. It's not that kind of scandal. Solyndra is a bankrupt solar-panel manufacturer, a metaphor for an administration in serious political trouble. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/28/1880748/shedding-light-on-solar-scandal.html ‘Faster than light’ vs. climate change. The Sept. 24 front-page article “Faster than light: Revolution or error?” was remarkable. After more than 100 years, a potential flaw in Albert Einstein’s unifying theory has emerged through experimentation. However, it is what did not happen that is more important. No “relativity deniers” were castigated by the press or political groups. No financial regulations were created to prevent people from traveling to the future to reap profits on events they knew would happen. No one resigned in protest. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/faster-than-light-vs-climate-change/2011/09/24/gIQAzlAk2K_story.html Attention, pundits: We have the makings of a serious U.S. solar program. In my last post, I noted the disdain U.S. elites feel for the grubby-but-necessary politics of clean energy deployment. It's all well and good to advocate for sweeping macroeconomic solutions to carbon pollution, but there are all sorts of proximate battles being fought on the ground today. They'd be easier to win if pundits like Fareed Zakaria would weigh in on the right side. Posted. http://www.grist.org/solar-power/2011-09-27-attention-pundits-we-have-makings-of-a-serious-us-solar-program BLOGS How Climate Change Could Hurt Yellowstone National Park. Before the end of the century, Yellowstone National Park could experience summers that feel like Los Angeles’s, according to a report released Tuesday. These warming temperatures will imperil everything from native cutthroat trout to aspen forests and the $700 million in annual economic activity that they and other gems in the park generate by attracting tourists, the report said. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/how-climate-change-could-hurt-yellowstone-national-park/?ref=earth Arctic Shelves Have Lost Half Their Size in Six Years. Canada’s Arctic ice shelves, formations that date back thousands of years, have been almost halved in size over the last six years, Canadian researchers said on Tuesday. Researchers at Carleton University in Ottawa, who regularly analyze satellite images from the region, also found that a major portion of the ice shelves split in half this summer and other pieces covering an area roughly one and a half times that of Manhattan have broken off since the end of July. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/28/arctic-shelves-have-lost-half-their-size-in-six-years/?ref=earth The U.S. Military’s Plans to Assure Energy Independence. George Kai’iliwai, Director, Resources and Assessment, of the U.S. Pacific Command, recently spoke at the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo, addressing the role of the military in helping solve the world’s energy challenges. According to Ka’iliwai, military technologies are potential game-changers in the energy world. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/whats-military-doing-assure-energy-independence/ Researchers Link Ethanol Production and Financial Speculation to Rising Food Prices. A recent scientific paper, from the New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI) attributes the increase in food prices in 2007/2008 and 2010/2011 to ethanol and financial speculation. As the authors of the paper put it, “The two sharp peaks in 2007/2008 and 2010/2011 are specifically due to investor speculation, while an underlying upward trend is due to increasing demand from ethanol conversion.” Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/researchers-link-ethanol-production-financial-speculation-rising-food-prices/ Toyota Prius C to be called Aqua in Japan, expected to return 94 mpg*. Toyota's upcoming compact hybrid, previewed by the Prius C Concept, will reportedly launch in January 2012 in Japan wearing the Aqua name, according to news outlet Nikkei. The compact gas-electric is expected to carry a fuel economy rating of 40 kilometers per liter (94 miles per gallon U.S.) on Japan's generous JC08 evaluation cycle. That works out to be roughly equal to an EPA combined rating of 61 mpg U.S. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/28/toyota-prius-c-to-be-called-aqua-in-japan-expected-to-return-94/ Los Alamos researchers engineer magnetic algae to assist harvesting and lipid extraction. Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) have genetically http://www.lanl.gov/news/stories/magnetic_algae.html “magnetic” algae to investigate alternative, more efficient harvesting and lipid extraction methods for biofuels. The researchers seek to reduce the cost of algae-based biofuel production. Currently, used algae-harvesting and lipid-extraction technology accounts for almost 30% of the total cost of algae-based biofuel production. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/09/lanl-20110928.html Iceland to Build World’s First Zero-Carbon Data Center. Iceland’s ailing economy isn’t going to keep it from making environmental strides – the city of Keflavik will soon be receiving 37 prefabricated components in order to complete the world’s first zero-carbon data center. The project, commissioned by UK start-up Verne Global (a data hosting company), will comprise 5,400 sq ft and will be powered completely by geothermal and hydroelectric power. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/iceland-to-build-worlds-first-zero-carbon-data-center/ Microcab Debuts Its H2EV Hydrogen Mini Cars as a Cab Fleet in the UK. This week, UK specialist car maker Microcab is launching its brand-new Microcab H2EV hydrogen fuel cell car. The first recipient of the green mini cars will be West Midlands’ CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Demonstrator), which will test how the H2EV performs using the current infrastructure for hydrogen fueling in the UK. This may prove to be a real challenge for the little car, or a real opportunity to prove itself, as the one and only public hydrogen fueling station in the UK just opened in Swindon Posted. http://inhabitat.com/microcab-h2ev-hydrogen-mini-cars-debut-as-cab-fleet-in-uk/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:54:07 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newclips for September 29, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 29, 2011. 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 Texas Air Pollution Compared to Other States. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas points to the state’s improved air quality as evidence that his policies work. But E.P.A. officials and independent analysts say improvements are largely caused by federal laws. The charts below show how Texas compares among the states on some pollution measurements. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/09/29/us/politics/texas-air-pollution-compared-to-other-states.html Short rail line serving L.A. and Long Beach ports gets greener. Pacific Harbor Line, known as one of the least polluting U.S. railroads, will reduce pollution further by equipping part of its train fleet with advanced engines and special exhaust filters. Pacific Harbor Line Inc. is one of the shortest railroads in the nation, operating only 18 route miles entirely inside the neighboring ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. But the tiny railway is out to smoke its bigger competition when it comes to environmental friendliness. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-clean-railroad-20110929,0,7624135,print.story CSULB creating ship pollution filter. Long Beach - Cal State Long Beach engineering students and professors are working with Rolls Royce to develop an exhaust filter expected to cut toxic diesel air pollutants by 85 percent from freight ships calling at San Pedro Bay. With $1.8 million in grant money from the Port of Los Angeles, the pilot program seeks to create and test a device known as a seawater scrubber for large container ships and other vessels. Posted. http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_18999348 Board seeks rule to cut Dunes dust. A rule setting allowable levels of airborne dust from the Oceano Dunes — and a timeline for the State Parks Department to meet those levels — could be adopted in November by the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District. On a 9-3 vote Wednesday, district board members directed the staff to prepare a rule based on an initially proposed framework, with modifications, and bring it back for a public hearing at the Nov. 16 meeting. Posted. http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/board-seeks-rule-to-cut-dunes-dust/article_7a209484-ea61-11e0-9020-001cc4c03286.html Federal fuel efficiency rules delayed. The federal government plans to delay until mid-November new rules to implement a set of fuel efficiency standards for cars and light-duty trucks, administration officials said Tuesday. In late July, President Obama announced a deal that called for cars and light trucks to achieve a fleet-wide average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, nearly double the 2011 model year average of 27.8 mpg. The new standard would be phased in beginning in 2017. Posted. http://mobile.latimes.com/p.p?a=rp&m=b&postId=912909&curAbsIndex=8&resultsUrl=DID%3D6%26DFCL%3D1000%26DSB%3Drank%2523desc%26DBFQ%3DuserId%253A7%26DL.w%3D%26DL.d%3D10%26DQ%3DsectionId%253A5219%26DPS%3D0%26DPL%3D10 San Joaquin air officials post another alert. For the fourth time this year, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District issued an air alert. The alert is effective through today. Conditions are expected to ease Friday, but if they don't, it will be extended, officials said. Air alerts are called when conditions may lead to ozone formation that results in exceeding health-based ozone standards of 125 parts per billion and triggering substantial federal penalties. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/28/1881917/san-joaquin-air-officials-post.html#ixzz1ZMcdKE7x PAID SUBSCRIPTION http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/09/28/2061728/air-alert-called-for-eight-counties.html#ixzz1ZMll99vh 5 Smoggiest Cities in the U.S. The top five smoggiest metropolitan areas in the U.S. in 2010 were all in California, according to a new report by Environment California. The top area, Riverside-San Bernardino, had 110 smog days, which means that the area had unhealthy air on one out of three days last year. Across California, there were 135 days in 2010 when at least part of the state had smog levels exceeding the health standard. The top five smoggiest metropolitan areas in the U.S. in 2010, in order, were: Posted. http://www.care2.com/causes/5-smoggiest-cities-in-the-u-s.html CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change to cost Canada billions: panel. Climate change will cause damage in Canada equivalent to around 1 percent of GDP in 2050 as rising temperatures kill off forests, flood low-lying areas and cause more illnesses, an official panel said on Thursday. The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy said Canada's Conservative government - strongly criticized by green activists for not doing enough to fight global warming - should take measures to mitigate the effects of climate change, blamed on greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/29/us-climate-idUSTRE78S1SV20110929 Cap and trade wins California Supreme Court ruling. Over some environmentalists' objections, the state Supreme Court voted Wednesday to let California air-quality regulators go ahead with a market-oriented cap-and-trade system of pollution credits to combat global warming while appealing a judge's order to look harder at alternatives. The order came in a case that has divided mainstream environmental groups, which support cap and trade, and antipoverty "environmental justice" organizations, which argue that the market approach exposes poor and minority communities to more pollution. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/29/BARF1LAT96.DTL&type=printable EPA cut corners on climate finding, watchdog says. The Obama administration cut corners before concluding that climate-change pollution can endanger human health, a key finding underpinning costly new regulations, an internal government watchdog said Wednesday. Regulators and the White House disagreed with the finding, and the report itself did not question the science behind the administration's conclusions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/29/MN3V1LAT8R.DTL&type=printable Two new climate change studies. New reports find challenges to meeting targets in state’s new global warming law. Don’t get distracted by Solyndra. A new study commissioned by SunRun, a San Francisco-based solar company, blames local government red tape for hampering progress of residential and commercial solar installations. Green Days is on the lookout for innovative sustainable projects throughout the Sacramento region. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/PrintFriendly?oid=3904027 Obama’s climate-change hypocrisy. This summer a hearing on Capitol Hill saw such strange political bedfellows as the Obama administration, House Republicans, the aviation industry, and labor groups all joined in opposition to cap-and-trade. At issue was the European Union’s decision to extend its emissions-trading program to foreign airlines operating in Europe, requiring them either to reduce pollution or pay a charge. U.S. air carriers denounced the move as an illegal tax and filed suit with the European Court of Justice. Posted. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/27/obama-s-climate-change-hypocrisy-in-emissions-fight-with-europe-california.print.html China’s per capita emissions could rival U.S.’s by 2017, report predicts. The carbon footprint for the average Chinese individual is quickly approaching levels common in the world’s industrialized nations and, if current trends continue, could match or exceed U.S. levels by 2017, a new report says. Since 1990, CO2 emissions in China have increased from 2.2 tons per capita to 6.8 tons, roughly equal to those in Italy and greater than in France, according to a report conducted by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and sponsored by the European Commission. Posted. http://e360.yale.edu/digest/chinas_per_capita_emissions_could_rival_us_by_2017_report_predicts/3141/ Plants are more powerful carbon eaters than previously thought. Plants, trees and soil are pulling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere about 25 percent faster than scientists thought, according to a new study. The research, published today in the journal Nature, estimates that the world's plant life pulls between 150 billion and 175 billion metric tons of CO2 from the air each year, an increase of 25 to 45 percent over the previous estimate of 120 billion metric tons per year. But the new paper's authors say the climate impact of their work isn't clear. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/29/2 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Diesel has key role in U.S. economy, industry says. Washington -- The diesel engine industry will play a vital role in helping the U.S. economy grow and recover from its slowdown, an industry group predicted Wednesday. Diesel-fuel refiners, servicers and engine and technology manufacturers contributed $480 billion to the U.S. economy in 2009 and supported 1.25 million jobs, an industry report contended. Those numbers will grow as tougher U.S. fuel standards lead manufacturers to make more vehicles … Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-clean-railroad-20110929,0,4697883.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/28/BUNE1LATII.DTL Stricter tailpipe emission standards drive major upgrades for produce haulers. Pass through the Salinas Valley on a fall afternoon, and you’ll see signs of a healthy ag economy: harvest crews traversing lettuce fields, fumigators prepping with tarps, and refrigerated produce rigs barreling down the roads. Despite some 5,000 trucks operating in the region on any given day, the air quality is generally good, thanks in large part to Monterey Bay breezes. And the refrigerated trailers that haul perishables don’t tend to idle overnight. Posted. http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/2011/sep/29/trucking-greens/ FUELS Ethanol firms see new field. U.S. ethanol producers faced with slowing growth in demand are turning to a fledgling market for corn oil to help boost revenues. Several of the nation's largest ethanol companies, including Green Plains Renewable Energy and Valero Energy Corp., have invested in equipment to produce the oil. Extracted during the production of ethanol, corn oil is mainly used to make animal feed and biodiesel, but it also can be produced for cooking. A Missouri farmer unloads corn for ethanol production. The industry is looking at corn oil for new revenues. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204226204576599143918175966.html?_nocache=1317316093208 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION UCD on board for project to see if trees can be turned into biofuel. UC Davis will take part in a project to explore the possibility of making biofuels from trees, university officials said in a news release. The university will receive about $3 million from a $40 million grant that the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week. The five-year project will be led by researchers at the University of Washington. So far, the biofuels movement has focused on ethanol made from Midwest-grown corn. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/29/1882069/ucd-on-board-for-project-to-see.html Biofuels facility set in Golden Triangle area. Gov. Haley Barbour is scheduled to tour the Golden Triangle Regional Landfill on Thursday where local officials will be building an operation to capture methane gas to produce electricity. GE Energy, which is installing the engines to run the facility, says a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the facility has been tentatively scheduled for Oct. 11. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/29/biofuels-facility-set-in-golden-triangle-02/ VEHICLES Recharging the European electric vehicle market. On 6 October 2011 in Brussels, Public Policy Exchange will hold a symposium about infrastructure and standardization challenges of the European EV market. The symposium will encourage delegates to engage in thought-provoking topical debate, providing input and recommendations to the decision makers at EU level. The event will include presentations of speakers from the European Commission, ACEA, and key stakeholders companies. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/66520110929.php 2025 CAFE rules plan release delayed. This week’s planned release of proposed rules for implementing a 54.5 miles-per-gallon corporate average fuel efficiency (CAFE) standard for U.S. passenger cars and trucks by 2025 has been delayed until mid-November. The proposal -- expected to run more than 700 pages -- was to have been released Friday. Citing difficulties coordinating all the players, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said late Tuesday that additional time is needed. Posted. http://www.autoobserver.com/2011/09/2025-cafe-rules-plan-release-delayed.html Analysis says electric vehicles sales not affected by incentives. According to JATO, demand for electric vehicles (EV) increased ten-fold to 5,220 across Europe in the first half of this year compared to the 500 registered in the same period last year. Germany, where incentives amount to around €380 (£330) per vehicle, is the leading EV market with January–June registrations of around 1,000. Posted. http://www.theengineer.co.uk/sectors/automotive/news/analysis-says-electric-vehicles-sales-not-affected-by-incentives/1010422.article#ixzz1ZGLw1Avn GREEN ENERGY Start-Up in California plans to capture lithium, and market share. A start-up company will announce on Wednesday that it is beginning commercial operations at a factory in Southern California to capture lithium from existing geothermal energy plants, a technology it says has the potential to turn the United States into a major lithium exporter. The plant, built by Simbol Materials near the Salton Sea in the Imperial Valley, will also capture manganese and zinc. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/28/business/energy-environment/simbol-materials-plans-to-extract-lithium-from-geothermal-plants.html?_r=2 The green-jobs fallacy. Think we could use 5 million new jobs right about now? That's what President Obama promised he'd create by "investing" taxpayer money in so-called green jobs. And not just any jobs, he said on the campaign trail in 2008, but ones that "pay well, and can never be outsourced." Jump ahead three years, and the only "green" you find is the billions being poured into the coffers of renewable-energy companies lucky to even stay in business, let alone create a high number of jobs. Don't assume what happened to the solar-panel company Solyndra is unique. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/29/v-print/3947508/the-green-jobs-fallacy.html Forest Service promotes wood as green product. The U.S. Forest Service wants people to start thinking of wood as the new green building material. A report issued Thursday cites scientific studies that wood is more energy-efficient and results in lower emissions of greenhouse gases than other building materials, such as steel and concrete. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement wood should take a larger role in construction, because it has significant environmental benefits, promotes healthier forests, and provides jobs in rural areas. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/09/29/2558108/forest-service-promotes-wood-as.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19003723?nclick_check=1 Wind turbines: annoying, sure, but probably not actually unhealthy. There's no denying that wind turbines make noise. A giant rotor blade the size of an aircraft wing swooshing through the air is going to make a noticeable sound, particularly in a quiet, rural setting. And it's an often-repeated claim of wind farm opponents that this noise can lead to a whole host of health issues, including headaches, tinnitus, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Posted. http://www.grist.org/wind-power/2011-09-29-wind-turbines-annoying-but-probably-not-unhealthy Economic development boards spur renewable energy development in Hawaii. Every municipality has one, but most people don’t know what economic development boards do. At the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit, I attended a talk with a panel of leaders from economic development boards in the four main counties of the state of Hawaii to find out more about how these small business engines are helping the state go green. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/roles-economic-development-boards-renewable-energy-transformation-hawaii/ DOE ready to shift more money to plug-in vehicles in search of jobs. Three billion dollars. That's the amount of cash the U.S. Department of Energy could devote to its research budget to get more plug-in vehicles on the road. On Tuesday, Energy Secretary Steven Chu revealed a strategy designed to reduce oil imports and slash pollution, one that could shift billions of research dollars towards plug-in vehicles and modernizing our grid. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/29/doe-ready-to-shift-more-money-to-plug-in-vehicles-in-search-of-j/ CPT developing 48-volt electric supercharger for micro-mild hybrids. Controlled Power Technologies (CPT) is developing a 48-volt version of its 12 volt electric supercharger based on its variable torque enhancement system known as VTES. (Earlier post.) The higher-voltage variant will support moves by European vehicle manufacturers announced earlier this year to introduce 48 volt passenger vehicle power networks to help meet the requirement for lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/09/cpt-20110929.html The secret to the success of clean energy investment. Clean energy investment has seen incredible growth since the middle of the last decade, from just over US$50 billion in 2004 to nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars in 2010. Few, if any, sectors can point to such a robust and broadly-based growth during a tumultuous time in the world economy. Look at the numbers: Clean energy has not had a down year since the creation of major market support programmes in Germany, which began in 2004. Posted. http://www.siew.sg/energy-perspectives/energy-trading-finance/secret-success-clean-energy-investment MISCELLANEOUS New balance creates sneaker from recycled plastic bottles. The entire upper of New Balance’s new sneaker, called newSky, is made from a fiber called Eco-fi, which is 95 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. It takes about eight plastic bottles to make one pair of the sneakers, which will be available in October. Eco-fi is made by Foss Manufacturing which chops the bottles into flakes, heats the flakes and molds them into fiber. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/new-balance-newsky-sneaker-recycled-plastic-bottles/ OPINIONS Buses should cut their air pollution. San Joaquin smog: What about the school bus fumes? There is no cooling system on the buses. The windows are lowered for air to come in, but the fumes come in also. My 9-year-old granddaughter comes home with a headache every day. With all the buses in the Valley, school and state buses, don't you think more bus fumes are worse than cars? Then there are certain cars that don't have to be smogged. What's that all about? You can stop behind an old car or truck and nearly choke from fumes. Posted. http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20110929/OPINION03/109290314 BLOGS Climate equation: Coal + Ice = ? We like to think of awe-inspiring landscapes as timeless. Certainly that was the way I regarded the Rongbuk Glacier when I first visited it in the fall of 2001. I was backpacking through Tibet for five weeks and had decided to stop overnight at the north base camp of Mount Everest, which was a short side trip from the road to Nepal. There, red-robed monks at a Tibetan monastery welcomed visitors. Past the monastery, one could walk along the Rongbuk Glacier toward the upper base camps, passing large needles of ice en route. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/29/climate-equation-coal-ice/ 'MythBusters' asks: Are motorcycles greener than cars? A trend is afoot, according to "MythBusters" television host Adam Savage: "People are trading in their cars and driving motorcycles instead because they believe that's the more environmentally friendly choice," Savage said in Wednesday's season opener of the popular Discovery Channel show. "The logic is because motorcycles are generally more fuel-efficient than cars, they burn less gas and thus they must be better for the environment." Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/09/mythbusters-motorcycle-emissions.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 EPA scolded on greenhouse gas report review process. Opponents of the federal government's efforts to rein in planet-warming greenhouse gases were trumpeting victory Wednesday over a report by the Environmental Protection Agency's inspector general that chided the agency for its peer-review process on a scientific document. At issue is how the agency subjected a "technical support document" to scrutiny before finding that greenhouse gases posed a danger to the public and therefore merited regulation. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/09/epa-scolded-on-greenhouse-gas-review-process.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:36:06 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 30, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 30, 2011. 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 Valley Air Alert Gets Extended Again. San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District officials extended an air alert through today because of the possibility of high ozone levels. Officials expect weather conditions to improve today because a cooling trend and better air flow over the region is forecast. But they remain concerned about higher-than- anticipated ozone levels violating federal air quality limits and stressed the importance of the public's participation in minimizing emissions. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/29/1883635/valley-air-alert-gets-extended.html EPA: New England air quality improved in 2011. New England's air quality improved this summer compared with last year because of fewer sweltering days, the Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday. Between April and September, the six-state region has had 16 days when ozone levels were considered unhealthy, according to preliminary data from the EPA. That's down from 29 unhealthy days in 2010. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19003299 CLIMATE CHANGE California Supreme Court denies request to halt cap-and-trade work. The California Supreme Court Wednesday declined to order state regulators to halt work on a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program while a lower court considers legal challenges filed by environment groups. The California Air Resource Board is scheduled to adopt a final rules on October 21 implementing the nation's first economy-wide cap-and-trade plan. While the program is scheduled to start in January, CARB has decided to delay enforcement until January 2013. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/6534733 California Sup Ct Lets California Continue Its Cap and Trade Work. The California Supreme Court issued an order today that allows the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to continue implementing its cap and trade program. The history here is somewhat convoluted. The state’s plan (called the scoping plan) to implement the California Global Warming Solutions Act contains within it a cap and trade programPosted. http://legalplanet.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/california-sup-ct-lets-california-continue-its-cap-and-trade-work/ Businesses and federal agencies make final objections to Calif. cap and trade. While California's first-in-the-nation cap-and-trade program being voted on next month won't take public comments into account, stakeholders are still trying to change large parts of it, including the distribution of allowances, market protection provisions and the inclusion of federal agencies. A number of federal agencies are continuing to protest being subject to California's jurisdiction, including the Defense Department and the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), which delivers hydroelectric power in Western states. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/30/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION European fleets slash CO2, says GE Capital. New company cars across Europe’s major markets reduced their CO2 emissions by 7.2% between 2008 and 2010, according to the Key Solutions CO2 Assessment published today by GE Capital. Based on data from GE Capital’s 250,000 vehicle pan-European fleet, the report reveals that between 2008 and 2010 emissions fell by an average of 11gCO2/Km per car. Posted. http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/2011/9/26/european-fleets-slash-co2-says-ge-capital/40687/ 'Ozone hole' begins to heal, which could make Antarctica warmer. The Antarctic ozone hole could show the first signs of recovery within a decade, according to researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The scientists base their findings, published yesterday in the Journal of Geophysical Research, on a combination of data collected by specially equipped weather balloons and computer models. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/30/7 DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB-suspended filters are aftermarket, mufflers temporary. Two models of diesel particulate filters that were recently suspended by the California Air Resources Board were not factory installed, but aftermarket devices. The filters, the LongMile truck DPF unit and the off-road Allmetal DPF, were recently taken off the market after the company that makes the units reported a failure on one of its units. Some reports have blamed a truck for creating a spark that eventually turned into a major fire in south Washington. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Sep11/092611/092911-05.shtml Port train line seeks to reduce emissions by retrofitting locomotives. Pacific Harbor Line is hoping to reduce emissions by retrofitting 16 older locomotives that solely operate on 18 miles of rail within the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, port officials announced Thursday. A set of new, ultra-low emission engines will be installed in the locomotives, emitting 85 percent less diesel particulate matter and 38 percent less nitrogen oxide, port officials said. Posted. http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_19007223 VEHICLES Tesla won't ask for another U.S. loan, CEO Says. Tesla Motors Inc. won't ask the U.S. Energy Department for another vehicle-manufacturing loan from a program House Republicans tried to cut, the electric-car maker's chief executive officer said. Tesla, based in Palo Alto, has "significant" capital reserves and more than enough money to develop its Model S sedan, CEO Elon Musk told reporters today in Washington after a speech at the National Press Club. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/29/BUK21LBDKR.DTL#ixzz1ZSKB88yW GM to develop electric cars in China with SAIC, but won't share Volt. General Motors Co. says it plans to develop an electric vehicle with Chinese partner SAIC Motor Corp., and it won't be just a copy of the Chevrolet Volt. GM and SAIC announced the project in a statement today and during various media events from Shanghai this morning. In a teleconference today with journalists, GM Vice Chairman Steve Girsky confirmed that GM will form a 50-50 joint venture with SAIC to develop an EV for the Chinese market. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110920/OEM/110929994/1131 Ministry of Environmental Protection collecting opinions for new hybrid vehicles standards. The Ministry of Environmental Protection has begun collecting public opinions for its so-called "measurement methods for emissions from light-duty hybrid electric vehicles", the China Securities Journal reported today. The opinions will be used to determine emission standards for classifying hybrid electrics. Posted. http://autonews.gasgoo.com/china-news/ministry-of-environmental-protection-collecting-op-110928.shtml GREEN ENERGY >From Dump to Paragon of Ecology: A First Peek. As befits what used to be the world’s largest landfill, the future Freshkills Park on Staten Island may represent the planet’s greatest act of ecological atonement. The 2,200-acre site, which the Department of Parks and Recreation calls a “reminder of wastefulness, excess and environmental neglect,” will, as it evolves into a park over the next 25 years, feature every environmentally correct practice known to landscape architecture. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/nyregion/fresh-kills-once-a-landfill-is-environmentally-transformed.html?_r=1 Energy efficiency programs may continue, but controversy remains. The California Public Utilities Commission's president will push to continue fully funding energy efficiency programs, despite the Legislature’s recent failure to extend a special surcharge on utility bills. In a letter dated Wednesday to Gov. Jerry Brown, commission President Michael Peevey said he is initiating a formal proceeding to consider alternate ways to pay for efficiency and renewable energy programs that had been funded by the surcharge. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/energy-efficiency-programs-may-continue-controversy-remains-12850 CONGRESS: Bono Mack sought expedited reviews of solar projects. Washington - A year before Republicans seized on the collapse of the solar energy firm Solyndra as an illustration of politically motivated spending by the Obama administration, Inland Rep. Mary Bono Mack pushed for the expedited review of federal loan guarantee applications for solar projects, including a pair of large ones in her Riverside County desert. Posted. http://www.pe.com/localnews/politics/stories/PE_News_Local_D_solar30.4052029.html Obama administration approves 2 more solar energy loan guarantees worth total of $1B. The Energy Department on Wednesday approved two loan guarantees worth more than $1 billion for solar energy projects in Nevada and Arizona, two days before the expiration date of a program that has become a rallying cry for Republican critics of the Obama administration’s green energy programPosted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-administration-approves-2-more-solar-energy-loan-guarantees-worth-total-of-1b/2011/09/28/gIQAYVpv4K_story.html Contra Costa County hacks down 100 trees to clear land for green energy. Clean green energy will save the environment -- even if an acre or three of trees get in the way. That theory apparently led a Contra Costa County-hired contractor to clear-cut more than 100 venerable eucalyptus and oaks bordering Point Pinole Regional Shoreline this month, all blocking the ideal location for solar panels intended to power the County Jail in Richmond. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19006152 Hartford school wins top 'green' certification. A Hartford magnet school has become Connecticut's first public school building to achieve the highest possible rating for energy efficiency and environmentally friendly design. The Mary M. Hooker Environmental Sciences Magnet School joins two other Connecticut buildings to win platinum-level LEED certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19010433 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19010433 Latest developments in battery safety and technology. Battery Power 2011, an international conference on latest developments in the area of battery technologies, was held between 20-21 September 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. cars21.com was a media partner of the conference and summarizes some of the papers presented during the event. The conference gathered OEM design engineers, manufacturers of battery technologies, battery component providers and discussed the most recent advancements in battery and power management technology. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/66620110930.php Can the wind industry survive without federal tax credits? Minnesota wind developer Dan Juhl has seen the scenario before. The wind production tax credit -- seen as a key incentive to bringing new wind energy projects online -- nears its expiration date, expires without legislative action, and then comes barreling back, reviving the industry after a period of stagnation. It's a sequence of events that has played out three times in the last decade, most recently in 2003, and is unfolding again today. Posted. http://www.grist.org/wind-power/2011-09-30-can-the-wind-industry-survive-without-federal-tax-credits Can there be uniform, accurate energy efficiency labels for dwellings? Measuring the energy performance and green attributes of a home or business can positively affect the sale or rental price of a house, a building or an apartment. The difficulty is getting out information on performance labels so that people can relate to them the way they do to fuel efficiency stickers on new cars. To better understand the value of "green" and energy efficiency labels …Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/30/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION Wood is best option for green buildings, says USDA head. Using lumber leaves one of the smallest carbon footprints and should be prioritized in sustainable construction, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said yesterday. "Wood should be a major component of American building and energy design," he said in a statement. "The use of wood provides substantial environmental benefits, provides incentives for private landowners to maintain forest land, and provides a critical source of jobs in rural America." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/09/30/8 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION Obama admin unveils awards for 'green schools'. The Education Department announced plans yesterday to honor the greenest U.S. schools with a series of new awards next spring. Education Secretary Arne Duncan released final plans for the program and nomination documents online, encouraging states to identify their best candidates for the Green Ribbon Schools awards. The program is modeled after the department's Blue Ribbon award for academic achievement. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/09/30/16 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION MISCELLANEOUS E.P.A. Is Longtime Favorite Target for Perry. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas has built a political career running against Washington, and no agency more symbolizes what he considers the meddlesome and economy-choking evils of the federal government than the Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Perry’s conservative views on business costs, states’ rights, job creation, energy policy and global competitiveness — the core of his governing philosophy — are illuminated most vividly in his clashes with the E.P.A. over issues like pesticide regulation and global warming. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/us/politics/epa-is-perrys-favorite-target.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse High-Speed Rail Would Take A Lot of Juice. Trains rolling through the San Joaquin Valley chug along on diesel power, hauling freight and passengers at speeds that range from a seeming crawl — especially if you're stuck at a crossing — to upward of 75 mph. But the 220-mph passenger trains proposed by the California High-Speed Rail Authority would run on electricity, with overhead power lines providing juice along the 800-mile route connecting San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/09/29/1883684/high-speed-rail-would-take-a-lot.html OPINIONS Cleaner air, and rules, at the Port of L.A. Diesel truck emissions there have dropped 80% in three years, proving that there's no need to phase out independent truckers in favor of unionized ones. For years, L.A. labor and environmental advocates have been claiming that it would be impossible to clean up the diesel pollution that sickens residents near the Port of Los Angeles without phasing out the independent truckers who have traditionally picked up cargo there and replacing them with unionized employees. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-port-20110928,0,3882820.story Electricity surcharge should go dark. Will Gov. Jerry Brown never relent in his quest for higher taxes and fees? His latest idea is a sneaky attempt to extend a 1.5 percent surcharge on electricity bills, which is set to expire Jan. 1, 2012. The surcharge, which raises $400 million a year for energy efficiency and renewable-energy research, costs the average homeowner about $1 to $2 a month. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/energy-319641-surcharge-commission.html BLOGS Surprise! U.S. might meet its climate targets. Back in 2009, at the global climate talks in Copenhagen, the United States promised to cut its greenhouse-gas emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. The conventional wisdom is that there’s no way we can possibly hit that target, especially after the Senate killed a cap-and-trade bill last year. But David Hone, the climate change adviser for Shell*, has a worthwhile analysis suggesting that the combination of the steep recession, new EPA rules on power plants, and low natural-gas prices might actually let us meet those goals, after all. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/surprise-us-might-meet-its-climate-targets/2011/09/30/gIQA57z49K_blog.html Global Warming Could Cost Canada Billions, Study Warns. A report by an advisory board to the government of Canada estimates that the effects of global warming will cost the country’s economy 5 billion Canadian dollars a year by 2020 and that those costs will rise substantially afterward. Unlike earlier studies, the report does not examine the costs of reducing greenhouse gas emissions; it looked at the economic consequences of global warming. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/global-warming-could-cost-canada-billions-study-warns/?scp=5&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Researchers from MIT and Sun Catalytix develop an artificial leaf for solar water splitting to produce hydrogen and oxygen. Researchers led by MIT professor Daniel Nocera have produced an “artificial leaf”—a solar water-splitting cell producing hydrogen and oxygen that operates in near-neutral pH conditions, both with and without connecting wires. (Earlier post.) In a paper published in the journal Science, they report that the cells carry out the solar-driven water splitting reaction at direct solar-to-fuels efficiencies of 2.5% (wireless configuration)…Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/09/researchers-from-mit-and-sun-catalytix-develop-on-artificial-leaf-for-solar-water-splitting-to-produce-hydrogen-and-oxygen.html MIT Unveils Artificial Leaf That Creates Hydrogen Fuel from Sunlight. MIT researchers just officially unveiled a device that uses sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The device builds upon a breakthrough hydrogen producing technology developed in 2008, and they are calling it an “artificial leaf” because of it capacity to create chemical fuels directly from sunlight. The cell is also made from common materials like silicon, cobalt and nickel, which means that the “leaf” could potentially be mass-produced. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/mit-unveils-artificial-leaf-that-creates-hydrogen-fuel-from-sunlight/ Solyndra bankruptcy is aberration, solar power executives say. National media "chatter" surrounding the much-publicized bankruptcy of Fremont, Calif., solar panel producer Solyndra Inc. and the loss of $535 million in federal loan guarantees is hurting more successful renewable energy companies and obscuring the new industry's success, solar executives said. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/09/soylyndra-bankruptcy-is-aberration-say-california-solar-power-executives.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MoneyCompany+%28Money+%26+Company%29 Markets Can Be Very, Very Wrong. Muller, Mendelsohn, and Nordhaus have a new paper in the American Economic Review that should be a major factor in how we discuss economic ideology. It won’t, of course, but let me lay out the case anyway. What MMN do is estimate the cost imposed on society by air pollution, and allocate it across industries. The costs being calculated, by the way, don’t include the long-run threat of climate change; they’re focused on measurable impacts of pollution on health and productivity... Posted. http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/30/markets-can-be-very-very-wrong/?scp=6&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Lighter and More Fuel Efficient, Boeing Delivers the First 787 Dreamliner. This week, US aircraft maker Boeing celebrated the delivery of it’s first new-generation 787 Dreamliner to the Japanese carrier, All Nippon Airlines (ANA). This follows a series of setbacks which have beset the launch, delaying deliveries by around three years. Despite the setbacks, Bloomberg reported in August that the 787 is the fastest selling aircraft ever. With the number of orders already secured, production of the 787 represents about 7 years of work for the company. These orders were all placed prior to 2011 however, and orders for 26 planes have been cancelled during 2011. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/lighter-fuel-efficient-boeing-delivers-first-787-dreamliner/ The Problem with Politicizing Solyndra. “As much as I wish to be able to answer the members’ questions, I have been advised by my counsel that it is the better course for me to assert my constitutional right to decline to answer questions under the Fifth Amendment. While I hope to have an opportunity to assist this committee’s inquiry in the future, on the advice of my attorney, I must respectfully decline to answer any questions put forth to me by this committee.” Solyndra CEO Brian Harrison, Hearing on the Committee on Energy & Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives, 9/23/11. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/09/politicization-solyndra-tale-bad/ Tesla expands in Europe with showroom opening in the Netherlands. With the Model S slowly making its way through the pre-production process, Tesla Motors is expanding its operations in Europe, starting with the construction of a showroom and service center in the Netherlands. In anticipation of continued success, Tesla swung open the doors to its showroom in Eindhoven, Netherlands and has raised the curtain on Europe's largest Tesla-only service center. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/30/tesla-expands-in-europe-with-showroom-opening-in-the-netherlands/ Nissan addresses Leaf battery life, replacement costs. Hundreds, not thousands. That's the word from Nissan's chief vice-president of global marketing communications, Simon Sproule, who believes that after five years of repeated use, the battery pack in the Nissan Leaf may require some maintenance, but not complete replacement. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/30/nissan-addresses-leaf-battery-life-replacement-costs/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2011 15:00:06 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 3, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 3, 2011. 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 EPA sues MotorScience Inc. over emissions documents. The agency says the City of Industry engine certification company used false or incomplete data to help its clients import recreational vehicles. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency filed a civil lawsuit against an engine certification company in the City of Industry, accusing the firm of using false or incomplete data to get paperwork needed under the Clean Air Act so its customers could import recreational vehicles. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-motorscience-20110930,0,49418.story Air pollution rules may have helped whales. Santa Barbara, Calif. (AP) -- State regulations aimed at reducing air pollution may have inadvertently helped save whales in the Santa Barbara Channel from being killed by cargo ships. The Ventura County Star (http://bit.ly/nYtM4W) says a panel of ship-strike experts speaking at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said Wednesday that before the California Air Resources Board issued regulations in 2009 requiring cargo ships to use low-sulfur fuels, as many as 7,000 cargo ships per year passed through the channel. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/09/30/state/n145911D90.DTL&type=printable Fairbanks hearing set on Prop 2. A hearing is scheduled to be held on Proposition 2. That is the proposition that aims to improve air quality in Fairbanks by banning hydronic heaters and coal-fired devices, as well as creating emissions standards for all wood burners. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner ( http://bit.ly/nWfLhP) says Monday's hearing will focus on a lawsuit filed earlier this month by three owners of hydronic heaters acting through a group called Responsible Wood Burners for Limited Government. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19029619?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19029619?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19029619?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com CLIMATE CHANGE With Deaths of Forests, a Loss of Key Climate Protectors. The trees spanning many of the mountainsides of western Montana glow an earthy red, like a broadleaf forest at the beginning of autumn. But these trees are not supposed to turn red. They are evergreens, falling victim to beetles that used to be controlled in part by bitterly cold winters. As the climate warms, scientists say, that control is no longer happening. Across millions of acres, the pines of the northern and central Rockies are dying, just one among many types of forests that are showing signs of distress these days. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/01/science/earth/01forest.html Conservative Means Standing With Science on Climate: Bob Inglis. Normally, the country can count on conservatives to deal in facts. We base policies on science, not sentiment, we insist on people being accountable for their actions, and we maintain that markets, not mandates, are the path to prosperity. When it comes to energy and climate, these are not normal times. We’re following sentiment, not science, we’re turning a blind eye to accountability, and we’re failing to use the power of markets. The National Academy of Sciences says, “Climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks.” Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-10-03/conservative-means-standing-with-science-on-climate-bob-inglis.html Proposed Keystone XL oil project draws a divisive line. At hearings along the pipeline's route from Montana to Texas, traditional political bases are at each other's throats. Atkinson, Neb. Some might have been surprised to hear that plans to build a 1,700-mile oil pipeline through the Midwest to the Gulf Coast — a source of new oil and thousands of jobs — would drive an emotional fault line down the middle of the conservative heartland. But any skepticism would have quickly evaporated here in the noisy bleachers of the West Holt High School gymnasium. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-trans-canada-pipeline-20111003,0,3739018,print.story Climate change threatens W. Africa cocoa industry. Climate scientists say that the booming cocoa industry in Ivory Coast and Ghana will be threatened by climate change. A report released by Colombia-based International Center for Tropical Agriculture says the expected annual temperature rise of more than two degrees Celsius will leave many cocoa-producing areas in West Africa unsuitable for chocolate production by 2050. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/09/30/international/i065340D25.DTL&type=printable Retired Republicans Quietly Try to Shift GOP Climate-Change Focus. To hear GOP presidential front-runner Rick Perry and some tea party-backed lawmakers tell it, the Republican position on global warming is that it’s a problem that doesn’t even exist. That wasn’t always the case. And if prominent Republican elder statesmen have their way, it won’t continue to be. Posted. http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/retired-republicans-quietly-try-to-shift-gop-climate-change-focus-20110930 New Zealand considering banning some emissions offsets. New Zealand's government is considering barring certain types of emissions offsets by 2012. Nick Smith, the nation's climate change minister, said New Zealand is looking into banning hydrofluorocarbon-23 (HFC-23) and nitrous oxide credits, since they distort the market. "The high value for destroying these gases creates perverse incentives in developing countries to manufacture more of them, bringing into question the environmental gains," said Smith. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/10/03/10 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY U.N. regulators call for a global review of the Clean Development Mechanism. United Nations -- Administrators of the U.N. Clean Development Mechanism want the world to hold a "dialogue on the future of the CDM" to be launched at Durban, South Africa, at the end of November. Concerned that the Kyoto Protocol's signature greenhouse gas emissions offsetting program is facing an existential threat -- as the protocol itself is -- the CDM Executive Board wants policymakers, industry, nonprofit supporters and critics of the system to come together to determine a future course. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/10/03/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Plaintiffs fire warning shot on power plant standards for greenhouse gases. A coalition of states and environmental organizations is warning it might go back to court as soon as this month if a new agreement is not reached with U.S. EPA setting a timeline for new greenhouse gas rules for power plants. The groups have sued to force EPA to propose New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for electric utilities, which contribute more emissions linked to climate change than any other sector in the United States. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/10/03/4 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Climate change could melt chocolate production. Cocoa -- one of West Africa's most important cash crops and one of the Western world's guiltiest pleasures -- will be greatly affected by climate change, a new study says. More than half of the world's chocolate is sourced from Ghana and Ivory Coast, or Côte d'Ivoire, where the cocoa-growing topography will be very different by 2050, according to the study by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/10/03/6 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Flammable landscapes make climate adaptation a challenge. Last year was the hottest year on record, and as the world warms up, the risk of more frequent and intense fires increases. The fires, in turn, can worsen the effects of global warming. Global fires "could lead to a dangerous feedback as more burning releases more carbon into the atmosphere, further driving climate change," said David Bowman, a professor of environmental change biology at the University of Tasmania. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/10/03/8 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Santa Rosa bus fleet gets a green upgrade. Santa Rosa is set to roll out seven sleek new hybrid buses that promise to be quieter, easier to maintain and more fuel efficient than those on the road today. The 40-foot diesel-electric buses built by New Flyer Industries of Winnipeg, Manitoba, come with a hefty price tag — $4.5 million, or about $650,000 each, according to CityBus' Interim Transit Director Jason Parrish. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111003/ARTICLES/110031009 FUELS TransCanada Pipeline Foes Allege Bias in U.S. E-Mails. With the Obama administration about to decide whether to green-light a controversial pipeline to take crude oil from Canada’s oil sands to the United States Gulf Coast, e-mails released Monday paint a picture of a sometimes warm and collaborative relationship between lobbyists for the company building the billion-dollar pipeline and officials in the State Department, the agency that has final say over the pipeline. Environmental groups said the e-mails were disturbing and evidence of “complicity” between TransCanada, the pipeline company, and American officials tasked with evaluating the pipeline’s environmental impact. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/science/earth/04pipeline.html?pagewanted=1&ref=earth State Department and Keystone XL are BFFs, say emails. Hillary Clinton's former deputy national campaign director is now lobbying Clinton and the Department of State on behalf of TransCanada, the company that wants to lay 7,000 miles of pipe between Canada's tar sands and Texas refineries. Emails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show an unusually cozy relationship between TransCanada and the State Department, including multiple meetings between company representatives and department officials. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-10-03-state-department-and-keystone-xl-are-bffs-say-emails Oil pipeline argument focuses on jobs, environment. Backers of an oil pipeline that would cut across Oklahoma to deliver crude oil from Canada to refineries in Houston want the jobs that would come with the project, but environmental groups say the damage to natural areas isn't worth the benefits the shortcut would bring. Supporters of the 1,700-mile pipeline that would carry oil that's being extracted from Canadian oil sands also said at a Friday hearing by the U.S. State Department that it's better to buy crude from a close ally than from unstable sources from overseas. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/01/oil-pipeline-argument-focuses-on-jobs/ VEHICLES Tesla wannabe owners get a gander at Model S Sedan. Fremont, Calif. (Reuters) - Electric carmaker Tesla Motors threw open its factory doors to customers who have preordered its forthcoming Model S sedan Saturday evening. Customers were given tours of the Fremont, California, factory, rides in a prototype of the Model S, and a plea for support from Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk, a co-founder of PayPal. ``We need your help,'' he told hundreds of customers after driving onto a stage in a red Model S, saying many people thought of electric cars as unrealistic ``unicorns.'' Posted. http://www.latimes.com/sns-rt-usa-tesla-corrected-pixn1e79001v-20111002,0,7865490,print.story http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_19023275?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Paris readies electric car-sharing program. Paris is preparing to flip the switch on what aims to be one of the world's largest electric car-sharing programs. Organizers say Autolib', so-named after Paris' Velib' bike sharing system, will begin a two-month testing phase Sunday before full-scale operations begin Dec. 5. At first 250 of the four-seat "Bluecars" will be available for hire, but organizers say they hope to expand that to 3,000 cars at 1,000 parking stations around Paris and neighboring towns by the end of next year. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/09/30/financial/f071439D84.DTL&type=printable US auto sales up in September on big trucks. Pickups and SUVs helped accelerate U.S. auto sales in September, although carmakers remain concerned that worries about the economy could dampen demand later this fall. General Motor Co.’s sales rose 20 percent compared with last September, led by a 34-percent rise in full-size pickups and SUV sales. Chrysler Group LLC's overall sales rose 27 percent. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20111003-us-auto-sales-up-in-september-on-big-trucks.ece http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_4bdddeaa-f587-580a-a455-b5c642bfe4f2.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/03/1887578/chrysler-says-us-sales-jump-27.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19029021?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com- www.dailynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19029619?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Chrysler says US sales jump 27 pct in September. Chrysler's U.S. sales jumped 27 percent in September, boosted by strong demand for new models of car and trucks. Chrysler was the first automaker to report sales on Monday and others will follow later. Overall industry sales are expected to have risen around 10 percent from last September to more than 1 million cars and trucks. Chrysler sold 127,334 vehicles, including 8,709 of its recently launched Chrysler 200 sedan and 2,773 of its new Fiat 500 small car. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/03/chrysler-says-us-sales-jump-27-pct-in-september/ http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111003/RETAIL01/111009989/1448 An electric car for an electric company. An electric company in central Louisiana is testing its first all-electric vehicle. Cleco Corp. unveiled its first all-electric vehicle, a $60,000 2011 Ford Transit Connect Electric, on Thursday. George Bausewine, Cleco Power president, said the Connect is part of Cleco's "Green Smart Program." The Town Talk reports (http://bit.ly/pyXbID ) that Cleco currently plans to use the electric vehicle for mail runs and transporting light materials. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/02/an-electric-car-for-an-electric-company/ GREEN ENERGY Homeowners and Businesses Embracing Small Wind Turbines. Most of the buzz about wind power centers on the enormous turbine farms that dot plains and hilltops around the world. But another segment of the wind business is also gaining traction — small wind turbines, the type that stand alone at homes or businesses. In a report to be released later this month, the American Wind Energy Association says that the market for small wind turbines in the United States grew 26 percent last year — faster than in prior years. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/business/global/homeowners-and-businesses-embracing-small-wind-turbines.html Tevatron particle accelerator shuts down. Physicist Giovanni Punzi discusses the 4-mile-long accelerator and its shutdown after 26 years of smashing atoms. After smashing atoms together for 26 years, the Tevatron particle accelerator powered down on Friday. The 4-mile-long ring-shaped accelerator, located at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Ill., was built to hurl tiny bits of matter at each other in the hopes that they would break apart into the basic building blocks of the universe. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-tevatron-closure-20111001,0,3885242,print.story Chevron to unveil solar oil field project. Chevron Corp. on Monday will unveil a solar oil field project that has been hit by cost overruns and delays but serves as a showcase for the technology of Chevron-backed solar thermal company BrightSource Energy. Chevron, the second-largest U.S. oil company, said Friday that three of its executives would attend the launch of the "demonstration project" in Coalinga, which is designed to use solar power to create steam to inject into wells to improve the flow of heavy oil. The 65-acre project consists of 7,600 mirrors focusing sunlight on a 327-foot tower. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-adv-chevron-solar-20110930,0,901463.story LED startup Switch Lighting hopes to light the way in Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley is known for computer chips, software companies and social networks - but not light bulbs. Switch Lighting, a San Jose, Calif., startup, hopes to change that. Later this fall, the venture capital-backed company plans to release a new line of bulbs aimed at replacing the ones consumers typically use in lamps and other fixtures. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/03/v-print/3956184/led-startup-switch-lighting-hopes.html Obama's energy chief defends clean energy loans. The Obama administration's energy chief, facing increased pressure over the failure of solar panel maker Solyndra, defended on Saturday a loan guarantee program that has provided billions of dollars for solar energy and other renewable energy projects. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said a stimulus law program that expired Friday will help develop the world's largest wind farm in Oregon, several large solar power farms in California and Nevada, and the installation of solar panels on 750 rooftops in 28 states, among other projects. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/01/obama-official-defends-clean-energy-loan-program/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_cdb0b965-ccf0-542b-8a23-d0701e1ee118.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/01/1885584/obamas-energy-chief-defends-clean.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/01/2560730/obamas-energy-chief-defends-clean.html#storylink=misearch WALTERS: Power bill surprisingly sinks. Assembly Bill 724 was one of the odder casualties as the Legislature wound up its 2011 session in the early morning hours of Sept. 10. The measure would have continued a $400 million a year surcharge on the electricity bills of millions of Californians, about $1 to $2 per month. The "public goods" surcharge, which has been collected since 1997, finances programs to improve energy efficiency, encourage energy sources other than fossil fuels and finance energy research. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/02/1886744/power-bill-surprisingly-sinks.html Loudoun opens first commuter lot with electric vehicle-charging stations. Loudoun County officials and community members gathered Wednesday to celebrate the opening of the first county-owned commuter parking lot in western Loudoun, home to a grant-funded pilot program that features five charging stations for electric vehicles. Under cloudy skies at the Harmony Park and Ride lot in Hamilton, several Loudoun supervisors spoke about the significance of the new clean-energy lot, …Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/loudoun-opens-first-commuter-lot-with-electric-vehicle-charging-stations/2011/09/30/gIQAvbI7HL_story.html’ Regulators reject Hawaiian Electric biofuel plan. The state Public Utilities Commission has rejected a plan by Hawaiian Electric Co. to buy 16 million gallons per year of biofuel produced on the Big Island because of concerns about high costs to ratepayers. Earlier this year, HECO and renewable energy company Aina Koa Pono announced the agreement for crops grown on the Big Island to be converted into liquid fuel. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/sep/30/regulators-reject-hawaiian-electric-biofuel-plan/ When renewable energy soars on Europe's grid, utilities give power away. In windy northern Germany, the nation's 21,600 windmills produced so much power that major utilities EON AG and RWE AG lost money on their electricity by having to pay consumers to take the surplus off the grid. This is the 31st hour this year that power companies have gone in the negative during renewable energy peaks. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/10/03/9 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY China wind turbine installations slowed by grid bottleneck. China, the world's largest wind power producer, will erect 8 percent less wind turbine capacity this year versus 2010, the first decline in recent history, a new report by MAKE Consulting shows. The primary factor driving this reduction is China's new focus on increasing grid-connected capacity rather than installed capacity, which has resulted in tightened project permitting regulations, the report says. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/10/03/5 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Five Awesome Solar Trends - How They will Change the World. Solar innovators are always looking for ways to make the technology more efficient, flexible and affordable. Some advances are already on the market now, while others are still in development. The most promising technologies still face challenges, but if innovations continue at their current speed, it may not be a matter of if, but when these five new solar trends change the world. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/five-awesome-solar-trends-how-they-will-change-wor/ MISCELLANEOUS Rideshare Week encourages people to carpool. With gas prices fluctuating and the economy sputtering, Ventura County's Rideshare program is just the ticket for saving money, said Alan Holmes, program manager for the Ventura County Transportation Commission. Rideshare Week, which runs today to Friday, offers first-time carpoolers a chance to try the program while earning a chance to win prizes such as an Apple iPad2 or iTunes gift cards. "This is the 25th year for Rideshare in Southern California. It's a great alternative to save money on the commute. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/02/rideshare-week-encourages-people-to-carpool/ Industrial solvent TCE even more dangerous to people. EPA finds trichloroethylene causes kidney and liver cancer, lymphoma and other health problems. The decision could raise the cost of cleanups nationwide, including in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. One of the most widespread groundwater contaminants in the nation is more dangerous to humans than earlier thought, a federal agency has determined, in a decision that could raise the cost of cleanups nationwide, including large areas of the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-toxic-risk-20110930,0,2458309,print.story Justices ask Obama admin to weigh in on 3 environmental cases. The Supreme Court today asked the U.S. solicitor general for his views on three environmental cases, an indication that the justices are interested in reviewing the issues raised. At issue in the three cases: the proposed construction of a coal-fired power plant in Texas, California regulations that restrict emissions from ships, and a dispute over compensation arising from plutonium contamination in Colorado. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2011/10/03/2 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS Shifting the Suburban Paradigm. Is there anything made in America that’s less innovative than the single-family home? While we obsess over the new in terms of what we keep in our houses — the ever-increasing speed and functionality of our Smartphones, entertainment options built into refrigerators, sophisticated devices that monitor, analyze and report on our sleep cycles, even the superior technology of the running shoes we put on before heading out the flimsy fiberboard door — we’re incredibly undemanding of the houses themselves. Posted. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/02/shifting-the-suburban-paradigm/?scp=9&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse The green-jobs fallacy. Think we could use 5 million new jobs right about now? That's what President Barack Obama promised he'd create by "investing" taxpayer money in so-called green jobs. And not just any jobs, he said on the campaign trail in 2008, but ones that "pay well, and can never be outsourced." Jump ahead three years, and the only "green" you find is the billions being poured into the coffers of renewable-energy companies lucky to even stay in business, let alone create a high number of jobs. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111001/A_OPINION03/110010314&cid=sitesearch Issa disputed, confusion on benefits, Greece’s woes. Please inform Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, that the regulatory environment in America has evolved over the last 40 years, not just the three years since President Obama was elected, as he infers in his essay (“Regulatory tsunami impeding economic growth,” Opinion, Sept. 30). Nor did these regulations cause the economic crash that put millions out of work as is often stated by certain politicians – Wall Street did that. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/03/issa-disputed-confusion-on-benefits-greeces-woes/ BLOGS Maryland Team Wins Solar House Contest. A team from the University of Maryland has taken top honors at the Solar Decathlon, a competition for small, cost-effective solar-powered houses sponsored by the Department of Energy. The entries have been on view on the National Mall in Washington for over a week. A project manual and a video walk-through for the winning entry are here. Recently Joanna Foster reported in The Times on an entry from the New York area. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/01/maryland-team-wins-solar-house-contest/?ref=earth Dominion begins EV charging pilot program. Dominion Virginia Power began Monday a pilot program that will allow electric vehicle owners to “fill up” during off-peak periods for lower rates. The pilot was approved this summer by the Virginia State Corporation Commission. “This pilot program provides electric-vehicle users an option to help them manage their vehicle charging costs,” Kenneth D. Barker, vice president of Customer Solutions and Energy Conservation, said in a statement. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr-gridlock/post/dominion-begins-ev-charging-pilot-program/2011/10/03/gIQAtY4tHL_blog.html Wood is the greenest building material, USDA says. A report from the U.S. Forest Service on Thursday found that using wood in building products yielded fewer greenhouse gases than other common building materials, such as concrete and steel. According to the report, which analyzed dozens of peer-reviewed scientific studies, 2.1 tons of greenhouse gases were saved for each ton of carbon in wood products versus non-wood materials. "This study confirms what many environmental scientists have been saying for years," U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/10/wood-green-building-material.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Agency overseeing oil, gas exploration gets shakeup. The Obama administration fulfilled a vow made just after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill to reorganize and revamp the beleaguered agency that oversees the domestic offshore oil and gas exploration and production. The April 20, 2010, Macondo well blowout killed 11 men and spewed nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the ocean. It also revealed that the Interior Department agency tasked with managing the vast offshore energy sector, the Minerals Management Service, was plagued by conflicts of interest, inadequate resources and weak regulations. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/09/offshore-oil-gas-exploration.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Alan Taub: GM pushing on split-cycle engine technology in the lab; looking for low-load efficiency and packaging. Noting that split-cycle engine technology “really looks promising”, GM Vice President of Global Research and Development Dr. Alan Taub said that the company is putting on a “major thrust” in its R&D laboratory to see if it can get split-cycle technology “moving”. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/10/taub-20111003.html Keystone XL Pipeline Hearings Create Questions and Controversy. The last week of September marked the start of a series of public hearings in six U.S. states about the proposed Keystone XL crude oil pipeline . The $7 billion pipeline would move tar-sands derived crude oil from Alberta, Canada through Kansas, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. Keystone XL is a project of Calgary-based TransCanada Corporation. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/keystone-xl-pipeline-hearings-create-questions-and/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 13:01:57 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 4, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 4, 2011. 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 EPA chief wanted stricter smog standard before White House intervened in face of GOP criticism. Washington - The head of the Environmental Protection Agency had wanted to set a stricter limit on the main ingredient in smog to better protect children from lung damage before the White House killed the effort. Documents released Monday by the EPA show that administrator Lisa Jackson proposed lowering the ground-level ozone allowed in the air from 75 parts per billion to 70. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/epa-chief-wanted-stricter-smog-standard-before-white-house-intervened-in-face-of-gop-criticism/2011/10/03/gIQAug2fIL_story.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/03/lisa-jacksons-epa-chief_n_993173.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19031008 EU Favors Continuation of Kyoto Protocol. New Delhi – Lending support to demands from developing countries for an extension of the Kyoto Protocol, the European Union Tuesday said it favored the continuation of the global pact that is aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. "The Kyoto Protocol should be extended for some time, but I can't say what that sometime would be," E.U. Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik told a news conference. He didn't give any reason for the E.U.'s proposal for continuing with the pact. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204612504576610601860779060.html?mod=googlenews_wsj BY SUBSCRIPTION Companies Get New Tools for Calculating Emissions. The creators of influential measures of greenhouse gas emissions plan to announce two new tools for corporations on Tuesday. One is a way to calculate the amount of climate-warming gases released through a company’s supply chain, as well as in the use and disposal of its products. A standardized way of calculating such emissions had eluded energy experts and statisticians for several years. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/business/corporations-getting-new-tools-for-calculating-emissions.html?pagewanted=print Justices request U.S. opinion in California clean-air case. The Supreme Court asks the Obama administration for a brief in the coastal dispute, which involves fuel requirements for ships. Justices also turn down over 1,800 appeals. The Supreme Court asked the Obama administration to weigh in on a clean-air dispute along California's coast and take a stand on whether the state can force oceangoing vessels to switch to more costly low-sulfur fuel when they come within 24 miles of shore. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-court-petitions-20111004,0,1486700.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fwashingtondc+%28Los+Angeles+Times+-+Washington+DC%29 Ameren cites EPA rules in closure of 2 Ill. Plants. Ameren Corp. plans to close two power plants in Illinois by the end of the year, and the utility blames the cost of complying with new pollution rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. The St. Louis-based utility will shut down plants in Meredosia and Hutsonville. Ninety jobs will be eliminated, though Ameren says it is trying to reassign 22 management and 68 union workers at other locations. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/04/financial/f072633D76.DTL&type=printable http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/ameren-cites-new-epa-anti-pollution-rules-in-decision-to-close-2-power-plants-in-illinois/2011/10/04/gIQAtj9sKL_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/04/2563703/ameren-cites-epa-rules-in-closure.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/04/1889089/ameren-cites-epa-rules-in-closure.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/04/ameren-cites-epa-rules-in-closure-of-2-02/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19036987 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19036987?nclick_check=1 Environmental groups, state regulators win major smog case over home developers. In an environmental case that is expected to have implications across the Bay Area and California, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to take up a lawsuit from the National Association of Home Builders that challenged whether air pollution officials in California can charge developers fees to offset the smog that is caused from new subdivisions and other housing developments. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_19032470?source=rss http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19032470 Valley Air District says it wins development-related emissions legal case. The Valley Air District said it prevailed in a legal challenge by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to a landmark regulation addressing development-related emissions. Rule 9150, Indirect Source Review, was first upheld by the federal District Court in 2007. The ruling was appealed, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals again upheld the rule last year. In June of this year, NAHB filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the appellate court decision. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/10/04/2068449/valley-air-district-says-it-wins.html#ixzz1Zph9N87C http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/03/2563361/builders-lose-valley-smog-fee.html http://www.thereporter.com/wirenews/ci_19035964 http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_19035957 Mobile lab helps measure air pollutants in Bay Area. Oakland, Calif. -- A new device is giving Bay Area scientists never before seen detail about the quality of the air we breathe. A first-hand look recently gave KTVU insight on several hot spots for high pollutant exposure. The first location the device was tested was the Caldecott Tunnel. At KTVU’s request, a crew from Los Gatos Research tested the air both outside and inside the tunnel. Their mobile lab with sophisticated, instant laser detectors revealed a new truth about Bay Area pollution including lung irritating nitrogen dioxide or NO2. Posted. http://www.ktvu.com/news/29380230/detail.html CLIMATE CHANGE China to Meet Carbon Intensity Goals as Total Emissions Rise, Report Says. China is meeting a pledge to lower its greenhouse-gas emissions relative to its economic growth even as total pollution rises faster than forecast, according to a report from climate researchers. The world’s largest greenhouse-gas emitter is reducing the the amount of carbon dioxide generated per unit of economic growth, according to a report today from Utrecht, Netherlands- based Ecofys, a renewable energy consultant. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-04/china-to-meet-carbon-intensity-goals-as-total-emissions-rise-report-says.html Group Urges Research Into Aggressive Efforts to Fight Climate Change. With political action on curbing greenhouse gases stalled, a bipartisan panel of scientists, former government officials and national security experts is recommending that the government begin researching a radical fix: directly manipulating the Earth’s climate to lower the temperature. Members said they hoped that such extreme engineering techniques, which include scattering particles in the air to mimic the cooling effect of volcanoes or stationing orbiting mirrors in space to reflect sunlight, would never be needed. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/science/earth/04climate.html DIESEL EMISSIONS EPA approves plan to reduce microscopic pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is approving California's air quality plans for reducing microscopic pollution caused by diesel trucks, ship traffic and other sources in Central and Southern California. Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley suffer from some of the worst pollution in the nation. The plans, approved Monday, are required to reduce pollution to a certain level by 2015. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/03/state/n170711D49.DTL#ixzz1Zpi3bTRD http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/03/1888410/epa-approves-plan-to-reduce-microscopic.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/03/epa-approves-plan-to-reduce-microscopic http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19032673?nclick_check=1 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19032673 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19032673 Supreme Court Asks U.S. for Views on California Shipping Pollution Rules. The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday asked the solicitor general to weigh in on the validity of California regulations mandating use of cleaner marine fuels on vessels operating within 24 miles of the state’s coastline. The court, on the first day of its new term, issued a brief order inviting the federal government to express its views on whether the court should grant certiorari in Pacific Merchant Shipping Association v. Goldstene, 10-1555. Posted. http://www.metnews.com/articles/2011/ship100411.htm VEHICLES Governor signs bill to bolster "buy America" rules for new buses and train cars. California public transit agencies soon can adopt stronger "buy America" rules for the content of new bus and rail cars, under a bill signed Monday by Gov. Jerry Brown. Assembly Bill 1097 permits public transit systems to set their own requirements for the minimum percent of American-made content and components in federally funded buses and rail cars. Without the state law, the federal minimum of 60 percent applies to public transit purchases of buses and rail cars, legislative staffers say. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19033346?source=rss Can electric car racing turn geeky into gold? London -- The future of the motorcar is electric because it has to be, and it is the job of auto racing to come up with fully functional zero-emission race cars and make green not just very fast but very cool, too, according to Paul Drayson, a leading exponent of low-carbon life lived at speed. Drayson, a multimillionaire businessman and former U.K. defense minister, is one of those at the forefront of electric race car enthusiasts. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/10/04/1 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Solar-Panel Firms' Outlook Dims. Solar-panel company stocks have plunged to multiyear lows as slowing demand and a glut of panels from Asia have squeezed margins, creating a cloud that could hang over the industry for some time. Shares of U.S. solar-panel giant First Solar Inc. have been trading at four-year lows, while shares of Chinese rival Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. have reached all-time lows since the company went public in 2005. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204612504576610941400628636.html BY SUBSCRIPTION At Solar Decathlon Finale, Chu Defends DOE Solar Program, Hails American Ingenuity. Energy Secretary Steven Chu used his address at the closing ceremony of this year's Solar Decathlon to shoot back at critics who have used the failure of the Solyndra Inc. solar energy company to question his agency's renewable energy investments. "Just as there is a fierce competition happening here, there is also a fierce competition happening around the world," Chu said Saturday. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/10/03/03greenwire-at-solar-decathlon-finale-chu-defends-doe-sola-54319.html Chevron uses solar heat to help extract crude oil. Chevron Corp. has begun extracting crude oil from a Southern California field using steam produced by a 29-megawatt solar-thermal power plant built by BrightSource Energy Inc. The Oakland Company’s system uses mirrors to focus sunlight on a boiler at Chevron's enhanced oil recovery project in Coalinga (Fresno County), the solar company said. Solar-thermal technology companies such as BrightSource are targeting industrial users in the oil-recovery and food-processing industries as customers as well as for power generation. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/03/BUTH1LCV08.DTL#ixzz1ZpqVD8Mp Report says green jobs program far short of goals. A $500 million Labor Department program designed to train workers for green jobs has come up far short of its goals, with only 10 percent of participants finding work so far, the agency's assistant inspector general has found. The report said the low rate makes it unlikely the program will meet the goal of placing nearly 80,000 workers in careers in energy efficiency or renewable energy by 2013. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/03/1888080/report-says-green-jobs-program.html http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19031033 MISCELLANEOUS McEwen: Look out, air board: Kevin Hall's back. Despite their high profiles, the governing board of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District operates in near anonymity when making crucial decisions about how to clean our dirty air. This is about to change in a big way. Activist Kevin Hall is back in the air-pollution fight full time after spending several years as a political organizer for Service International Employee Union's United Health Care Workers-West and ran his own political consulting company in Fresno. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/03/2563334/look-out-air-board-kevin-halls.html#ixzz1ZpdC6KWY 'Eco Freak McMansion' makes up for size with sustainability. Bill Newman's kayak buddies love to tease him about his new house in Brooklyn Center, Minn. It's too big for just one person, they say. It's a McMansion. And it's way too nice for him. Newman just laughs. He erased his guilt about the home's size (more than 3,000 square feet spread over three levels) by packing it with sustainable features, including solar panels … Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/04/2563588/eco-freak-mcmansion-makes-up-for.html#storylink=misearch OPINIONS OUR VIEW: SCOTUS denial has positive impact for all. The San Joaquin Valley gets its air pollution from a variety of sources. Industry, truck traffic, natural geography -- those sources and more contribute to our world-class blanket of smog and ozone. Some pollution-worsening factors are easier to mitigate and modify than others, but where improvement is reasonably possible, we ought to be taking positive action. One way cities and counties can make meaningful improvements is by encouraging homebuilders to grow communities in ways that minimize sprawl, reduce car trips and keep pace with the infrastructure demands that new development creates. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/x2000242132/SCOTUS-denial-has-positive-impact-for-all Who's Bankrolling the Climate-Change Deniers? Not too long ago, belief in climate science wasn't a political issue. Honestly! As recently as the 2008 U.S. presidential election, both the Democratic and Republican candidates professed belief in the threat of global warming, and each advanced policies designed to curb U.S. carbon emissions. Senator John McCain had even co-sponsored one of the first congressional bills to create a carbon cap-and-trade system. Posted. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2096055,00.html#ixzz1ZpjcNExh BLOGS Chopping Down Trees to Save Forests. Jim Pitts stood on a Forest Service road near the Arizona town of Nutrioso and surveyed the damage in the valley below. It was July, and only a few weeks earlier the Wallow Fire, the largest in recorded history in Arizona, had swept through this section of steep slopes and tightly packed trees. “This is pretty devastating, both from the forest standpoint and the human aspect,” said Mr. Pitts, a Forest Service silviculturist. “It’s going to take a long time to get this forest back to the way it was. It won’t happen in my lifetime when it’s got to start over.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/chopping-down-trees-to-save-forests/ What, exactly, are ‘green jobs’? One way to think of the term “green jobs” is as a mundane political framing device. Politicians, after all, always say their favored policies will “create jobs,” even though, in the long run, the unemployment rate is determined by the Federal Reserve. And, as Matt Yglesias has noted, “green jobs” typically gets used as shorthand for policies that will shift the U.S economy toward cleaner sources of energy and less pollution. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/what-exactly-are-green-jobs/2011/10/04/gIQA4J34KL_blog.html The record-breaking Arctic ozone “hole” and global warming. For years, polls have shown that many Americans have conflated two distinct atmospheric calamities – the destruction of the planet’s stratospheric ozone layer, and global warming. A 2010 poll by Yale University found that 21 percent of respondents believe the greenhouse effect refers to the ozone layer, rather than to gases in the atmosphere that trap heat, such as carbon dioxide. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/the-rare-record-breaking-arctic-ozone-hole-and-global-warming/2011/10/04/gIQAfmWwKL_blog.html Supreme Court rejects builders' challenge to pollution rule. The U.S. Supreme Court today refused to review a case in which builders in the San Joaquin Valley sought to overthrow restrictions on air pollution associated with sprawl. The National Assn. of Home Builders had sought to overturn a rule that requires developers to mitigate additional air pollution associated with large developments -- such as increased automobile traffic with longer commuting distances. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/10/supreme-court-homebuilders-san-joaquin.html NASA issues award in green aviation competition. NASA has seen the future of aviation and awarded it $1.35 million. On Monday, the space agency issued the award to team Pipistrel-USA.com of State College, Pa., as part of the Comparative Aircraft Flight Efficiency, or CAFE, Green Flight Challenge. The competition, sponsored by Google, was created to inspire the development of more fuel-efficient aircraft and spark the start of a new electric airplane industry, NASA said. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/10/nasa-green-flight-google.html Clean-Tech’s Unlikely Champion. Is the Pentagon setting the pace for renewable energy? Thirty years ago, the idea of a military-alternative energy partnership might have raised some eyebrows, particularly among solar entrepreneurs here in Northern California. But in the wake of Solyndra’s crash and burn, the Pentagon has become one of clean-tech’s strongest remaining allies in Washington. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/10/03/clean-techs-unlikely-champion/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 White House threatens to veto bills to delay EPA air pollution regulations. The White House is threatening to veto two House bills that would delay key Environmental Protection Agency air-pollution regulations. “These bills would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from moving ahead with long-overdue requirements to reduce air pollution from industrial boilers, solid waste incinerators, and cement plants,” the White House said in a formal “statement of administration policy.” Posted. http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/185209-white-house-threatens-to-veto-bills-to-delay-epa-air-rules SDG&E asks for higher rates on customers who go solar. Homeowners with solar power may have to dig a little deeper to pay off their green investment if regulators approve San Diego Gas & Electric Co.'s request to change the way electricity is billed. Under its proposal, SDG&E would unbundle the charges for electricity and for transporting electricity. The change would have little effect on bills for traditional electricity customers, but customers with solar, …Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/business/energy/article_49671e51-02b5-58a4-9384-10752bb50fa1.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2011 13:41:47 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 5, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 5, 2011. 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 Voters reject air quality ballot initiative. Fairbanks voters have soundly rejected a ballot initiative aimed at improving air quality. If passed in Tuesday's election, the initiative would have banned outdoor wood-fired boilers and coal-fired devices, as well as creating emissions standards for all wood burners. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner ( http://bit.ly/ou2CiR) reported Wednesday that Proposition 2 was rejected 60.3 percent to 39.7 percent. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19045572 S.J. joins effort to ease tough Valley ozone rules. San Joaquin County officials voted Tuesday to support federal legislation that would ease regulations on ozone levels in the San Joaquin Valley and eliminate a $29 million fine Valley drivers have started paying through higher licensing fees. The county Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a letter supporting the legislation that describes penalties for not meeting requirements for ozone levels as "unfair and unjustified." Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111005/A_NEWS/110050318&cid=sitesearch California’s new air regulations impact 1 million vehicles. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is approving California's air quality plans for fine particles -- known as PM2.5 -- in the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley. These plans will reduce pollution to the level required by the health based 1997 PM2.5 standard by 2015. Posted. http://westernfarmpress.com/government/california-s-new-air-regulations-impact-1-million-vehicles CLIMATE CHANGE Contra Costa County supervisors furious with solar company that cut down 100 trees. Contra Costa's Board of Supervisors is furious with the company hired to install solar panels on and near county buildings after the green energy firm ignited a public uproar by cutting down 100 eucalyptus trees near the entrance of a popular regional park near Pinole. "It's outlandish!" said Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho, of Discovery Bay. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19039208 http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_19039208 DIESEL EMISSIONS Ships Face Tougher Environmental Rules in California Ports. Some of the most polluted places in the world are ports, resulting in health problems that some experts say can lead not only to respiratory problems, but cancer. In the United States, the western state of California has the nation's toughest environmental regulations when it comes to air quality at the ports. Its actions will impact ships from around the world. Posted. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Ships-Face-Tougher-Environmental-Rules-in-California-Ports-131053073.html http://www.elp.com/index/from-the-wires/wire_news_display/1513708295.html FUELS Conservationists sue to block TransCanada pipeline. U.S. officials illegally allowed a Canadian company to begin preparing the route for its proposed 1,700-mile-long oil pipeline from western Canada to Texas even though the project hasn't gained final government approval, three conservationist groups contend in a lawsuit. The lawsuit, which the groups planned to file Wednesday in federal court in Omaha, seeks a halt work on TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry crude from the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, to Texas Gulf Coast refineries. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_d21ec175-815a-5167-80fa-7c29d4634fbd.html VEHICLES Paris Tests Short-Term Rentals of Electric Cars. If Parisians can share bicycles, why not cars, too? Bertrand Delanoë, the Socialist mayor of Paris, and the billionaire investor Vincent Bolloré think they will. To that end they have begun an ambitious new electric-vehicle partnership called Autolib, extending the city’s effort to reimagine urban mobility and improve air quality with alternatives to exhaust-spewing cars. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/business/global/paris-tests-short-term-rentals-of-electric-cars.html?scp=2&sq=vehicles&st=cse High-speed rail authority delays release of business plan. It was due Oct. 14, but two recent appointees want the delay and are doing a comprehensive review of the project. Completion of the business is necessary to begin construction in 2012. With California's bullet train project facing new opposition in the Central Valley, including from the operator of the nation's largest farm, J.G. Boswell Co., the state agency in charge of the project has announced a two-week delay in the release of a key business plan. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/me-bullet-train-20111005,0,1777424.story Unrealistic consumer expectations dog EVs, study says. Consumer expectations of electric vehicles are so unrealistic that automakers are unlikely to satisfy them anytime soon, a study released today by consulting firm Deloitte concludes. Craig Giffi, leader of Deloitte's U.S. automotive practice, said the so-called pure battery electric vehicle can't meet the desires of mass-market consumers in terms of price, range and charging time. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111004/OEM05/111009963/1186 Decoding Secrets in San Diego's Transportation Future. In the next four years, San Diego planning officials hope to break ground on several major transportation projects: A trolley line from Old Town to University City, carpool lanes along the southern portion of Interstate 805 and a widening of State Routes 94 and 76. They're among the $200 billion in projects the San Diego Association of Governments has planned through 2050. There are dozens of others, including wider highways, longer trolley lines and faster bus routes. Posted. http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/survival/article_486cf10c-eeef-11e0-b4f5-001cc4c03286.html GREEN ENERGY Solyndra crash puts heat on energy secretary. Washington -- Republicans are using the Solyndra debacle to take aim at Energy Secretary Steven Chu, arguing that the Nobel laureate and UC Berkeley physicist's enthusiasm for green energy led him to ignore warning signs that the Fremont solar-power firm was about to default on more than half-a-billion dollars in taxpayer-backed loans. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/05/MNR81LD85L.DTL&type=printable Richmond Offers Free Solar — but Will Residents Bite? The city is trying to give away $400,000 in stimulus funds, but only eight people have signed up. Since July, the city has been trying to use more than $400,000 in federal stimulus funds to provide discounted and free solar panels for Richmond homeowners. The initial goal of the R3 program was to install the panels on a hundred homes, but so far only eight people have signed up. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/environment/story/richmond-offers-free-solar-will-bite/ MISCELLANEOUS FAA's new air traffic system hits turbulence. Washington -- The government's program to modernize the nation's air traffic control system has run into serious problems that threaten to increase its cost and delay its completion, a government watchdog said. The Federal Aviation Administration's program to replace the current air traffic control system with a system based on satellite technology is being held back by software problems that have delayed full deployment of a critical flight tracking system, Transportation Department inspector general Calvin Scovel told a House hearing Wednesday. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/05/3961064/faas-new-air-traffic-system-hits.html#ixzz1ZvtimTWQ OPINIONS No to the Keystone XL pipeline. The jobs crisis is not an excuse for bad policy. When you have a job, it's hard to remember what life is like without one. There are the obvious troubles that come with lack of income, of course, but there's also a kind of deep uncertainty, the sense that you might never find work again. In a country with a threadbare safety net, that sense is doubly hard to shake. Which is why the promise of jobs is so politically powerful, and why it's so abhorrent when the promise of job creation is used as a cynical trick for the powerful to get what they want. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-mckibben-tarsands-pipeline-20111005,0,3502113.story BLOGS Federal biofuel mandate flawed, report finds. A National Research Council report Tuesday said a federal requirement to add some 16 billion gallons of cellulose-based ethanol to the nation's fuel supply by 2022 won't be met unless innovative technologies are developed or policies changed. The report also calls into question the ecologic and economic calculations behind Congress' backing of commodity-crop ethanol (mainly corn), particularly if production involves clearing land to grow crops dedicated to fuel. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/10/federal-corn-ethanol-mandate-questioned.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29#start A Trek for Cleaner Cookstoves. A woman cooking in her home in Kohlua, India. To seize attention, a group will march in California, imitating the treks that women make to gather wood for fires and stoves. The United Nations estimates that nearly half the world’s population, some three billion people in developing countries, cook over open wood fires or primitive stoves. The practice leads to persistent health problems and accounts for nearly 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. But, as Elisabeth Rosenthal reported in The Times in 2009, many in the developed world are unaware of this problem and the benefits that would accrue from addressing it. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/05/a-trek-for-cleaner-cookstoves/ A Medical Metaphor for Climate Risk, Including the Risk of Overreaction. Paul C. Stern, the director of the National Research Council committee on the human dimensions of global change, has been involved in a decades-long string of studies of behavior, climate change and energy choices. This is an arena that is often attacked by foes of cuts in greenhouse gases, who see signs of mind control and propaganda. Stern says that has nothing to do with his approach, as he made clear in “Contributions of Psychology to Limiting Climate Change,”… Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/a-medical-metaphor-for-climate-risk-including-the-risk-of-overreaction/?scp=10&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Propane Powers Patrol Cars in North Carolina. Thanks in part to confiscated drug money, criminals in Iredell County, N.C., may catch a ride in a patrol car powered by liquid propane. According to Mike Phillips, captain of the enforcement division for the county, the conversion project began last year with a grant through the state university’s North Carolina Solar Center. The grant helped to convert 13 of the office’s 150 Ford Crown Victoria cruisers to the same form of propane used in gas grilles, which contains butane and is also known as liquefied petroleum gas or autogas. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/propane-powers-patrol-cars-in-north-carolina/?scp=6&sq=vehicles&st=cse Few willing to make sacrifices to buy today's electric vehicles. EV drivers may or may not be proud, but those looking to drive one of today's electric vehicles certainly do appear to be few. At least, that's the result of a new survey by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. In a survey of more than 13,000 drivers in 17 countries, only 2 to 4 percent (!) would have their expectations met by the current generation of electric vehicles. The good news is that the EV market is not as gloomy as those numbers may suggest. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/05/survey-few-willing-to-make-sacrifices-to-buy-ev/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 6 Oct 2011 11:22:14 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 6, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 6, 2011. 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 EPA to Ease Rule on Power Plants. The Environmental Protection Agency, under pressure from some states, industry and Congress, is expected to ease an air quality rule that would require power plants in 27 states to slash emissions, said people familiar with the matter. The EPA, which made the rule final in July, plans to propose as early as this week to allow certain states and companies to emit more pollutants than it previously permitted, these people said. The states and companies affected couldn't be learned. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203791904576611370921020358.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution Election shows widespread opposition to Prop 2. A look at election results in the Fairbanks North Star Borough shows that some of the strongest opponents of a failed measure aimed at improving air quality live in the smokiest areas. Borough monitoring shows that North Pole and its surrounding areas have seen the smokiest winters. But the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner ( http://bit.ly/qEbX11) says those areas also were a stronghold against the proposition rejected by voters on Tuesday. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19053897 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19053897 House votes to delay controls on toxic pollution. he Republican-controlled House has passed the first of two bills that would delay rules to cut toxic air pollution and mercury from cement plants, solid waste incinerators and industrial boilers. House Republicans have gone after Environmental Protection Agency rules that they view at job killers. But the bills they're pushing probably will stall in the Democratic-run Senate. The first one passed the House by a 262-161 vote Thursday. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/06/1892577/house-votes-to-delay-controls.html#ixzz1a1X7mFhP http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19054465 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19054465 County Public Works fined $27,000. The Imperial County Public Works Department will have to pay $27,000 in fines to the state for air quality violations. The California Air Resources Board fined the department for failure to properly conduct self-inspections aimed at measuring vehicle smoke emissions to ensure state requirements are met, according to a press statement. An audit by the state found that the department’s diesel-run heavy equipment such as trucks were not tested for smoke emissions in 2009, Director of Public Works Bill Brunet said. The fines came specifically for not conducting the tests that year, Brunet said, not for failing the tests. Posted. http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-county-public-works-fined-27000-20111006,0,6239604.story Dem amendments to cement bill shot down, final votes today. The House yesterday evening rejected 13 Democratic amendments, paving the way for likely passage today of bills to rescind U.S EPA's toxic emissions rules for cement kilns and industrial boilers. The House is expected to make short work of 10 more amendments by the minority today before the final votes on the two bills. Among the amendments defeated last night was one by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, that would have allowed EPA to move ahead with the rule if the White House Office of Management and Budget determined it violated congressional budgetary rules requiring all new spending to be offset by cuts elsewhere in the budget. Posted. PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/2011/10/06/4 EPA plans to tweak interstate emissions limits. U.S. EPA will give a few states and electric companies more leeway to release air pollution under a new program meant to clean up soot and smog from power plants, an Obama administration official said today. The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, finalized this summer as a successor to the George W. Bush administration's Clean Air Interstate Rule, orders power plants in 27 Eastern states to meet stricter limits next January and show compliance in 2014. Posted. PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2011/10/05/1 CLIMATE CHANGE EU court indicates loss for US, Canadian airlines over emissions trading scheme. European Union efforts to force international airlines to pay for their polluting emissions received a big boost Thursday when a legal adviser urged the EU's highest court to reject a U.S. challenge. Several U.S. and Canada-based airlines and airlines associations had sued the EU for its plan to include them in the emissions trading scheme as of next year. Under that plan, all airlines would have to have costly emissions permits for flights to and from EU airports. So far only large factories and power plants are part of the scheme. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/eu-court-indicates-loss-for-us-canadian-airlines-over-emissions-trading-scheme/2011/10/06/gIQArFOTPL_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/06/2566427/airlines-set-for-loss-over-eu.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/06/airlines-set-for-loss-over-eu-emissions-trading/#ixzz1a1SFDoUF http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19053052 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19053052 Scientists seek to document later fall colors. Clocks may not be the only thing falling back: That signature autumn change in leaf colors may be drifting further down the calendar. Scientists don't quite know if global warming is changing the signs of fall like it already has with an earlier-arriving spring. They're turning their attention to fall foliage in hopes of determining whether climate change is leading to a later arrival of autumn's golden, orange and red hues. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gxQl8-DegT8rHxTKHoorcoyc5mFg?docId=087531b83bc340ddb4f10a47639f52c1 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/the-leaves-they-are-a-changing-_-even-as-scientists-try-to-log-climates-impact-on-colors/2011/10/06/gIQAVSbIPL_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/06/scientists-seek-to-document-later-fall-colors/#ixzz1a1TrMSIf Cap-and-Trade Proceeds in California, Governor Signs Solar Bills. California's Air Resources Board (CARB) can proceed with implementation of the state's cap-and-trade program, a Supreme Court judge ruled Wednesday. The program, which was announced in November 2010 after four years of development, has been held up because of a March court ruling that requires CARB to further examine alternatives to cap-and-trade that might be better routes to reducing greenhouse gases. Posted. http://featured.matternetwork.com/2011/10/cap-trade-proceeds-california-governor.cfm Argus Launches California Carbon Allowance Index. Global energy price reporting agency Argus has launched a monthly index for emissions allowances created by the California Air Resources Board's greenhouse gas trading program. Argus began daily pricing for the California Carbon Allowance market on 26 August and published the first monthly index on 30 September. The new California Carbon Allowance monthly index provides independent price discovery ahead of the launch of the state's greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program in 2013. Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/argus-launches-california-carbon-allowance-index-2011-10-06 E.U. has legal right to include foreign airlines in carbon trading, Advocate General says. The European Union's inclusion of international aviation in its emissions trading system is compatible with international law, the European Court of Justice Advocate General Juliane Kokott concluded today in a written opinion. The opinion is not binding, but the Luxembourg court has usually followed the advice of Advocate Generals advice at least in part in previous cases. The court will now begin deliberations and will issue its decision at a later date. Posted. BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/10/06/2 FUELS U.S. alleges $9 million biofuel scheme paid for exotic cars. A Maryland man has been charged by the federal government for selling $9 million in fraudulent renewable fuel credits and using the money to buy a Ferrari, a Lamborghini, and a Maserati, among other things. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday that Rodney Hailey, the owner of Clean Green Fuel, LLC, has been charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and violation of the Clean Air Act in connection to trade in renewable identification numbers, or RINs, purportedly produced by his company. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/04/us-usa-ethanol-fraud-idUSTRE7935AU20111004 GREEN ENERGY Green Tech Venture Investments Jumped 23% in Q3. Investors doled out $2.23 billion for 189 green tech venture deals worldwide in the third quarter and counted energy storage, solar and energy efficiency as their top three picks, according to preliminary data from the Cleantech Group on Wednesday. The third-quarter investment dollars shot up 12 percent from the previous quarter’s $1.98 billion and 23 percent from the third quarter of 2010, when investments reached $1.81 billion. The bump is a reversal from the second quarter of this year, when venture investments slid 10 percent from the first quarter and 28 percent from the second quarter of 2010. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/uciliawang/2011/10/05/green-tech-venture-investments-shot-up-23-in-q3/ Seeing green in Pleasanton. Long before being green was the thing to do, the Hacienda Business Park and the city of Pleasanton were working on ways to reduce their carbon footprint. What began two decades ago as searching for ways to provide congestion relief for the thousands of workers at the park, has evolved into a cooperative sustainability effort that includes a nationally recognized carpool program, energy efficient streetlights, green building practices and innovative irrigation techniques at the 875-acre park. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19040871 New energy storage methods may overcome solar energy's flaws. The sun is the most abundant power source on Earth, but new designs soon hitting the market could keep its energy flowing even after sunset. Researchers are exploring various strategies to put sunshine on tap, converting the sun's energy into fuels that can be stored, transported and used as needed. Setting excess power aside can help solar plants produce consistent electricity throughout the day, diminishing one of solar energy's biggest drawbacks. Sun-derived fuels can also be used to power fuel cells that drive cars or provide heat to warm homes. Posted. BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/10/06/3 VEHICLES INLAND: Cleaner tow trucks proposed for freeway patrol. Tow trucks that patrol Inland freeways to clear lanes might one day ditch diesel fuel in favor of natural gas, but only if it makes economic sense, officials said. San Bernardino transportation officials did not ratify a suggestion Wednesday by Chino Mayor Dennis Yates to require all future Freeway Service Patrol contracts to require the use of compressed natural gas vehicles, but officials said they would explore the idea. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/transportation-headlines/20111006-inland-cleaner-tow-trucks-proposed-for-freeway-patrol.ece Consumers expect more from electric vehicles than makers can supply. Consumers aren’t impressed with electric vehicles currently being offered by automakers – a new survey from Deloitte reveals that they expect electric cars to go longer on a charge, charge quicker and retail for a much lower price. Deloitte said consumers’ expectations around performance and purchase price are so divergent from the actual offerings available today that no more than 2 to 4 percent of consumers worldwide would have their expectations met. Posted. http://www.brighterenergy.org/26870/news/transport/consumers-expect-more-from-electric-vehicles-than-makers-can-supply/ MISCELLANEOUS Gas guzzling mower? Trade for brand-new electric. Smog regulators will hold their next lawn mower exchange in Mission Viejo Saturday, offering shiny new electric mowers for gas-powered versions and as little as $100. The exchange, part of the "Mow Down Air Pollution" program, is open to anyone living within the South Coast Air Quality Management District, including Orange County and parts of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/gas-320543-air-mowers.html BLOGS Climate activism stands with Occupy Wall Street Movement. The Occupy Wall Street Movement started with a handful of protesters in the middle of September. Today, it is snowballing into a national movement for "the other 99 percent" -- representing a diverse group of Americans who feel disenfranchised by a political and financial system that ignores them. And now, riding on the momentum created by the Keystone XL pipeline protests in Washington last month, leaders of the climate movement are getting involved. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-10-05-climate-activism-stands-with-occupy-wall-street-movement Could a New Shipping Route Through the Arctic Reduce Global Emissions? Traditionally when people talk about melting ice in the Arctic, it is a cause for great concern and considered another symptom of global warming. However, Scandinavian tanker companies believe that with the ice melting, new sea routes between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans could be opened up, saving time, money and emissions. Supertankers, that transport oil, cars and other products, famously produce large quantities of CO2 (it is estimated that worldwide shipping currently accounts for more than 3 percent of all annual global emissions), but receding Arctic ice could change that. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/could-a-new-shipping-route-through-the-arctic-reduce-global-emissions/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2011 12:14:33 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 7, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 7, 2011. 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 Ga. AG sues EPA over new air pollution rule. Georgia joined a growing number of states on Thursday seeking to block the Environmental Protection Agency's new pollution restrictions. The complaint filed by Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens targets the EPA's new cross-state pollution rules, which are designed to decrease smokestack emissions in 27 states that contribute to unhealthy air in other states. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19057262 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19057262 Arvin air monitor move could jeopardize fine's removal. This summer, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District urged residents to do their part in keeping the air below the one-hour ozone standard, violations of which have resulted in a $29 million federal fee. But, even if the valley's air were to reach those standards -- and it still hasn't -- the fine won't be lifted until there's resolution of an ongoing controversy over the relocation of a monitor in Arvin, according to an official with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x443091072/Arvin-air-monitor-move-could-jeopardize-fines-removal Air Pollution Tied to Premature Births, Study Finds. (Los Angeles) -- Pregnant women who live in areas with high levels of air pollution caused by heavy traffic could be at increased risk for premature births, according to a new study. Researchers led by Michelle Wilhelm, an assistant professor in residence at the UCLA School of Public Health, found that Southern California women exposed to traffic-related air pollution had a 30 percent higher risk of pre-term birth. Wilhelm and her colleagues looked at 100,000 births that occurred in Los Angeles County within five miles of stations used by the state to monitor air quality. Posted. http://www.kgoam810.com/rssItem.asp?feedid=116&itemid=29736231 CLIMATE CHANGE Law fights regulation with regulation. Sacramento, Calif (Reuters) - In an odd twist, California business groups applauded Governor Jerry Brown for signing legislation on Thursday to create a new layer of government regulation they say will lessen the burdens imposed by future regulations. The measure orders the Democratic governor's Department of Finance to establish a uniform method of measuring the economic consequences of regulations put forward by other state agencies. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/07/us-california-regulations-odd-idUSTRE79639420111007 Poll: European concern about climate change grows. A new survey shows that more than two-thirds of EU citizens see climate change as a very serious problem, and a vast majority thinks fighting it can create jobs and help the economy. The poll says 68 percent of the people in the EU consider climate change a serious threat, up from 64 percent in 2009. And 78 percent said fighting climate change could help jobs and the economy, up from 63 percent two years ago. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_EUROPE_CLIMATE_CHANGE?SITE=RIPRJ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/7/poll-european-concern-about-climate-change-grows/ http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/07/3967779/poll-european-concern-about-climate.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/07/international/i074025D84.DTL http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/07/1894124/poll-european-concern-about-climate.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/07/2568036/poll-european-concern-about-climate.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19062884 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19062884 Bay Area could become first region to plan for sea level rise in long-term development. The Bay Area could become the first region in California, and perhaps in the U.S., to recognize and plan for sea level rise in its long-term development. At a public meeting Thursday afternoon, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission is expected to approve a major amendment to its guiding Bay Plan document with new language on climate change in the Bay Area. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_19048354 http://www.baycitizen.org/development/story/bay-area-adopts-sea-level-rise-building/ http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2011/10/bcdc-sea-level-plan-passes.html FUELS TransCanada CEO surprised at furor over pipeline. Washington -- Wearing a nose ring and a T-shirt that read "Food not bombs," environmental activist Spiro Voudouris came to the nation's capital Friday to protest a Canadian company's plan to pipe oil from tar sands in western Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast. Unemployed pipe fitter Ira Orenstein came to the same event because he wants a job. At a pro-pipeline rally sponsored by the Laborers' International Union of North America, the bearded Voudouris, 26, engaged the 63-year-old Orenstein in earnest debate. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/07/1894095/transcanada-ceo-surprised-at-furor.html#ixzz1a7htwBbi http://www.c-span.org/Live-Video/C-SPAN2/ VEHICLES How to reduce EV production costs? EV Battery Tech USA. Last week was taking place the EV Battery Tech USA in Troy, Michigan. One of the main topics this year was “Translating technical solutions into commercial opportunities for reducing the cost of Electric Vehicle”. Here is a summary and selection of the most interesting ideas brought up by the speakers. Batteries represent about 54% of the production costs of an electric vehicle, according to Albert Lam from Detroit Electric. 26% of the costs can be attributed to the drive system and the remaining 20% are spent on the manufacturing of the body. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/67020111007.php Nissan, GE Team Up on Battery Cars. General Electric wants a piece of the electric vehicle action and is teaming up with Nissan to figure out how it can help expedite the adoption of electric vehicles. Signing a new partnership with the Japanese maker, GE officials say they aren’t interested in putting their badge on a battery car but see other huge opportunities. With corporate ventures in fields as far flung as battery manufacturing, electric motors and even green energy generation …Posted. http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2011/10/nissan-ge-team-up-on-battery-cars/#more-43099 GREEN ENERGY Appraisers get guidelines for setting the value of energy-saving home improvements. Here’s some good news for homeowners who have gone green and installed energy-saving features but haven’t been sure whether appraisers will credit them with higher valuations: Thanks to a new industry-issued appraisal addendum, the odds have improved that they’ll get the market value they’re due. The Appraisal Institute, the country’s largest and most influential association in its field, published the long-awaited addendum Sept. 29. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/appraisers-get-guidelines-for-setting-the-value-of-energy-saving-home-improvements/2011/10/05/gIQAiZRkSL_story.html Solyndra collapse blunts support for clean tech. For the past three years, the clean-tech industry found receptive ears in Washington. President Obama cast renewable power as a key to the country's economic revival. Stimulus loans helped fund new wind farms, solar factories and power plants. Tax incentives for big alternative-energy projects gave an added boost. And while Republicans and Democrats deadlocked on climate-change legislation - dear to the industry's heart - clean tech counted strong friends on both sides of the aisle. Now, Solyndra's high-profile bankruptcy has strained that relationship. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/06/MN421LEEB1.DTL&feed=rss.pageone Obama defends Solyndra loan, says solar viable. President Barack Obama said Thursday the U.S. must not surrender development of clean energy to China and other countries, despite the spectacular failure of a solar-panel manufacturer that filed for bankruptcy after taking a half-billion dollar government loan. Obama said the government should continue to give loan guarantees to help green energy companies compete with other countries that spend billions to subsidize solar panels and other renewable energy manufacturing. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_cd588b06-07ac-5c28-b768-d3c6b6b5e75a.html MISCELLANEOUS Climate Generation: Second annual high school competition. Sacramento, California - Today the Air Resources Board announced the kick-off of California’s second annual Climate Generation program, a high school competition challenging students to connect environmental issues with their school work and daily lives. The competition creates an opportunity for students to gain real-world experience in leadership and project management by working together to design and implement programs that promote sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint of their school or community. Posted. http://imperialvalleynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11398&Itemid=2 OPINIONS Solyndra is not a White House scandal: President is doing exactly what he promised. The White House has recently come under fire for quickly approving a loan guarantee of $535 million in taxpayer money to now-bankrupt California solar energy company Solyndra, despite getting multiple warnings about its financial stability. As more and more emails are being released revealing damning details about the Obama administration's decision to dole out the dough and ignore red flags - even sending President Obama to the company in 2010 to tout its green energy efforts - some are calling Solyndra the latest scandal to plague the White House. Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2011/10/06/2011-10-06_president_obamas_support_of_solyndra_betrays_hopeless_belief_in_a_green_economy_.html?print=1&page=all BLOGS An Escalator That Feeds the Grid. Regenerative braking, which involves taking unwanted mechanical energy and turning it back into electricity instead of letting it dissipate it as heat, is well established in cars like the Toyota Prius and has lately made inroads in railway locomotives. In both cases, an electric motor, which converts current into mechanical energy, briefly reverses its function to become a generator, converting mechanical energy into current. One problem for cars is that the flow of electricity is so large that batteries have trouble absorbing it. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/07/an-escalator-that-feeds-the-grid/ Why plug-in vehicles with "small" battery packs should be subsidized in a big way. Are plug-in vehicle incentives distributed correctly? Apparently not. A study conducted by Carnegie Mellon University (PDF) suggests that by subsidizing vehicles with big battery packs (that is, bigger than 16 kWh), the return on investment (in terms of reducing gas/diesel consumption and lowering emissions) is less than if the $7,500 tax credit subsidized vehicles with meager battery packs (i.e. the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid). Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/06/why-hybrid-plug-in-vehicles-battery-packs-should-be-subsidized/ Researchers use ionic liquid electrolyte for a more efficient electroreduction of CO2 to CO; potential for synthetic fuel pathways. The electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to CO—a key component of artificial photosynthesis—has largely been stymied by the impractically high overpotentials necessary to drive the process. Now, University of Illinois chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Paul Kenis and his research group and researchers at startup Dioxide Materials report on the development of an electrocatalytic system that reduces CO2 to carbon monoxide at overpotentials below 0.2 V. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/10/rosen-20111007.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:00:24 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 10, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 10, 2011. 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 A GOP assault on environmental regulations. Republicans in the House are best known for their inflexible opposition to tax hikes and government spending, but that's nothing new for the GOP; what marks this group as different is that it is perhaps the most anti-environment Congress in history. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-epa-20111010,0,6247792.story San Pedro residents revive debate about gas storage tanks' safety. Studies by a consultant and USC graduate student come to more worrying conclusions than a company-funded report about the potential for devastation in an emergency at a San Pedro butane facility. Melissa Palma never thought much about the huge gas storage tanks perched on a hillside near the San Pedro home she and her husband settled into 18 years ago. Only recently she learned that the domed, 40-year-old, circular, steel structures contain up to 25 million gallons of highly flammable butane — what some neighbors and public officials say are the makings of a potential catastrophe. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-adv-lpg-storage-20111010,0,5641848.story Separating ozone fact from fiction. Air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley has suddenly become a $29 million a year problem. Of course, the real cost is much greater as businesses struggle to comply with clean-air regulations, and those who suffer from foul air seek medical treatment. But just about all of us are paying for the Valley's notorious pollution, through a new $12 DMV fee to cover a $29 million federal penalty for failing to meet even an outdated ozone standard. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111008/A_NEWS14/110080331/-1/NEWSMAP New Federal Fuel Efficiency Standards Cut Smog, Save Billions. It’s not news that California has some of the worst air quality ratings in the country. Despite decades of work to clean up the state’s air, health-threatening smog is nearly omnipresent. One of the key causes for this pollution is the cars and trucks Californians drive. Mobile sources, which include our everyday vehicles, are responsible for about two-thirds of the state’s air pollution—even more in certain areas. The same sources also contribute to more than a third of the state’s greenhouse gas pollution. Posted. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/node/9449 CLIMATE CHANGE California AB 32's Cap-And-Trade Program Developments. This article is the latest in a series chronicling the first litigation challenge to AB 32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act) and the cap-and-trade program in Association of Irritated Residents, et al. v. California Air Resources Board, Case No. CPF-09-509562, ("Ass'n of Irritated Residents v. CARB "). Though environmental justice groups continue to object to cap-and-trade as the primary vehicle to reduce greenhouse ("GHG") emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, the California Supreme Court recently allowed California Air Resources Board's ("ARB") cap-and-trade implementation to move forward, and agency rule development continues. Posted. http://www.natlawreview.com/article/california-ab-32-s-cap-and-trade-program-developments DIESEL EMISSIONS Newton: L.A. needs this job generator. If you've wondered why people complain about the difficulty of doing business in Los Angeles, consider the Southern California International Gateway project. BNSF is prepared to invest $500 million to build the gateway, a rail loading yard that would stimulate trade and produce jobs. And yet, for more than seven years, the project has bumped along without being either approved or rejected. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-newton-column-port-international-gateway-20111010,0,4381138.column FUELS Pilots Fly the Last Frontier for Leaded Gas. Anchorage, Alaska -- The small, piston-engine airplanes at Merrill Field roar to full throttle as they reach the main runway, many of them bound for remote Arctic towns with people and precious supplies. Pilots rev up their engines at the beginning of the airstrip to make sure they'll have enough power to climb above the snow-frosted mountains that ring Alaska's largest city. And that makes this spot ground zero for an environmental challenge that most people thought was resolved decades ago. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/10/07/07greenwire-pilots-fly-the-last-frontier-for-leaded-gas-83036.html?pagewanted=print Denham faults ethanol subsidies behind closing of Fulton Valley Farms. Washington, D.C. – Rep. Jeff Denham today issued the following statement in response to a Central Valley business, Fulton Valley Farms, announcing that it will close its doors due to the high price of feed. The high cost of feed is a direct result of the ethanol mandates and subsidies, and has forced many job creators in California to shut down. “Fulton Valley Farms will be forced to close its doors as a result of the high price of feed for its chickens and 185 Californians will lose their jobs as a result. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/10/07/2073204/denham-faults-ethanol-subsidies.html#ixzz1a8w0HTux VEHICLES Bullet train's environmental benefits remain murky. High-speed rail could help cut air pollution in California – if the system succeeds in getting enough people out of their cars. Planners with the state’s High-Speed Rail Authority expect that the electric trains could reduce traffic on the state’s roadways by 2.5 percent by 2035. Each vehicle-mile traveled creates emissions that foul the air with greenhouse gases, smog-forming chemicals and fine particles like soot and dust. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/bullet-trains-environmental-benefits-remain-murky-13004 GREEN ENERGY UN chief calls for universal access to electricity by 2030, clean energy revolution. The U.N. secretary-general called Monday for universal access to electricity by 2030, saying a lack of energy in parts of the world threatens economic growth and job creation. Ban Ki-moon also urged governments and the private sector to pursue “a clean energy revolution,” so that the use of renewable energy sources could be doubled in 20 years. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/un-chief-ban-ki-moon-urges-energy-revolution-for-poor-doubling-renewables-in-20-years/2011/10/10/gIQAV86jZL_story.html New machine recycles fridges the green way. Recycling refrigerators - especially those made more than 15 years ago - is a tricky job. The coolant in old appliances (now banned from newer versions) can cause serious trouble, warming the atmosphere and depleting the ozone layer. Regulations forbid the release of liquid refrigerants during disposal. But what if the refrigerant was not in the cooling system, but stored in the old foam used for insulation? The insulation in older machines is full of a gassy refrigerant that can waft away during dismantling and continue to diffuse later when the foam is shredded and sitting in a landfill. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/08/BU3C1L8U0S.DTL#ixzz1aOuutszd East Bay vets find employment in green energy industry. Michael Ferreira and Ron Rodd were born 40 years apart, and served in different branches of the military. Ferreira was a U.S. Marine and Rodd served in the U.S. Navy. Rodd went to Vietnam in 1967 and Ferreira completed two deployments to Iraq, returning home for the last time in 2008. It's not likely that the two men would have ever met, but they did, and in fact spent the last 14 weeks together in classrooms, learning about the growing solar industry, where both plan to pursue careers. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19073822?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com Experts discuss battery performance at EV Battery Tech USA 2011. The EV Battery Tech USA gathered experts from leading vehicle OEMs across the world between 27-28 September 2011 in Troy, Michigan. cars21.com who was a media partner of the conference brings you a second overview of presentations, this time focusing on battery life and enhancement of battery performance. The parameters influencing battery life are well understood, according to Jeff Kessen from A123 Systems, however, they are not all under the control of battery manufacturers. These factors include ambient temperature, power requirements, total energy throughput or state of charge, which all have to be taken into account when considering battery life performance. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/67220111010.php BLOGS Scant CO2 Benefit from China’s Coal-Powered Electric Cars. Much has been made of China’s big push to build and deploy 1 million electric vehicles a year by 2015. The move will help cut smog and oil imports. Less has been made of the scant impact this is likely to have on the country’s emissions of carbon dioxide, given its enduring reliance on coal for most of its electricity. Here’s a “Your Dot” contribution describing the situation from Lucia Green-Weiskel, who has worked in China for the Innovation Center for Energy and Transportation and co-authored a report on electric vehicles there for the United Nations. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/10/scant-co2-benefit-from-chinas-coal-powered-electric-cars/ The Amazon Dieback Scenario. In an article last weekend about rising stress in the world’s forests, I briefly mentioned that computer projections regarding the future of forests are still in a primitive state. Scientists cannot really say whether trees will continue to take up a big proportion of our carbon emissions through the rest of this century, or whether they will instead succumb to climate change on a large scale. You can find reports in the scientific literature to support both outcomes, and every prospect in between. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/07/the-amazon-dieback-scenario/ California's global-warming law under fire from one of its own. California’s aggressive effort to attack global warming is coming under scrutiny in Congress from a powerful regulatory-wary Republican -- who also happens to be from the Golden State. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has launched an investigation into the Obama administration’s actions to increase vehicle fuel-economy standards, including its 2009 decision to grant California’s request to impose tough restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/10/california-global-warming-law-darrell-issa.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:33:47 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 11, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 11, 2011. 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 Environmental groups sue Obama saying decision to scrap stricter smog limit was illegal. Washington — Environmental groups sued the Obama administration Tuesday for scrapping a stricter limit for smog-forming pollution, saying the decision violated the law and put politics ahead of protecting public health. The lawsuit filed in the federal appeals court in Washington by four environmental and public health groups came after the White House last month said it would not support setting a new standard for ground-level ozone until 2013, outraging environmentalists. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/environmental-groups-sue-obama-saying-decision-to-scrap-stricter-smog-limit-was-illegal/2011/10/11/gIQAXGMbcL_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/11/2572666/groups-sue-obama-for-scrapping.html#storylink=misearch Lawsuits Pour in Before Deadline to Challenge EPA's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. The legal wrangling over new U.S. EPA rules meant to curb interstate air pollution from power plants turned into a full-blown melee late last week, with at least two dozen power companies, cities, states and industry groups joining the fray before Friday's deadline for court challenges. There are now more than 30 lawsuits asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to block the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which sets strict new limits on the nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) that cause soot and smog. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/10/10/10greenwire-lawsuits-pour-in-before-deadline-to-challenge-67959.html?scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Is the valley's air quality getting better or worse? First came the good news from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District: August passed without a one-hour ozone violation, the first time since such records have been kept. District officials called the news "historic" and lauded residents for their role in improving the air. But not everyone was so quick to pop open the champagne. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x443091541/Is-the-valleys-air-getting-better-or-worse Report: Mercury levels mostly down in Great Lakes. A newly released report says mercury levels in the Great Lakes region generally have dropped over the past four decades, although concentrations in some fish and bird species have increased more recently. The report was being released Tuesday at a news conference in Detroit. It sums up the findings of 35 recently completed scientific papers. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/11/report-mercury-levels-mostly-down-in-great-lakes/ Open burning ban lifts in areas. Effective 8 a.m. Wednesday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection will lift the suspension of burning on private lands within the Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit. This includes Calaveras, Tuolumne and those eastern portions of San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties within the State Responsibility Area. It also applies to lands within the Direct Protection Area of the Stanislaus National Forest. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111011/A_NEWS02/111019982&cid=sitesearch Auburn open burning period begins. The city of Auburn is allowing open burning starting Wednesday. According to Auburn Fire Chief Mark D’Ambrogi, the burn period will begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday and close May 31. Residents must have a valid burn permit and only burn on days designated by the California Air Resources Board and Placer County Air Pollution Control District. Posted. http://auburnjournal.com/detail/190159.html?content_source=&category_id=2&search_filter=&user_id=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&event_ts_to=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=&town_id Homeowner response to the prenatal air pollution threat to preterm birth. Medical data continues to link maternal exposure to airborne polycyclie aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during pregnancy and harmful fetal effects. An earlier article in this column covered medical research linking maternal exposure to PAHs and subsequent childhood IQ. The study data was clear. The children exposed in the womb to high levels of PAHs had significantly lower IQ scores when they turned 5. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/environmental-health-in-sacramento/homeowner-response-to-the-prenatal-air-pollution-threat-to-preterm-birth Fighting Pollution to Slow Climate Change. Grant will allow assistant professor to study how black carbon affects air quality and public health. Riverside, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) -- A University of California, Riverside assistant professor of chemical and environmental engineering has received a $450,000 grant to study the impact of air-polluting black carbon particles as a way to mitigate climate change. Posted. http://newsroom.ucr.edu/2748 CLIMATE CHANGE Bank of America Merrill Lynch and TerraPass Enter Into Agreement to Provide Carbon Offsets to California Emission Market. Bank of America Merrill Lynch today announced an innovative multi-million carbon offset agreement with TerraPass Inc., a U.S.-based company that brings to market verified carbon offsets and manages a portfolio of carbon reduction projects across the country. All of the offsets covered by the agreement are expected to be compliant with the California Air Resources Board's approved standards. Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bank-of-america-merrill-lynch-and-terrapass-enter-into-agreement-to-provide-carbon-offsets-to-california-emission-market-2011-10-11 Global warming spurs debate over whether U.S. should build new icebreakers. Climate change is melting parts of the ice-locked Northwest Passage. China is building its first modern icebreaker in hopes of staking claims to Arctic waters. Frigid polar regions are opening up to increased shipping traffic, scientific exploration and tourism. Yet the United States is so short of icebreakers capable of navigating those still unpredictable waters that since 2007, it has made the annual supply run to McMurdo Station, the American research outpost in Antarctica, with a ship leased from Sweden. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/10/1898550/global-warming-spurs-debate-over.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Filter problems ground 17 Humboldt school buses. Humboldt education officials last week temporarily grounded 17 school buses that were equipped with a diesel particulate filter that the California Air Resources Board stated may experience a catastrophic system failure. The air resources board on Sept. 26 recommended districts statewide ground any school buses that were retrofitted with Cleaire Longmile filters, which capture the soot and other particulate matter created by the bus's diesel engine. Posted. http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_19086752 VEHICLES Booting hybrids from carpool lanes backfires. Berkeley -- Yanking the carpool privileges of solo hybrid drivers this summer backfired, adding congestion not only to regular freeway lanes but feeding a chain reaction that slowed carpooling motorists as well, UC Berkeley researchers said Monday. To all the frustrated commute jockeys who cheered when solo Prius drivers were demoted from the fast lane to the passed lane on July 1, the report by the Institute of Transportation Studies may seem counterintuitive, like punching the accelerator to slow down. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/11/MN7R1LFQN8.DTL&type=printable GREEN ENERGY Area solar industry grows despite Solyndra failure. Despite the high-profile collapse of Solyndra, the Bay Area's solar industry continues to grow. Case in point: SunEdison, a worldwide developer of large solar-power projects, is moving its headquarters from Maryland to Belmont. Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday joined the company at its new home, a formerly vacant office building that will hold more than 400 people when the move is complete. "We're the innovative state," Brown said at a news conference packed with local dignitaries. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/11/BURV1LFUHF.DTL&type=printable Top 6 High-Paying Environmental Jobs. There are two main types of green jobs: those that produce goods or services that improve the environment, and those that improve an existing business's environmentally unfriendly practices. Such jobs might focus on producing renewable energy, conserving resources, increasing energy efficiency, alleviating pollution or increasing awareness and compliance. Green jobs exist in hundreds of industries, from farming to mining and telecommunications to transportation. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/10/11/investopedia62635.DTL&type=printable China solar panel maker restarts after cleanup. Solar panel maker Jinko Solar Holding Co. has resumed production following a cleanup prompted by violent protests over pollution from one of its factories in eastern China. Jinko Solar stopped production at its factory in Haining city, west of Shanghai, on Sept. 17 after hundreds of villagers staged protests, some storming the facility and overturning vehicles. Authorities said the factory had failed to address earlier environmental complaints and that the protests followed mass fish deaths in late August due to runoff of flouride from heavy rains. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CHINA_SOLAR_POLLUTION_PROTEST?SITE=NYWNE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/11/china-solar-panel-maker-restarts-after-cleanup/ Brown supports solar business in wake of Solyndra. California Gov. Jerry Brown is vowing to continue investing in solar energy in the wake of the recent Solyndra bankruptcy. On Monday, Brown attended the opening of the new headquarters of SunEdison, which recently relocated to the San Francisco Bay area. It develops solar power plants as well as commercial and residential projects. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/10/1898548/brown-supports-solar-business.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/10/2571843/brown-supports-solar-business.html#storylink=misearch New Brentwood coalition stresses importance of being green. Jim Root recently noticed something obvious missing from Brentwood's downtown revitalization efforts and environmentally friendly Civic Center. The Brentwood marketing consultant and fellow members of the newly formed Green Living Coalition were surprised that the city had not placed recycling cans in downtown Brentwood. Getting recycling cans downtown quickly became the first priority for this group of about 20 far East County residents and business leaders who want to promote green living practices and sustainability throughout the area, including organic farming, emissions reductions, water management and home efficiency. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19084350 Palm Springs urges cycling as part of green efforts. Palm Springs is looking to make a dent in its greenhouse gas emissions by getting people out of their cars and onto bikes or other alternative transportation. The city will hold its annual Your Sustainable City celebration Wednesday, with bicycling advocate Dan Austin as keynote speaker. Austin is a filmmaker, author and founder of 88bikes, a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that provides bicycles for children in developing countries.Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20111011/NEWS07/110110314/Palm-Springs-urges-cycling-part-green-efforts?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFrontpage%7Cp Calpine plans $700 million Geysers expansion. Would create 190 jobs and 98 megawatts of clean energy. The Geysers is the single largest geothermal operation in the world, producing up to 725 megawatts of green energy around the clock -- enough electricity to power the entire city of San Francisco. Sonoma County — Calpine Corporation, the nation’s largest renewable geothermal power producer, plans to build two new power plants adjacent to its existing Geysers steam field…Posted. http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/41748/calpine-plans-700-million-geysers-expansion/comment-page-1/ Solar PV rapidly becoming the cheapest option to generate electricity. For a long time, the holy grail of solar photovoltaics (PV) has been "grid parity," the point at which it would be as cheap to generate one's own solar electricity as it is to buy electricity from the grid. And that is indeed an important market milestone, being achieved now in many places around the world. But recently it has become clear that PV is set to go beyond grid parity and become the cheapest way to generate electricity. Posted. http://www.grist.org/solar-power/2011-10-11-solar-pv-rapidly-becoming-cheapest-option-generate-electricity OPINIONS Science and religion: A false divide. On most issues, there is very little conflict between religion and science. Rick Perry has generated a lot of ink lately — for trumpeting his religious faith and for his attacks on evolution and global warming. I have no magic insight into the mind of the candidate jockeying for the GOP nomination, and I'm not a member of the religious right. But, as a sociologist studying religion in the United States …Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-evans-protestants-20111010,0,5889194,print.story BLOGS Kicking hybrids from carpool lanes slows everyone down. If you're like many California motorists, you probably looked on with envy or perhaps some stronger emotion when those single-occupant hybrids zipped by in the carpool lane. Others who had gone to the trouble of coordinating schedules and establishing real carpool relationships probably weren't too happy with their solitary HOV brethren either. Surely, fairness was restored over the summer when the interlopers lost their HOV rights; the real carpoolers have seen their speeds increase, right? Wrong. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/10/kicking-hybrids-from-carpool-lanes-slows-everyone-down.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MoneyCompany+%28Money+%26+Company%29 Get your EVs running: First National Plug In Day is Oct. 16. Electric-vehicle enthusiasts from New York to California will wheel into the streets en masse Sunday as part of National Plug In Day. Twenty-one cities, including Santa Monica, San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Orange in California, will hold electric car parades and tailpipe-free tailgate parties to celebrate -- and test drive --currently available plug-ins from Nissan, General Motors, Tesla and SMART, and soon-to-be available models from Mitsubishi, Toyota, Ford and Coda. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/10/national-plug-in-day-1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 California's new B Corp law eyes social, environmental interplay. California businesses soon will be able to set up shop as so-called Benefit Corporations, or B Corps, under a new law signed Sunday by Gov. Jerry Brown. AB 361 enables businesses to pursue a "material positive impact on the environment and community in addition to maximizing profits," according to a statement from California Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), who authored the bill. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/10/california-benefit-corporation-law-signed.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Conservatives scale up attack on green energy. Wasn’t that long ago that George W. Bush declared that the nation was “addicted to oil.” In his 2006 State of the Union address, Bush proposed a 22 percent increase in investment in basic research into clean energy, including wind and solar: “Here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world. The best way to break this addiction is through technology. Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2011/10/11/conservatives-scale-up-attack-on-green-energy/?gta=commentlistpos#commentlistpos ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:13:33 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 12, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 12, 2011. 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 POLUTION Groups Sue After E.P.A. Fails to Shift Ozone Rules. Five health and environmental groups sued the Obama administration on Tuesday over its rejection of a proposed stricter new standard for ozone pollution, saying the decision was driven by politics and ignored public health concerns. The groups said that President Obama’s refusal to adopt the new standard was illegal and left in place an inadequate air quality rule from the Bush administration. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/science/earth/12epa.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Before Obama Retreat on Ozone, EPA Chief Warned of Illnesses and Deaths. When President Obama retreated from a tougher stance on smog last month, his Environmental Protection Agency chief had formally concluded that the existing standard endangered thousands of Americans, including children and people with respiratory ailments. The Bush-era limit on ozone was "not adequate to protect public health," and failed to take into account "newly available evidence," EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson concluded, according to recently released documents detailing the agency's justification for a tougher standard. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/corbin-hiar/before-obama-retreat-on-o_b_1006926.html Primitive ferns fierce in fighting pollution. Phytoremediation is the science of using plants to help clean up pollution. After all, plants are experts at selectively extracting nutrients and minerals from the soil through their roots. So why can't they be used to remove toxins, too? Scientists have tested many species for their ability to reduce toxicity in soils, air and water. Among the most important phytoremediation plants are ferns. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/12/DDHG1LFORB.DTL Private burning suspension lifted for valley counties. As of today, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has lifted the suspension of burning on private land in its Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit. This includes Calaveras and Tuolumne counties and eastern portions of San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. Burning is allowed, with a valid permit, during open hours on permissive burn days or nights, as established by each county's air district. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/11/1900498/private-burning-suspension-lifted.html Feds asked to ignore some Valley air violations. The Valley air district is asking the federal government to ignore a series of high air-pollution readings they attribute to this summer's Lion fire in Sequoia National Forest. In a letter Tuesday to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District said the fire led to high ozone readings at two monitors in neighboring Sequoia National Park. On 16 days, the only violations of the eight-hour ozone standard …Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/11/2573411/feds-asked-to-drop-air-violations.html#ixzz1aao75tpZ San Jose's Clean Energy Showcase brings latest energy innovations to life. In a downtown San Jose parking lot, Tammy Schultheis' third-grade class from Washington Open Elementary School learned how to bake chocolate chip cookies with solar power, using only aluminum reflectors. Students from the Santa Clara school also played with a "solar fountain" that turned a water pump on with the help of small solar panels, only to be shut off when anyone's shadow covered the panels. And inside a tiny demonstration home, they saw how recycled blue jeans can be used for insulation. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/education/ci_19091442 http://www.contracostatimes.com/education/ci_19091442 EPA Cement Factory Rules Are Flawed, Industry Tells U.S. Court. U.S. rules meant to cut mercury emissions and other air pollutants at cement plants are too restrictive and based on flawed data, a lawyer for the industry told a federal appeals court. A three-judge panel in Washington heard arguments today in challenges to Environmental Protection Agency regulations set to be enforced in 2013. The cement industry predicts the rules may cost $3.4 billion and shutter 18 of 100 plants. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-11/epa-cement-factory-rules-are-flawed-industry-tells-u-s-court.html U.S. Neighborhoods Struggle with Health Threats from Traffic Pollution. On a sunny afternoon, more than 1,000 children poured out of Hudson K-8 School, eager to play in their neighborhood. The flag football team was gearing up for practice, working out with their coach on the school’s grassy field. Just beyond the playground fence, a line of diesel trucks was idling, stuck in traffic as they made their way from a massive port complex to a congested freeway. Posted. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=us-neighborhoods-struggle-with-health-threats-from-traffic-pollution Even Republicans favor the EPA rules that Republicans are trying to block. The debate over upcoming EPA regulations is a perfect microcosm of contemporary U.S. politics, in all its unreality and venality. Two rules in particular are in the hot seat at the moment: the Clean Air Transport Rule, which would address smog and particulate pollution across state lines, and Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MACT) for utilities, which would address, yes, mercury and acid gases from power plants. Posted. http://www.grist.org/clean-air/2011-10-12-even-republicans-favor-epa-rules FUELS EPA: Fuel rules create jobs. EPA air chief Gina McCarthy plans to defend the agency against its “job-killing” reputation Wednesday in front of a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee, arguing that the agency’s fuel economy rules create jobs and support small businesses. McCarthy will be in the House to face an investigation that committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) launched last month, alleging that the EPA and the Transportation Department are strong-arming auto companies in backroom deals to carry out the agency’s climate change agenda in upcoming fuel standards. Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=98203A9D-622B-4CD0-AB99-8BCCD598EE9A GREEN ENERGY Ignorance Stifles Innovation in Solving Energy Problems. In many countries today, not least the United States, clean-burning natural gas offers tantalizing prospects for energy security, reliability and diversity; economic development; and, in most cases, improved local and state budgets through the combination of local energy production and associated economic benefits. Yet strong differences of opinion about acceptable risk threaten to undermine or preclude achievement of the benefits that a great number of diverse interests should want. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/business/energy-environment/ignorance-stifles-innovation-in-solving-energy-problems.html?scp=4&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse OPINIONS ARNOLD: City's solar projects on target. Solar power is getting a bad rap these days, with the Solyndra bankruptcy scandal that's reaching all the way up to the White House. And those on the right who scoff at global warming and maintain anything other than fossil or nuclear fuel is far too expensive to make much of an impact are overcome with delight, using the Solyndra scandal to indict the entire green movement. But let's hold on here. Regardless of whether you believe man is causing the earth to grow warmer, I suggest we can all agree that taking care of the planet makes sense. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/arnold/article_5b45add7-ec02-56b2-ada7-974a1dc88f63.html A GOP assault on environmental regulations. The following editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Monday, Oct. 10: Republicans in the House are best known for their inflexible opposition to tax hikes and government spending, but that's nothing new for the GOP; what marks this group as different is that it is perhaps the most anti-environment Congress in history. So far, that hasn't had much impact because Republicans control only one house, and Democrats in the Senate have blocked their most extreme attempts to gut the Clean Air and Clean Water acts. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/12/1900876/a-gop-assault-on-environmental.html BY SUBSCRIPTION BLOGS German Automakers Endorse a Unified Standard for D.C. Fast-Charging. Daimler announced Tuesday that it would show a prototype combination plug and port design intended for use on plug-in hybrids and purely electric vehicles. The system, a joint effort with Audi, BMW, Porsche and Volkswagen, will be on view at a technology conference in Baden-Baden, Germany, on Wednesday and Thursday. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/german-automakers-plug-a-unified-standard-for-d-c-fast-charging/?scp=6&sq=vehicles&st=cse Ban Hybrids From the Fast Lane, and Everyone Slows Down. Last spring I wrote about the indignation of hybrid car owners in California who were about to lose their rights to drive in the carpool lane. The state lawmakers who approved the July 1 cutoff seemed to take the position that virtue was its own reward. But two researchers have found that denying the hybrids access to high-occupancy lanes seems to slow down traffic on the freeway over all — the carpool lane included. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/ban-hybrids-from-the-fast-lane-and-everyone-slows-down/?scp=4&sq=environment&st=cse Australia moves closer to law establishing carbon tax. The Australian government's goal of implementing a carbon tax passed its toughest test today as the lower house of Parliament overwhelmingly approved a package of bills that institutes a phased-in carbon tax, to be followed by a carbon-trading system. The 18 bills now go to the Senate, where the law is all but assured of passage in mid-November. According to Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the system will reduce Australia's carbon emissions by 159 million tons by 2020. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/10/australia-climate-change-carbon-tax-cap-and-trade.html Climate change could shrink chocolate production: report. Scientists say climate change will eventually claim many victims -– including, according to a new report, chocolate. As temperatures increase and weather trends change, the main growing regions for cocoa could shrink drastically, according to new research from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture. Ghana and the Ivory Coast –- which produce more than half of the global cocoa supply –- could take a major hit by 2050. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/10/climate-change-could-shrink-chocolate-production-report.html Climate Change Could Mean Cloudy Future for Lake Tahoe. New threats to lake’s clarity are emerging just as restoration funding is drying up. Over the last 15 years, more than a billion dollars has been spent to protect Lake Tahoe’s clear waters from runoff and erosion. Now, new threats to lake’s clarity are emerging, just as restoration funding is drying up. Researchers from UC Davis are hot on the trail of one of those threats. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/10/11/climate-change-could-mean-cloudy-future-for-lake-tahoe/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 Issa looks to shine light on more solar loan guarantees. Late last month, the U.S. Energy Department approved billions of dollars of federal loan guarantees as part of a sun-setting stimulus program meant to boost solar development around the country. The program is the same one that provided more than half a billion to Solyndra, which promptly went bankrupt and left taxpayers with the bill. It's also the same program that has steered more than $5 billion to solar projects in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Posted. http://blogs.pe.com/politics/2011/10/issa-looks-to-shine-light-on-m.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:35:05 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 14, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 14, 2011. 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 EPA’s Jackson Says House Measures Would Gut Clean-Air Act. Lisa Jackson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said efforts to limit her powers are “unprecedented” and pledged that rules aimed at coal-powered power plants won’t harm electric reliability. Proposed legislation, such as a measure being considered in the U.S. House to block pollution controls on coal ash, would result in “gutting the heart of the Clean Air Act,” Jackson said today at an event sponsored by Politico in Washington. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-14/epa-s-jackson-says-house-measures-would-gut-clean-air-act.html In another swipe at EPA, House passes bill to delay pollution controls on industrial boilers. Washington — The Republican-controlled House is continuing its campaign against environmental regulations, this time passing a bill to delay rules to curb toxic air pollution from industrial boilers and incinerators. The legislation passed 274-142 on Thursday. It joins a host of other measures aimed at weakening, delaying or scrapping EPA regulations that Republicans view as job killers. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/in-another-swipe-at-epa-house-passes-bill-to-delay-pollution-controls-on-industrial-boilers/2011/10/13/gIQAyJsUiL_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/13/1903273/house-backs-bill-delaying-toxic.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19107847 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19107847 The EPA doesn’t regulate farm dust, it regulates air pollution. One cardinal rule of American politics is "Thou shalt not piss off the farmers." (Remember how farms were going to get a free pass on cap-and-trade?) Conveniently for Republicans, earlier this year, air monitors in Arizona found high levels of particulate matter in the air, and the EPA traced it to farms and had to work with farmers to minimize the amount of dust their work was creating. Now, Arizona is very, very dusty place, and particulate matter is a hazard to air quality. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-10-13-the-epa-doesnt-regulate-farm-dust-it-regulates-air-pollution CLIMATE CHANGE Gore links climate change to Great Lakes problems. Former Vice President Al Gore linked climate change to a rash of environmental catastrophes Thursday, from floods in Pakistan to drought in Texas and rampant algae blooms sucking oxygen from Lake Erie. The fallout from a warming planet is being felt around the world, Gore said in a speech during the annual meeting of the International Joint Commission, which advises the U.S. and Canadian governments on issues affecting shared waterways. Things will get worse unless people reject a campaign of denial orchestrated by the fossil fuel industry and make significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, he said. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gBq_T-P00UuqYQHCr9Y3Pl93DhAQ?docId=8d3e9f91f6ea41788bf88efb8d62d977 DIESEL EMISSIONS Clean Diesel (CDTI) Bus Polution Control Order. Clean Diesel (NASDAQ:CDTI) has received an order for its approved emission reduction products for retrofitting Purifilter Plus diesel particulate filter(DPF) emission reduction systems to school buses under the California Air Resources Board program for Northern California. The orders were received from Emissions Retrofit Group, a key distributor of Clean Diesels ECS-branded emission reduction products. Posted. http://www.dailymarkets.com/stock/2011/10/13/clean-diesel-cdti-bus-polution-control-order/ VEHICLES New Nissan hybrid and CVT headed to North America. The Nissan Altima mid-sized sedan could get a big boost in fuel economy with next year's model change as the brand rolls out an improved continuously variable transmission and its first in-house front-wheel hybrid system for North America. The upgraded pulley-style transmission alone should lift fuel efficiency by 10 percent over the CVT now used in the Altima and other vehicles, including the Maxima and Rogue. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111013/OEM05/111019937/1186 SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Chevy Spark Electric Minicar Designed for California Emissions Compliance. General Motors confirmed yesterday it will make an all-electric minicar called the Chevy Spark, to debut in 2013. While more product choice of electric cars is a positive step for the market, EV advocates worry that another small limited-range and potentially underpowered electric car will fuel negative stereotypes about electric vehicles. They wonder why the Spark was selected as the company's first all-electric model since the ill-fated EV1, when GM is capable of producing a much more appealing and exciting electric vehicle. Posted. http://www.plugincars.com/chevy-spark-electric-minicar-designed-california-emissions-compliance-108392.html GREEN ENERGY House panel looks at Solyndra loan restructuring. A House hearing on a solar panel manufacturer that went broke after receiving a half-billion dollar federal loan erupted in a partisan skirmish before any witnesses had testified Friday. Rep. Henry Waxman called the hearing "a rigged proceeding." Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee criticized Republicans for not allowing the Energy Department to testify and for blocking the release of an Energy Department memo that outlined the legal basis for its decision to restructure the $535 million loan to Solyndra. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SOLAR_MANUFACTURER_INVESTIGATION?SITE=RIPRJ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/house-panel-probes-obama-administration-decision-to-restructure-loan-to-troubled-solar-company/2011/10/14/gIQAGD1IjL_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/14/2576436/house-panel-looks-at-solyndra.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19112284 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19111949 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/14/house-panel-looks-at-solyndra-loan-restructuring/ OPINIONS Editorial, other views: Environment suffers under GOP House. Republicans in the House are best known for their inflexible opposition to tax hikes and government spending, but that's nothing new for the GOP; what marks this group as different is that it is perhaps the most anti-environment Congress in history. So far, that hasn't had much impact because Republicans control only one house, and Democrats in the Senate have blocked their most extreme attempts to gut the Clean Air and Clean Water acts. Posted. http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20111014/OPINION01/110140325/Editorial-other-views-Environment-suffers-under-GOP-House BLOGS On False Equivalence and False Inequivalence. Just over a week ago, I wrote a quick post on a new sociological analysis of organized efforts to sow doubt about global warming. The analysis was illustrated by a flow chart of what the researchers called the “climate change denial machine.” I added an update a day later describing a chart of the “climate alarmism machine” created in response by an Australian blogger. John Rennie, the former editor in chief of Scientific American, criticized me for engaging in “false equivalence” — a habit that I, and many others, have long criticized, particularly on science stories. He was right. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/on-false-equivalence-and-false-inequivalence/ Group launches online environmental accident map. The nonprofit environmental monitoring group SkyTruth on Thursday launched a real-time alert system that uses remote sensing and digital mapping to track pollution events in the United States. The SkyTruth Alerts system shows air and water pollution, toxic spills and other incidents on an interactive map, noting the time of the event and whether toxic materials are involved. Users can track specific geographic areas and receive updates via email or RSS feeds. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/10/skytruth-pollution-map-bp-gulf.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 UK energy secretary: proposed 80 mph speed limit should only apply to electric vehicles. A proposed increase of the speed limit on UK roads – to 80 miles per hour – is not without controversy, concerns and complaints. How about this for an unlikely solution? UK energy secretary Chris Huhne reckons the proposed 80-mph limit motorway should only apply to electric vehicles. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/13/uk-energy-secretary-proposed-80-mph-speed-limit-should-only-app/ Evolution, climate denial: Are they linked? Poll scientific specialists on evolution and global warming, and the results are overwhelming: a strong consensus that the scientists say is founded on equally strong data. But among the general public, the response can be quite different. Eugenie Scott, a science education activist best known for fighting creationism in public schools, says denial of evolution has much in common with the popular backlash against climate science. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2011/10/13/evolution-climate-denial-are-they-linked/146143/ New catalytic process efficiently extracts hydrogen from bioalcohols, including ethanol. Researchers led by Matthias Beller at the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis in Rostock (Germany) report in the journal Angewandte Chemie on a new catalyst that allows for the use of bioalcohols, including ethanol, for the production of hydrogen. Their novel process proceeds efficiently under particularly mild conditions. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/10/beller-20111014.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:54:13 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 17, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 17, 2011. 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 Study blames global warming for shrinking species. From the mighty polar bear to the tiny house sparrow, many of Earth's species appear to be shrinking in size, a new study reports. And the authors think it's probably due to global warming, a little like wool sweaters that shrink when washed in hot water. But other experts say that conclusion goes too far, blaming global warming for what may be natural changes. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/16/2578945/study-blames-global-warming-for.html#storylink=misearch http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/story/2011-10-17/global-warming-shrinking-species/50803996/1 VEHICLES When Electric Car Owners Talk, Nissan Listens. A GENERATION ago, teenagers in Silicon Valley were using their parents’ garages to start great American technology companies and boot up the computer revolution. Now those garages are places to plug in the electric cars that may radically change the direction of personal transportation. Like the computer clubs that helped to foster the enthusiasm of budding programmers, gatherings of electric car owners here are providing forums for the exchange of ideas. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/automobiles/nissan-is-listening-to-electric-car-owners-and-taking-notes.html?scp=2&sq=electric%20cars&st=cse Voith Turbo has Opened a New, State-of-the-Art Hybrid Power-Train Development Center for Transit Buses. Center, based north of San Diego, will specialize in developing new, environmentally-efficient hybrid drive systems. Voith Turbo announced that it has opened a hybrid power-train development center in Poway, California, just north of San Diego. The facility will further develop Voith Turbo's innovative hybrid diesel/electric power-train drive systems for transit buses. The office, warehouse and testing facilities cover more than 5,000 square feet. Posted. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Voith-Turbo-has-Opened-a-New-prnews-213221485.html?x=0 http://www.marketwatch.com/story/voith-turbo-has-opened-a-new-state-of-the-art-hybrid-power-train-development-center-for-transit-buses-2011-10-13 GREEN ENERGY California has 1 in 4 U.S. solar energy jobs, study says. The National Solar Jobs Census 2011 says job growth in the industry grew 6.8% in the one-year period ended in August, and a survey of solar employers suggests employment will rise by 24%, creating 24,000 jobs, during the next year. One in every four solar energy jobs in America is held by a Californian, and growth in the clean-tech industry is burgeoning nationwide, a new study said. In August, California had an estimated 25,575 solar-related jobs out of 100,237 for all 50 states, according to the National Solar Jobs Census 2011. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-solar-jobs-20111017,0,3230671.story Vinod Khosla invests more money in clean energy. Vinod Khosla, the billionaire venture capital investor, is raising his bet on clean technology. Khosla Ventures, the company he formed in 2004, created a $1.05 billion fund and will steer as much as 65 percent of that to back businesses developing renewable sources of power, energy-efficiency technology and LED lighting products, Khosla said Friday. In supporting early stage companies with unproven technology, Khosla expects some of them to fail. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/15/BU8D1LHUPC.DTL&type=printable Rick Perry reveals energy plan, says it adds jobs. West Mifflin, Pa. -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry sought to recharge his flagging presidential campaign Friday by introducing an energy plan that calls for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and expanding oil production in the Gulf of Mexico. Perry said his proposals would kick-start the sluggish economy and create 1.2 million new jobs through development and by rolling back clean air rules and other federal regulations. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/15/MN9O1LHPQ2.DTL&type=green Greening your house for a sale. Recent studies suggest that solar panels and other sustainability upgrades can help a home sell faster and fetch a higher price. Still, an experienced real estate agent said the true value really depends on smart investments and the right staging. The Earth Advantage Institute has determined that existing homes with third-party environmental certifications sell for 30 percent more than comparable homes without such ratings. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/17/1907977/greening-your-house-for-a-sale.html As governor, Perry slashed environmental enforcement in Texas, repeatedly challenged EPA rules. Gov. Rick Perry likes to say the best way to promote economic growth is to reduce regulation. When it comes to the environment, Perry has made Texas one of the most industry-friendly states in the nation. Perry has cut funding for clean air programs and sued the Environmental Protection Agency to avoid enforcing laws to make the air cleaner. As part of his Republican presidential campaign, he routinely blasts the White House for tightening environmental standards. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/as-governor-perry-slashed-environmental-enforcement-in-texas-repeatedly-challenged-epa-rules/2011/10/17/gIQAbk0hqL_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/17/2579679/perry-slashed-environmental-enforcement.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19129526?nclick_check=1 UN chief urges global lawmakers to confront finances by building trust, green energy sources. Lawmakers in Europe and elsewhere must do more than put their debt-wracked houses in order — they must reassure citizens who fear diminished future prospects, and that means restoring people’s trust in government, the U.N. secretary-general said Sunday night. Ban Ki-moon’s comments came during the opening session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which features representatives of parliaments from 157 nations. The global financial crisis was a major theme. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/un-chief-urges-global-lawmakers-to-confront-finances-by-building-trust-green-energy-sources/2011/10/16/gIQABPI0oL_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/16/2578968/un-chief-pushes-trust-green-themes.html#storylink=misearch The lesson from Solyndra: It’s time to deregulate the energy market. The bankruptcy of the solar energy company, Solyndra, not only cost taxpayers over half a billion, it also dealt a serious blow to the nation’s adoption of clean energy. The Obama administration’s attempt to jump-start the clean energy sector by picking favorites begs the question whether the federal government, instead of picking winners and losers in the battle to transform the nature of America’s energy use, should, instead, step back, enable adequate oversight and set the stage for the market to decide for itself. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-innovations/the-lesson-from-solyndra-its-time-to-deregulate-the-energy-market/2011/09/14/gIQANaBFrL_story.html Pulling the plug on L.A. The city of Los Angeles announced a major new initiative this week to cut back on that giant sucking sound -- the sound of commercial buildings hoovering up electricity. Two years ago, the Clinton Climate Initiative helped orchestrate a major overhaul of the Empire State Building that cut the famous spire's energy consumption by nearly 40 percent, trimming more than $400,000 off the building's annual energy bills. Posted. http://www.grist.org/energy-efficiency/2011-10-14-pulling-the-plug-on-l.a OPINIONS Oil and Gas Had Help. Why Not Renewables? The bankruptcy of a single solar-panel company, Solyndra, has catapulted the question of federal energy policies into the news. It has also led many people to draw exactly the wrong conclusions about federal support for energy innovation and where the policies should be headed. Solyndra was clearly a bad bet for the government, which now stands to lose all or part of about $500 million in loan guarantees. But one case hardly discredits the whole idea of government support for energy innovation. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/opinion/sunday/oil-and-gas-had-help-why-not-renewables.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=fuels&st=cse Where Did Global Warming Go? IN 2008, both the Democratic and Republican candidates for president, Barack Obama and John McCain, warned about man-made global warming and supported legislation to curb emissions. After he was elected, President Obama promised “a new chapter in America’s leadership on climate change,” and arrived cavalry-like at the 2009 United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen to broker a global pact. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/sunday-review/whatever-happened-to-global-warming.html?scp=2&sq=emissions&st=cse BLOGS Climate Change Is Shrinking Species, Research Suggests. Climate change’s laundry list of impacts — melting glaciers and rising sea levels, shifts in timing for bird migration and flower budding, a poleward shift of species — just got a new addition: shrinking species. No, not population sizes, but a diminution in the size of the animals by comparison with the pre-global warming days. It’s not that scientists are expecting humans to shrink in size, or mini-pandas and mini-panthers to join the ranks of miniature poodles. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/climate-change-is-shrinking-species-research-suggests/ Machiavelli and Humanity’s Lukewarm Response to Warming. After I wrote on the hidden factor behind the lopsidedness of the climate-energy policy fight (the inertia in a society and economy deeply reliant on fossil fuels), Paul Birkeland of Seattle posted an apt quotation from Niccolo Machiavelli:It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/machiavelli-and-humanitys-lukewarm-response-to-warming/?scp=3&sq=fuels&st=cse Solar energy jobs growing in U.S. and California, study says. One in every four solar energy jobs in the United States is held by a Californian, and growth in the clean-tech industry is burgeoning nationwide, a new study said. In August, California had an estimated 25,575 of the 100,237 solar-related jobs nationwide, according to the National Solar Jobs Census 2011, scheduled for release Monday by the Solar Foundation, a research and education organization in Washington. The total for California was four times greater than the runner-up, Colorado, with 6,186 solar jobs as of last summer. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/10/solar-energy-jobs-us-california.html Virgin Atlantic’s New Waste Fuel Gas Program Will Save Billions of Gallons. As someone who travels a lot, I must admit that you can’t beat the convenience of air travel, which, despite the annoyances of unpredictable arrival times and security hassles, is still the only way to get from coast to coast in half a day. Unfortunately, as currently practiced, flying the friendly skies is deadly in terms of its greenhouse gas contribution. By some estimates, aviation industry emissions will reach 1.5 billion tons by 2025, an amount equal to half of what the entire European Union emits today. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/10/virgin-atlantics-new-waste-fuel-gas-program-will-save-billions-gallons/ Biofuels market value to double to $185.3 billion in ten years. Will there be enough feedstock to support a massive biofuel boom? It sure seems possible, 'cause Pike Research predicts that the value of the biofuels industry could double in the next ten years, depending on the emergence of advanced feedstocks. Motivated, mainly, by concerns about energy independence and climate change, at least 38 national governments across the globe have enacted blending mandates to accelerate the production and consumption of biofuels. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/17/biofuels-market-value-to-double-to-185-3-billion-in-ten-years/ UC Riverside team receives $2M to evaluate emission reduction benefits of hybrid bulldozer and excavator. Scientists at the University of California, Riverside’s Center for Environmental Research and Technology have received a $2-million contract for a first-of-its-kind study of hybrid construction vehicles. The two-year project, which is being funded by the California Air Resources Board, will allow researchers to evaluate the emission reduction benefits of two commercially available hybrid construction vehicles: a Caterpillar bulldozer (earlier post) and a Komatsu hydraulic excavator (earlier post). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/10/ucr-20111017.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:30:41 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 18, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 18, 2011. 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 San Diego Airport Authority to receive $2 million grant from FAA. San Diego (CNS) - The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority is scheduled to receive a $2 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration Tuesday to install aircraft power systems at its 10 new gates at Lindbergh Field's Terminal 2, which is being expanded. The low-emission power systems will allow parked aircraft to shut down their auxiliary power unit -- called an APU -- which is an additional, and much smaller, jet engine at the rear of a plane that provides electricity for lights and avionics while the main engines are off. Posted. http://www.760kfmb.com/story/15721134/san-diego-airport-authority-to-receive-2-million-grant-from-faa CLIMATE CHANGE Warming Revives Dream of Sea Route in Russian Arctic. Arkhangelsk, Russia — Rounding the northernmost tip of Russia in his oceangoing tugboat this summer, Capt. Vladimir V. Bozanov saw plenty of walruses, some pods of beluga whales and in the distance a few icebergs. One thing Captain Bozanov did not encounter while towing an industrial barge 2,300 miles across the Arctic Ocean was solid ice blocking his path anywhere along the route. Ten years ago, he said, an ice-free passage, even at the peak of summer, was exceptionally rare. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/business/global/warming-revives-old-dream-of-sea-route-in-russian-arctic.html?_r=1&ref=science Areas of Concern Remain for Regulated Industries with Regard to Carb’s Cap-and-Trade Regulation. Members of the AB 32 Implementation Group continue to convey their concerns surrounding the California Air Resources Board’s proposed ‘cap-and-trade’ regulation. Sacramento, CA Members of the AB 32 Implementation Group, a coalition of business and taxpayer groups working for the effective implementation of AB 32, continue to convey their concerns surrounding the California Air Resources Board’s proposed ‘cap-and-trade’ regulation. Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/areas-concern-remain-regulated-industries-regard-carb-cap-165209361.html VEHICLES Few Sparks: GM's underwhelming electric car program. For the first time since the late, lamented EV1 faded into oblivion in 2003, General Motors is back in the battery electric business, as it announces that it will roll out a plug-in version of the Spark minicar (it's also sold as the Beat on some markets) in the U.S. by 2013. Ho hum. It's very hard to get excited about this announcement, because this is no make-or-break Volt program - GM is, instead, doing the bare minimum to get California zero emission credits, building an exceptionally cautious 2,000 cars on an entry-level program. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/17/v-print/3985362/few-sparks-gms-underwhelming-electric.html GREEN ENERGY California's green tax breaks in question. In just a year, a little-noticed state panel created with bipartisan legislative support worked briskly to authorize $104 million in tax breaks to help "green" companies in California buy equipment and add jobs. But the program was halted last month after the bankruptcy of Solyndra, the Fremont solar company that received $25 million in state tax breaks and, more notoriously, a $528 million federal loan guarantee despite its precarious financial state. The Solyndra debacle is being investigated by Congress. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/17/1908486/ap-enterprise-calif-green-tax.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/article_6a23f5db-3513-5932-a1c9-1db4d75b42c5.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_19134411 http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_19134411 MISCELLANEOUS Attractions, other sites at Disneyland expose visitors to lead, group says Environmental group seeks an injunction requiring the park to cover items or post warnings. Disney says it has complied with state law. Dozens of leaded-glass windows and brass rail chains, door knobs and drinking water fountains at some of Disneyland's most popular attractions expose children to high levels of lead, according to an environmental group seeking a court injunction Tuesday to require the amusement park to cover the items or post health warnings. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lead-disneyland-20111018,0,2052447,print.story States and Local Governments Lead the Way on Product Content Regulation. Increasingly in key areas of environmental and public health protection, states are choosing to step forward to fill what they may view as a void in needed regulation. In many instances, the state regulatory pioneer may be a single legislator responding to a citizen letter of concern or may be a state agency believing more restrictive standards are necessary to protect human health and the environment. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/10/18/states-and-local-governments-lead-the-way-on-product-content-regulation/ BLOGS More On Climate and Energy Procrastination. Here are three reactions to my post about Machiavelli’s view of the impediments to making big changes in societies — as in the asymmetrical nature of the battle to take the carbon out of energy systems in the face of both societal inertia and intensive efforts by entrenched interests to maintain the status quo. The first two remarks came in a group e-mail exchange and so relate to each other. Eugene Linden, a seasoned explorer of environmental change and author, most recently, of “The Ragged Edge of the World”: Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/more-on-climate-and-energy-procrastination/?pagemode=print Australians Assess Their Greenhouse Plan. In the wake of Australia’s move to add a price to carbon dioxide emissions — which is particularly notable considering the country is one of the world’s big exporters of coal (and related CO2 emissions) — I sent a query to some Australian analysts of climate and energy policy to see if this holds lessons for the United States. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/17/australians-assess-thei-greenhouse-plan/ How to talk about uncertainty in a warming world. You’ll often hear climate skeptics say, “The science isn’t settled.” And, to an extent, this is true — though not in the way the skeptics like to imply. There are lots of things that climatologists know with a very high degree of confidence: that the Earth is warming, that human activity is a major culprit. But, as scientists will be the first to tell you, there are still plenty of aspects of the climate system that are subject to fervent debate, particularly the scale of the risks involved in heating the planet. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/how-to-talk-about-uncertainty-in-a-warming-world/2011/10/18/gIQAxsHTuL_blog.html Four Scenarios Show One Optimistic Look at Sustainable Consumption in 2020. I’m sure many people and not just those protesting in Zuccotti Park would agree with this quote. Will it stay like that forever? It’s hard to tell, but according to a new research on ‘consumer futures 2020’ one thing we can be sure about is that the future is going to be radically different from today. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/10/will-companies-adopt-consumer-futures-2020-optimistic-look-sustainble-consumption/ Curbing Cooking Smoke That Kills More People Than Malaria. Environmental hazards sicken or kill millions of people — soot or smog in the air, for example, or pollutants in drinking water. But the most dangerous stuff happens where the food is made — in peoples' kitchens. That's according to the World Health Organization, which says that the smoke and gases from cooking fires in the world's poorest countries contribute to nearly two million deaths a year — that's more than malaria. Burning wood, crop waste, charcoal or dung does the damage, filling homes with smoke and blackening walls. Posted. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/10/18/141455850/curbing-cooking-smoke-that-kills-more-people-than-malaria ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:00:45 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 19, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 19, 2011. 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 Major investors seek new carbon emissions treaty. Large investors representing more than $20 trillion (euro14.62 trillion) in assets urged governments on Wednesday to sign a binding treaty on carbon emissions at the U.N. climate talks in South Africa in December. A group of 285 investors say only legally enforceable carbon limits can spur the level of investment needed to keep temperatures from rising further. The group includes three major investor networks in the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i1mQb4r-v6t3epq3-JphpBB0hfwA?docId=6f13aa5704514dbfb4928ef5401c0707 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/major-investors-with-more-than-20-trillion-in-assets-seek-new-treaty-on-carbon-emissions/2011/10/19/gIQAndTtwL_story.html http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/19/3988917/major-investors-seek-new-carbon.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/19/international/i070810D47.DTL http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19146160?nclick_check=1 BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/19/1910889/major-investors-seek-new-carbon.html http://fresnobee.com/2011/10/19/2582429/major-investors-seek-new-carbon.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19146160 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19146160 http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/article_164ceaa6-868e-54d8-9b4b-3abd61063122.html South African Treasury Backs Carbon Tax to Cut Emissions. South Africa’s National Treasury said its proposed carbon taxes are an appropriate tool to cut emissions, rejecting opposition to the levy from steelmaker ArcelorMittal South Africa Ltd. and other companies. “Carbon taxes afford firms the flexibility to undertake emissions reductions according to their specific processes and provide the long-term price certainty which is essential for investment decisions,” said Cecil Morden, chief director of tax policy at the Treasury. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-19/south-african-treasury-backs-carbon-tax-to-cut-emissions.html http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/43427/print CLIMATE CHANGE Wave of state actions could hike water rates. Possible air board vote, future projects mean more long-term costs. Already paying more for using less water, Californians are being warned to brace for even higher rates in the coming years as the state moves on a number of fronts to slow global warming, protect the environment and build a reliable supply network. Most immediately, the California Air Resources Board on Thursday is expected to approve a sweeping plan to attack greenhouse gas emissions that, by some accounts, could cost the San Diego County Water Authority at least $5 million a year and perhaps much more over time, according to one analysis. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/18/wave-state-actions-could-hike-water-rates/ Food processors slam new emissions law. Valley food processors say they will be hurt economically by California's landmark global warming law, which will go into effect Jan. 1. The legislation – known as AB 32 – sets a statewide limit on greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. On Tuesday, however, three prominent San Joaquin Valley food processors told a state legislative caucus in Fresno that the law is forcing them to spend millions on equipment that will reduce emissions by only a small percentage. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/18/2582056/food-processors-slam-new-gas-emissions.html 2008-2010 Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Major Facilities Now Available. The Air Resources Board (ARB) has posted summary spreadsheets of 2008-2010 facility greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and power entity transactions data reported pursuant to the California mandatory Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reporting program. The data is available through the ARB website at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/reporting/ghg-rep/ghg-reports.htm. This posting represents the first summary spreadsheets posted for the 2009 and 2010 emissions and transactions data, while the 2008 data is an update to a past posting of emissions data. Posted. http://yubanet.com/california/2008-2010-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions-from-Major-Facilities-Now-Available.php DIESEL EMISSIONS California Railroad Pollution: Two US Railroads Face Unique Lawsuit. Los Angeles -- When the lump on her toddler's tummy turned out to be a rare cancer, Carla Hernandez wondered if living just a half-mile from two rail yards emitting a constant veil of near-invisible pollution was somehow responsible. "When she was diagnosed they kept asking me if I smoked or if anyone smoked around her, but no one did," said Hernandez, sitting beside her 4-year-old daughter, who was sleeping after her latest treatment at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/environmental-group-sues-2-us-railroads-with-unique-diesel-pollution-claim/2011/10/18/gIQA3vzEvL_story.html http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/18/3987664/2-us-railroads-face-unique-pollution.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/18/1909864/2-us-railroads-face-unique-pollution.html http://fresnobee.com/2011/10/18/2581598/2-us-railroads-face-unique-pollution.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19140167 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19140167 http://www.labusinessjournal.com/news/2011/oct/18/environmental-group-sue-railroads-over-pollution-l/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_0dfbbf1c-ab24-54fe-b686-b7dfe1422c1d.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/18/california-railroad-pollution_n_1018568.html New Shasta County report reverses greenhouse gas impacts; changes in criteria back Anderson power facility. A cogeneration plant proposed in Anderson would not have a significant impact on the environment, even though it will produce 330,000 tons of greenhouse gases annually from burning wood, according to a report on the project. A draft environmental impact report written last year said the greenhouse gases from the Sierra Pacific Industries plant would have a significant impact on the environment. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2011/oct/18/new-report-reverses-gas-impacts/?print=1 California to give official kick off to carbon market. California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) will, on Thursday, October 20, adopt its final rules for California’s carbon market. The adoption of the cap-and-trade regulation will mark the official stamp of approval before the state’s self-imposed deadline of October 28, and will result in California’s program entering into force next year, binding emitters to carbon caps as of 2013. Posted. http://www.commodities-now.com/commodities-now-reports/environmental-markets/8408-california-to-give-official-kick-off-to-carbon-market.html FUELS Energy ministers warn demand for fossil fuels, pollution will skyrocket in coming years. Paris — Energy demand will skyrocket in the coming decades and much of it will be met with fossil fuels, increasing risks of pollution and global warming, a group of energy ministers warned Wednesday. An International Energy Agency meeting of the ministers and industry leaders in Paris was clear about the scale of the challenges: Global demand is expected to grow by a third by 2035, most of it in developing countries — where “dirty” fuels are most common. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/iea-says-oil-demand-to-grow-in-2012-amid-slow-growth-recession-not-forecast-in-rich-economies/2011/10/19/gIQA9ECtwL_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/19/iea-doesnt-expect-another-recession/?print=1 U.S. Energy Policy Rife With Contradictions, Chevron Chief Says. U.S. energy policy is rife with contradictions and companies gain access to natural resources “by exception, not by rule,” Chevron Corp. (CVX) Chief Executive Officer and Chairman John Watson said. The U.S. needs to encourage production of oil and natural gas rather than limiting energy development, Watson said today in written remarks for a speech at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-19/u-s-energy-policy-rife-with-contradictions-chevron-chief-says.html Fat Replaces Oil for F-16s as Biofuels Head to War: Commodities. Biofuels face their biggest test yet -- whether they can power fighter jets and tanks in battle at prices the world’s best-funded military can afford. The U.S. Air Force is set to certify all of its 40-plus aircraft models to burn fuels derived from waste oils and plants by 2013, three years ahead of target, Air Force Deputy Assistant Secretary Kevin Geiss said. The Army wants 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025. The Navy and Marines aim to shift half their energy use from oil, gas and coal by 2020. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-18/animal-fat-replaces-crude-oil-in-f16s-as-biofuels-head-to-war-commodities.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2011/10/18/animal-fat-crude-oil-f-16s_n_1018072.html VEHICLES California governor approves truck rule, vetoes CARB requirement. Two California truck bills have met different fates on the governor’s desk. Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that is intended to improve safety around certain large vehicles, but he vetoed an effort to impose a rule on the state’s Air Resources Board. Previously SB341, the new law requires a construction vehicle in excess of 14,000 pounds that operates at, or transports construction or industrial materials to and from, a mine or construction site to be equipped with an automatic backup audible alarm. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Oct11/101711/101811-02.shtml New study looks at hybrid construction equipment. Riverside, California – A new, first-of-its-kind two-year study will evaluate the emission reduction benefits of hybrid construction vehicles. Scientists at the University of California’s Center for Environmental Research and Technology have received a US$2 million contract from the California Air Resources Board to study two commercially-available hybrid vehicles, a Caterpillar bulldozer and Kamatsu hydraulic excavator. “Hybrid construction vehicles are just now becoming available,” said Kent Johnson, principal investigator on the project. “We have been asked to use our emissions testing experience to quantify what their benefit is.” Posted. http://www.autos.ca/general-news/new-study-looks-at-hybrid-construction-equipment GREEN ENERGY Energy poll: Americans fret about Congress, foreign oil. The vast majority (84%) of Americans are worried about U.S. consumption of foreign oil, and 76% fret about the lack of progress in developing energy efficiency and renewable sources, a poll released today shows. Less than 14% say the United States is headed in the right direction on energy, according to the inaugural survey of 3,406 consumers conducted Sept. 14-25 by the University of Texas at Austin, which plans to do biannual energy polling in the future. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/10/energy-poll-americans-worried-congress/1 Sonoma County pushes forward with power agency studies. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday authorized further study of the possible formation of a public power agency. The board voted unanimously to move ahead with six more months of work focused on what a program would look like, a step that all supervisors said was needed before any final decision is made to become a power supplier to local homes and businesses. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111019/COMMUNITY/111019484/1033/.wbk.js?Title=Sonoma-County-pushes-forward-with-power-agency-studies Report: Arizona ranks 3rd nationwide in solar jobs. A trade group representing solar power companies says Arizona has 4,786 people working in the industry, ranking the state No. 3 in the nation behind California and Colorado. The Solar Foundation released the findings in a report this week. It breaks out Arizona's jobs as 36 percent in installation, 27 percent in sales, 17 percent in manufacturing, and 12 percent in research and development. The survey was conducted by the foundation and Green LMI Consulting with help from Cornell University. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/18/1909947/report-arizona-ranks-3rd-nationwide.html OPINIONS Opinion: AB 32 is an investment in stabilizing California’s future. California is a leader in the area of clean energy and energy efficiency technology because we are innovators — when it comes to research and development, patents, and policy. Without good, smart policy, would California still innovate? Yes. But our clean energy economy and the jobs it supports would grow at a slower, less transformative pace. A recent opinion piece in Capitol Weekly (Opinion: When you are stuck in a hole, the first thing you do is stop digging) … Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?1=1&_c=102sbeearw2prc9&xid=102pc9ke47ed0w1&done=.102pdbn6oba7c95&_credir=1319047081&_c=102sbeearw2prc9# BLOGS Green efforts best in the country, but not good enough. This we know: San Francisco is at the leading edge in slashing greenhouse gas emissions. Kyoto Protocol? We complied in 2007 (although didn’t have all the data analyzed until 2010). AB32, the state’s landmark emissions reduction law? Met that target years ago. But meeting the city’s own standards? Now that’s a different story. Data that Mayor Ed Lee will release today shows that by the end of 2010, the city had reduced its carbon footprint to 12 percent below 1990 levels. Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2011/10/19/green-efforts-best-in-the-country-but-not-good-enough/ Ford Transit Connect Electric to qualify for $15,000 rebate in California. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is set to add an additional category to its Hybrid Incentive Voucher Program (HVIP) that awards buyers of zero-emissions light-duty commercial vehicles, including the Ford Transit Connect Electric, a discount of up to $15,000 on their green vehicle purchase. Starting in November, light-duty zero-emissions commercial vehicles with a GVWR between 5,001 and 8,500 pounds will be eligible for vouchers of up to $15,000 in California. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/19/ford-transit-connect-electric-to-qualify-for-15-000-rebate-in-c/ Banning hybrids from HOV lanes slows everyone down. Whodathunk that banning hybrid vehicles from California's High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes would lead to additional congestion on the state's highways and even longer commute times? Transportation engineers at the University of California, Berkeley did, and that's why the University's researchers are now pushing for HOV access to be granted to more vehicles, not less. UC Berkeley researchers recently discovered that after single-occupant hybrid vehicles were booted out of HOV lanes, traffic increased for all of the state's drivers. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/19/banning-hybrids-from-hov-lanes-slows-down-everyone/ The 7 Keys to Low-Carbon Business Innovation. With rising energy consumption, a lingering economic malaise and a dearth of climate policy, companies that contrive ways to grow while reducing the carbon impact of their products can not only survive, but flourish despite uncertain times. That’s the case the Pew Center on Global Climate Change makes in its latest report, “The Business of Innovating: Bringing Low-Carbon Solutions to Market.” The study, released Tuesday, identifies seven best practices that are key to low-carbon innovation and takes a look at how four companies -- Hewlett-Packard, Daimler AG, Johnson Controls Inc. and Alstom SA -- are using them to unlock growth opportunities. Posted. http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2011/10/18/how-hp-daimler-jci-alstom-are-leading-low-carbon-innovation Snapshot of the California Zero Emission Vehicle program credit balances. As part of a Board-directed effort to provide greater transparency to interested stakeholders, the staff of the California Air Resources Board has posted production data from large- and intermediate-volume automakers beginning in model year 2009 and their Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) credit balances in 2010 on its website. As of 1 October 2011, all vehicle manufacturers subject to the ZEV regulation are in compliance through model year 2010, and are carrying a positive ZEV credit balance—i.e., over-compliance with the ZEV regulation. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/10/zev-20111019.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:09:08 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 20, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 20, 2011. 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 Calif. poised to finalize nation’s most extensive ‘cap-and-trade’ plan. California is poised to formally adopt the nation’s most comprehensive so-called “cap-and-trade” system, designed to provide a financial incentive for polluters to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. State officials hope other states and Washington D.C. will follow suit with similar plans. “When Washington considers how to address climate change, as I think it will, California’s climate plan will serve as a role model for the national program,” said Stanley Young, the air board’s spokesman. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/calif-poised-to-finalize-nations-most-extensive-cap-and-trade-plan/2011/10/20/gIQA7E6fzL_story.html http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/20/3990557/calif-poised-to-finalize-cap-and.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/20/national/a005126D43.DTL http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/20/2583507/calif-poised-to-finalize-cap-and.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/20/1912145/calif-poised-to-finalize-cap-and.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/20/calif-poised-to-finalize-cap-and-trade-plan/ http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111020/A_NEWS/111029997&cid=sitesearch http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/oct/19/state-air-resources-board-will-consider-cap-and-tr/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/20/california-cap-and-trade_n_1022314.html http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2118470/california-finalise-carbon-trading-plan Climate change didn’t ‘go,’ it was pushed. On the front page of The New York Times Sunday Review, Elisabeth Rosenthal has a nice bit of analysis that asks, "Where Did Global Warming Go?" It is, by the standards of mainstream U.S. media, an unusually direct and plainspoken description of America's current isolation when it comes to climate change. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-10-20-climate-change-didnt-go-it-was-pushed-rosenthal-ny-times AIR POLLUTION With Population Growth Comes Air Pollution Upsurge and Increased Health Risks. Worldwide, population is seven billion. Projections are that population in the United States will reach 400 million by 2050 – a 33 percent increase in roughly 40 years’ time; the U.S. registered its 300 millionth resident in 2006. With an increase in world population has come an increase in air pollution. The burning of fossil fuels and the amount of fossil fuels being burned is the culprit. Posted. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/print/9484 http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x860821917/Valley-study-links-ER-visits-with-bad-air-days GREEN ENERGY Treasurer Lockyer defends clean-energy tax break. Sacramento -- The state treasurer on Wednesday called California's tax break program for clean-energy companies a "wise and needed one" despite the failure of its most high-profile recipient: the solar startup Solyndra. Treasurer Bill Lockyer told a panel of state lawmakers that the program is intended to promote the growth of alternative energy manufacturing plants in California and complements the state's push for renewable energy. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/20/BAD81LJVGR.DTL&type=printable Solar power’s ‘nasty little secret’ isn’t nasty or secret. The charges leveled by a solar industry insider recently were deadly serious. "Solar panels do not work that well ... and few know it," revealed Ray Burgess, president and CEO of Solar Power Technologies. Writing in AOL Energy on Oct. 7, Burgess appeared to be a reluctant or even heroic truth-teller, airing the solar industry's dirty laundry with the best of intentions. (Several times while reading the piece, Jerry McGuire's Mission Statement came to mind.) Posted. http://www.grist.org/solar-power/2011-10-20-solar-powers-nasty-little-secret-isnt-nasty-or-secret MISCELLANEOUS Capitol Alert: Former lawmaker Hector De La Torre named to state air board. Former Assemblyman Hector De La Torre was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown today to the state air resources board, a part-time job paying $40,699. De La Torre, a 44-year-old South Gate Democrat, was termed out of the Assembly in 2010 and currently was serving as vice president of the Free Conferencing Corporation, Brown said in a press release. The Senate must confirm De La Torre's appointment. A former South Gate councilman, De La Torre was elected to the Assembly in 2004. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/20/2583910/capitol-alert-former-lawmaker.html#ixzz1bLJDQbRF http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/10/former-lawmaker-hector-de-la-torre-named-to-state-air-board.html#ixzz1bLHd19pi OPINIONS Editorial: Air board faces decision day on carbon trading. The California Air Resources Board today is expected to approve the most disputed and litigated element of California's climate crusade – a cap-and-trade system for reducing greenhouse gases. With this action, California will be the first state in the nation to limit emissions linked to global warming that spring from electric utilities, the transportation sector, major manufacturers and other industries. It also will be the first to establish a trading system so businesses can consider what options are most cost-effective in reducing emissions. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/20/3990078/air-board-faces-decision-day-on.html Clean air and the price of water. A vote in Sacramento today will say a lot about whether state regulators will take a common-sense approach to implementation of California’s landmark legislation to combat global warming. The issue before the Air Resources Board involves a complex “cap-and-trade” plan designed to help the state reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Under the proposal, energy utilities would receive substantial pollution “allowances” for free at the beginning of the program, but giant water suppliers such as the State Water Project and the Metropolitan Water District would receive none. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/20/clean-air-and-the-price-of-water/ BLOGS The Clean Air Is Included in the Rent. A chain of serviced apartments in Hong Kong has developed a new marketing pitch in this smoggy city: Stay with us and breathe cleaner air. Chi Residences, whose luxury residences are aimed at expats seeking short-term homes, has teamed up a maker of pricey air purifiers and installed them in each of its apartments. “Hong Kong is a fantastic city, but we all pay a price for it — pollution,” said Ilse Massenbauer-Strafe, founder and executive director of Oxyvital, the maker of the purifiers. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2011/10/20/the-clean-air-is-included-in-the-rent/ >From the Washer to the Sea: Plastic Pollution. Environmental Science and Technology Some areas where researchers found significant concentrations of microplastic. When most people think of plastic pollution in the sea, they tend to picture bottles washing up on beaches, say, or the vast garbage patch in the Pacific. What few may realize is that waste water from washing machines is an important source of plastic pollution in oceans, according to a recent article in Environmental Science and Technology. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/from-the-washer-to-the-sea-plastic-pollution/?pagemode=print California falls behind Massachusetts in energy efficiency. California has fallen behind Massachusetts as the country's most energy-efficient state, according to the 2011 Energy Scorecard released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy on Thursday. California had ranked first for each of the previous four years' scorecards. While California and Massachusetts have both effectively implemented demand-side management plans, "Massachusetts regulators have sent a very consistent message that they want to ramp up their energy-efficiency programs. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/10/california-energy-efficiency.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Fisker Karma gets EPA certified: 52 mpge, 32-mile electric range then 20 mpg. Yikes. The EPA has finally released its official fuel economy rating for the Fisker Karma, and it's not high: just 52 MPGe, an all-electric range of 32 miles and 20 miles per gallon on gasoline when the battery runs dry. This is well below the numbers that Fisker reps were bandying about in past years: 67.2 mpge and an all-electric range of 50 miles. American conservatives – who really have it out for plug-in hybrids that the federal government helped fund with loan guarantees – are already calling the Karma's numbers a "flop." Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/19/fisker-karma-epa-certified-52-mpge-32-mile-electric-range/ International Rectifier showcasing advanced energy management system to extend battery life in EVs. Power management technology company International Rectifier is showcasing an advanced energy management system, Evaira, designed to extend battery life in electric vehicles at SEMA 2011 in Las Vegas, 1-4 November 2011. The performance of a multi-cell battery pack is limited by the differences between the weakest and strongest cells in the pack. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/10/international-rectifier-showcasing-advanced-energy-management-system-to-extend-battery-life-in-evs.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:09:28 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 21, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 21, 2011. 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 California Adopts Extensive 'Cap-and-Trade' Plan. "Small markets mean fewer trading opportunities — and so potentially higher costs," Mazurek said. To help companies prepare, 90 percent of the allowances would be free in the first years, providing time for equipment upgrades. A letter sent by the California Chamber of Commerce and a host of other business groups called the 10 percent in allowances an "arbitrary 10 percent haircut." The letter said that California can't fight global climate change on its own. Posted. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/california-adopts-extensive-cap-trade-plan-14783500?page=2 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/21/us-carbon-california-idUSTRE79K00U20111021 http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cap-trade-20111021,0,1125437.story http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/21/3992504/california-board-approves-cap.html#ixzz1bQkUfahw http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/20/BA901LK83V.DTL#ixzz1bQkwlyJ6 http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_19157727?source=rss BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/20/state-creates-market-approach-to-curb-global/ http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/20/1912142/calif-poised-to-finalize-cap-and.html#ixzz1bQrO1FrX http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/20/2584665/california-approves-carbon-trading.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_19158019 BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/business/energy-environment/california-adopts-cap-and-trade-system-to-limit-emissions.html?_r=2&scp=2&sq=cap%20and%20trade&st=csehttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204485304576643860519096694.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ann-carlson/california-climate-policy_b_1020250.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/calif-regulators-give-final-ok-to-nations-most-extensive-cap-and-trade-emissions-plan/2011/10/20/gIQAnG9e1L_story.html http://www.capradio.org/articles/2011/10/20/california-air-resources-board-approves-cap-and-trade http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/10/20/california-adopts-nations-most-sweeping-cap-trade-plan/ http://smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?type=wnews&title=California%20adopts%20cap-and-trade%20system&id=220858 http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=19623 http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/10/21/3 BY PAID SUBSCRIPTION ONLY U.N. committee completes draft design of climate fund. London - A U.N. committee has completed the draft design of a fund to help developing countries tackle climate change, paving the way for its launch in 2013, the U.N.'s climate chief said on Friday. Last year, countries agreed to create the 'Green Climate Fund' to channel up to $100 billion a year by 2020 to developing countries to help fight climate change. An international committee in charge of designing the fund met this week in South Africa, but some organizations accused the United States and Saudi Arabia of hampering the process. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/21/us-un-climate-fund-idUSTRE79K2FV20111021 Climate Skeptics Stay Unswayed. A new study designed to address critiques of climate science by skeptics has confirmed that “global warming is real” and that the world’s average land temperature has risen by about 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit since the mid-1950s. The findings, released on Thursday by a group of scientists and statisticians at the University of California known as the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project, were welcomed by climate scientists and advocates of climate policy action, who had hoped that skeptics would finally have to cry uncle. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/science/earth/21climate.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2011/10/21/study-global-warming-is-real California Climate Policy: Good for the Environment, Good for Business. Every major meteorological organization in the world agrees that 2010 was the hottest year on record, continuing a dangerous trend. Texas is experiencing the worst drought in its history. Lack of rain has created massive food shortages and human catastrophe on the horn of Africa. Glacial melting is causing a sea level rise that will threaten coastlines and hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Yet the globe continues to pour heat trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere in record amounts and U.S. policy to reduce domestic emissions is virtually dormant. But California is bucking the national trend. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ann-carlson/california-climate-policy_b_1020250.html Bring on the carbon fuel standards. The European Union’s Fuel Quality Directive that the federal government is furiously lobbying to kill is the worst kind of regulatory trade barrier. Under its current wording, it would ascribe all oil produced from Canada’s oilsands a greenhouse gas rating of 107 grams of carbon dioxide per megajoule and thus force its importers to pay for carbon offsets. Conventional crude oil, emitting 87.5 grams (they say), would be OK. Posted. http://www.canadianbusiness.com/blog/business_briefings/52351--bring-on-the-carbon-fuel-standards VEHICLES Northeast states form electric vehicle network. Ten states from Massachusetts to Maryland are joining forces to promote electric vehicles. The Northeast Electric Vehicle Network announced Wednesday it will work to help plan and install charging stations throughout the region as well as attract private investment in clean vehicle infrastructure. Among the things network members will work on: the location of charging stations. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/APd8e72ba90ab5493fa4c6bcfd5f1319d1.html Australia’s 1st Electric Supercar Makes Debut. Varley Electric Vehicles will unveil their EVR450 an electric super car that showcases Australian electric car technology and posts some impressive performance numbers as well. 0-100 km/hr in 3.8 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 200 km/h! Range of the standard version is 150km, but an extended range battery pack option will be available that can boost single charge range to 300 km. Posted. http://www.ev.com/knowledge-center/electric-vehicles-articles/australias-1st-electric-supercar-makes-debut.html GREEN ENERGY Report: Mass. tops in promoting energy efficiency. A national nonprofit advocacy group has named Massachusetts tops in the nation when it comes to promoting energy efficiency. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy placed Massachusetts above California for the first time in rankings released Thursday. The group pointed to Massachusetts programs designed to save energy and create jobs including the Green Communities Act of 2008, the Green Jobs Act and Global Warming Solutions Act. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/20/report-mass-tops-in-promoting-energy-efficiency/?print=1 BC Hydro plays NAFTA card in bid to win green energy status in California. BC Hydro has accused California’s cap-and-trade regulator of violating the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying the regulator’s proposed rules on greenhouse gas emissions favour American power supplier Bonneville Power Administration. In a Sept. 27 letter to the California Air Resources Board, Hydro’s energy-trading arm Powerex lays out its complaint, urging the board to change its regulations “to avoid running afoul of NAFTA.” Posted. http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Hydro+plays+NAFTA+card+green+energy+status+California/5583854/story.html OPINIONS The Case Against Global-Warming Skepticism. There were good reasons for doubt, until now. Are you a global warming skeptic? There are plenty of good reasons why you might be. As many as 757 stations in the United States recorded net surface-temperature cooling over the past century. Many are concentrated in the southeast, where some people attribute tornadoes and hurricanes to warming. The temperature-station quality is largely awful. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204422404576594872796327348.html#articleTabs=article BY SUBSCRIPTION Party of Pollution. Last month President Obama finally unveiled a serious economic stimulus plan — far short of what I’d like to see, but a step in the right direction. Republicans, predictably, have blocked it. But the new plan, combined with the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations, seems to have shifted the national conversation. We are, suddenly, focused on what we should have been talking about all along: jobs. So what is the G.O.P. jobs plan? Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/opinion/party-of-pollution.html?scp=3&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse 'Too dirty to fail'? House Republicans' assault on our environmental laws must be stopped. Americans must once again stand up for their right to clean air and clean water. Since the beginning of this year, Republicans in the House have averaged roughly a vote every day the chamber has been in session to undermine the Environmental Protection Agency and our nation's environmental laws. They have picked up the pace recently — just last week they voted to stop the EPA's efforts to limit mercury and other hazardous pollutants from cement plants, boilers and incinerators — and it appears their campaign will continue for the foreseeable future. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-jackson-train-act-20111021,0,4464566,print.story A world without tailpipes. Last Sunday was witness to a unique parade on Main Street that may wind up in the Guinness Book of World Records. The event might have represented the largest assemblage in world history of freeway capable electric cars (188) on a public road at any one time. (Parade organizers have filed with Guinness.) Because EVs are virtually noiseless, it was also perhaps the quietest parade in world history. Or, as one onlooker suggested, "It was so quiet it was like a funeral procession for the oil industry!" (I only wish.) Posted. http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2011-10-21-72788.113116-A-world-without-tailpipes.html BLOGS Climate Study Does Not Placate Skeptics. As we noted on the blog on Thursday, a new study designed to address critiques of climate science by skeptics has confirmed that “global warming is real” and the world’s average land temperature has risen by about 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit since the mid-1950s.The findings, released by a group of scientists and statisticians at the University of California known as the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project, were welcomed by climate scientists and advocates of climate policy action, who had been hoping that skeptics would finally have to cry uncle. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/climate-study-does-not-placate-skeptics/ http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/10/climate-skeptic-woops-the-majority-is-right-on-global-warming.html Beyond Green: A Net-Zero College Community. Designing buildings that leave a lighter imprint on the environment has become the de facto standard these days. The target for many is zero net energy use, meaning that a building makes as much energy as it uses over the course of a year. Noteworthy net-zero-energy homes, commercial buildings and government structures are regularly built. But none have matched the scale of West Village, a net-zero community at the University of California, Davis, that its developers describe as the largest project of its kind in the country. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/beyond-green-a-net-zero-college-community/ Quote of the day. Even if California shut down every power plant and took every car off of the road, global emissions are growing so fast that they'll rapidly make up the difference. So says Sen. Doug LaMalfa in response to the Air Resources Board's approval of a statewide cap-and-trade system for carbon dioxide emissions. The unfortunate part is that even supporters of action to stem CO2-driven global warming would have to concede he's correct. Posted. http://blogs.redding.com/bross/archives/2011/10/quote-of-the-da-112.html California's Cap-and-Trade Program Gets Green Light. California's Air Resources Board has formally adopted the state's greenhouse cap-and-trade program today, following a lawsuit that delayed compliance with the controversial scheme by a year. The program, which will begin in mid-2012 with auctions of the emissions allowances, will be the nation's most stringent cap-and-trade mandate but not the first. It follows in the footsteps of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a program that covers utilities in Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. Posted. http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2011/10/20/californias-cap-trade-program-gets-green-light Senate GOP Proposal Is a Program for More Pollution, Not a Jobs Plan. Senate Republicans have opened a new front in the war against public health and environmental safeguards. They released a so-called jobs plan that calls for removing standards that protect Americans from smog, arsenic, lead, mercury, and other hazardous pollutants. What the proposal shows is that Republican leaders have no jobs plan—just a repackaging of anti-government screeds. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/fbeinecke/senate_gop_plan_offers_dirtier.html Japan Can Replace Nuclear with Renewables –Schroeder. Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a leading proponent of Germany phasing out nuclear power, has said that in the wake of Japan’s disastrous 11 March Fukushima nuclear accident that the country can both phase out nuclear power and become a pioneer in sources of alternative energy. In an interview with Mainichi newspaper Schroeder said, "Japan is in a position where it is technologically capable of forming different energy policies. Japan could become a pioneer in energy other than nuclear power. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/japan-can-replace-nuclear-renewables-schroeder/ Buyers trading in Toyota Prius for Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf. Through the end of September, year-to-date U.S. sales of the electric Nissan Leaf hit 7,199 units and sales of plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt tallied 3,895 units. What vehicles were those 11,000-plus people driving before their new plug-ins? Recently, Barbara Keys, a R.L. Polk & Co consultant, surveyed buyers of both the Leaf and Volt and discovered that the vehicles are conquest hits. Keys states that through the end of June, 78 percent of Volt buyers didn't own a Chevrolet at the time of purchase. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/21/buyers-trading-in-toyota-prius-for-chevy-volt-nissan-leaf/ Report: higher smog risk for U.S. Latinos. U.S. Latinos suffer a disproportionately higher health risk from air pollution according to a new report from advocacy groups, who are urging the Obama administration not to delay tougher regulations. Nearly half of U.S. Latinos live in in the nation’s top 25 cities most polluted by ground-level ozone, the report says. Half of California Latinos live in counties that frequently violate air-quality standards. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2011/09/20/report-higher-smog-risk-for-u-s-latinos/138376/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:18:44 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 24, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 24, 2011. 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 Railroads cite voluntary steps to reduce diesel emissions. A lawsuit recently filed by three environmental groups against two railroad companies raises questions about the pollution emitted from the state's rail yards and the health risks on nearby residents. However, the railroad companies say they have made numerous changes over the years in an attempt to reduce toxic pollutants. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_19182120 BY SUBSCRIPTION House GOP wants to waive environmental laws on U.S. borders. In a move aimed at improving national security, House Republicans want to give the U.S. Border Patrol unprecedented authority to ignore 36 environmental laws on federal land in a 100-mile zone stretching along the Canadian and Mexican borders. If the legislation is approved, the Border Patrol would not have to comply with the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Solid Waste Disposal Act and 32 other federal laws in such popular places as Olympic National Park, Glacier Park, the Great Lakes and the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/23/2587693/house-gop-wants-to-waive-environmental.html#storylink=misearch CLIMATE CHANGE State's cap and trade program gets final approval. Sacramento -- California's plan to cap greenhouse gas emissions and put a price on carbon is set to take effect on Jan. 1 after the Air Resources Board voted Thursday to make final adjustments in the regulation. The state board first passed the cap-and-trade program last December. But the board, which normally allows its staff to finalize details, took the unusual step of personally tying up the loose ends of the nation's only comprehensive limit on greenhouse gases. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/21/MN901LK83V.DTL&type=green Calif. Board Finalizes Cap and Trade. The California Air Resources Board yesterday gave its final approval to the state’s cap-and-trade system, which sets limits on carbon emissions starting next year. CARB unanimously approved details of the regulations over the objections of industry groups, the San Francisco Chronicle reported, with the board’s major actions focusing on the allocation of carbon allowances. Under the plan approved yesterday, the state will limit carbon emissions from its 350 or so biggest emitters starting in 2012, with enforcement starting in 2013. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/10/21/calif-board-finalizes-cap-and-trade/ California Passes Cap-And-Trade Regulations. The California Air Resources Board approved Thursday new cap-and-trade regulations which will limit the amount of greenhouse emissions that industrial refineries can produce while creating a market where businesses can buy the ability to emit more greenhouse gases from facilities that reduce their carbon emissions below state standards. The decision makes California the only state to approve a state-administered cap-and-trade program. Posted. http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/10/california-passes-cap-and-trade-regulations Russian Heat Wave Statistically Linked to Climate Change. A new method of crunching climate data could make it possible to put a figure on climate change’s contribution to freak weather events, something that’s been difficult to do with empirical precision. The debut subject: the Russian heat wave of July 2010, which killed 700 people and was unprecedented since record keeping began in the 19th century. According to the analysis, there’s an 80 percent chance that climate change was responsible. Posted. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/russian-heat-climate-change/ DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB Diesel PM Filter Retrofit Deadline Looms; Some Fleets Still Have Compliance Options. The deadline for meeting California's Truck and Bus regulation diesel particulate filter retrofit requirement is January 1, 2012, but fleets can still apply for staggered implementation schedule or flexible phase-in option. The Air Resources Board is reminding owners of heavier diesel trucks that they need to act now in order to comply with California's Truck and Bus regulation, which has its first diesel filter deadlines in January 2012. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-print.asp?news_id=75093 VEHICLES Nissan aims to be world No. 1 in green vehicles. Nissan Motor Co. is aiming to be the world's No. 1 in green cars, targeting cumulative sales of 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles with alliance partner Renault SA of France. The Japanese maker of the Leaf electric car announced Monday its six-year strategy, planning a plug-in hybrid by fiscal 2016 and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent per vehicle compared with 2005 levels. Nissan, based in Yokohama, also aims to improve fuel efficiency of its vehicles by 35 percent by fiscal 2016 compared with 2005. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_JAPAN_NISSAN?SITE=PAYOK&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/nissan-aims-to-be-no-1-in-green-vehicles-targets-15-million-cumulative-sales-with-renault/2011/10/24/gIQA1pfEBM_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/23/2588265/nissan-aims-to-be-world-no-1-in.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19180137 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19180137 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/24/nissan-aims-to-be-world-no-1-in-green-vehicles/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_d8b1ec60-e2ce-5606-9c1b-be75de6b9555.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/23/1917315/nissan-aims-to-be-world-no-1-in.html Anticipating Big Growth at Tesla. Tesla Motors makes pure electric cars, but it’s valued like a hybrid. Quarterly numbers — due in the coming weeks — hint at its ability to hit manufacturing targets. But Silicon Valley-style growth is central to the story. Like many young tech companies, Tesla burns cash. In the coming months, it will wind down its run of 2,500 blisteringly fast Roadster cars, and next year, it will start producing the more sedate Model S sedan at a rate of 20,000 a year. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/business/anticipating-big-growth-at-tesla.html?ref=electricvehicles All-electric DeLorean DMC-12 coming in 2013. The DeLorean - yes, that DeLorean - is back. The iconic vehicle made famous as the time machine Marty McFly used in the "Back to the Future" series is set to re-enter the marketplace as an all-electric version of its former self. "I've always had a soft spot for electric vehicles, and I knew the next thing I wanted to work with was the DeLorean," CEO Stephen Wynne told AutoWeek. "After Tesla opened the door with their car, it got the fluids racing again, and I started thinking of doing it with the DeLorean." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/24/v-print/4002593/all-electric-delorean-dmc-12-coming.html IEC released standards for harmonised global EV charging system. The two new international standards IEC 62196-1 and IEC 62196-2 released by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) define plugs and sockets for electric vehicle (EV) charging while addressing diverse regulations and electricity infrastructure in different countries around the world. They represent a prerequisite for a mass adoption of EVs and are imperative in ensuring the global compatibility of charging infrastructure. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/67820111024.php GREEN ENERGY Special Report: Singed by Solyndra - David Prend is one of the most respected investors in green technology - but even he picks some losers. Like the Department of Energy, Prend thought Solyndra, an innovative solar company, was a good bet. His venture capital firm, RockPort Capital, began investing in the company three years before the federal government gave the start-up a loan guarantee. RockPort eventually put more than $63.5 million into Solyndra. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/24/us-usa-prend-idUSTRE79N2JP20111024 Environmental Features in Science Campus Plans. If Cornell University were to win the city’s competition to build a new science graduate school, it would install on Roosevelt Island almost four acres of solar panels, 500 geothermal wells, and buildings with the rare distinction of generating as much power as they use. Stanford University’s proposal for the island calls for minimizing energy use, creating a marsh to filter water, and recycling water from storm runoff and sinks, and possibly from toilets as well. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/education/24science.html?scp=4&sq=greenhouse%20gases&st=cse West Davis Village touts zero net energy living. Davis -- Sustainable design is often measured by the use of recycled materials and power-saving gadgets. But architecture itself can embody the quest for conservation, as is the case in this university city 80 miles east of San Francisco, where a new 130-acre development aspires to be the nation's largest zero net energy community. The first 23 buildings have just opened, so it's too early to say whether the enclave will consume no more energy than is generated by the on-site solar panels. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/24/MNK61LK8KM.DTL&type=printable MISCELLANEOUS Green Tips For Your Dog: Reduce Your Pet's Carbon Pawprint. In recent years, many of us have become increasingly focused on reducing our environmental impact and boosting conservation efforts. But in trying to reduce our own carbon footprint, we often forget about our pets. ABC News reported a few years ago that two New Zealand scientists wrote a book alleging "pets have a carbon footprint that is about twice the size of ... gas guzzling [SUVs]." Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/23/green-tips-dog-pet-care-environment_n_1007901.html Clean-up plan renews plutonium fears in Livermore. Plans to capture contaminated groundwater from the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory have resurrected old worries among some residents about plutonium in the city's soil. Leaders of the Livermore Lab watchdog group Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment (CAREs) are concerned about what they see as safety shortfalls in the Department of Energy's designs for a pipeline extension along the Arroyo Seco, where elevated levels of plutonium were found in the 1990s. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19172799?source=rss BY SUBSCRIPTION Marten Law Launches San Francisco Office. Former Orrick Environmental Partner to Anchor Firm's Expansion to California. Robert Lawrence, former chair of Orrick's environmental transactions group, will anchor Marten Law's new San Francisco office -- making it one of the largest environmental and energy law firms on the West Coast. The firm's new San Francisco office is its first outside the Pacific Northwest and continues its expansion into new markets and new practice areas. Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/marten-law-launches-san-francisco-office-2011-10-24 What your new home will look like in 2015. The fact that the average American home is slowly but surely shrinking - and will most likely continue to do so if and when the country shakes off its current financial woes - isn't exactly revolutionary news. But when members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) were asked earlier this year what they anticipate the new home size will be 2015, it's how they think single-family homes will shrink - …Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/24/1917707/what-your-new-home-will-look-like.html OPINIONS California’s Persistence. California has a long and productive history as a leader in environmental policy, requiring cleaner cars and power plants and more energy-efficient appliances. The state continued to break new ground last week when it unveiled the country’s first comprehensive, statewide cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. The announcement was a rare bright spot at time when Republicans in Washington, and their corporate backers, have turned the words “cap and trade” into an epithet. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/opinion/californias-persistence-on-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1319472021-iRQRUxiEx7onQJkSOZKsnQ Shifting Attitudes on Global Warming To the Editor: “Where Did Global Warming Go?” (Sunday Review, Oct. 16) notes that Europe, Australia, China, India and Brazil are all moving ahead with policies to reduce heat-trapping pollution, while most American politicians duck the issue or actively question the reality of the problem. Unfortunately, the article offers a sweeping — and in my opinion wrong — claim that Americans are just “wired to be holdouts.” Yes, Americans value personal freedom, but we also believe, …Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/opinion/shifting-attitudes-on-global-warming.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Cost of Subsidizing Fossil Fuels Is High, but Cutting Them Is Tough. The bankruptcy this summer of Solyndra — a solar company heavily subsidized by the U.S. government — unleashed a torrent of concern about the risks of wasting taxpayer money on renewable-energy projects. There have been similar worries in Europe, where bountiful state support led to a boom and bust in the Spanish solar sector and where targets for some biofuels may contribute to greenhouse emissions. But what are the effects of subsidies that continue to flow to fossil fuels? Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/24/business/global/cost-of-subsidizing-fossil-fuels-is-high-but-cutting-them-is-tough.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse Editorial: Cap-and-trade is high-stakes bet on state's future. With last week's passage of the cap-and-trade plan for carbon dioxide emissions that is the centerpiece of California's effort to reduce greenhouse gases, we see two possible futures. In the rosy one sketched out by cap-and-trade's proponents, technological innovation and savvy policies to promote renewable energy succeed in proving that California can have it all — a strong economy that nonetheless reduces the carbon emissions that, over time, threaten to dramatically warm our friendly planet. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2011/oct/23/cap-and-trade-is-high-stakes-bet-on-states/ As We See It: Capping job losses: Will California's cap and trade, and Democrats infrastructure spending get people working? Can California successfully navigate climate change legislation while finding a way to get people back to work? On this page, we offer two opinion columns on the topics of jobs and employment. In one, liberal economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman argues that greenhouse gas polluters actually cost jobs. In another, veteran Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters compares Texas' enviable employment figures to California's. Posted. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_19175704 California’s big pollution bet. California’s efforts to scrub its dirty skies and curb greenhouse gases are well under way. Tailpipe emission rules, wider use of alternative energy and cleaner fuel are examples of a pioneering 2006 law. Now comes the hard part: bringing down industrial pollution through a cap-and-trade system never tried at such a large scale. The state Air Resources Board gave its blessing to a steady-step system targeting mainly oil refineries, power plants and major smokestack facilities. Posted. No URL. OUR VIEW: Don't let one scandal derail all investment. The Solyndra bankruptcy and accompanying allegations that the U.S. Energy Department was pressured to approve a loan for the company deserve a thorough investigation. But the partisan fervor that has erupted over the scandal threatens to cut off much-needed support for the renewable energy industry -- and could jeopardize our nation's alternative energy future, stunt the growth of California industry and cost jobs. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/x1766488840/Dont-let-one-scandal-derail-all-investment GREENHUT: Bureaucrats don't mind jobs 'leakage'. As California's unemployment rate hovers above 12 percent, even the state's Democratic leaders ---- notorious for regulating, taxing and complaining about California's business community ---- are talking about jobs. They are championing the occasional job expansion in Silicon Valley (i.e., Dell) and proposing their jobs plans, even if such plans ignore the reason businesses aren't growing here. (Hint: high taxes, punitive regulations, regulators' hostility to the private sector.) Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/greenhut/article_ab34656c-0d7d-5e45-90d8-91b975419223.html Pollution is not the secret to job creation. Paul Krugman's column in The New York Times Thursday laments one of the many ironies of our time: Politicians in Washington are finally talking about job creation, but Republicans (and some Democrats, I'm sure) pin their hopes for employment on environmental deregulation. As Krugman points out, "Serious economic analysis actually says that we need more protection, not less." Posted. http://www.grist.org/pollution/2011-10-21-pollution-is-not-the-secret-to-job-creation The War Against Climate Science Unravels. The skeptic case against climate change is unraveling before our eyes like someone walking away from an old sweater, thread in hand. For those who have ever put the skeptic arguments to the test, it has always been clear that their criticisms rarely stand up to even the most basic level of academic rigor. But last week's release of the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature (BEST) study delivered a decisive blow to the edifice of climate skepticism. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelly-rigg/the-war-against-climate-s_b_1027644.html BLOGS Will California’s carbon market spur cleantech growth? Before California regulators announced they unanimously approved regulations for a cap and trade market on Thursday, the chair of the California Air Resources Board made much ado about the impact it would have on the development of clean technology in the state. Chairwoman Mary Nichols said in her opening remarks: “Cap and trade sends a policy signal to the market and guarantees that California will continue to attract the lion’s share of investment in clean technology.” Posted. http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2011/10/21/californias-carbon-market-will-spur-cleantech-growth/ Will new studies confirming global warming settle skeptics’ questions? Don’t hold your breath. During the past several years, some skeptics of manmade global warming have focused their attention on the reliability of the modern surface temperature record, which according to numerous studies, shows a distinct warming trend starting in the middle of the 20th century, and continuing through the present day. The surface temperature record isn’t reliable, the skeptics argue, because the data is biased by the urban heat island effect, which can raise temperatures in cities compared to rural locations. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/will-new-climate-studies-settle-skeptics-questions-dont-hold-your-breath/2011/10/23/gIQApUDiCM_blog.html Cap and Trade: Sweating the Small Stuff. Associated Press Mary Nichols, chairman of the California Air Resources Board. One thing built into a politician’s DNA is a sense of occasion. Regulators tend to lack that gene. One of the most startling things about California’s groundbreaking adoption of a market-based policy to cut emissions of the heat-trapping gases was how unstartling the final meeting was. The California Air Resources Board’s all-day hearing Thursday was such a well-oiled exercise in democracy and administrative procedure that the momentousness of the occasion was almost lost in the footnotes. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/cap-and-trade-sweating-the-small-stuff/?pagemode=print California's Cap-and-Trade Program Gets Green Light. California's Air Resources Board has formally adopted the state's greenhouse cap-and-trade program today, following a lawsuit that delayed compliance with the controversial scheme by a year. The program, which will begin in mid-2012 with auctions of the emissions allowances, will be the nation's most stringent cap-and-trade mandate but not the first. It follows in the footsteps of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a program that covers utilities in Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. Posted. http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2011/10/20/californias-cap-trade-program-gets-green-light New Technology Could Double Solar Cell Efficiency. Solar photovoltaic prices are coming down. Between 1998 and 2010, installed costs have dropped by 43 percent, and that does not include any government tax credits or subsidies. This is good for consumers, but not so good for some solar manufacturers. Energy Secretary Chu says that solar will soon achieve cost parity with fossil fuels. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/10/new-technology-could-double-solar-cell-efficiency/ Green Car of the Year Award finalists include diesel, hybrid, natural gas, electric. Those are the past winners of the Green Car of the Year award, given out each year at the LA Auto Show by Green Car Journal. The five finalists for the 2012 award were announced today and there are four different powertrains among them. Here they are: Ford Focus Electric, Honda Civic Natural Gas, Mitsubishi i, Toyota Prius V and Volkswagen Passat TDI. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/24/2012-green-car-of-the-year-award-la-auto-show/ California Approves Cap and Trade System. California’s Air Resources Board has formally approved a cap and trade system to minimize climate change pollution, becoming the first state in the nation with a cap and trade program. Legislation authorizing a cap and trade system was passed in California back in 2006, but after multiple reviews, the CARB finally approved the program. The California Air Resources Board voted unanimously today to adopt rules for a program that will use the trading of pollution permits …Posted. http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/10/21/california-approves-cap-and-trade-system/ California’s crazy cap &trade scheme. The California Air Resources Board has imposed a limit on carbon dioxide emissions on California businesses. The limits will be lowered each year until 2020. Industries can obtain carbon credits, initially free but which later must be purchased, in order to emit more carbon dioxide than the regulations decree. See more of the story from the San Francisco Chronicle here. These regulations will increase the cost of energy, hence the cost of doing business. Posted. http://tucsoncitizen.com/wryheat/2011/10/24/california%E2%80%99s-crazy-cap-trade-scheme/ DOW Starts Mass Marketing Solar Shingles. Dow Solar company has started mass marketing solar shingles. Solar shingles are roof shingles with solar cells (electricity generating material) integrated into them, so the shingles are the solar panels. The solar shingles plug into each other and help to hold each other down very securely during strong winds. The solar shingles can only be stolen by first unplugging those at the edge of the array and then working your way inwards, which means that securing the edge only will actually secure the entire solar panel array from thieves. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2011/10/22/dow-starts-mass-marketing-solar-shingles/ Study concludes that sugar cane-based biorefineries producing ethanol and electricity could power a global auto fleet of hybrids and EVs using only 4% of available cropland. If sugar cane is used as the feedstock to produce ethanol and electricity for the same final use—fueling vehicles for personal mobility—only 4% of the world’s available cropland area would be sufficient to produce fuels that would power a global car fleet consisting of hybrids and electric vehicles, according to a new study by Sergio Pacca and Jose Moreira at the University of Sao Paolo, Brazil. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/10/pacca-20111024.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:32:00 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 25, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 25, 2011. 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 Pollution by railroads in state is targeted. San Bernardino -- Estela Hernandez stood outside the bustling BNSF Railway yard in San Bernardino, explaining how she carries two types breathing medications in case her 4-year-old granddaughter Maurissa has an asthma attack. Attorney David Pettit listened intently. The little girl then pulled a plastic applicator from her knapsack and put it in her mouth. When child as breathing trouble, the battery operated device sprays a fine mist of medicine into child’s lungs. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bernardino-323594-child-breathing.html http://www.pe.com/local-news/san-bernardino-county/san-bernardino-county-headlines-index/20111024-san-bernardino-railroad-pollution-targeted.ece CLIMATE CHANGE U.S. Vote on EU Aviation Plan May Start Trade War, Environment Group Says. The U.S. House of Representatives’ backing for a bill to bar American airlines from paying for greenhouse gas discharges under the European Union emissions- trading plan may lead to a trade war, an environment lobby said. The House yesterday passed the “European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011” after the industry estimated that participation in the cap-and-trade system would cost U.S. airlines $3.1 billion between 2012 and 2020. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-25/u-s-vote-on-eu-aviation-co2-plan-may-trigger-trade-war-lobby-group-warns.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-25/u-s-vote-on-eu-aviation-plan-may-trigger-trade-war-lobby-says.html Climate skeptic admits he was wrong to doubt global-warming data. Remember when scientists who had cast doubt on global temperature studies boldly embarked on an effort to "reconsider" the evidence? They have. And they conclude that their doubt was misplaced. UC Berkeley physicist Richard Muller and others were looking at the so-called urban heat island effect - the notion that because more urban temperature stations are included in global temperature data sets than are rural ones, the global average temperature was being skewed upward because these sites tend to retain more heat. Hence, global warming trends are exaggerated. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/24/v-print/4002510/climate-skeptic-admits-he-was.html EarthTalk: What's the latest on limits on greenhouse gas emissions? Dear EarthTalk: What's the latest in regard to putting limits on greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.? Is there any hope that Obama can get something done?- Bradley Johnson, Helena, Mont. Our best hope to date was 2009's American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), a bill that called for the implementation of a "cap-and-trade" system to limit carbon dioxide emissions by capping overall emissions and allowing polluters to buy or sell greenhouse gas pollution credits …Posted. http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/10/24/1808342/earthtalk-whats-the-latest-on.html#ixzz1boYlmmHL DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB notes DPF retrofit deadline looming. “Fleet owners need to plan now to equip their trucks with diesel particulate matter filters in order to be reading in January,” said Erik White, assistant chief of mobile sources. Sacramento, Calif. — The California Air Resources Board (CARB) today sent out a news release reminding owners of heavier diesel trucks that they “need to act now in order to comply with California’s Truck and Bus regulation,” which has its first diesel filter deadlines in January 2012. Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2011/10/25/CARBnotesDPFretrofitdeadlinelooming.aspx VEHICLES Sacramento keeps cars idling as carpool lanes fail. What is the purpose of High Occupancy Vehicle lanes? Is it to make people who aren't in carpool lanes feel resentful? Or, as UC Berkeley civil and environmental engineering Professor Michael Cassidy believes, is the goal to reduce the number of People Hours Traveled? Cassidy believes HOV lanes work, but used to work better. Cassidy and doctoral student Kitae Jang conducted a study of Bay Area freeway traffic before and after July 1, when the Legislature let lapse a 2005 program that allotted yellow stickers granting access to HOV lanes for low or solo occupancy to 85,000 hybrid vehicles. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/25/EDL11LLIQR.DTL&type=printable Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD launches North American headquarters in Los Angeles. Los Angeles — Chinese electric carmaker BYD Co. opened its North American headquarters on Monday, a move that officials said could bring hundreds of jobs and provide a U.S. hub for sales and research. The opening will be “a catalyst that ushers in good jobs, global investment and a more sustainable future,” Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/chinese-electric-vehicle-manufacturer-byd-launches-north-american-headquarters-in-los-angeles/2011/10/24/gIQARJZ9CM_story.html?wprss=rss_national Nissan betting big on electric cars despite poor sales. Nissan, which has so far seen paltry sales of its electric Leaf, is sounding downright bullish about its prospects for its electric cars. Nissan, with its French sister Renault, expects to sell 1.5 million zero-emission models in five years, Bloomberg News reports. In the U.S., Nissan has sold 7,199 Leafs for the year through September, according to Autodata. They only went on sale in December, so it's easy to see how slow the model is taking to catch on. Worldwide, Bloomberg says, Nissan has sold about 15,000, including those in the U.S. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/10/nissan-leaf-poor-sales/1 GREEN ENERGY Mitt Romney: We need an environment for jobs. First, the good news: President Barack Obama has finally created some "green jobs." Now for the bad news: They are not in the United States, but in Finland. The creation of environmentally friendly jobs has been at the top of Barack Obama's policy agenda since coming into office. With the first of his now many jobs plans, the President set out to fulfill his campaign promise of spending $150 billion to create ten million green jobs. Alas, things didn't quite worked out as planned. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/jobs-323475-obama-president.html MISCELLANEOUS What your new home will look like in 2015. The fact that the average American home is slowly but surely shrinking - and will most likely continue to do so if and when the country shakes off its current financial woes - isn't exactly revolutionary news. But when members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) were asked earlier this year what they anticipate the new home size will be 2015, it's how they think single-family homes will shrink - …Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/24/2588598/what-your-new-home-will-look-like.html#storylink=misearch Geothermal still outpowers wind, solar in California. Industry convenes in San Diego through Wednesday. Amid soaring investment in solar and wind energy technology, commercial geothermal plants still anchor the state's production of non-fossil fuel power. Geothermal energy provides 42 percent of California's commercial, in-state renewable electricity generation, an industry group announced at its convention in San Diego. About 160 businesses are participating in the Geothermal Energy Association Expo. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/24/geothermal-still-outpowers-wind-solar-california/ New paving approach saves Bay Area cities money and is environmentally friendly. Recycling method used on Monterey Road is being considered across the Bay Area. An innovative and environmentally friendly paving technique is being tried on one of San Jose's most pothole-infested roads -- and cities across the Bay Area are watching to see if the same method could save them millions of dollars and allow them to repave dozens of other roads. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/environment/ci_19183719 OPINIONS The Post-Global Warming World. Moving on from climate virtue. The United Nations will convene its 17th annual climate-change conference next month in Durban, South Africa, with the purpose of sealing a new carbon-cutting deal to succeed the soon-to-expire 1997 Kyoto Protocol. It promises to be a historic event, if not in the way the organizers might hope. The chances that a global deal on carbon would ever be reached were always slim, a point brought home by the collapse of the comic 2009 Copenhagen summit. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204618704576640730949448812.html BY SUBSCRIPTION Editorial: Lights out for solar highways in state? The first-in-California "solar highways" in Sacramento County were supposed to showcase the potential of power-generating solar panels along roadsides. What they ended up demonstrating instead is that right now, it's way too complicated to get such projects done. The state must do much more to clear away regulatory and other barriers – or its hopes for a renewable energy future will darken. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/25/v-print/4004053/lights-out-for-solar-highways.html Cap and trade will exact cost. Re "Air board OKs cap and trade program" (Page A1, Oct. 21): Cap and trade is a victory for environmentalists and a huge loss for business, jobs and California citizens. Costs for implementing these regulations will be enormous, and put many businesses at a competitive disadvantage. This will cause layoffs, downsizing and more businesses leaving the state. Green energy jobs will be few, as many green companies like Solyndra will not make it without subsidies. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/25/4004051/letters-to-the-editor-police-shootings.html#ixzz1boH80l95 Repeal, don't add, regulations. When will our legislators recognize that the continued exodus of hundreds of manufacturing companies from California to other states and countries is the direct result of oppressive regulations? China's exponential increase in coal-fired electricity plants was needed to manufacture American goods. Their coal dust is now reaching North American shores. Chinese manufacturing creates more ground, water and airborne pollutants than American manufacturing performed under current regulations. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/25/4004051/letters-to-the-editor-police-shootings.html#ixzz1boHWJDaq Chris Paine: Recharging Hope In Electric Cars. No villains appear in Chris Paine's new film, "Revenge of the Electric Car" -- a stark contrast to its 2006 predecessor. "Who Killed the Electric Car?" came complete with a search for the discarded bodies of General Motor's EV1 (eventually found crushed in a junkyard), a funeral and accusations that the auto industry and oil companies had teamed up to destroy the promise of a zero-emission vehicle. But Paine had a feeling the electric car would eventually come back. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/25/chris-paine-revenge-electric-car_n_1029665.html The answer, my friend, to better air quality is blowing in the wind. It is a scene that happens dozens of times – if not more – each day in Manteca. Leaf blowers are revved up to move everything from lawn clippings and leaves to dirt. It is one of the most insane things we do to damage our health and to essentially burn fossil fuel to accomplish very little. If you doubt that, take a look at most folks who use leaf blowers. They simply blow the debris into the street to scatter to the four winds. They rarely get it in a pile and pick it up. Posted. http://www.mantecabulletin.com/section/38/article/28634/ BLOGS House Writes a Bill to Excuse U.S. Carriers. One of the stranger bills to be considered by Congress passed by a voice vote on Monday evening. Officially named the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011, it essentially tells American airline carriers that it is illegal for them to participate in the European Union’s cap and trade system, which charges companies for producing emissions beyond their allotted limit. Beginning Jan. 1, all flights landing at European Union airports will in theory incur a penalty if they produce excessive emissions. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/house-writes-a-bill-to-excuse-u-s-carriers/ Mazda to debut next-generation midsize sedan diesel concept and CX-5 SUV with SKYACTIV Technology at Tokyo Motor Show; new push on clean diesels in Japan market. Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the global premiere of the Mazda Takeri next-generation midsize sedan concept car at the upcoming 42nd Tokyo Motor Show. Mazda will also hold the Japan debut of the new CX-5 crossover SUV. Both vehicles are equipped with the full array of Mazda’s SKYACTIV Technology (earlier post). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/10/mazda-20111025.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:36:58 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 26, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 26, 2011. 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 EPA delays rule on fracking emissions by a month. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it will delay by a month final standards on emissions from hydraulic fracturing, its third postponement of air pollution rules since early September. The EPA and environmental groups that sued the agency have agreed to a 35-day extension for the finalization of the proposed standards to reduce air pollution from oil and gas drilling operations, an agency spokeswoman said on Wednesday. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/26/us-usa-epa-emissions-idUSTRE79P5NY20111026 Modesto Irrigation District hears algae pitch and income potential. Algae that eat pollutants might help keep electricity bills in check in the Modesto Irrigation District. Tuesday morning, the MID board heard a company's plan to have the tiny plants consume carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide at the district's natural gas-fueled power plant on Woodland Avenue in Modesto. The process would reduce the cost of emission control and generate byproducts for sale, such as fertilizer and animal feed, said Charles Snyder, president of Paradigm Biosciences International. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/25/1920182/mid-hears-algae-pitch-and-income.html The Dangers of Indoor Air Pollution. If you travel to undeveloped countries, you simply get used to the aroma of cooking fires, both outdoors and indoors. In fact, as I have globe-trotted over the past several decades, I have learned to readily differentiate between the cooking smells of one nation and the next. In India, for example, dried cow dung is a primary source of fuel for cooking fires. Its aroma is surprisingly pleasant, and the smell is everywhere. In the South Pacific, logs and coconut husks are typically used. These fires also smell pleasant, and they definitely evoke an atmosphere of rustic life. Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/10/26/dangers-indoor-air-pollution/#ixzz1buRYbaxV CLIMATE CHANGE CA Senate Panel Attacks Drivers. Supporters of AB 32, California’s global warming and climate change law, have been busy planning their next move. A hearing held Monday in the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee covered the long-term viability of available fuels needed to meet California’s increasing green energy demands — demands that are increasing because of laws passed by the state Legislature. Posted. http://www.calwatchdog.com/2011/10/25/ca-senate-panel-attacks-drivers/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Kohler Engine introduces cleaner diesel engine. The Kohler Engine Co. has developed a new line of cleaner small diesel engines to meet stricter air emissions regulations that go into effect in 2013 in the United States and Europe. The diesel engines produce 10 times fewer carbon particulate emissions, also known as soot, and will come in 1.9-liter and 2.5-liter sizes, meant for machines including small tractors, forklifts, generators and compressors. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/26/kohler-launches-cleaner-diesel-engine/ FUELS Questioning Europe's Math on Biofuels. Much of the appeal of generating energy from plants was that they emit only as much carbon when burned in cars and power plants as they absorb while growing. Lately, that appeal seems to be going up in smoke. It turns out that the emissions from growing and processing some biofuels significantly diminish their benefits, when taking into account factors like the use of fertilizers manufactured with fossil fuels. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/business/global/questioning-europes-math-on-biofuels.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse RIVERSIDE: Gas company pumped up about fueling station. A new compressed natural gas pump christened Tuesday morning in Riverside might be the primer for how to reduce oil use and improve air quality in the Inland area, officials said. Local and state officials joined the Southern California Gas Company at the opening of a new CNG pump at the gas company’s Howard Avenue fueling station, off 14th Street near Highway 91. Officials touted the public station as a way to encourage more companies – and private drivers – to switch to natural gas vehicles, which emit less pollution than gasoline-burning engines. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20111025-riverside-gas-company-pumped-up-about-fueling-station.ece GREEN ENERGY UC Davis West Village touts zero net energy living. Davis -- Sustainable design is often measured by the use of recycled materials and power-saving gadgets. But architecture itself can embody the quest for conservation, as is the case in this university city 80 miles east of San Francisco, where a new 130-acre development aspires to be the nation's largest zero net energy community. The first 23 buildings have just opened, so it's too early to say whether the enclave will consume no more energy than is generated by the on-site solar panels. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/23/BAK61LK8KM.DTL#ixzz1buJo3PHx Smart electric grid yields jobs, report says. The effort to develop a smarter electricity grid has created more than 12,560 jobs in the Bay Area and could produce many more, according to a report to be released today. Those jobs will come not just from companies that specialize in smart- grid equipment, such as Echelon Corp. or Silver Spring Networks, but from an older generation of information technology giants moving into the field. Silicon Valley stalwarts Cisco Systems and Oracle Corp. already offer smart-grid products. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/25/BU2V1LM5CB.DTL#ixzz1buLFq1SC California panel resumes green energy tax breaks. A state panel voted Tuesday to resume a tax break program for clean energy manufacturers after lawmakers found the effort has been working as intended to help foster alternative energy in California. The California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority had temporarily suspended the program after awarding $25 million in sales tax breaks to the failed Fremont solar startup Solyndra. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/25/2590434/calif-panel-resumes-green-energy.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/25/calif-panel-resumes-green-energy-tax-breaks/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/article_6a23f5db-3513-5932-a1c9-1db4d75b42c5.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/25/1919777/calif-panel-resumes-green-energy.html Future of Solar and Wind Power May Hinge on Federal Aid. In recent years, wind and solar power have been among the fastest-growing sources of energy in the country. But questions loom over their future: Will federal incentives that are important to their growth continue? And what happens if those incentives expire? For wind power, the situation is especially precarious, energy specialists say. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/26/business/energy-environment/future-of-solar-and-wind-power-may-hinge-on-federal-aid.html?scp=9&sq=fuels&st=cse MISCELLANEOUS California attorney general goes after questionable 'biodegradable plastic' bottles. In a move that could have a major impact on the recycling industry, California Attorney General Kamala Harris will sue three national companies that make plastic bottles or sell bottled water in California, contending that they illegally claim their bottles are "biodegradable." Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_19195413?source=rss L.A. County OKs Newhall Ranch development's second phase. The Board of Supervisors approves the Mission Village segment, which will have 4,000 housing units, 580 acres of open space and three preserves. Environmentalists say the Santa Clarita Valley project will worsen traffic and pollution. Los Angeles County supervisors Tuesday approved plans for the second phase of a controversial development near Six Flags Magic Mountain in the Santa Clarita Valley. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-newhall-ranch-20111026,0,3589646,print.story OPINIONS Hot air from wind-farm foes After reading “Does huge wind farm fit near Borrego state park?” (Local, Oct. 24), on the proposed wind farm in Imperial County, I almost had to laugh at the comments made by Mark Jorgensen, the retired superintendent of the state park, if they weren’t so myopic. Unfortunately, he and the other people who make up the environmental left continue to whine and become obstacles in the path of common sense progress. The idea that a wind farm would destroy the “view shed” is almost comical. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/25/mortgage-reform-plan-global-warming-organ-donation/ JEAN FULLER: CARB's cap-and-trade plan needs close monitoring. Whether one is a skeptic that man-made carbon emissions are killing our planet, or a dyed-in-the-wool Al Gore believer in the carbon dioxide phenomenon, you should be very concerned about the California Air Resources Board's recent adoption of the cap-and-trade rules designed to help the state comply with AB 32, the greenhouse gas emission reduction law that required carbon emissions be cut to 1990 levels by 2020. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/community/x860822579/CARBs-cap-and-trade-plan-needs-close-monitoring CARB's cap-and-trade rules. How is it that the California Air Resources Board has the power to increase taxes and fees on businesses and individuals without voter approval? Where are our elected state representatives on this? This cap-and-trade plan is only going to put the state further in the hole. Why can't CARB invest some of the billions of dollars it has to clean up these so-called coal-burning plants by converting them to coal gasification, or building some clean nuclear power plants? Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x860822583/CARBs-cap-and-trade-rules Editorial: Pollution czars’ plan to choke California business. California foolishly is going where Congress fears to tread, and where even European global warming zealots are backing away. Nevertheless, an unelected, virtually unaccountable board of government overseers has voted unanimously to impose mandatory cap-and-trade regulations on California businesses that will likely kill jobs, chase companies out of state and impose $2 billion in new taxes, all in a Quixotic quest to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a highly questionable, perhaps meaningless, goal. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/common/printer/view.php?db=ocregister&id=323678 ROBINSON: Climate change just got hotter. For the clueless or cynical diehards who deny global warming, it's getting awfully cold out there. The latest icy blast of reality comes from an eminent scientist whom the climate-change skeptics once lauded as one of their own. Richard Muller, a respected physicist at the University of California, Berkeley, used to dismiss alarmist climate research as being “polluted by political and activist frenzy.” Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111025/WIRE/111029745 Cap and kill. California Gov. Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown lived up to his nickname last week when he signed the state’s proposed cap and trade legislation into law. Starting in 2013, California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) will give polluters an allowance of carbon credits (the amount of carbon they can emit) at the beginning of each year based on emissions reductions benchmarks. If a company doesn’t use all of its credits, it can sell them — hence the “trade” part. Posted. http://www.vvdailypress.com/opinion/jerry-30875-kill-california.html Grove: AB 32 is a hindrance, not solution. Ridgecrest, Calif. — Last week, I participated in a hearing in Fresno of the Assembly Legislative Rural Caucus. As a member of this caucus, we bring attention to legislation that affects our Central Valley. We focused on the impact of AB 32 on the Central Valley’s air, agriculture and food manufacturing industry. AB 32, known as the “California Global Warming Solutions Act”, passed the Legislature in 2006 and is set to begin next year. Posted. http://www.ridgecrestca.com/opinions/columnists/x319047894/Grove-AB-32-is-a-hindrance-not-solution New greenhouse gas rules draw local criticism. A landmark “cap and trade” system adopted in California last week to limit greenhouse gas emissions is drawing a lot of local comment — most of it negative. Supporters of the law believe it will create new, cleaner industries over time, and say climate change is a growing environmental threat that can hurt farming in the long run. But agricultural and political leaders from the area say the state’s groundbreaking law to limit global warming gases is going to cost Kings County jobs, result in higher food costs and lead to higher utility bills. Posted. http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/article_89b7ec9e-ff24-11e0-8df9-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1buUSDGYq California's Economic Suicide. Regulations finalized by the California Air Resources Board establish the nation's first state-run cap-and-trade regime. Despite Solyndra, the state will gather solar panels while it may. The 262 pages of regulations implementing California's 2006 global warming legislation, Assembly Bill 32, approved by CARB last Thursday, will probably reduce employment more than it reduces emissions. The only thing it will cap is economic growth by bleeding a patient that is already hemorrhaging red ink. Posted. http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/589338/201110251850/Californias-Economic-Suicide.htm Car pool lanes should be used to keep traffic moving. What is the purpose of high-occupancy vehicle lanes? Is it to make people who aren't in car pool lanes feel resentful? Or, as University of California, Berkeley, civil and environmental engineering professor Michael Cassidy believes, is the goal to reduce the number of people-hours traveled? Cassidy believes HOV lanes work but used to work better. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111026/A_OPINION0619/110260306&cid=sitesearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/saunders/article_542ecf2e-6503-5c99-ab1a-bf417e77e73b.html BLOGS Will California’s cap-and-trade experiment catch on? As the old Louis Brandeis quip goes, states can serve as laboratories of democracy if they so choose. And California has just volunteered itself as a guinea pig for a particularly high-stakes experiment. The California Air Resources Board is putting the finishing touches on a statewide cap-and-trade system for greenhouse-gas emissions. You can bone up on the details in the Los Angeles Times. But here’s a broader question: Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/will-californias-cap-and-trade-experiment-catch-on/2011/10/25/gIQAZDyZGM_blog.html California lifts suspension of green energy tax credit. Members of a state commission unanimously voted to lift a month-long suspension of an alternative energy-related tax credit that had been imposed following the bankruptcy of Solyndra, a politically connected California solar panel company. The California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority, after reviewing its operations and the granting of $25.1 million in sales tax credits to Solyndra, concluded it could tighten the way it handles applications. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/10/california-solar-solyndra-tax-credit.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MoneyCompany+%28Money+%26+Company%29 Forest biofuel projects could increase West Coast carbon emissions. Thinning West Coast forests on a widespread scale to feed bioenergy projects would increase the region's production of greenhouse gases, according to a new study. Research published Oct. 23 in the journal Nature Climate Change undermines the argument that substituting wood-based biofuel for fossil fuels would reduce carbon emissions. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/10/forest-biofuel-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 2013 Honda Fit EV to debut at Los Angeles Auto Show. Japanese automaker Honda will roll out the production version of the 2013 Fit EV at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show in mid-November. We're guessing Honda's electric-only 2013 Fit will somewhat resemble the automaker's Fit EV Concept, a vehicle which made its debut back at the 2010 LA Auto Show and is pictured above. When the production version of the electric Honda Fit hits the streets in late 2012, it will feature a lithium-ion battery and coaxial electric motor derived from the unit used in the Honda FCX Clarity. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/24/2013-honda-fit-ev-to-debut-at-los-angeles-auto-show/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:09:40 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 27, 2011 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 27, 2011. 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 Political Signal Needed to Secure UN Carbon Market’s Future, Norway Says. Climate envoys should send a “political signal” at the upcoming summit on their willingness to continue the United Nations carbon market to allay investors’ concerns about its future, Norway’s chief negotiator said. More than 190 nations will meet in Durban, South Africa, from Nov. 28 until Dec. 9 to discuss climate-protection rules for the period after 2012, when the current emission-reduction targets for developed nations under the Kyoto Protocol expire. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-27/political-signal-needed-to-secure-un-carbon-market-s-future-norway-says.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-27/political-signal-needed-on-un-carbon-market-future-norway-says.html Trader foes. After more than three years, the nation’s first broad-based greenhouse-gas trading market was unanimously adopted last week. “It sends a clear signal to the global-investment community that investing in clean tech in California will be rewarded,” said Air Resources Board chairwoman Mary Nichols. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/trader-foes/content?oid=4255517 VEHICLES Paving way for electric cars. Local officials discuss how to make driving clean vehicles a feasible option. Victorville • Electric cars are a rare sight in the Victor Valley today, and their few owners are likely hard-pressed to find convenient charging stations. But local officials are beginning to discuss how to make driving the clean vehicles a more feasible option for residents in coming years. On Wednesday, the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District hosted a workshop on planning for the future needs of electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.vvdailypress.com/articles/victorville-30910-way-cars.html GREEN ENERGY Huge solar power plants are blooming in California's southern deserts. Mojave Desert -- At first glance, California's vast Mojave Desert seems barren: mile after mile of dust, sand and scrubby creosote bush under a blistering sun. But the huge desert, which spans an area larger than West Virginia, is becoming speckled with gigantic solar power plants that are creating hundreds of construction jobs and, when complete, will generate electricity for millions of homes. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19200152?source=rss California's cleantech leadership faces competition. States like Mississippi and Oregon are aggressively courting Silicon Valley cleantech startups to locate their manufacturing outside of California with tax incentives and low-interest loans, and California has to fight back and encourage companies to manufacture in-state, according to cleantech executives and investors who attended a meeting Wednesday in Fremont. "California is a cleantech leader, but we can't rest on our laurels," said Nancy Pfund of DBL Investors, which has a sizable cleantech portfolio. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19200846?source=rss California panel resumes green energy tax breaks. Sacramento, Calif. A state panel voted Tuesday to resume a tax break program for clean energy manufacturers after lawmakers found the effort has been working as intended to help foster alternative energy in California. The California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority had temporarily suspended the program after awarding $25 million in sales tax breaks to the failed Fremont solar startup Solyndra. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9QK1VC01.htm Which are cheaper—tradeable credits or feed-in tariffs? A few years ago, a heated debate started within the U.S. solar industry about which was more cost-effective: solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) or feed-in tariffs (FITs). Now that we've had more experience with both policies, the question is again being asked. Researchers at the Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR) attempted to answer this question, and released a report earlier this month concluding that long-term contracts for clean energy are more cost-competitive than tradeable credit markets. Posted. http://www.grist.org/solar-power/2011-10-26-which-are-cheaper-tradeable-credits-or-feed-in-tariffs MISCELLANEOUS State sues over bottles' 'biodegradable' labeling. San Francisco -- A plastic bottling company and two bottled-water companies are selling their products in California in containers labeled "biodegradable," a designation that is both false and illegal, Attorney General Kamala Harris said Wednesday in a lawsuit. The suit seeks to remove the bottles from store shelves throughout the state using a 2-year-old California law that prohibits labeling any plastic food or beverage container as biodegradable. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/26/BA071LMNNR.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea OPINIONS ARB’s decision shows California as economic powerhouse making smart move. California’s Air Resources Board has unanimously adopted its cap-and-trade regulation on, the final and most critical piece of its landmark climate policy, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32), which Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) co-sponsored. We now have the beginning of the most comprehensive carbon market in North America, which underscores the fact that sensible climate policy is still within reach in the United States. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=103ghvi53t4tv0q&1=1&xid=103emo85kuwh4e2&done=.103f66qo8qucmkr&_credir=1319729222&_c=103ghvi53t4tv0q Cap-and-trade challenges. California again leads the nation in responding to global warming. With adoption last week of the nation’s first comprehensive, state-administered cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, California has once again led the way in combating climate change. This follows upon its earlier leadership in compelling reductions in vehicle emissions that paved the way for the assertive national efficiency standards adopted by the Obama administration in 2009. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/chico/cap-and-trade-challenges/content?oid=4256110 Not the time to play politics with climate change. For the clueless or cynical diehards who deny global warming, it's getting awfully cold out there. The latest icy blast of reality comes from an eminent scientist whom the climate-change skeptics once lauded as one of their own. Richard Muller, a respected physicist at the University of California, Berkeley, used to dismiss alarmist climate research as being "polluted by political and activist frenzy." Frustrated at what he considered shoddy science, Muller launched his own comprehensive study to set the record straight. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111027/A_OPINION0608/110270319&cid=sitesearch BY SUBSCRIPTION Cap, trade: California’s experiment. If not for laws first enacted in California, American motorists might still not have seat belts, air bags and catalytic converters to protect themselves and the environment. In fact, it could be argued that many of the laws and rules that protect mankind and its environment were first enacted in the Golden State. Now, California is No. 1 again — the first state to adopt landmark cap-and-trade rules for businesses with high levels of emissions, and we’ll just have to wait to see if this milestone grows on the rest of the nation. Posted. http://santamariatimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/cap-trade-california-s-experiment/article_02ffd2b4-0057-11e1-bea1-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1c0JXceJo The Energy Revolution That Keeps Carbon on Top: Nathan Myhrvold. A remarkable thing happened in Silicon Valley during the past decade. Venture capitalists and entrepreneurs set their sights on clean energy as the Next Big Thing. They audaciously hoped to reinvent energy by harnessing the incredible innovation that had transformed information technology and biotechnology. Some of the best venture capitalists in the business, including my friends Bill Joy and Vinod Khosla, detached from their computing roots and focused on energy startups. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-26/the-energy-revolution-that-keeps-carbon-on-top-nathan-myhrvold.html It's time to raise California's gas tax. California urgently needs more money to rebuild its public facilities. Increasing the gas tax, last boosted 21 years ago, would let the state pay for much-needed transportation projects without costly borrowing. There are three main reasons why the state has not been rapidly rebuilding California's public facilities, despite an urgent need. Two of them I've written about recently: gubernatorial ambivalence and bureaucratic inertia. But the third is a more long-term problem. The state simply does not have enough money to build all that it needs. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cap-infrastructure-20111027,0,3360956,print.column Ewart: Golden State's cap and trade plans have broad reach. With so much focus on recent moves to classify oilsands crude as a "dirty" fuel in Europe, it would be easy to overlook the news California has put in place a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The state, which has long been the leader among North American governments on environmental policy, last week brought forward regulations to provide specific timelines and reduction targets for the state's biggest greenhouse gas emitters. Poste. http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Ewart+Golden+State+trade+plans+have+broad+reach/5614095/story.html#ixzz1c0ITiDbB BLOGS D.C. dawdles, California leads on climate. We could smell the sweet winds of change all the way up in Washington State last week, when California adopted final rules to implement a cap and trade program to reduce climate pollution across its economy, beginning in 2013. California got it right. Cap and trade is a policy at the scale of the problem: big, complex policy to deal with a big, complex problem. The state’s action to embark on cap and trade, along with a suite of other essential clean energy, energy efficiency and clean transportation polices, matters far beyond its borders. Posted. http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2011/10/26/d-c-dawdles-california-leads-on-climate/ Exploring Corn, Energy and Humanity’s Growth Spurt. I’ve been on the road, learning about damaging and sustainable agricultural methods (and a big corn-to-ethanol plant) in Iowa, meeting with hundreds of science-oriented high school students in Houston to discuss energy and innovation and speaking about how new opportunities for globally sharing and shaping insights and information can be a prime route toward sustaining human progress on a finite planet (and on a tight budget). Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/exploring-corn-energ-and-humanitys-growth-spurt/ Fossil Fuels as the Whale Oil of the Future. Amory B. Lovins, the longtime efficiency guru, has a new book out that analyzes the possibility of converting the nation to almost total reliance on renewable sources of energy. The conclusions may not win instant acceptance, but it is certainly in the running for the best-blurbed energy book of the year. Chelsea Green Publishing “Reinventing Fire: Bold Business Solutions for the New Energy Era” carries a quote on the cover from Bill Clinton, who says it is a “wise, detailed and comprehensive blueprint.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/fossil-fuels-as-the-whale-oil-of-the-future/?pagemode=print ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:17:33 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 28, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 28, 2011. 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 Exelon backs controversial EPA clean air rules. Chicago-based Exelon Corp on Thursday said the Environmental Protection Agency should move quickly to finalize its Cross-State Air Pollution Rule and other delayed measures, adding it would be cheaper than subsidizing some renewable power technologies. Exelon's statement comes as U.S. power producers take sides in the federal push to reduce dangerous emissions from coal-fired power plants and makes the biggest U.S. nuclear reactor operator the most vocal industry supporter of stringent EPA rules. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/27/us-utilities-exelon-epa-idUSTRE79Q7NM20111027 Flags work with flying colors. More S.J. schools urged to join air-quality alert program. Lathrop - This wasn't a day to worry about pollution. The air was crisp, the sky was (mostly) blue, and a slight breeze came from the west. But not every day feels so fresh, as 12-year-old Taylor Gapuz - and her inhaler - can attest. Not every day is for running or playing. "When I can't breathe, it gets scary," Taylor said. "It hurts. Once I had to go to the hospital in an ambulance." Taylor, who has asthma, helped Mossdale School raise its first air-quality flag Thursday. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111028/A_NEWS/110280316 CLIMATE CHANGE Earth-observing satellite boosted into orbit to start dual weather, climate change mission. Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. — After a years-long delay, an Earth-observing satellite blasted into space early Friday on a dual mission to improve weather forecasts and monitor climate change. A Delta 2 rocket carrying the NASA satellite lifted off shortly before 3 a.m. from the central California coast. The satellite was boosted into an orbit 500 miles above Earth about an hour after launch. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/earth-observing-satellite-blasts-off-on-weather-climate-change-mission/2011/10/28/gIQApKOiOM_story.html FUELS Chinese, US companies hold China’s first test flight for biofuel-powered jumbo jet. A jumbo jet powered by fuel made from oily nuts made a two-hour test flight Friday as part of a U.S.-Chinese renewable energy partnership. The fuel, based on the oily nuts of the jatropha tree, is one of a series of research projects launched last year by the United States and China, the world’s two biggest oil consumers. The two governments say they want the research to reduce pollution and spur the growth of new industries. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/chinese-us-companies-hold-chinas-first-test-flight-for-biofuel-powered-jumbo-jet/2011/10/28/gIQA7BQmOM_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/28/china-us-companies-test-fly-biofuel-powered/ http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/28/1923492/earth-observing-satellite-blasts.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Calif launches crackdown on kitchen grease thieves. One man's trash is another man's biofuel, which is why state agriculture officials are launching a program to crack down on restaurant grease thieves. The California Department of Food and Agriculture said Thursday it's contracting with police to target areas where restaurants leave out used kitchen grease to be picked up by rendering facilities. It can be converted into fuel for diesel cars and trucks. The high cost of diesel fuel has made something that was once without value a sought-after commodity. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111027/A_NEWS/111029892&cid=sitesearch SUBSCRIPTION ONLY UN: Leaded fuel to be gone by 2013. Leaded gasoline, once so widespread it was sold at U.S. pumps as "regular" fuel, is expected to be eradicated globally within two years, the United Nations Environment Program announced Thursday. With the end of leaded gasoline in sight, public health and environmental advocates are claiming victory in a fight that stretches all the way back to when it was first added to gasoline in the 1920s. Leaded gasoline is still used in six nations. Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, North Korea, Myanmar and Yemen are expected to complete the phase-out by 2013, said the U.N., which is assisting those nations. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/27/1922649/un-leaded-fuel-to-be-gone-by-2014.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY EPA chief encourages college activists in campaign against coal. College environmental activists met Thursday with Environmental Protection Agency chief Lisa Jackson to tell her what they're doing at their schools to try to shut down campus coal-fired heating plants. "It's so important that your voices are heard, that campuses that are supposed to be teaching people aren't meanwhile polluting the surrounding community with mercury and costing the children a few IQ points because of the need to generate power. It's simply not fair," Jackson said. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/27/1922718/epa-chief-encourages-college-activists.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Smithsonian’s American History Museum in Washington shows 100 years of electric car history. Washington — The history of electric cars is going on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History with two “electrifying cars” from the early 20th century. A 1904 Columbia electric runabout went on display Thursday with a 1913 Ford Model T touring car. The cars and other objects, including a battery charger for General Motors’ EV1 electric car from the 1990s, are on view through January. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/smithsonians-american-history-museum-in-washington-shows-100-years-of-electric-car-history/2011/10/28/gIQAWCQPOM_story.html GREEN ENERGY Economic Slowdown Challenges Renewable Energy. Top executives from the renewable energy industry said Wednesday that their industry faced huge challenges from the economic crisis and the rise of abundant natural gas, but they insisted that technologies like wind power still made some of the best sense for financiers and governments. Sharpening the battle lines between the renewable sector and the oil and gas industry amid a worsening economy, …Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/business/global/economic-slowdown-challenges-renewable-energy.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Biogas Offers Poor Countries a Cleaner, Safer Fuel. Here’s an unlikely starting point for clean energy: No toilets, and plenty of dung. In developing countries where domestic animals are ubiquitous and sewage systems rare, biogas technology — in this case methane derived from feces — can provide both valuable fuel and improved sanitation. Unlike directly burning animal dung, the methane is clean-burning and odorless. And the technology has benign byproducts: reductions in deforestation and disease. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/26/business/energy-environment/biogas-offers-poor-countrys-a-cleaner-safer-fuel.html?scp=2&sq=methane&st=cse Obama administration announces desert 'solar energy zones'. The Obama administration on Thursday unveiled its road map for solar energy development, directing large-scale industrial projects to 285,000 acres of desert land in the western U.S. while opening 20 million acres of the Mojave for new development. The Bureau of Land Management's long-awaited "solar energy zones" are intended to make some of the desert's most sensitive landscapes less desirable for solar prospecting …Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-desert-20111028,0,7889585.story BLOGS How we know we’re warming the planet. Plenty of media outlets picked up the news last week that a team of skeptical Berkeley scientists tore through the 20th century temperature data and found… well, they found that the Earth has been warming significantly in the past century, just like NASA and the Climate Research Unit have been telling us all along. My colleague Eugene Robinson called it “the scientific finding that settles the climate-change debate.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/how-we-know-were-warming-the-planet/2011/10/27/gIQAlX8nMM_print.html Long-Awaited Climate Satellite Lifts Off. Five years after its original launch date, a new observation satellite lifted off on Friday in California with a new generation of observation tools critical to weather forecasters and climate scientists alike. At 5:48 a.m., scattered clapping and cheers rippled through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Md., as agency officials and staff watched the launch of NASA’s first N.P.O.E.S.S. Preparatory Program satellite at Vandenberg Air Force Base on a bank of screens. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/long-awaited-climate-satellite-lifts-off/ http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/10/nasa-weather-satellite-vandenberg.html Interior Dept. Anoints Solar Energy Sites. The Interior Department is pressing on with its efforts to channel solar energy development into the areas with the best sunshine, the fewest potential environmental disturbances and the least political resistance. On Thursday, the department released a provisional plan with a map highlighting 285,000 acres judged to be best suited to such development in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona and Colorado. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/interior-dept-anoints-solar-energy-sites/ Nissan Leaf to begin New York City taxi pilot progam. New York City streets are about to get a bit more... electric. Nissan and the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission plan to put six Leaf EVs in the hands of owner-operators for one year (a lease, free of charge) as part of a pilot program. The goal is to gain "valuable information" about how the electric machines function as taxis on the busy streets of New York and to show people that EVs are viable options. We'd imagine the machines would work quite well for the short jaunts typical of taxi rides. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/28/nissan-leaf-to-begin-new-york-city-taxi-pilot-progam/ Winter Spare the Air Season Begins Tuesday. Come Tuesday, you'll have to think twice before burning logs in your fireplace or any other solid fuel because Nov. 1 marks the start of the winter Spare the Air season. Unlike the summer season, which calls for Bay Area residents and businesses to reduce vehicle emissions to protect air quality, during the winter, wood burning is the most harmful air pollution. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/blogs/quality-of-life/winter-spare-air-season-begins-tuesday/ Global Phase-out of Lead in Gasoline Succeeds: Major Victory for Kids' Health. Today marks a major victory for the world’s children, and the people of developing nations around the globe. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), working with NRDC in the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles, today announced toxic lead has been removed from gasoline in more than 175 countries worldwide – representing near-global eradication. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/plehner/global_phase-out_of_lead_in_ga.html California Finalized Details of Its Cap-and-Trade Program. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) finalized the rules for the golden state’s cap-and-trade program last week. The cap-and-trade program is part of California’s climate change law (AB 32) which mandates greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020. The program covers 360 businesses representing 600 facilities, and will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will start in 2013 and will include all major industrial sources plus electricity utilities. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/10/california-finalized-details-cap-trade-program/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:19:38 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 31, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for October 31, 2011. 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 U.S. Embassy air quality data undercut China's own assessments. One day this month, the reading was so high compared with U.S. standards it was listed as 'beyond index.' But China's own assessment that day was that Beijing's air was merely 'slightly polluted.' Perched atop the U.S. Embassy in Beijing is a device about the size of a microwave oven that spits out hourly rebukes to the Chinese government. It is a machine that monitors fine particulate matter, one of the most dangerous components of air pollution … Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-china-air-quality-20111030,0,7090624,print.story Central Calif burn restrictions start Nov. 1. Fresno, Calif. (AP) -- Homeowners across the San Joaquin Valley will have to check with air quality officials before lighting their fireplaces beginning Nov. 1. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control district is going into its ninth season regulating residential wood burning in an effort to reduce airborne particulate pollution. Each day, the district uses weather forecasts to determine whether it is safe to burn. Daily forecasts will be available for each of the valley's eight counties at 4:30 p.m. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/28/state/n111348D89.DTL#ixzz1cNnJLNip http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/10/31/2103321/check-before-you-burn-regulation.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/28/1923969/central-calif-burn-restrictions.html http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111031/A_NEWS/110310311/-1/NEWSMAP http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_19231081 http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/article_0004c281-ff4b-5a59-a455-916c0f59a871.html State asks EPA to reconsider new rule. Left unchanged, state and energy company officials say a federal air pollution reduction rule announced in July could lead to rolling blackouts in Louisiana next summer. In addition, state officials say they don't believe Louisiana should even be included in the rule. The Cross State Air Pollution Rule addresses air pollution that creeps over state lines, with a focus on power plants. The Environmental Protection Agency on Oct. 6 announced proposed revisions to the rule. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/31/state-asks-epa-to-reconsider-new-rule/#ixzz1cNa3kRWr CLIMATE CHANGE Green groups give EPA more time on CO2 rule- Green groups said on Saturday they would give the Environmental Protection Agency more time to forge the first-ever plan to regulate carbon dioxide from power plants, the country's single biggest source of greenhouse gases. The Environmental Defense Fund and other green groups that are negotiating with the EPA on the deadline for the plan said they would withhold legal action against the agency until November 30. They, along with New York, California and several other states, had sued the agency to issue the carbon rules. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/30/us-usa-epa-carbon-idUSTRE79S2IO20111030 Analysis: Climate impasse could kill carbon offset investment. The failure of U.N. climate talks to clarify the future of the Kyoto Protocol and its market-based mechanisms could dry up investment in the carbon offset market, possibly threatening prices that are already trading near record lows. A legally binding pact is unlikely to be agreed at the climate summit in Durban, South Africa, which starts November 28, as governments continue to wrangle over emissions cut commitments and climate aid. Many do not see such a deal emerging until 2014 or 2015. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/31/us-cdm-investment-climate-idUSTRE79U4YA20111031 Skeptic finds he now agrees global warming is real. Washington -- A prominent physicist and skeptic of global warming spent two years trying to find out if mainstream climate scientists were wrong. In the end, he determined they were right: Temperatures really are rising rapidly. The study of the world's surface temperatures by Richard Muller was partially bankrolled by a foundation connected to global warming deniers. He pursued long-held skeptic theories in analyzing the data. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/30/4017493/skeptic-finds-he-now-agrees-global.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/30/state/n072549D37.DTL http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/30/v-print/1926388/skeptic-finds-he-now-agrees-global.html http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_19230407?source=rss Greenhouse-gas tax could inflate airfares. A European program to charge airlines for their greenhouse-gas emissions could raise round-trip ticket prices from the United States by more than $30 starting next year. Environmental groups and some travelers praise the European Union's Emission Trading Scheme as a way to curb climate change. The goal is to spur airlines and manufacturers to build more efficient planes like Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. Posted. http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2011-10-31/Greenhouse-gas-tax-could-inflate-airfares/51018748/1 FUELS Solyndra Critics Sought U.S. Aid for Coal. Republicans who criticized the Obama administration for providing U.S. backing to the failed Solyndra LLC sought such federal loan guarantees for cleaner-coal projects they favored. Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming asked Energy Secretary Steven Chu in a Feb. 8 letter to move the “review process forward” for a project in his state to convert coal to liquid fuel. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-31/solyndra-critics-sought-u-s-aid-for-coal.html VEHICLES California high-speed rail will try to turn corner with new business plan. For California's high-speed rail project, it's been an inauspicious autumn. Disparaged for its lack of public outreach, the California High-Speed Rail Authority hired a new deputy director for communications and public policy, Lance Simmens, who introduced himself to Kings County residents – and YouTube viewers everywhere – by falling asleep at a public meeting. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/31/4018410/california-high-speed-rail-will.html#storylink=omni_popular GREEN ENERGY In Colorado, a Power Struggle With the Power Company. Many Americans these days, from the huddled masses of Occupy Wall Street to the coifed confines of the presidential campaign, are talking about the future of capitalism. Here, that debate is focused on electricity, specifically whether this city should, in Tuesday’s election, sever its relationship with a corporate utility and move toward a home-ruled, municipally owned one that would be environmentally greener and locally accountable. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/us/boulder-seeks-to-take-power-from-the-power-company.html?_r=1&scp=9&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Obama administration announces desert 'solar energy zones'. 'Solar energy zones' — set up in the Mojave and elsewhere in the West by the Bureau of Land Management — are meant to encourage development in areas without environmental or cultural conflicts. The Obama administration on Thursday unveiled its road map for solar energy development, directing large-scale industrial projects to 285,000 acres of desert land in the western U.S. while opening 20 million acres of the Mojave for new development. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-desert-20111028,0,7889585.story Solar firms' flight to Mojave Desert sparks environmental friction. Mojave Desert, Calif. - At first glance, the vast Mojave Desert seems barren: mile after mile of dust, sand and scrubby creosote bush under a blistering sun. But the huge desert, which spans an area larger than West Virginia, is becoming speckled with gigantic solar power plants that are creating hundreds of construction jobs and, when complete, will generate electricity for millions of homes. California's Solar Gold Rush is under way, fueled by billions of dollars of federal stimulus funding and a new state law that requires utilities to buy a third of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/31/v-print/4018880/solar-firms-flight-to-mojave-desert.html ENERGY: Solar power is beginning to go mainstream. Solar energy may finally get its day in the sun. The high costs that for years made it impractical as a mainstream source of energy are plummeting. Real estate companies are racing to install solar panels on office buildings. Utilities are erecting large solar panel “farms” near big cities and in desolate deserts. And creative financing plans are making solar more realistic than ever for homes. Solar power installations doubled in the United States last year and are expected to double again this year. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20111029-energy-solar-power-is-beginning-to-go-mainstream.ece Vendor Picked in Gas-for-Trash Scheme. Anaerobic Digester Gets Nod as Conversion Technology for Tajiguas Landfill Project. After years of talking, scheming, and dreaming about fitting the Tajiguas Landfill with an ambitious trash-to-energy conversion technology, Santa Barbara County trash czars have settled on a plan that will generate less political opposition than competing technologies that pack more diversionary punch. They've also settled on a development team of businesspeople out of San Luis Obispo County — Mustang Renewable Power Ventures. Posted. http://www.independent.com/news/2011/oct/31/vendor-picked-gas-trash-scheme/ OPINIONS California’s New Green Tax. As the world retreats from cap and trade, Sacramento signs on. It may be time for California to formally apply for membership in the European Union. Its taxing, borrowing and regulatory policies are already more in line with the southern tier of Euroland than with other U.S. states, and the Golden State has taken another lurch in the Euro-direction by becoming the first jurisdiction in the nation to adopt a full-scale cap-and-trade tax to combat global warming. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203687504576654833439619372.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Dan Morain: Rich soak up solar subsidies. The sun shines on the beachfront mansions of Malibu and La Jolla, just as it does on Compton and Barrio Logan in San Diego. It beams down on the most upscale part of Clovis and its golf course development of Brighton Crest, and on the gritty flats of south and west Fresno. But based on how California policymakers dole out valuable subsidies for solar panels placed on the residential roofs, the poorest parts of our sunny state might as well be on the dark side of the moon. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/30/v-print/4015124/rich-soak-up-solar-subsidies.html Visiting editors weigh in on pollution, air travel and elections. When I travel to area schools to present science programs, I often see prominently displayed colored flags that are raised to alert students and community members about each day's air quality. That information is vital to asthma sufferers. The 2010 Stanislaus County Asthma Report Card explained that roughly 13 percent of county residents have experienced asthma. Children under 17 have the highest rate of emergency room visits due to severe asthma events. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/29/v-print/1925625/visiting-editors-weigh-in-on-pollution.html California’s costly green subsidies. If there was any doubt about the economic success of state-mandated green programs, it was erased this week after a state Senate hearing about the future of alternate fuels. By the end of the four-hour session, it was clear that environmental special interests are thriving in California. At the hearing, Jane Williams of California Communities Against Toxics threw out statistics and emotional testimony about the increase in asthma in California children caused by vehicle emissions. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/2011/10/california-s-costly-green-subsidies#ixzz1cOYPecBe Our View: Pollution czars plan to choke California business. California foolishly is going where Congress fears to tread, and where even European global warming zealots are backing away. Nevertheless, an unelected, virtually unaccountable board of government overseers has voted unanimously to impose mandatory cap-and-trade regulations on California businesses that will likely kill jobs, chase companies out of state and impose $2 billion in new taxes, all in a Quixotic quest to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a highly questionable, perhaps meaningless, goal. Posted. http://www.colusa-sun-herald.com/articles/emissions-2519-tcnsyndication-companies-government.html BLOGS A clear and fair incentive to pollute less. This week the U.S. House of Representatives passed a rather unusual bill directly addressed to Europe. Through the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act H.R. 2594, America’s legislators want to tell American airlines not to respect an EU law. This seems to me a rather unorthodox course of action, but here in the EU we are confident that in the end the United States will respect our legislation, just as the EU respects U.S. legislation and U.S. lawmakers’ authority in U.S. airports. Posted. http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2011/10/31/a-clear-and-fair-incentive-to-pollute-less/ Cap and trade as food policy. Could cap-and-trade regulations have a place in food policy? That’s the idea behind a recent New England Journal of Medicine paper, which suggests that one way to stem our obesity crisis would be to regulate the total amount of unhealthy food that’s available. Cap and trade was a key part of the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments as a way to regulate acid-rain-causing pollutants like sulfur dioxide. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/cap-and-trade-as-food-policy/2011/10/31/gIQAj226YM_blog.html What is the government doing to go green? Federal agencies are buying more hybrid vehicles, installing energy-efficient light bulbs and using rainwater to hydrate outdoor landscaping as part of the Obama administration’s goals of reducing the government’s carbon footprint. Dozens of federal agencies — from the Pentagon to the Smithsonian — plan to release progress reports Monday on what they’re doing to reduce the government’s carbon footprint after President Obama ordered them to do so back in 2009. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/what-is-the-government-doing-to-go-green/2011/10/30/gIQAeIsbYM_blog.html In California, a Final Exam for Heavy-Duty Hybrids. Hybrid technology is working its way off road, and two heavy-duty earth movers, a bulldozer and tracked excavator, are preparing for large-scale emissions tests in California. Heavy-duty diesel hybrids save around 25 percent in fuel over their conventional counterparts, manufacturers say. Put another way, a hybrid excavator weighing 20 tons burns 1,500 fewer gallons of diesel a year than a nonhybrid machine of the same size, translating to roughly the same carbon savings as 14 Toyota Priuses. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/in-california-a-final-exam-for-heavy-duty-hybrids/?scp=2&sq=hybrids&st=cse Reinventing Fire: A Vision for Our Energy Future. Amory Lovins says we can do it all. Do we need to emit far less CO2 into the atmosphere? To stop using the dirtiest fuel of all, which now generates more of our electricity than any other? To reduce sharply our importation of oil, from Canada and elsewhere, and achieve the elusive goal of "energy independence," set by successive presidents but never done? Need to use natural gas only as a "transition" fuel? Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-k-comstock/reinventing-fire-review_b_1034216.html House Democrats Introduce Carbon Tax Bill. Nine House Democrats introduced a bill on October 24 which would create a “simple tax on carbon,” in the words of its lead sponsor, Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA). The bill, the Save Our Climate Act (HR 3242), probably doesn’t have a proverbial snowball’s chance in hell making it out of committee with the Republicans in control of the House, but I can’t help but root for it. I love to root for the underdog, and having been a life long San Francisco Giants fan, I have had years of practice. Like the Giants, the Save Our Climate Act (SOCA) might pleasantly surprise me. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/10/house-democrats-introduce-carbon-tax-bill/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 1 Nov 2011 16:18:07 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 1, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 1, 2011. 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 Attention: Starting today, don't burn wood until you check air quality forecast first A cozy wood fire in the fireplace may seem just the thing to take the chill off a brisk autumn day, but Sacramento County residents are reminded to check the air quality forecast before putting a match to those logs. The Sacramento Air Quality Management District's Check Before You Burn program starts today and runs through Feb. 29. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/01/4020898/attention-starting-today-dont.html#ixzz1cUVYkT94 http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111031/A_NEWS/110310311&cid=sitesearch CLIMATE CHANGE Future holds more extreme weather. Washington — For a world already weary of weather catastrophes, the latest warning from top climate scientists paints a grim future: More floods, more heat waves, more droughts and greater costs to deal with them. A draft summary of an international scientific report obtained by The Associated Press says the extremes caused by global warming could eventually grow so severe that some locations become "increasingly marginal as places to live." Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g_vRxk1x0gV6lh77pCUYvzfgPQMw?docId=13969a79a76544b5ba4cdaad78e0d14a http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/apnewsbreak-global-warming-worsens-weather-extremes-international-climate-panel-says/2011/11/01/gIQApMtgbM_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/01/national/w014522D45.DTL&type=printable Bay Area songbirds are getting bigger. Climate change may be causing local birds to grow longer wings and bigger bodies, according to a study released Monday by PRBO Conservation Science. The research is based partly on data collected within the Point Reyes National Seashore that suggests that over the past 40 years birds such as sparrows, chickadees and robins are growing. Researchers suggest the birds are adapting to harsher weather conditions such as heavy El Nino storm years. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_19240005 VEHICLES Calif. rail project to cost $98B. Sacramento, Calif. — The new business plan for California's high-speed rail system shows the nation's most ambitious state rail project could cost nearly $100 billion in inflation-adjusted funding over a 20-year construction period, according to a draft copy of the plan shared late Monday with The Associated Press. But the plan also says the system would be profitable even at the lowest ridership estimates and wouldn't require public operating subsidies. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/oct/31/apnewsbreak-calif-rail-project-to-cost-98b/?ap http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-high-speed-rail-20111101,0,3863262,print.story http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/11/high-speed-rail-officials-defend-project-cost-urge-approval.html Amtrak says it has no beef with cow-powered train. Amtrak officials say they have no beef with using cattle-based biodiesel to power their Heartland Flyer train. The railroad said Monday that a mix of beef tallow and diesel fuel effectively powered the passenger train's 3,200-horsepower engine. Following a yearlong test on the rails between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas, an evaluation found that the fuel blend met industry standards, engine wear was limited and emissions were below federal limits for the type of engine using it. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19233634 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19233634 GREEN ENERGY UC Davis's Gallagher Hall earns top green label. Gallagher Hall at the University of California, Davis, is the latest campus building to earn the highest green rating. Gallagher Hall, home of the UC Davis School of Management, was rated platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council, joining the university's Robert and Margrit Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science and the Tahoe Environmental Research Center in Incline Village, Nev., as having received the coveted designation. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/01/v-print/4020935/uc-daviss-gallagher-hall-earns.html Solar panel maker Solyndra set to auction assets. The bankrupt solar company Solyndra Inc. is auctioning off surplus assets this week as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. Starting Wednesday, buyers can purchase the former solar manufacturer's office microwave, artwork that once hung on its walls and an array of heavy equipment and tools owned by the former solar panel maker. The online auction ends Thursday at 5 p.m. The auction company Heritage Global Partners is calling the event the "solar auction of the year." Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/31/1928181/solar-panel-maker-solyndra-set.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_d615236f-386e-554d-80fe-20ee226206d3.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/oct/31/solar-panel-maker-solyndra-set-to-auction-assets/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19234487?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19234487?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Green groups gang up against cable/satellite gear. $2 billion. That's what U.S. consumers are overpaying every year in electric bills, to power their cable and satellite TV receivers when those boxes are theoretically "off." This wastefulness has been calculated by a group of advocacy organizations, following up on a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council, which found set-top boxes consume virtually as much power when in standby mode (34 watts) as when in use (35 watts). Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/31/1927421/green-groups-gang-up-against-cablesatellite.html OPINIONS Another global warming deception. Dana Point, Larry Hamlin: The Berkeley Earth Surface Temperatures project recently provided results by press release even though no scientific peer review process had occurred of their review of global surface temperatures. Professor Richard Muller, who heads this project, claimed that this review of data showed no standstill in global warming since the late 1990s [“Skeptic converts, says global warming is real” News, Oct. 31]. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/global-324730-review-surface.html BLOGS Better Batteries: Not Just for Cars Anymore. As I wrote in Saturday’s paper, energy storage will be critical to making wind power more useful. Some wind farms are forced to dump a substantial portion of their production because they churn out megawatts in the middle of the night, when there is very little demand for it. At such times, some grid operators even charge generators for making power rather than paying them for it. A wind farm I visited last week has 98 megawatts of power, meaning it could run 30-odd Super Wal-Marts. But the maximum power of a battery installation is just 32 megawatts, or just one-third of that wind power, and it fills up in 15 minutes. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/better-batteries-not-just-for-cars-any-more/ 'Snowtober' fits U.N. climate change predictions. While the Northeast is still reeling from a surprise October snowstorm that has left more than a million people without power for days, the United Nations is about to release its latest document on adaptation to climate change. The report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is expected conclude that there is a high probability that man-made greenhouse gases already are causing extreme weather that has cost governments, insurers, businesses and individuals billions of dollars. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/11/snowtober-fits-climate-change-predictions.html Air district didn't need EPA waiver after all. A few weeks ago, the local air district asked federal officials to ignore several high ozone readings in Sequoia National Park. A forest fire caused readings to spike, and the district wanted a waiver. Turns out, the district didn't need a waiver. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency doesn't count violations from Sequoia because the park's monitors have not been reviewed by EPA. These extensive reviews are required to make the readings official for EPA. Posted. http://fresnobeehive.com/news/2011/10/air_district_didnt_need_epa_wa.html#storylink=misearch Auto Industry Market Leaders Validate Car Sharing. In the early 2000s, car sharing was a small-time counter-cultural service offered by community organizations in liberal and university markets. You heard about bigger companies tip-toeing around the market. Enterprise quietly started renting its cars by the hour to local residents in 2007. Then suddenly, concrete announcements from market leaders in cars and car leasing are everywhere. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/11/auto-industry-market-leaders-validate-car-sharing/ Natural Gas Pleads: Can’t We All Just Get Along? The latest advertising campaign from the good folks in the natural gas industry is helpfully suggesting that we can have our cake and eat it too. ConocoPhillips is offering in it’s latest ads to provide both clean and affordable energy, if only we’d just cooperate. Ah, cooperation! Now there’s an attitude I can get behind in these times of angry rancor and extreme polarization. What reasonable person wouldn’t? But cooperation has indeed been in short supply, and a raging battle between the industry and the public threatens to burn that bridge to a clean energy future we’ve all been waiting for. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/11/natural-gas-pleads-all-along/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2011 14:26:00 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 2, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 2, 2011. 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 Q+A-What issues are at stake in the EU-U.S. carbon spat? Twenty-six nations, including the United States, are expected to lodge a formal protest on Wednesday against a European Union law to make all airlines travelling to and from Europe pay for their carbon emissions. The protest at the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO.L meeting in Montreal, Canada, is likely to escalate transatlantic tension, which has triggered an anti-EU bill in the U.S. Congress. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/02/uk-airlines-ets-idUSLNE7A102M20111102 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-02/eu-faces-looming-global-airline-industry-protest-at-carbon-dioxide-limits.html http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2011/11/eu-faces-more-flak-over-carbon-emissions-scheme/560657/1 House panel to vote on phantom EPA dust rule. Impenetrable gridlock has forced Washington into an era of government-by-talking-point, and earlier this year Republicans found what they saw as the ideal talking point to illustrate a federal bureaucracy gone batty. The Environmental Protection Agency, they warned, was trying to regulate something only God could control: the dust in the wind. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-panel-to-vote-on-phantom-epa-dust-rule/2011/10/26/gIQAFNJ0MM_story.html Group petitions EPA over air in 8 western states. An environmental group has petitioned the federal government to reduce air pollutants in eight western states. WildEarth Guardians says that by law, the Environmental Protection Agency has to designate areas as "nonattainment" areas if they violate certain air-quality standards and put them on the path to cleaning up. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/group-petitions-epa-over-air-in-western-states/article_6e05f54a-a3cd-5dcc-bfe4-985200b37464.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/02/1930102/group-petitions-epa-over-air-in.html BY SUBCRIPTION Bakersfield-based company leading fight against harmful emissions. A Bakersfield company is helping in the fight against air pollution with a revolutionary product aimed at decreasing the toxins emitted by diesel vehicles. Viscon California is touting a substance it created that you simply add to diesel fuel to reduce harmful emissions by 25 to 50 percent. But they aren't the only ones high on their creation. The California Air Resources Board or CARB recently verified that Viscon's additive can reduce particulate matter contained in diesel emissions by at least 25-percent. Posted. http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/Bakersfield-based-company-leading-fight-against/kuHmvHqJVkK7zOPKRI3VPQ.cspx Colder weather ahead, wood-burning prohibition to take effect. Now that a mild Halloween has come and gone, Bakersfield residents should steel themselves for dropping temperatures (and a little fall of rain) later this week, the National Weather Service said Tuesday. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1967163167/Colder-weather-ahead-wood-burning-prohibition-to-take-effect VEHICLES California's high-speed rail backers take steps to quiet critics. Even as they raised the estimated cost of high-speed rail in California to almost $100 billion over 20 years, the project's organizers on Tuesday were staging a comeback bid. The California High-Speed Rail Authority, which came under criticism in the Legislature and appeared for months to be on the brink of collapse, cast the new cost estimate as a measure of its credibility. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/02/v-print/4023711/californias-high-speed-rail-backers.html Why solar and electric cars should be friends. Solar power and electric cars are an ideal match. Both are tied to the grid and disruptive technologies, which are in an early market stage and which are trying to reduce costs. It just makes sense to partner up, and that’s exactly what some solar panel companies and EV developers and chargers are starting to do. For example, on Tuesday, solar installer REC Solar announced it will start selling General Electric’s WattStation, a level-2 charger that should fill up a car in under eight hours. Posted. http://gigaom.com/cleantech/why-solar-and-electric-cars-should-be-friends/ GREEN ENERGY Solar advocates question Va. charge proposal. Solar power advocates are challenging a residential charge proposed by Dominion Virginia Power they contend would create disincentives for a renewable energy source that is already lagging in the state. The so-called standby charge would apply to large-scale residential solar customers when their thermal panels are not generating enough electricity, typically at night. The General Assembly approved legislation that allows the standby charge for residential solar generation systems ranging from 10 kilowatt hours to 20 kilowatt hours. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/02/solar-advocates-question-va-rate-proposal/ OPINIONS The rich soak up solar subsidies. An 80-kilowatt solar installation sits in Nipton, California, on December 1, 2010. The remote, Mojave Desert town has new solar panels that provide about 85 percent of the community's power. The sun shines on the beachfront mansions of Malibu and La Jolla, just as it does on Compton and Barrio Logan in San Diego. It beams down on the most upscale part of Clovis and its golf course development of Brighton Crest, and on the gritty flats of south and west Fresno. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/01/1929542/the-rich-soak-up-solar-subsidies.html BLOGS Climate Change and the Developing World. The United Nations Development Program delivered some dire news Wednesday in its annual Human Development Report. By midcentury, it said, the development progress of the poorest countries will be halted or even reversed if bold steps are not taken to forestall the effects of climate change. “The poorest countries’ really remarkable and often overlooked progress in recent decades now faces this calamity down the road,” said William Orme, a spokesman for the agency. Posted. http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/climate-change-and-the-developing-world/?pagemode=print Climate Change Imperils Global Prosperity, U.N. Warns. A new report from the United Nations Development Program warns that if drastic measures are not taken to prepare nations for the impacts of climate change, the economic progress of the world’s developing countries could stall or even be reversed by 2050. This year’s annual report, approaches the issue of climate change and environmental degradation from the standpoint of economic development and the eradication of poverty. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/climate-change-imperils-global-prosperity-u-n-warns/ More on Energy and Climate Paths for California and Beyond. Building on my weekend “Reality Check on Ambitious Climate Targets,” here are two “Your Dot” views of energy and climate paths for California and the rest of the planet, one offered by Alan Nogee, an energy consultant who was until recently the leader of the Clean Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Thomas J. Crowley of the University of Edinburgh, a veteran of decades of climate research who here writes primarily as a resident of a place, Scotland, where energy prices are very high. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/more-on-energy-and-climate-paths-for-california-and-beyond/ A Challenge to Europe’s Airline Emissions Curbs. In another challenge to the European Union’s plan to regulate emissions from the world’s airlines, 26 countries including China and the United States are backing a resolution urging that non-European airlines be exempted. A debate on the resolution is anticipated on Wednesday at a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization, an arm of the United Nations, in Montreal. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/another-challenge-to-europes-airline-emissions-curbs/ Judge restricts release of emails among climate scientists. A county Circuit judge in Virginia has sided with the University of Virginia's effort to restrict the release of personal emails from one of its former faculty members. The decision late Wednesday would allow the university to alter an agreement it had reached with the American Tradition Institute, which was seeking communications between Michael Mann, a physicist and climate scientist, and other scientists from 1999 to 2005, when Mann was employed by the university. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/11/climategate-emails-michael-mann-university-of-virginia.html Don't make fun of California's carbon reduction efforts. California is trying to change the rules of the game, getting polluters to expect that they will be charged a gradually higher price for carbon emissions. Will the state's leaders be viewed as a heroes fools? The Editorial writers at the WSJ have some tough things to say about California's AB32 carbon mitigation effort. The regulators at the Air Resources Board are called "elitists" who do not understand the unintended consequences of their well meaning regulations. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Green-Economics/2011/1102/Don-t-make-fun-of-California-s-carbon-reduction-efforts ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 14:35:28 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 3, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 3, 2011. 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 BP Texas City Refinery Explosion: Company To Pay State $50 Million Over Air Pollution Violations. Houston -- Oil company BP has agreed to pay Texas $50 million for air pollution violations at a Gulf Coast refinery where a 2005 explosion killed 15 workers, the state's attorney general announced Thursday. The settlement between BP Products North America and the State of Texas resolves 72 emissions violations between 2005 and now, Attorney General Greg Abbott told a Houston news conference. The violations include some that contributed to the massive explosion six years ago at the Texas City refinery. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/03/bp-texas-city-refinery-explosion_n_1074086.html Blowing dust prompts air alert issued in SJ Valley. Air alerts are being issued across the San Joaquin Valley as high winds are stirring up dust that can cause health problems in some people. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has issued warnings for Kings, Tulare and the valley portions of Kern counties. The wind is causing large amounts of dust in some areas. Particulate matter of 10 microns and smaller is monitored by the federal government. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/02/1930695/blowing-dust-prompts-air-alert.html BY SUBCRIPTION http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19248861?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111102/A_NEWS/111109973&cid=sitesearch AIR QUALITY: Fireplace restrictions are in effect. Southern California’s smog battle just got a bit more personal. Residents now are required to check the air quality before they burn wood in a home fireplace – or risk violating regulations that went into effect this week. Fines for repeat offenders can be as high as $500. “It’s a relatively small shift in our habits and our personal lives to accomplish air pollution reductions,” said Sam Atwood, a spokesman for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which imposed the rule. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20111102-air-quality-fireplace-restrictions-are-in-effect.ece CLIMATE CHANGE Biggest jump ever seen in global warming gases. The global output of heat-trapping carbon dioxide jumped by the biggest amount on record, the U.S. Department of Energy calculated, a sign of how feeble the world's efforts are at slowing man-made global warming. The new figures for 2010 mean that levels of greenhouse gases are higher than the worst case scenario outlined by climate experts just four years ago. "The more we talk about the need to control emissions, the more they are growing," said John Reilly, co-director of MIT's Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gqM8km0TY9gPWqJRTxqy31aO3G9A?docId=ffc4bdbaeca549c8a98aadb2ce3f247c Vulnerable islands urge climate deal before end-2012. A group of island states most vulnerable to global warming have lashed out against rich nations for wanting to delay a new international climate pact until years after the Kyoto Protocol on curbing carbon emissions expires in 2012. The 42-member Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) said countries such as Japan and Russia were "reckless and irresponsible" for promoting a delay in the adoption of a new international agreement until 2018 or 2020, just weeks before the start of a United Nations climate summit in Durban, South Africa. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/03/us-climate-aosis-idUSTRE7A23WR20111103 Climate change linked to Ice-Age animal extinctions. Climate change and human activity caused the extinction of some Ice-Age animals, such as the woolly rhinoceros, woolly mammoth, and wild horses, and the near extinction of others including reindeer, bison, and musk ox, says an international study. The scientists say their study, published in the journal Nature, is the first to combine genetic, archeological, and climatic data to track the population history of six large Ice-Age mammals and can shed light on the possible fates of today's animals as the Earth continues its current warming cycle. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/11/climate-change-extinction-ice-age-mammals/1?csp=34news California Cap-and-Trade Could Change the U.S. Stance on Climate Change. As the next round of UN climate regulation appears on the horizon, Jem Porcaro considers how they may shape clean technology developments and employment in green industries. It is commonly understood that the chances of reaching a climate agreement that includes the United States at this point are rather grim and will ultimately depend on certain developing countries, such as China, adopting binding climate controls. Posted. http://sustainablebusinessforum.com/paulraybould/54786/california-cap-and-trade-could-change-us-stance-climate-change New regulations could cost cement company millions. Colton - An executive for a a cement company with operations here - for now - said the state's new cap-and-trade system will cost his firm millions by adding new regulations to the cost of doing business at a time when the economy is still weak. "The overall economy is hurting us more than A.B. 32 (the law that authorizes cap and trade," said Steve Regis, vice president for engineering at CalPortland Co., which is headquartered in Glendora. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_19249511 Dispute erupts on timing of global climate pact. Small developing countries are protesting calls by Russia and Japan to delay a global climate change agreement. The 42-nation Association of Small Island States, countries most threatened by rising sea levels from melting polar ice caps, said an agreement should be concluded next year—an ambitious target in view of the deep differences that have plagued negotiations for years. The dispute escalated three weeks before 195 parties convene in South Africa to negotiate less troublesome elements of a climate deal. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/03/1931484/dispute-erupts-on-timing-of-global.html BY SUBCRIPTION http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19254380?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19254380?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Global warming threatens Delta smelt, salmon, says report. The combined impact on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of increasing water temperature and salinity brought on by global warming could reduce habitat quality for native species, such as the endangered Delta smelt and winter-run Chinook salmon, and intensify the challenge of sustaining their populations, says a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=19718 GREEN ENERGY Clean-tech venture funding jumps as other sectors go wanting. Green companies raise almost $1.2 billion in the third quarter, a 73% increase from a year earlier. California firms received more than half of that infusion of cash. Overall venture funding was down about 50%. Venture capitalists are pouring money into clean technology even as investors scale back funding in many other areas. Firms in the green sector raised almost $1.2 billion in the third quarter — up 73% from $684 million collected in the same period last year, according to a report released Wednesday by Ernst & Young. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-clean-tech-investing-20111103,0,3068731,print.story Energy stimulus program plagued by problems. Washington -- The Department of Energy's inspector general said Wednesday that the 2009 stimulus program for green energy was so at odds with the realities on the ground that it was akin to "attaching a lawn mower to a fire hydrant." Inspector General Gregory Friedman, testifying to the House Energy and Commerce Committee's panel on stimulus oversight, outlined a range of problems, from a flood of $35 billion in stimulus money that overwhelmed the department's $27 billion annual budget to weatherization programs …Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/03/MNSR1LPINB.DTL&type=printable California’s clean-energy tax breaks getting close look. The Solyndra debacle has forced a critical look at California’s clean-energy tax incentives - and serves as a reminder that difficulties remain in the state’s ability to attract manufacturing despite these hefty tax breaks. “California in the past 10 to 15 years has gotten 45 to 50 percent of the country’s venture capital, that’s great. But it doesn’t mean it will transform into manufacturing in California,” said Gino DiCaro of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=1040q1swv4jp5e2# Luring renewable energy is a tale of fits and starts. Back in 2005, Oakland-based BrightSource Energy had what it thought was a bright idea – a solar array in the Mojave Desert that would generate 440 megawatts of electricity – nearly doubling the amount of solar thermal electricity being produced in the United States. The $1.3 billion project, initially designed to cover over 4,000 acres near the dry Ivanpah Lake on the California-Nevada border, would also help California meet its goal at the time of 20 percent of electricity sold by investor-owned utilities coming from renewable sources. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=1040pw8v4ojx3or OPINIONS Editorial: Realistic plan for high-speed rail requires patience. Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin has the right perspective on high-speed rail. She recalls I-5, which took from 1947 to 1979 to complete, segment-by-segment. "It began in the Central Valley," she notes. "It was called the 'road to nowhere.' It was called 'too expensive.' Today, it is the backbone of surface transportation in California." The latest business plan from the California High-Speed Rail Authority will not change the minds of long-time critics – there's still too much unknown about this major infrastructure project that will take decades to complete. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/03/v-print/4026447/realistic-plan-for-high-speed.html BLOGS 26 Nations Defy Europe on Airline Emissions. China, the United States and 24 other nations backed a declaration on Wednesday urging that their airlines be exempted from the European Union’s Emissions Trading System. The move at the International Civil Aviation Organization, an arm of the United Nations, is another challenge to environmental leadership by the European Union, which has failed in its efforts to get some of the biggest polluters in the developed world to adopt crucial parts of its agenda for tackling climate change. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/26-nations-defy-europe-on-airline-emissions/ Rep. Lois Capps introduces legislation to protect health from climate change, extreme weather. You don’t have to convince the 13,000 American public health professionals in Washington, DC this week for the American Public Health Association meeting that climate change harms people’s health. They recognize the health risks of carbon pollution, and see the huge health benefits we stand to gain by creating more climate-resilient communities and homes right now. We need to make this a national priority. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kknowlton/rep_lois_capps_introduces_legi.html G20 Leaders Challenged to Deliver on Cuts to Fossil Fuel Subsidies to Start Climate Fund. Greenpeace today challenged G20 leaders attending this week’s summit in Cannes to deliver on their pledge to cut fossil fuel subsidies and instead invest in green jobs, in response to the current global financial, economic, and environmental crisis. A World Bank report prepared for the G20 shows that if developed countries transferred $10 billion from fossil fuel subsidies to climate finance …Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/g20-leaders-challenged-deliver-cuts-fossil-fuel/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2011 14:58:22 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 4, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 4, 2011. 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 America's 20 Dirtiest Cities. California has gone to extremes to improve the state’s air quality, pushing out coal-fired power plants and implementing the strictest auto emissions standards in the nation. L.A.’s persistent smog layer may be a shadow of its former self, but it hasn’t been enough. Lots of people and too many cars means California still has seven big cities that rank among the 20 most polluted in the nation. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2011/11/04/americas-20-dirtiest-cities/ Winter air pollution program begins in Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District. The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District announced that the winter Don't Light Tonight season is under way. Vacaville residents should be aware that the use of fireplaces, pellet stoves, wood stoves and other wood-burning devices such as outdoor fire pits, can create particulate pollution. Don't Light Tonight (DLT) is a voluntary wintertime air pollution reduction program which runs through February. Posted. http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_19263070 CLIMATE CHANGE Global carbon dioxide output soars in 2010. Washington -- The global output of heat-trapping carbon dioxide jumped by the biggest amount on record, the U.S. Department of Energy calculated, a sign of how feeble the world's efforts are at slowing man-made global warming. The new figures for 2010 mean that levels of greenhouse gases are higher than the worst-case scenario outlined by climate experts just four years ago. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/04/MNVK1LQAB4.DTL MISCELLANEOUS Brown plans forum on state’s climate change risks. Gov. Jerry Brown today announced he’ll get together with environmental, business and public health and safety leaders for “The Governor’s Conference on Extreme Climate Risks and California’s Future” on Dec. 15 in San Francisco. Brown’s office said the conference will focus on the risks of unpredictable and extreme weather events caused by climate change and how our communities can prepare and adapt. Posted. http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2011/11/03/brown-plans-forum-on-states-climate-change-risks/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PoliticalBlotter+%28Political+Blotter%29 VEHICLES California rail agency requests billions to start construction. At a meeting of the high-speed rail authority in Sacramento, dozens of people attack the $98-billion project's cost and say it will harm their homes and livelihoods. California's bullet train agency on Thursday formally requested a multibillion-dollar appropriation to start construction next year, after dozens of people from across the state attacked the $98-billion project's cost, rationale and effects on communities. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-high-speed-rail-20111104,0,1321051.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Flocal+%28L.A.+Times+-+California+%7C+Local+News%29 GREEN ENERGY U.S. Bid for Green Policy at APEC Faces Hurdles. Singapore—China and other developing countries are resisting a U.S. proposal to cut tariffs on environmental goods, casting doubt on one of President Barack Obama's goals for a Pacific Rim summit he hosts next week. The U.S. has been pressing for years, with little success, to liberalize trade on "green" goods, such as wind turbines and solar panels, and services in World Trade Organization talks. Mr. Obama's efforts on the issue at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit Nov. 11-13 in Honolulu face the same divisions that have stymied the WTO campaign. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577017222664942802.html?mod=WSJ_Energy_leftHeadlines&_nocache=1320426936339&user=welcome BY SUBSCRIPTION China will phase out energy-draining light bulbs. China will phase out power-draining light bulbs within five years in a move to make the world's biggest polluting nation more efficient but also certain to impact the global market. China will ban imports and sales of 100-watt-and-higher incandescent bulbs from Oct. 1, 2012, in an attempt to save energy and curb climate change, China's main planning agency said Friday. Bans will also be imposed on 60-watt-and-higher bulbs from Oct. 1, 2014 and 15-watt-and-higher old-style bulbs from Oct. 1, 2016. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/china-will-phase-out-energy-draining-incandescent-bulbs-certain-to-impact-global-market/2011/11/04/gIQAb4o3kM_story.html http://www.nctimes.com/business/china-will-phase-out-energy-draining-light-bulbs/article_68430c63-6027-55b7-89f4-5e711a9ce240.html#ixzz1ckg1H0Zj http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/04/1933015/china-will-phase-out-energy-draining.html http://www.grist.org/list/2011-11-04-china-bulb-ban-will-eliminate-1-billion-incandescents-annually More funding for improvements at intermodal facility. The City Council approved $400,000 in funding from new sources Tuesday for upgrades to the Sacramento Intermodal Transportation Facility project, including energy-efficient lighting and new power cabinets that will help reduce air emissions at the new facility. The project is being built at the downtown railyards and is currently in the first phase of development. City officials say Phase 1 should be completed by mid-summer 2012. Posted. http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/59556/More_funding_for_improvements_at_intermodal_facility OPINIONS Why I Remain a Global-Warming Skeptic. Searching for scientific truth in the realm of climate. Last month the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature Project released the findings of its extensive study on global land temperatures over the past century. Physics professor Richard Muller, who led the study, heralded the findings with a number of controversial statements in the press, including an op-ed in this newspaper titled "The Case Against Global-Warming Skepticism." And yet Mr. Muller remains a true skeptic—a searcher for scientific truth. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204394804577012014136900828.html?mod=googlenews_wsj http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/opinion/dr-mullers-findings-on-global-warming.html Shale Gas Revolution. The United States is a country that has received many blessings, and once upon a time you could assume that Americans would come together to take advantage of them. But you can no longer make that assumption. The country is more divided and more clogged by special interests. Now we groan to absorb even the most wondrous gifts. A few years ago, a business genius named George P. Mitchell helped offer such a gift. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/opinion/brooks-the-shale-gas-revolution.html?scp=10&sq=fuels&st=cse Still on board the bullet train. Yes, the price tag has tripled and its completion date is 13 years later. But it's still a gamble worth taking. It's easy to see why many Californians are losing patience with the bullet train. Voters who were asked in 2008 to approve $9.95 billion in bonds to build a high-speed rail line from Los Angeles to San Francisco were told the project would cost $33 billion and be completed by 2020, yet a more realistic business plan released Tuesday by the rail authority placed the price tag at — whoops — $98 billion and the completion date at 2033. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-train-20111104,0,7045793.story EDITORIAL: Bureaucratic overkill. For those who think that government tends to be the right answer for most problems facing humankind, we suggest a look at the South Coast Air Quality Management District. In order to meet state and federal clean-air standards in the Inland Empire (as well as Orange and Los Angeles counties), the district has decided to issue temporary bans on the use of fireplaces. Not factory emissions. Not diesel emissions. Not automotive emissions. Not power-plant emissions. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-bureaucratic-overkill/article_445c5615-2bc0-54db-91b0-aba3b2d3c44e.html#ixzz1ckejItkC Wind energy’s future? All puffed up, it seems. The green lobby, which apparently includes anyone willing to think green thoughts, has been clamoring for everyone to switch from the stuff that we know can power civilization to something else, like renewable energy, like wind. We guess it’s renewable when it chooses to blow, but that’s just part of the problem. A report relying on published information by the Energy Information Administration and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory discovers that wind isn’t all it’s puffed up to be, at least as a reasonable alternative to fossil fuel. Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2011/11/03/wind-energys-future-all-puffed-up-it-seems/59543/ BLOGS In Changing Ecosystems, Winners and Losers. Two new peer-reviewed studies, one about forests and the other about oceans, predict that existing ecosystems will rearrange themselves over the next 70-plus years in response to global warming. In one of the studies, to be published in the journal Remote Sensing of Environment, scientists from Oregon, Montana and British Columbia write that northwestern forests removed from the climatic buffering effect of the Pacific Ocean will transform themselves to adapt to less rainfall as well as warmer temperatures at high altitudes. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/in-changing-ecosystems-winners-and-losers/ California Rebates for Hybrids and E.V.’s Live On, in Reduced Form. California is the largest early-adopter market for electric vehicles in part because of incentives like single-driver access to H.O.V. lanes and financial subsidies. The state offered cash rebates of as much as $5,000 for zero-emission vehicles, or ZEVs, through the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, subsidies that mostly went to new owners of the Nissan Leaf. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/california-rebates-for-hybrids-and-e-v-s-live-on-in-reduced-form/ Scott Samuelsen, UCI Engineering Professor, Honored At White House Today. Scott Samuelsen, who teaches mechanical, aerospace and environmental engineering, was honored as a "Champion of Change" in D.C for his innovations in hydrogen power and smog reduction. The honor comes after Samuelsen and others at the National Fuel Cell Research Center, where he's the director, created a system that turns excrement into hydrogen fuel. Posted. http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2011/11/scott_samuelsen_uci_engineerin.php Where does the Volt go from here? I wrote last time that I had done two recent stories for popularmechanics.com having to do with the Chevrolet Volt. The first was on Volt (and Nissan Leaf) sales – both still limited by supply, not demand, as production and distribution ramps up. For the second, I was asked to clean my crystal ball and predict the future for Volt, and extended range EVs in general. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/03/where-does-erev-technology-go-from-here/ DOE calculates the cost of owning a car. The Department of Energy has created a tool that can be used to compare the fiscal and environmental costs of thousands of new and used car models. When figuring up vehicle costs, it's easy enough to tally the price of gas and toss in an occasional oil change, but working through the real cost of ownership including the initial investment, expected depreciation and cost of maintenance can make determining the best value difficult. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/03/doe-calculates-the-cost-of-owning-a-car/ NASA finds first-ever ozone hole over Arctic. The first ozone “hole” ever seen over northern polar regions was picked up earlier this year by satellites and weather balloons, according to a new study led by NASA. The severe depletion of the ozone layer, which shields Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays, was comparable to the ozone hole seen each year over the Antarctic since the mid-1980s, though smaller. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2011/10/03/nasa-finds-first-ever-ozone-hole-over-arctic/142543/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 7 Nov 2011 13:15:00 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 7, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 7, 2011. 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 Owners of Lake Michigan ferry, cited for pollution, seek landmark status. Chicago -- Facing a deadline to stop dumping toxic coal ash into Lake Michigan, owners of the last coal-powered steamship on the Great Lakes are pushing for it to join Mount Vernon, Lincoln's Tomb and Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthplace as a protected National Historic Landmark. Even if the Badger does not to make the list of the nation's historic and cultural treasures, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may be unable to force the old coal burner to reduce the nearly 4 tons of waste it dumps in the lake every time it sails. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/06/4035192/owners-of-lake-michigan-ferry.html#ixzz1d2fWsvgt AIR POLLUTION: Low-emissions squad cars being tested. Regional air quality officials voted Friday to spend $65,000 on a Ford Crown Victoria that runs on natural gas and which they hope will help persuade police agencies to convert their fleets to such low-polluting cars. The South Coast Air Quality Management District already has provided one natural gas-powered Crown Victoria each to the Redlands and South Pasadena police forces and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20111106-air-pollution-low-emissions-squad-cars-being-tested.ece Greenpeace protests SAfrica coal plant; 9 arrests. Greenpeace activists chained themselves to a gate and six climbed a crane Monday at a South African coal-fired power station to protest dependence on coal, weeks before the country hosts a global conference on climate change. Hours into the protest that started at dawn at the Kusile power station, police went up after the demonstrators who had climbed the crane. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19280445?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19280445?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19280445?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Secret 'Watch List' Reveals Failure To Curb Toxic Air. Part one of a four-part series, Poisoned Places: Toxic Air, Neglected Communities. The system Congress set up 21 years ago to clean up toxic air pollution still leaves many communities exposed to risky concentrations of benzene, formaldehyde, mercury and many other hazardous chemicals. Pollution violations at more than 1,600 plants across the country were serious enough that the government believes they require urgent action, according to an analysis of EPA data by NPR and the Center for Public Integrity. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/11/07/142035420/secret-watch-list-reveals-failure-to-curb-toxic-air CLIMATE CHANGE Global Temperatures: All Over the Map. Taking the Earth's temperature requires more than lots of thermometers. It also relies on surveying tools, satellites—and confidence in statistical models used to put the numbers together. Still, those thermometer readings do matter. So a team of scientists recently tackled the job of cleaning up and organizing 1.6 billion temperature readings from two centuries and nearly 40,000 land-based locations. That required removing duplicate numbers, tossing out clearly erroneous records—such as temperatures above 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit—and fixing Celsius readings mislabeled as Fahrenheit. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203804204577016252305820144.html BY SUBSCRIPTION Two Key Climate Decisions Facing President Obama. “My presidency will mark a new chapter in America's leadership on climate change…” Those were the words of President Obama before taking office. President Obama has taken the critical step to require that U.S. vehicles get more miles per gallon and reduce their carbon pollution. Now he is facing two additional critical decisions over the coming months which will shape his climate legacy and help to determine whether his Presidency will truly mark a new chapter on global warming. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jake-schmidt/two-key-climate-decisions_b_1076695.html Boxer raises environmental concerns over Keystone XL pipeline. In a sign of hardening skepticism toward the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, a top Senate Democrat has sent a letter to the Obama administration asking about a possible conflict of interest between the pipeline operator and a company handling the environmental impact study of the project. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee, wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton last week cautioning that the environmental studies must be impartial. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-keystone-boxer-20111107,0,932585.story http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-keystone-pipeline-20111107,0,236919.story http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/06/1936112/thousands-surround-white-house.html#ixzz1d2mZP44E http://www.modbee.com/2011/10/07/v-print/1894642/controversial-decision-awaits.html http://www.grist.org/politics/2011-11-06-pipeline-protesters-encircle-the-white-house GREEN ENERGY Taming Unruly Wind Power. For decades, electric companies have swung into emergency mode when demand soars on blistering hot days, appealing to households to use less power. But with the rise of wind energy, utilities in the Pacific Northwest are sometimes dealing with the opposite: moments when there is too much electricity for the grid to soak up. So in a novel pilot project, they have recruited consumers to draw in excess electricity when that happens, storing it in a basement water heater or a space heater outfitted by the utility. The effort is rooted in some brushes with danger. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/05/business/energy-environment/as-wind-energy-use-grows-utilities-seek-to-stabilize-power-grid.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=taming%20wind%20wald&st=cse Alternative energy companies form united front. In the debate over our energy future, solar, wind and electric car companies don't speak in a single, unified voice. Tom Steyer and Hemant Taneja want to change that. They have formed an organization, called Advanced Energy Economy, that the two hope will grow into a nationwide chamber of commerce for alternative energy companies. The organization, which they will formally announce today, already has state and regional chapters representing 700 companies. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/07/BUTK1LQQ5Q.DTL&type=printable Placer to discuss energy project proposed for Cabin Creek site. Placer County officials have scheduled a Nov. 15 public open house in Squaw Valley to discuss a biomass energy production project. The meeting will be from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Squaw Valley Public Service District's community room, 305 Squaw Valley Road. Displays and graphics will be provided. Participants will include specialists in air emissions, biomass energy technology, sustainable biomass supply assessments, biomass logistics planning and forest management. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/07/4035159/placer-to-discuss-energy-project.html INDUSTRY: Solar installers see bright future. When Green Stream Solar + Electric president Jeffrey Pitzer graduated from UC San Diego into the soon-to-be demolished building trade, an imagined solar panel lit a light bulb over his head. Pitzer’s Spanish degree paved his career path to a builder in San Ysidro, but he moved on to a Solano Beach startup, Sequoia Solar, to become vice president of sales and marketing. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/business-to-business-headlines/20111105-industry-solar-installers-see-bright-future.ece Feds assess sites for renewable energy potential. Determining the potential of former landfills, brownfields and Superfund sites around the country to host solar panels and other renewable energy projects is the focus of a new assessment federal researchers announced Friday. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado plan to spend the next year to 18 months assessing 26 sites. The sites range from a massive open-pit copper mine in southwestern New Mexico to a former lead smelter in Montana and landfills in Arizona, Louisiana and New Jersey. "There's huge potential for this to really make some inroads toward using contaminated lands as opposed to developing green spaces," said Gail Mosey, a senior energy analyst at NREL. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/04/v-print/1933826/feds-assess-sites-for-renewable.html BY SUBSCRIPTION VEHICLES Toyota aims to start fuel cell vehicle sales by 2015. Toyota Motor Corp. is looking beyond hybrids. The world's largest automaker plans global sales of a few thousand units of its hydrogen-burning fuel cell vehicle by 2015. The reason sales will be limited is because of the futuristic vehicle's anticipated high price. "We could expect a fuel cell vehicle to retail at about 100,000 euros ($138,000) in Europe," said Toyota Europe Vice President for Product Planning & Marketing Alain Uyttenhoven. Automakers are preparing to offer a vast array of green technologies to help them meet tougher emissions rules in Europe. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111106/COPY01/311069996/1186 MISCELLANEOUS United, Alaska Air take lead on biofuel flights. United says it will become the first U.S. airline to fly a commercial flight powered with an "advanced biofuel," Reuters reports. The Boeing 737-800 operating that United flight -- Flight 1403 -- is scheduled to depart Houston Bush Intercontinental for Chicago O'Hare at 11:30 a.m. ET (10:30 a.m. local time). IN-DEPTH: Race for scale: United, Alaska Airlines launch commercial aviation biofuels flights (BiofuelsDigest) With that, United says it will be "the first U.S. airline to fly passengers using a blend of sustainable, advanced biofuel and traditional petroleum-derived jet fuel." Posted. http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/post/2011/11/biofuels-alaska-air-united/562230/1 Studies suggest link between smog, joint disease. Exposure to certain types of air pollution is associated with an increased risk for the painful joint disease known as rheumatoid arthritis, new research suggests. This link is strongest for sulfur dioxide, one of the six most common air pollutants in the United States, according to the findings from two studies scheduled to be presented Wednesday at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting, in Chicago. Posted. http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2011-11-07/Studies-suggest-link-between-smog-joint-disease/51106442/1 Pomona transfer station proponents file appeal of Planning Commission's failure to approve its plan. Proponents of a proposal to build a waste transfer station in the southeast end of the city have filed a request appealing a recent decision by the Planning Commission. Representatives of Valley Vista Services are requesting the City Council reverse the commission decision of Oct. 26 in which the body twice deadlocked on the proposal. Commissioners tied 3-3 on the matter, resulting in a denial of the project. Valley Vista Services is appealing the commission's failure to certify an environmental impact study as well as its failure to consider a conditional use permit and a tentative parcel map, Planning Manager Brad Johnson said. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_19277087?IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com OPINIONS The Dark Side of the ‘Green’ City. THE struggle to slow global warming will be won or lost in cities, which emit 80 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. So “greening” the city is all the rage now. But if policy makers end up focusing only on those who can afford the low-carbon technologies associated with the new environmental conscientiousness, the movement for sustainability may end up exacerbating climate change rather than ameliorating it. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/opinion/in-phoenix-the-dark-side-of-green.html We Found Oil! Is That Good? New ways to extract oil and natural gas could buy the U.S. some time to develop renewable energy. Or they could keep us addicted to dirty fuels. New and efficient technologies for extracting oil and natural gas are increasing the supply of both fuels from North America. But the consequences will be different for oil than for natural gas. Oil is traded in a highly integrated world market, and the relatively small increases in North American oil will have virtually no effect on prices. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/11/06/will-a-boom-for-oil-and-gas-delay-renewable-energy/cheap-gas-is-a-trap Here Comes the Sun. For decades the story of technology has been dominated, in the popular mind and to a large extent in reality, by computing and the things you can do with it. Moore’s Law — in which the price of computing power falls roughly 50 percent every 18 months — has powered an ever-expanding range of applications, from faxes to Facebook. Our mastery of the material world, on the other hand, has advanced much more slowly. The sources of energy, the way we move stuff around, are much the same as they were a generation ago. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/opinion/krugman-here-comes-solar-energy.html?scp=4&sq=fuels&st=cse REGION: Come on, baby, let me light my fire. My wife is not a morning person, but there she was gazing at the computer before sunrise. Weather. That’s what I assumed. She likes to “visit” weather sites after freak snowstorms and gloat about freezing temps in cities where we supposedly have friends. (If they only knew how she spent her time.) Wrong. She was visiting www.airalerts.org, exposing her neck to the hot breath of government. We only have so many fireplace days in SoCal, and she was convinced Big Brother was about to stomp out her quality of life. Boy was she steamed! Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/columns/dan-bernstein-headlines/20111105-region-come-on-baby-let-me-light-my-fire.ece Take this bullet train. Please. California's proposed high-speed rail project is a costly boondoggle. So, the California High-Speed Rail Authority was wrong. The bullet trains from Anaheim and Los Angeles to San Francisco will not cost $34 billion as originally estimated, or $43 billion as the authority insisted just two years ago, but closer to $100 billion. Critics say the agency's new $98.5-billion estimate is low, and the authority admits it might go as high as $117.6 billion, but for sake of argument call the cost $100 billion. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-white-railroaded-20111106,0,7483888.story?track=rss Cap-and-trade scam. The cult of climate change is alive and well here in the backwards state of California. The California Air Resources Board has just approved plans for a cap-and-trade system. The fact that it will have absolutely no effect on climate whatsoever does not matter to them. That this most regressive of taxes will affect the poor the hardest as energy and gas prices skyrocket does not matter to them. The fact that thousands will lose their jobs as businesses flee the high energy costs or go out of business does not matter to them. They simply do not care. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_19278708?IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com http://www.sbsun.com/letters/ci_19278708 L.A. improving its part of I-5. As a truck driver for 15 years, John Rhodes was used to slamming on the brakes when he approached Valley View Avenue on the northbound I-5 freeway. "That's where the L.A. County line starts – definitely a bottleneck all the way up through the I-605," said Rhodes, 46, from Anaheim. "You know exactly where the congestion is going to start." With an average of 178,000 daily commuters traveling the jam-packed I-5 from the Orange County line to the I-605, Los Angeles County officials say widening the nearly 7-mile-long stretch will provide some relief for motorists who cross the county line and are funneled into the aging Los Angeles portion of the freeway. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/county-325411-freeway-improvements.html BLOGS Making a Boeing 737 More Like a Prius. Just as some hybrid cars move at low speeds solely on electricity, Boeing 737s can be made to do the same, reducing fuel burn and emissions, according to a company called WheelTug. On Monday, the company announced a tentative deal to equip 20 jets of the Israeli carrier El Al with a motor system that eliminates the need for a tug to pull the plane away from the airport gate. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/making-a-boeing-737-more-like-a-prius/ Straight Talk on Rising Seas in a Warming World. Joshua K. Willis of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is deeply involved in efforts to clarify oceanic ups and downs using space-based and deep-diving instruments. I frequently reach out to him when people tussle over the data and analysis pointing to rising seas in a human-heated world. This arena remains dogged by durable uncertainty on time scales relevant to policy debates even as the long-term picture of centuries of rising seas is clear. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/straight-talk-on-rising-seas-in-a-warming-world/ Restaurant Grease As Good As Gold To Biofuel Thieves. Used restaurant grease has become a hot item for thieves, who siphon it from barrels behind restaurants to sell on the booming biofuels market. Late last month, the California Department of Food and Agriculture said it would pay local police target the alleys and parking lots where restaurants typically park their barrels of used grease. Posted. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/11/07/141986455/restaurant-grease-as-good-as-gold-to-biofuel-thieves ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 8 Nov 2011 10:51:12 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 8, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 8, 2011. 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 Carbon monoxide deadly in enclosed rooms. The Air Resources Board, CalFire, Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Department of Public Health are urging Californians to guard against carbon monoxide poisoning by having detectors installed and gas appliances inspected. A new state law effective just this summer requires every California home with an attached garage or gas-using appliance to have an operational carbon-monoxide sensor installed. Posted. http://www.recorderonline.com/news/deadly-50738-enclosed-monoxide.html The Hidden Toll of Traffic Jams. Congested cities are fast becoming test tubes for scientists studying the impact of traffic fumes on the brain. As roadways choke on traffic, researchers suspect that the tailpipe exhaust from cars and trucks—especially tiny carbon particles already implicated in heart disease, cancer and respiratory ailments—may also injure brain cells and synapses key to learning and memory. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203733504577024000381790904.html Murkowski wants more funding for EPA. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski wants the Environmental Protection Agency to pitch in more money to help clean up Fairbanks' air pollution problem. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner ( http://bit.ly/vq2HYZ) says the senator sent a letter to the agency's director last week outlining Fairbanks' difficult situation. The senator cites the high cost of electricity—at more than twice the national average—and the very cold winter temperatures in the Fairbanks area. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19282422?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19282422?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com NJ gov won't support new pollution rules. Gov. Chris Christie says New Jersey won't join a lawsuit supporting the Environmental Protection Agency's new pollution rules. The rules are designed to decrease smokestack emissions in 27 states that contribute to unhealthy air in other states. Monday was the deadline to join the suit. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19283953?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19283953?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com CLIMATE CHANGE Australian Senate OKs carbon tax on big polluters. Australia on Tuesday passed legislation that would impose a tax on the nation's 500 largest polluters, a deeply unpopular measure that the government defended as necessary to control climate change. Prime Minister Julia Gillard had promised not to push for a carbon tax during elections last year, but has since said it is Australia's best option. Australia is one of the world's worst greenhouse gas emitters per capita becuase of its heavy reliance on abundant reserves of coal to generate electricity. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AUSTRALIA_CARBON_TAX?SITE=MAHYC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204554204577025153789673004.html?KEYWORDS=climKEYWORDS%3Dclimate+change http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/australian-senate-passes-carbon-tax-on-500-largest-polluters-breaking-pms-election-year-vow/2011/11/07/gIQAnvyaxM_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/07/2606140/australian-senate-oks-carbon-tax.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/07/1937696/australian-senate-oks-carbon-tax.html http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19287242?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19287242?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19287242?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Tallying the health costs of climate change. Six climate change-related events taking place between 2000 and 2009 cost the U.S. about $14 billion in health costs, researchers reported Monday in the journal Health Affairs. Most of those costs -- 95% -- were attributable to the value of lost lives, they wrote. About $740 million originated in "760,000 encounters with the health care system." Posted. http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-health-costs-climate-change-20111108,0,5060022.story FUELS Frying the Friendly Skies. Americans are getting used to burning ethanol in their daily commute. Now, pond scum and french-fry grease could help fuel their next business trip. Americans are used to pouring corn into the gas tanks of their cars, now United and Alaska airlines are gassing up a limited number of flights with algae and cooking oil. Jack Nicas has details on The News Hub. On Monday, United Airlines flew from Houston to Chicago with a 40% blend of biofuel made from algae—the first biofuel-powered commercial flight in the U.S. On Wednesday, Alaska Airlines launches the first of 75 flights powered by a 20% biofuel blend made from used cooking oil. Posted. SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203733504577024252080729374.html?KEYWORDS=fuels Continental jet uses Solazyme algae-based biofuel. A Continental Airlines jet on Monday became the first U.S. passenger carrier to fly using an algae-based biofuel blend developed by Solazyme in South San Francisco. United Continental Holdings, the airline's parent company, estimated that the biofuel blend on the Chicago-bound flight reduced carbon dioxide emissions by an amount equal to what would come from the exhaust of a car driven 30,000 miles. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/08/BUBK1LRQ38.DTL GREEN ENERGY Most Solar Makers Will Disappear by 2015: Trina CEO. Most of the biggest solar-equipment makers may disappear in the next few years as plunging prices erode margins and drive the weakest out of business, according to Trina Solar Ltd. (TSL), the fifth-largest supplier of solar panels. “This is the decade of mergers and acquisitions,” Jifan Gao, chief executive officer of Changzhou, China-based Trina, said in an interview. “From now until 2015 is the first phase, when about two-thirds of the players will be shaken out.” Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-08/most-solar-manufacturers-may-disappear-by-2015-trina-ceo-says.html Debunking common energy efficiency myths. Energy efficiency can be difficult to conceptualize -- there's not a representative device like a solar panel or wind turbine. Rather, it's a collection of technologies, strategies, and policies involving our houses, businesses, transportation, and behavior that improve the way we live. There are often misunderstandings or "myths" about how we verify that energy efficiency is working and measure what benefits it's providing. Posted. http://www.grist.org/energy-efficiency/2011-11-08-debunking-common-energy-efficiency-myths VEHICLES AAA Testing Mobile Electric Car Charging Service. Everyone makes mistakes once in a while, and we’re sure most drivers have run out of gasoline at least once in their life. But as the saying goes, it's hard to carry a gallon of electricity back to your plug-in car if the battery is completely out of charge. Which is why AAA is now testing roadside assistance for rapid charging of electric cars whose owners are stranded because they ran the battery pack flat. Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/11/07/aaa-testing-mobile-electric-car-charging-stations/ BLOGS On Electric-Vehicle Incentives, Diesel Defenders Cry Foul. The U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars, a Washington-based advocacy group whose members include Bosch, Honeywell and BorgWarner, all major automotive suppliers, released a white paper on Monday to make the case for technology-neutral policy-making on fuel efficiency. The document, credited to Norman Y. Mineta, the transportation secretary under President George W. Bush until 2006, objected to incentives and other policies of federal and state governments that encouraged the development and adoption of electric vehicles, while diesel technologies received no such encouragement. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/on-electric-vehicle-incentives-diesel-defenders-cry-foul/?scp=1&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse Plugsurfing: Europe’s largest community network of charging stations. Thanks to Plugsurfing, a new EV charging online network, European EV owners don’t have to worry anymore about range and insufficient public EV-charging infrastructures. The service includes more than 9.000 public and private charging points localizable via the smartphone app or the website. Electric mobility now benefits from a new social network: Plugsurfing is the first European online community of EV charging poles users. This new tool combines successfully the technical aspects of a charging network with all the functionalities of a social network. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/68820111108.php New “diagonal” approach for the reductive functionalization of CO2 to make building blocks for chemicals and fuels. French scientists working with Thibault Cantat at the Institut Rayonnement Matière de Saclay in Gif-sur-Yvette have introduced a new approach for the conversion of carbon dioxide into both useable building blocks for chemical synthesis and new fuels. To date, there have been two different approaches for the utilization of carbon dioxide, Cantat says: a “vertical” approach, and a “horizontal” approach. In a paper in the journal Angewandte Chemie, Cantat and his colleagues propose a third, “diagonal” approach. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/cantat-20111108.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 9 Nov 2011 12:08:47 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 9, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 9, 2011. 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 Leaking oil spreads stench over Concord. CONCORD -- A crude-oil leak sent heavy-diesel and sulfur fumes over a Concord neighborhood, and authorities say the smell could linger through the day. The leak from a 7-mile-long ConocoPhillips pipeline that runs under the former Concord Naval Weapons Station began Monday, and the smell is still hanging over the area of Holly Drive, Creek Place and Myrtle Drive, said Steve Morioka, assistant director of Contra Costa County Health Services' hazardous materials program. The agency received reports of "a heavy refinery odor" Monday morning, Morioka said. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/09/BA1C1LS2F3.DTL&type=printable CLIMATE CHANGE Pew Center Turns to Industry Funding for Climate Change Research. The Pew Center on Global Climate Change, which seeks market-based solutions to global warming, is turning to corporate sponsors after losing $3.5 million a year in support from a charitable trust. The center will announce the change and its new name, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, at a press briefing today, said Eileen Claussen, founder and president of the group. Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA), Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) and Entergy Corp. (ETR) are stepping in with long-term funding for the group, Claussen said. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-09/pew-center-turns-to-industry-funding-for-climate-change-research.html IEA: Time running out to limit earth's warming. The International Energy Agency warned Wednesday that the world is hurtling toward irreversible climate change and will lose the chance to limit warming if it doesn't take bold action in the next five years. In its annual World Energy Outlook, the agency spelled out the consequences if those steps aren't taken and what needs to be done to cap global temperature increases at 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels. That's the threshold beyond which some scientists have said catastrophic changes could be triggered. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/9/iea-time-running-out-to-limit-earths-warming/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/iea-economist-warns-that-world-must-take-action-to-greatly-reduce-emissions-by-2017-_-or-else/2011/11/09/gIQAhi4Z4M_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/09/1939622/iea-time-running-out-to-limit.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19296295?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/09/iea-time-running-out-to-limit-earths-warming/ VEHICLES New Hybrids Will Pump it Up. In the future, some hybrids won’t use batteries and won’t look like almonds. Several companies are developing hydraulic hybrid drivetrains that bring the benefits of hybrids to heavy-duty vehicles like buses. The technology, which uses pressurized fluid instead of electricity to turn the wheels, promises significant fuel savings at lower cost than traditional hybrids. Posted. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/11/hydraulic-hybrids/ Irish electricity distributor goes ‘car’ electric. ESB Networks, the licensed electricity distributor in the Republic of Ireland, has just been delivered with Electric Smith Edison vans supplied by Electric Vehicles Ireland, the Irish importer of Smith Electric Vehicles. The order, including 10 electric vans and trucks, was the single largest order of electric vehicles ever placed in Ireland. Two weeks ago, ESB Networks Ltd. was delivered part of the single largest order of electric vehicles ever placed in Ireland. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/68920111109.php GREEN ENERGY State's solar energy output reaches milestone. California has installed enough rooftop solar panels to generate more than 1 gigawatt of electricity, a milestone only five countries worldwide have reached. And California has the potential to add perhaps 79 gigawatts more, according to a report to be released today by an environmental group. That's more than twice as much electricity as the state used Tuesday afternoon when demand reached its daily peak. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/09/BU6D1LS4E6.DTL&type=printable http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/09/v-print/4040698/states-solar-energy-doubled-in.html OPINIONS World has five years to combat irreversible global warming: report Without rapid action, International Energy Agency warns 'door will close' to fight rapid climate change in five years. Time is running out to reverse the effects of global warming, according to a new report. In a sobering analysis of the planet's energy future, the International Energy Agency said that governments around the world have five years to reverse the course of climate change before it's too late. "The door is closing," Fatih Birol, the IEA's chief economist, told the Guardian. Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/world-years-combat-irreversible-global-warming-report-article-1.975007 Editorial: School retrofits make megawatts of good sense. The six-county Sacramento region has 60 million square feet of school facilities. The region's older schools are ripe for upgrades that would reduce energy and water bills – money that could be spent on classroom learning. Aging school infrastructure is a challenge, but also a great opportunity. Done right, it could reduce operating costs to school districts, create local jobs and get students, teachers and parents engaged in science learning. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/09/4040386/school-retrofits-make-megawatts.html Think before lighting the fireplace. With the first storms of the season and the cooler, sometimes foggy nights also comes the urge to light up the fireplace for some ambience and warmth. There's nothing like a crackling fire, inefficient though a fireplace might be as an actual home heating source. Still, thousands of us will do it, and because we do, we also are helping degrade the air. That's why it's important to burn only when weather conditions permit. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111109/A_OPINION01/111090306&cid=sitesearch BLOGS The Developing World, Leading on Climate Change? In what may turn out to be one of the abiding ironies of global geopolitics, leadership on climate change seems to have suddenly passed from the developed to the developing world, as has public anxiety about the damaging effects of a changing climate. As recently as the Copenhagen summit in late 2009, the West blamed large developing countries such as China and India for scuppering the chances of a “grand agreement” to curb the emission of greenhouse gases. Posted. http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/the-developing-world-leading-on-climate-change/ Hewlett-Packard tops Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics. Hewlett-Packard Co. has claimed the No. 1 spot on the Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics released Wednesday. The Palo Alto-based manufacturer of printers, computers and other consumer electronics scored 5.9 out of a possible 10 points on the 17th iteration of the guide from the international environmental organization. Hewlett-Packard took the No. 1 position due largely to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations as well as its suppliers, and a procurement policy that excludes paper from companies linked with illegal logging and deforestation. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/11/greenpeace-guide-to-greener-electronics.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 DoD report concludes use of renewable fuels contributes to national security interests, but at a price penalty. Increased use of renewable fuels by the US Department of Defense (DoD) contributes to US national security interests, achieves Service energy security goals, and offers some limited military utility, according to a new report released by DoD. However, the report also finds that the projected supply of drop-in renewable fuels will not be sufficient to meet anticipated DoD demand for renewable jet fuel products, and that price premiums for drop-in renewable fuels and the budgetary implications associated with meeting renewable fuel goals may be considerable. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/dod-20111108.html Stop pretending it’s not climate change. 2011 is further proof that a new era of extreme weather is dawning -- and it's about to get much, much worse. “All I know is this didn’t happen when we were kids.” That’s how Brian Williams tagged a recent NBC Nightly News report on this year’s extreme weather. Floods, droughts, wildfires and tornadoes dominated the news many nights in 2011. Posted. http://www.salon.com/2011/11/09/stop_pretending_its_not_climate_change/singleton/ Panasonic Bets the House on Solar and Fuel Cells. As consumers become more aware about electronic waste, conflict minerals and the overall depletion of natural resources, they will start to focus more attention on electronic gadgets and appliances the way they express concerns over their food and clothing. To that end, Panasonic is shifting its strategy as it moves closer to its 100th anniversary in 2018. Panasonic is now determined to become the number one green innovation company in the electronics industry. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/11/panasonic-eco-ideas-house/ Toyota's 2015 hydrogen vehicle still estimated to cost $50,000, not $138,000. Stop the Internet presses! Toyota's fuel cell car is going to be really expensive! That's the meme going around after Toyota Europe vice president for product planning and marketing, Alain Uyttenhoven, recently told Automotive News that, "We could expect a fuel cell vehicle to retail at about 100,000 euros ($138,000) in Europe." Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/09/toyotas-2015-hydrogen-vehicle-still-estimated-to-cost-50-000/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:42:09 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 10, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 10, 2011. 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 Senate majority rejects GOP bid to block EPA. Washington (A) -- The Democrat-controlled Senate on Thursday rejected a Republican attempt to block a regulation intended to curb power plant pollution that blows downwind into other states. By a 56-41 vote, senators defeated a resolution by Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who said the step was needed to rein in what he called the Obama administration's overzealous job-killing approach to environmental protection. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SENATE_EPA?SITE=PASCR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/republican-measure-to-block-epa-power-plant-controls-tests-senates-support-for-epa/2011/11/10/gIQAFrvd7M_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/10/2608955/republicans-test-senates-will.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/10/1941031/republicans-test-senates-will.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/10/republicans-test-senates-will-to-stand-up-for/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19304867?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Fight on Clean-Air Rules Threatens to Delay Power Payback. Electricity companies like Exelon Corp. (EXC) spent billions of dollars on pollution controls and cleaner energy anticipating that new rules would move the U.S. power industry away from coal. Now, last-ditch legislative and legal opposition to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule that takes effect Jan. 1 may nullify the competitive advantage they stand to gain over rivals slow to clean up coal-fired plants. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-10/fight-over-clean-air-rules-threatens-to-delay-u-s-power-payback.html China's 'Breathable' Pollution Breaks Index. A smoky brown haze settled over Beijing on a recent Saturday night, dense enough to blur buildings viewed across a city street. Beijing's environmental agency reported "light pollution" and "breathable" air. A $20,000 device sitting atop the U.S. embassy, located blocks from the city's monitor, had different words to describe the evening. China's unprecedented speed of industrialization has made it the global leader in many categories, including pollution. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-10/china-s-breathable-pollution-breaks-index.html With Anger Over Dirty Air Rising, Beijing Tries Tours of Monitoring Center. Beijing — Environmental officials who have resisted releasing comprehensive data about air pollution here in the capital announced that they would take action to address increasing complaints that the government’s monitoring system fails to report on the most dangerous airborne particles emitted by the growing ranks of cars and trucks. The action: allowing 40 people to tour the source of the frustration, Beijing’s monitoring center, once a week. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/world/asia/with-anger-over-dirty-air-rising-beijing-tries-tours-on-monitoring-center.html?_r=1 Auburn’s fuel-tank endurance art may not endure air quality regulations. Auburn’s giant fuel-tank tribute to endurance athletes is threatened with a cover-up. State air quality rules dictate a lighter color on the 30-foot-high tanks than the ones Weed artist Rip Cronk used in 2005 to create “Portraits of Endurance.” An evaporation test on the tanks – located at the Dawson Oil card-lock station on Blocker Drive – will determine if the endurance artwork can remain or whether it will be replaced with a more reflective paint coating meeting new state regulations. Posted. http://auburnjournal.com/detail/192940.html?content_source=&category_id=2&search_filter=&user_id=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&event_ts_to=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=1&sub_type=&town_id= CLIMATE CHANGE UN Urges Green Companies to Help Break ‘Vicious’ Climate Cycle. United Nations climate chief Christiana Figueres called for more engagement from businesses that promote low-carbon strategies to help governments worldwide speed up the shift to a green economy. Almost 200 nations will meet in Durban, South Africa, from Nov. 28 until Dec. 9 to discuss climate-protection rules for the period after 2012, when the current emission-reduction targets for developed nations under the Kyoto Protocol expire. Ironing out a global agreement is a step-by-step approach, meaning the slow pace of international policy will continue, Figueres said. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-10/un-urges-green-companies-to-help-break-vicious-climate-cycle.html Energy Agency Warns Governments to Take Action Against Global Warming. London—Dangerous climate change will be essentially irreversible within a little over five years, the International Energy Agency said in an annual report urging governments to do what they can to prevent this outcome. To prevent long-term average global temperatures rising more than two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels—seen as the maximum possible increase without serious climate disruption—immediate, drastic changes to energy and industrial policies are needed, the IEA said in its World Energy Outlook. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204358004577027542955102790.html?_nocache=1320951794697&user=welcome&mg=id-wsj BY SUBSCRIPTION Europe set to revive 30 percent carbon cut debate. Brussels - European politicians plan next week to revive debate on raising the target to cut the EU's carbon emissions as the bloc readies to take a leading role in climate change talks in Durban later this month. Earlier this year, Poland, holder of the European Union's rotating presidency, blocked an attempt to move up from the existing target of a 20 percent cut in carbon emissions by 2020 to a 25 percent target. Campaigners and some politicians say the minimum target should be 30 percent. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/10/europe-emissions-idUSL5E7MA1W920111110 EPA gives greenhouse gas permit to Texas plant, the 1st since taking over state’s program. Houston — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday awarded a greenhouse gas permit to a Texas plant, the first the federal agency has issued since taking over the Lone Star State’s permitting program in January. The EPA’s move is part of an ongoing battle with Texas over environmental regulation, and indicates the agency will move ahead with its plan to conduct business as usual in Texas even if the state refuses to cooperate. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/epa-gives-greenhouse-gas-permit-to-texas-plant-the-1st-since-taking-over-states-program/2011/11/10/gIQACS1w8M_story.html GREEN ENERGY U.S. launches probe into China solar panels. Washington — The U.S. Commerce Department said it would investigate whether Chinese companies sell solar panels in the United States at unfair discounts and receive illegal government subsidies. The trade spat, one of several sensitive economic and trade issues between the United States and China, could lead to steep duties on imports of Chinese panels and help struggling domestic manufacturers. The action is opposed by companies in the U.S. solar industry that count on importing cheap panels to boost solar power generation. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-solar-probe-20111110,0,1234728.story Can today’s technology tackle climate change? Who cares? One of the most heated arguments among climate policy analysts is over the following question: "Do we currently have the technology we need to tackle climate change?" For brevity's sake, I refer to it as the "enough technology" debate. The way it usually breaks down is, those who say we don't have the necessary technology focus on innovation and the need for "breakthroughs." Posted. http://www.grist.org/energy-policy/2011-11-09-todays-technology-climate-change-who-cares MISCELLANEOUS High-speed rail board says plan is 'new beginning'. When the California High-Speed Rail Authority released the long-awaited revision of its business plan, officials heralded the report as "a new beginning" for efforts to build the nation's first railroad with trains running at speeds up to 220 mph. The report takes a blunt new approach to the project, hoping to convey a new open and honest attitude to combat the spreading impression of the authority as an arrogant, inflexible agency that can't be trusted. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/10/MNH91LRJL8.DTL&type=printable RIVERSIDE: Climate Fair at UCR on Saturday. The "Refresh Riverside! A Community Climate Fair" will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at UC Riverside. The free event will give visitors an opportunity to learn about the science of climate change. It will include games and activities for children and their parents. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/riverside-climate-fair-at-ucr-on-saturday/article_a827b28e-73f1-5414-9bf0-0507fd241cf3.html OPINIONS DREVNA: Fantasyland energy policy. Dreaming can be a beautiful escape - but when we mistake it for reality, we're in for a real-life nightmare. This is what is happening today with America's energy policy, and the American people are suffering as a result. Instead of basing U.S. energy policy on the world as it is, too many elected officials and special-interest groups favor an energy policy based on the world as they would like it to be - a world without fossil fuels. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/9/fantasyland-energy-policy/print/ Turkey prices soar as corporations gobble up pork in form of ethanol subsidies. Having turkey sticker shock? You can thank Al Gore. Actually you can thank Gore and the Midwest ethanol subsidy lobby consisting of Republican and Democrat lawmakers alike. Gore was the leading cheerleader for ethanol as the elixir for all that ails America when it comes to energy. He led the charge to put in place ethanol subsidies. The end result: Ethanol gas that is not cost effective and has created a shortage of corn that in turn has sent food prices climbing. The hardest hit is Third World countries that rely partially on buying grain from American farmers to feed poor people. Posted. http://www.mantecabulletin.com/section/38/article/29222/ Change for the better. Chris Paine finds success in 'Revenge of the Electric Car'. Just a few years back, people interested in the development of electric cars were seen as part of the fanatical fringe of the Green movement, perhaps especially in Pasadena, where passion for electric vehicles runs especially high. But that was before being green became not only trendy but also necessary and the future of EVs seemed dim. Posted. http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/change_for_the_better/10722/ BLOGS When do we hit the point of no return for climate change? Based on everything we know about climate science, the basic game plan is that if we want to limit global warming below 2 degrees Celsius (so as not to risk the most dangerous and unpredictable impacts), we’ll need to prevent the amount of carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere from rising above roughly 450 parts per million. Currently, we’re at about 392 parts per million. So we’ve got some wiggle room, right? Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/when-do-we-hit-the-point-of-no-return-for-climate-change/2011/11/10/gIQA4rri8M_blog.html If You Act Your Age, What’s Your Carbon Footprint? We’ve all heard that some countries produce more carbon dioxide per capita than others, with the United States among the leaders of the pack. But how do your individual emissions change over the course of a lifetime? As it turns out, if you’re enjoying senior citizen discounts, you’re probably much kinder to the planet than you were in your slightly younger days, but your 20-something grandchildren are kinder still. Age is a telling predictor of carbon dioxide emissions, according to a study published in the journal Demography. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/if-you-act-your-age-whats-your-carbon-footprint/ Energy Forecast: Fracking in China, Nuclear Uncertain, CO2 Up. This year’s World Energy Outlook report has been published by the International Energy Agency, and says wealthy and industrializing countries are stuck on policies that threaten to lock in “an insecure, inefficient and high-carbon energy system.” You can read worldwide coverage of the report here. Fiona Harvey of the Guardian has a piece on the report that focuses on the inexorable trajectories for carbon dioxide, driven by soaring energy demand in Asia. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/energy-forecast-fracking-in-china-nuclear-uncertain-co2-up/ Running on Natural Gas, Magnolia Special Roadster Completes Cross-Country Drive. “No computers were harmed during the construction of this car,” said J.T. Nesbitt, the creator of the Magnolia Special, a back-to-basics and entirely hand-built sports car powered by compressed natural gas. The cigar-shaped fuselage and open-wheel layout impart the look of a grand prix racecar from the 1930s. There is no top, windshield wipers or side glass, though Mr. Nesbitt fitted tiny headlights to permit night driving. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/running-on-natural-gas-magnolia-special-roadster-completes-cross-country-drive/ On Our Radar: ‘Viciously More Expensive’ Energy. The global demand for energy is set to increase 40 percent by 2035, the International Energy Agency says. And it will become “viciously more expensive” and more polluting if governments do not promote renewable energy and nuclear power in the next two decades instead of burning coal, it warns. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/on-our-radar-viciously-more-expensive-energy/ Rep. Darrell Issa opens probe of California Air Resources Board. The California Air Resources Board is now being investigated by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. On Wednesday, the committee chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Temecula, sent Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols a 13-page letter advising her that he was "expanding" the committee's ongoing investigation into the establishment of fuel economy standards. Nichols had earlier declined to attend a committee hearing on the subject. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/11/darrell-issa-opens-inquiry-into-california-air-resources-board.html http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2011/11/09/powerful-congressman-wants-some-answers-from-the-air-resources-board/ http://www.kmjnow.com/pages/landing?Air-Resources-Board-Under-Congresssional=1&blockID=565124&feedID=806 Greenhouse gases continue to rise worldwide. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane continued to rise in Earth's atmosphere last year, according to an annual worldwide measurement taken by the federal government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA announced Wednesday that their "Annual Greenhouse Gas Index" measured 1.29 in 2010. This means the combined heating effect of greenhouse gases added to the atmosphere by human activities has increased by 29 percent since 1990, the year used as a baseline for comparison. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/11/greenhouse-gases-carbon-dioxide-methane-global-warming-climate-change/1 Cap & Trade's Failure Means It's Time for a Carbon Tax. "I was a huge supporter of cap-and-trade," said Wayne Leonard, the CEO of Entergy, a $11 billion utility company. "We developed enormously elegant solutions, but they couldn't get done." Taxing carbon emissions is the next best way to deal with the threat of global climate disruptions, he said, in part because it would give the energy industry a degree of certainty about how to deploy its capital. Posted. http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2011/11/10/cap-trades-failure-means-its-time-carbon-tax ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:32:35 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 14, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 14, 2011. 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 Does government regulation really kill jobs? Economists say overall effect minimal. The Muskingum River coal-fired power plant in Ohio is nearing the end of its life. AEP, one of the country’s biggest coal-based utilities, says it will cut 159 jobs when it shuts the decades-old plant in three years — sooner than it would like — because of new rules from the Environmental Protection Agency. About an hour’s drive north, the life of another power plant is just beginning. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/does-government-regulation-really-kill-jobs-economists-say-overall-effect-minimal/2011/10/19/gIQALRF5IN_story.html Air district provides vouchers for cleaner wood stoves. Sacramento County residents may be eligible for a voucher to help fund replacement of polluting wood stoves and traditional fireplaces with less polluting units. To protect air quality, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, from Nov. 1 through Feb. 29, restricts or prohibits use of indoor and outdoor fireplaces and wood stoves on days when fine-particle pollution is forecast to exceed safe levels. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/13/v-print/4051250/air-district-provides-vouchers.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/13/1945596/air-district-provides-vouchers.html BY SUBSCRIPTION Grassroots pesticide fighter takes on the big polluters. If you spend a little time Googling Mari Rose Taruc, the staff director of the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, you'll find that the adjective most likely to be applied to her is "fierce." Taruc laughs delightedly when told this. "I'm a mother with two sons who are asthmatic," she explains. "And I know that my environmental work is connected to that. Posted. http://www.grist.org/pollution/2011-11-14-grassroots-pesticide-fighter-takes-on-the-big-polluters CLIMATE CHANGE UN chief urges leaders to finalize climate fund. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged world leaders Monday to finalize the financing for a multibillion-dollar fund to fight the effects of climate change. Delegates at a U.N.-sponsored climate change conference that starts Nov. 28 in Durban, South Africa, are to consider ways to raise $100 billion a year for the Green Climate Fund created last December to help countries cope with global warming. Ban told the opening session of a climate meeting in Bangladesh's capital that the world should make a concerted effort to finance the fund. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_BANGLADESH_CLIMATE_TALKS?SITE=CAVIC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/un-chief-urges-world-leaders-to-create-multibillion-dollar-climate-change-fund/2011/11/14/gIQAzLn4JN_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/14/international/i073849S38.DTL&type=printable http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/14/2614051/un-chief-urges-leaders-to-finalize.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19332223?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19332223?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/14/un-chief-urges-leaders-to-finalize-climate-fund/#ixzz1di2wCJwW http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/14/1946704/un-chief-urges-leaders-to-finalize.html Chinese Study Says Dam Didn’t Affect Climate Change. A scientific study has found that the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydropower project, has not contributed to climate change, according to a report by Xinhua, the Chinese state news agency. The study, published by the Social Sciences Academic Press under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, focused on climate change and found that the dam’s environmental impact was limited to a 12-mile radius, the Xinhua article said. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/world/asia/china-dam-didnt-worsen-climate-change-study-says.html?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Carbon Trading May Be Ready for Its Next Act. London — Gone are the days when carbon trade was seen as a vital policy tool to cut emissions at the cheapest cost, and not many people talk about its prospects for overtaking the oil market in terms of traded value anymore. Its reputation has been battered by a €50 million, or $69 million, scandal over permit thefts and a €5 billion fraud in the European Union’s emissions trading program, the world’s largest. The United Nations’ main carbon offset market, the Clean Development Mechanism, has also been tainted by an association with land grabs and human rights abuses in poor nations. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/business/energy-environment/carbon-trading-may-be-ready-for-its-next-act.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Firms turning to environmental law to combat rivals. California's landmark act on environmental quality is credited with preserving scenic landscapes but is now slowing key projects and spawning a flurry of litigation. Changes are urged. To halt a competing project near USC, Conquest Student Housing turned to a legal weapon that one of its co-owners allegedly compared to a crude bomb: cheap and destructive. Conquest owned 17 buildings that rented to USC students. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-development-ceqa-20111114,0,633668,print.story Greenhouse gases climbing, federal report finds. The Annual Greenhouse Gas Index, which measures the combined heating effect of the top greenhouse gases, has risen 29% since 1990. Greenhouse gases are building at a steep rate in the atmosphere, the nation's top climate agency reported, renewing concern that global warming may be accelerating. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Annual Greenhouse Gas Index, which indexes the key gases known to trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, rose 1.5% from 2009 to 2010, the agency reported. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-greenhouse-gases-20111111,0,7268882.story PG&E to end carbon offset plan after few sign on. Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s ClimateSmart program, which lets the utility's customers go "carbon neutral" for a price, will close at the end of the year after signing up far fewer people than expected. Begun in 2007, ClimateSmart gives participants a way to offset greenhouse gas emissions from the power plants that supply their electricity. PG&E customers who joined the program pay a little extra on their monthly bills - about $3.30 for a typical homeowner. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/11/BUPR1LTB45.DTL&type=printable THE PUBLIC EYE: $2 million to start up cap and trade effort. The state will spend nearly $2 million to develop one of the centerpieces of its climate change programs: cap and trade. Starting in 2013, the state will place a ceiling on the amount of greenhouse gases produced by California's 350 largest oil producers, refiners, electric utilities and other large industrial companies. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/11/4046674/the-money-trail-2-million-to-start.html Agency: Emissions must be curbed now to avoid severe warming. Just as the federal government released its annual index of greenhouse gases, showing a steady increase over the past 21 years, the International Energy Agency warned that we are on the path to 11-degree warming if we don’t curb emissions now. “Delaying action is a false economy: For every $1 of investment in cleaner technology that is avoided in the power sector before 2020, an additional $4.30 would be needed to be spent after 2020 to compensate for the increased emissions,” the authors of the energy agency report wrote in their 2011 World Energy Outlook. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/agency-emissions-must-be-curbed-now-avoid-severe-warming-13544 FUELS Ethanol at Record as U.S. Ousts Brazil: Energy Markets. Ethanol prices are breaking records in the U.S. as demand from Brazil to the Netherlands for corn- based biofuel sends exports to an all-time high. Prices rose to $2.79 a gallon on Nov. 3, the highest ever for the month, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Exports climbed to an average 62,750 barrels a day in the first eight months of the year from 26,000 in 2010, and reached an unprecedented 98,000 in July, according to the U.S. Energy Department. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/11/14/bloomberg_articlesLUN7ZC6K50XS.DTL&type=printable VEHICLES A Plan for Efficiency in the Rest of the Car. IN the Mazda canon, Skyactiv is a term that describes the company’s systematic approach to improving fuel efficiency. Under the Skyactiv umbrella are gasoline and diesel engines, 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions, lightweight body structures and a host of chassis improvements. Among Mazda’s 2012 models, the 2-liter gasoline engine available in the Mazda 3 is the star of the Skyactiv show. The other components that make up the full Skyactiv package will appear first in the 2013 CX-5 crossover, which goes on sale early next year. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/automobiles/a-plan-for-efficiency-in-the-rest-of-the-car.html?scp=2&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse Chevrolet Volt fire prompts safety probe of electric vehicle batteries. The plug-in hybrid sedan caught fire after a crash test. Federal regulators will look at the safety of batteries from several vehicles. Federal safety officials have launched a probe into whether the batteries in Chevrolet's Volt plug-in hybrid sedan are prone to fires. The probe by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was launched after a Volt caught fire following a crash test, General Motors Co. said. The agency will be looking at the safety of batteries from several makes of electric vehicles, according to the Associated Press. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-volt-fire-20111112,0,6120182.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/11/11/bloomberg_articlesLUISR46JTSE8.DTL http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/11/nhtsa-battery-inquiry/ Nissan Leaf Unloved in Hong Kong Where Maseratis Rule Smog: Cars. Hong Kong is small, rich and cosmopolitan. It's also choking on smog. For carmakers like Nissan Motor Co. that should make the city a perfect base from which to launch their electric vehicle strategy on the rest of Asia. The snag is that the carmakers' target market of trendsetting early adopters are proving hard to find, with Hong Kongers content to covet their neighbors' Maseratis, Mercedes and Porsche Cayennes through the haze. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/11/13/bloomberg_articlesLUN1I66JTSE9.DTL&type=printable GREEN ENERGY A Gold Rush of Subsidies in Clean Energy Search. Halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, on a former cattle ranch and gypsum mine, NRG Energy is building an engineering marvel: a compound of nearly a million solar panels that will produce enough electricity to power about 100,000 homes. The project is also a marvel in another, less obvious way: Taxpayers and ratepayers are providing subsidies worth almost as much as the entire $1.6 billion cost of the project. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/12/business/energy-environment/a-cornucopia-of-help-for-renewable-energy.html?scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Wind Money Fuels Spending and Benefits in Small Schools. When people complain about the weather here, Abe Gott, the school superintendent, just smiles. A visit to the campus of the school district of about 160 students shows why. Behind the 1930s-era facade of the Blackwell school 30 miles south of Sweetwater looms a distinctly 21st-century sight: a wind turbine. Energy development capitalizing on the high winds in the area — which quickly turned sunshine to chill rain one afternoon in late October — has injected sluggish rural communities with new economic lifeblood. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11/us/wind-money-fuels-spending-and-benefits-in-small-schools.html?scp=1&sq=fuels&st=cse The energy, and expense, of bringing water to the Southland. The twin forces of power costs and climate-change regulations are threatening Southern California's long love affair with imported water, forcing the region to consider more mundane sources closer to home. The aqueduct stretched across the desert like an endless blue freight train, carrying its cargo of Colorado River water to a concrete building at the base of a craggy-faced mountain. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-water-power-20111114,0,2536520,print.story Analyst: bills rising due to overpriced renewables. Dozens of renewable energy plants being built to meet California's tough global warming laws, including a major Spanish-owned solar plant in the Mojave Desert, are so overpriced they will increase consumers' energy bills for decades, according to the independent watchdog arm of the state's s utility regulator. California's 2006 landmark climate law has driven demand for solar and wind power and spurred renewable energy development both in-state and in neighboring states. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/12/state/n143148S02.DTL&type=printable Energy efficiency program offers homeowner incentives. It freaked out their cats a little, but the energy efficiency upgrade Mark and Shirley Brewer recently completed on their Panorama Drive home may turn out to have been a very wise move. Subsidized investments ranging from duct insulation to new recessed lights are expected to reduce the Brewers' energy use by 47 percent -- which sounds right considering their gas and electric bill went from about $190 between late September and late October of last year to $101 over roughly the same period this year. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/economy/x68631963/Energy-efficiency-program-offers-homeowner-incentives States weighing pros, cons of utility smart meters. The cost of using an air conditioner _ whether it runs during the peak time for electrical usage or during off-peak hours _ is still the same for many electricity users across the country. The same goes for using a clothes dryer. Many utilities and state energy officials, some armed with federal stimulus money, think that should change and are advocating so-called "smart meter" technology in a growing number of states. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/states-weighing-pros-cons-of-utility-smart-meters/article_251002dc-1ba6-5d1d-9413-86b7e61a718d.html MISCELLANEOUS L.A. gets auto-show circuit in gear. The Los Angeles Auto Show is the first of its kind each model year. It's where carmakers hope to grab the attention of California's eco-conscious drivers as well as those who care more about speed and styling. The Los Angeles Auto Show is the first major North American auto show of the new model year. It is known for automakers introducing hybrid, fuel-efficient and electric vehicles that grab the attention of California's eco-conscious drivers. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-show-20111112,0,6512362,print.story Firms turning to environmental law to combat rivals. California's landmark act on environmental quality is credited with preserving scenic landscapes but is now slowing key projects and spawning a flurry of litigation. Changes are urged. To halt a competing project near USC, Conquest Student Housing turned to a legal weapon that one of its co-owners allegedly compared to a crude bomb: cheap and destructive. Conquest owned 17 buildings that rented to USC students. When the developer Urban Partners proposed erecting a new complex to house 1,600 students, Conquest sued under California's landmark environmental law. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-development-ceqa-20111114,0,633668,print.story California pioneers plan for trimming toxins. Long a pacesetter in efforts to control dangerous chemicals, California is moving toward sweeping new rules to reduce toxins in cleaning products, cosmetics, electronics, toys and possibly many other consumer goods. They are among the most cutting-edge codes of their kind since 1986, when voters passed Proposition 65. That law set a national precedent by forcing businesses to warn customers if they “knowingly and intentionally” expose people to chemicals the state determined to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/nov/12/california-pioneers-plan-reducing-toxins-consumer-/ EPA to be GOP target in 2012. The Environmental Protection Agency is likely to play an unusually prominent role in the 2012 presidential election, reflecting ongoing partisan debate in Congress over the ties between environmental regulations and jobs. “What we’re going to see in this cycle is a lot of bitterness. … It’s going to be more partisan than it’s ever been,” said GOP environmental strategist Chelsea Maxwell. “So the energy and environment issues will definitely creep into that.” Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=C1D14373-7A86-43F6-9B5D-07E1C7F2177E Study links Parkinson's disease to industrial solvent. An international study has linked an industrial solvent to Parkinson's disease. Researchers found a six-fold increase in the risk of developing Parkinson's in individuals exposed in the workplace to trichloroethylene (TCE). Although many uses for TCE have been banned around the world, the chemical is still used as a degreasing agent. The research was based on analysis of 99 pairs of twins selected from US data records. Posted. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15639440 New Refrigerant Rules Coming in California. On Jan. 1, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) will begin applying new refrigeration regulations to about 2,000 facilities, including some supermarkets, with greater than 2,000 pounds of a refrigerant that has a significant impact on global warming. The ARB’s regulations are part of a range of measures developed under AB 32, California’s climate change law enacted in 2006. In addition to paying annual dues ($370), the affected businesses have until March 1 to register with the ARB and submit an annual report on their refrigerant usage. Posted. http://supermarketnews.com/news/refrigerant_california_1110/ BLOGS Budget Shortfall Could Imperil Subsidies for Electric Vehicles. In a city as eco-conscious as this one, it shouldn’t surprise that Chris Paine’s 2006 documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?,” is a bit of a cult favorite. A cautionary tale about the shortsightedness of automakers and politicians, it is also a call to action for those here who are busy promoting the development and adoption of E.V.’s. Yet while the latest generation of plug-in vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt are only just hitting the streets, there are already warning signs that the industry could be scuttled before it becomes self-sufficient. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/budget-shortfall-could-imperil-subsidies-for-electric-vehicles/?scp=1&sq=vehicles&st=cse Flying on Chicken Fat. Gasoline for cars is commonly blended with corn ethanol. In the last few weeks, airlines have started using blends, too, but their feedstocks are more varied, including chicken fat, algal oil, used fryer grease and parts of inedible plants. Last week, Alaska Airlines, based in Seattle, began one of the most ambitious test programs to date, a series of 75 flights that will burn a total of 15,000 gallons of an 80/20 blend with ordinary jet fuel. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/flying-on-chicken-fat/?ref=earth NOAA greenhouse gas index climbs. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI) number today, which measures the direct climate influence of a select set of greenhouse gases, and the news is not good. The numbers continue to climb, further evidence that the greenhouse effect is on the rise. This comes on top of a staggering report released by the U.S. Department of Energy last week saying that global emissions of carbon dioxide –- a key, and long-lived, greenhouse gas –- had jumped by the biggest amount on record in the year 2010. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/11/noaa-greenhouse-gas-index-climbs.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Shell exec says biofuels are the most important alternative to fossil hydrocarbons in mobility for the next 20 years. In a keynote interview to open F.O. Licht’s World Ethanol & Biofuels in Barcelona on 8 November, Arthur Reijnhart, General Manager, Alternative Energies and Fuel Development Strategy for Shell, described a scenario of an increasingly diverse energy supply landscape against a backdrop of soaring demand between now and 2050, driven by population growth, increasing incomes and increasing urbanisation of the world’s population. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/shell-20111114.html Toyota launching home charging support tool for PHEVs and EVs. Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), in collaboration with its customer service IT company, Toyota Media Service Corporation, has developed a tool to support easy home-based charging of the Prius PHV plug-in hybrid vehicle, due for launch next year, and electric vehicles (EVs). Toyota Housing Corporation, TMC’s house construction and design subsidiary, will start sales of the tool, the H2V (home-to-vehicle) Manager, in Japan in January 2012. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/toyota-launching-home-charging-support-tool-for-phevs-and-evs.html U.S. Chevy Spark revealed ahead of Los Angeles show. On Wednesday, the 2013 Chevrolet Spark will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The small hatchback has been tweaked for the North American market, and the hope is that the Spark takes off like wildfire with buyers. Chevrolet thinks the Spark will find favor with buyers living in cities, as well as first-time purchasers. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/u-s-chevy-spark-revealed-ahead-of-los-angeles-show/ Tesla says Top Gear still hurting UK sales. It's not always easy to tell how a company is performing just by looking at the numbers. In the second quarter of 2011, for example, Tesla Motors revenues hit a record $58 million, with losses of $59 million. This fell just short of Wall Street expectations, and Tesla stock took a beating. In the third quarter, Telsa matched its second quarter revenue numbers, but losses increased to $65 million. However, this was better than analysts had predicted, and Tesla's stock made a sharp turn for the better. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/tesla-still-says-top-gear-hurting-sales/ Average fuel economy up four months in a row. According to the data collected by TrueCar.com, the miles per gallon average for all vehicles sold in October 2011 is expected to be 22.2. That may not sound like much when compared to the kind of numbers that are tossed around when talking about hybrids, newer diesels or even the latest generation of efficient small sedans, but it's a small step in the right direction from the 21.5 mpg delivered by vehicles sold a year ago. Looked at over the short term, this also marks the fourth month in a row when the mpg has increased. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/13/average-fuel-economy-up-four-months-in-a-row/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:23:01 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 15, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 15, 2011. 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. DIESEL EMISSIONS Trucking companies sue EPA over emissions regulations. Four small California trucking companies are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over new emissions regulations. The suit comes despite approval of the regulations by the trucking industry’s largest trade group, the American Trucking Associations. The companies claim they were left out of negotiations regarding the new regulations. They say the new rules will require a change in truck design and, therefore, substantial costs. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/trucking-companies-sue-epa-over-emissions-regulations-13549 Military tests hybrid bulldozer in hope of saving fuel and lives. Few targets in Afghanistan and Iraq are as inviting to insurgents as fuel convoys. For that reason, military officials hope a new diesel/electric bulldozer tested last week at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme can save lives and money. The Caterpillar D7E would require fewer fuel convoys than what's required by the thousands of diesel-powered dozers deployed in war zones by the Army and Navy, which could means less time in risky places for military personnel and contractors, they say. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/14/military-tests-hybrid-bulldozer-in-hope-of-fuel/ SunLine Unveils New Generation of Zero Emission Bus. The Coachella Valley is home to the latest milestone in clean energy. SunLine Transit Agency unveiled their newest hydrogen-fueled bus at their headquarters in Thousand Palms. The 7th Generation Hydrogen Fueled Vehicle, "The American Fuel Cell Bus" joined the fleet of SunLine's busses at the cost of approximately $10 million with funds from the Federal Transit Administration, the California Air Resources Board and South Coast Air Quality Management District. Posted. http://www.kesq.com/news/29769301/detail.html VEHICLES Electric vehicles on display at Johns Hopkins University, College Park. Automakers and environmentalists are rolling out electric and hybrid vehicles for the public this week in Maryland. On Tuesday, Johns Hopkins University’s Sustainability Office will be discussing the latest in electric vehicles and other green transportation technology at the school’s Homewood campus in Baltimore. Ford will display its fuel-efficient vehicles outside Mason Hall, where the public will be allowed to test drive them. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/electric-vehicles-on-display-at-johns-hopkins-university-college-park/2011/11/15/gIQADcNXNN_story.html Tesla's Model S helps you find your way. Tesla Motors (TSLA)' upcoming all-electric Model S is a roomy ride that comfortably seats five adults as well as two children in rear jump seats that fold down. It will offer driving ranges up to 300 miles between charges and provide generous storage space in its "frunk" -- a front-end trunk located under the hood where most cars hide their engine. But one of the flashiest features of the car, which Palo Alto-based Tesla is now showing off in beta version in advance of it hitting the market in mid-2012, is the 17-inch "Tesla touch screen" nestled into the center of the dashboard. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19308694 GREEN ENERGY Congress divided over continuing subsidization of wind power. Washington state sometimes has too much of a good thing: power. In a state that relies heavily on water and wind for its electricity, Mother Nature can be too generous, and it has been causing headaches for energy producers. Wind producers are irked that the Bonneville Power Administration, a federal agency, can cut off wind generation when there's a surge in river flows, resulting in too much hydropower - that happened last spring. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/15/2615105/congress-divided-over-continuing.html#storylink=misearch Bleeding Green: California losing green businesses. Sacramento, CA - Green businesses have joined the exodus of California companies leaving the state or expanding only outside state borders. In 2011, 172 companies have moved out or are moving out of California, Business Relocation Coach Joe Vranich said. Vranich, who tracks the movement of companies, said the number of companies moving out of the state is five times higher than the rate of companies that moved out of California in 2009. According to Vranich's research, the states most likely to receive fleeing California businesses are Texas, Arizona, Colorado and Nevada. Posted. http://www.news10.net/news/california/article/162422/430/Bleeding-Green-California-losing-green-businesses Does the U.S. Spend Too Much on Green Energy — or Not Enough? The controversy over the failed solar company Solyndra — which received $535 million in federal aid before it went bankrupt earlier this year — has reignited the debate on how much, if at all, Washington should be subsidizing clean energy research and development. Critics of federal clean energy aid were given new ammunition this past weekend, as a pair of articles in the New York Times and the Washington Post made the case that much of the public's money was essentially being wasted. Posted. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2099480,00.html Clean energy has highest return rate of any federal program. The National Academy of Sciences concluded in 2001 that a handful of clean energy technologies returned about $30 billion on a research and development (R&D) investment of about $400 million. The United States is an amazing venture capitalist when it comes to clean energy R&D. Posted. http://www.grist.org/renewable-energy/2011-11-15-clean-energy-has-highest-return-rate-of-any-federal-program Wind electricity to be fully competitive with natural gas by 2016. The best wind farms in the world are already competitive with coal, gas, and nuclear plants. But over the next five years, continued performance improvements and cost reductions will bring the average onshore wind plant in line with cheap natural gas, even without a price on carbon, according to analysis from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). Posted. http://www.grist.org/wind-power/2011-11-14-wind-electricity-to-be-fully-competitive-with-natural-gas-by-201 MISCELLANEOUS Keystone pipeline builder proposes changing Nebraska route. It would avoid the delicate Sandhills region above a shallow aquifer. Many cheer, but some environmentalists say the fight isn't over. The builders of the controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline agreed Monday to reroute it around Nebraska's ecologically fragile Sandhills in the hope the move would shorten any delay in the project, which has posed political complications for the Obama administration. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-keystone-pipeline-20111115,0,5364878,print.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/15/MN531LV517.DTL&type=green Dan Walters: Peninsulans still leery about high-speed train. When the California High-Speed Rail Authority unveiled its much-revised business plan for the proposed north-south bullet train system this month, one of its implicit goals was to quiet fierce opposition among the very affluent and politically astute residents of the San Francisco Peninsula. That opposition stemmed from the decision to route bullet trains to and from San Francisco via San Jose and the Pacheco Pass, and thus along the Peninsula, rather than over the Altamont Pass through Tracy. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/15/v-print/4054855/dan-walters-peninsulans-still.html Palo Alto council takes step toward officially opposing high-speed rail project. The Palo Alto City Council moved a step closer Monday to formally opposing the state's controversial high-speed rail project. The council voted 8-1 to task its Rail Committee with drafting a request to the state Legislature to either kill the now-$99 billion project or place it on the November 2012 ballot for reconsideration. "It's a big step and we should be deliberate in taking it," Council Member Greg Scharff said. Council Member Larry Klein cast the dissenting vote. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california-high-speed-rail/ci_19338148?source=rss OPINIONS Jim Hartnett: High Speed Rail is needed, and new plan is practical. The latest draft high-speed rail business plan "lays out a sensible and politically feasible strategy for building the line in segments," according to the Los Angeles Times. The Fresno Bee, supporting the business plan as "much more realistic" and a "wise path," says doubters "have no answer for the state's dysfunctional transportation system if high-speed rail is not a part of it." The San Francisco Chronicle asserts the planning is "moving in the right direction with a business plan that is decidedly more pragmatic, realistic and transparent." Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_19335717 Cap-and-trade scam. The cult of climate change is alive and well here in the backwards state of California. The California Air Resources Board has just approved plans for a cap-and-trade system. The fact that it will have absolutely no effect on climate whatsoever does not matter to them. That this most regressive of taxes will affect the poor the hardest as energy and gas prices skyrocket does not matter to them. The fact that thousands will lose their jobs as businesses flee the high energy costs or go out of business does not matter to them. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_19335023 Greenhouse gas no issue in Lompoc. Recently the Planning Commission discussed a Greenhouse Gas addendum to the Environmental Impact Report for the 2030 General Plan. Although greenhouse gases had been discussed in the original EIR, in their effort to derail the potential inclusion of the Bailey Avenue corridor within the Urban Limit Line the Santa Barbara County Action Network alleged that the consultant didn’t follow the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines to determine the impacts of greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.lompocrecord.com/news/opinion/editorial/commentary/greenhouse-gas-no-issue-in-lompoc/article_555bf9ee-0f47-11e1-ad66-001cc4c002e0.html BLOGS A Green Light For Fisker’s Karma, But How Green Is the Car? Fisker Automotive can now sell its plug-in luxury hybrid car Karma in California, having just received certification from the state regulators, the company told VentureWire. But while Fisker has been promoting Karma’s green credentials, the California Air Resources Board qualified the car as a fairly standard smog-creator. Irvine, Calif.-based Fisker, which is one of the most heavily funded venture-backed start-ups, delayed the rollout of the first model of its vehicle compared with its own projections because of the protracted approval process from the Environmental Protection Agency and the California regulator. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2011/11/15/a-green-light-for-fiskers-karma-but-how-green-is-the-car/tab/print/ BY SUBSCRIPTION Carbon Trading Initiative a Success, Study Says. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a 10-state program that has been testing a carbon dioxide cap-and-trade system, may be in trouble, with New Jersey planning to drop out and other states considering doing the same. But a new study says the program has saved money for consumers, stimulated job growth and kept money in local economies in the states that signed up. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/greenhouse-gas-initiative-a-success-study-says/ Closeup: Climate Extremes and Global Warming. Later this week, as I noted on Monday, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, meeting in Kampala, Uganda, will issue its report on ways to manage risks from extreme events in a changing climate. A few hours ago, I was able to catch Chris Field, a leader of the panel’s Working Group 2 focused on impacts and adaptation for a brief text chat on the challenges in this charged arena. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/closeup-climate-extremes-and-global-warming/ Consumer Reports Poll Shows Support for Stronger Fuel-Economy Standards. A poll conducted by Consumer Reports in late October showed that an overwhelming majority of American consumers would support higher fuel-economy standards and would be willing to pay a premium for high-efficiency vehicles. Nearly all, or 93 percent, of the 1,008 people interviewed supported an increase in fuel efficiency. Seventy-seven percent agreed that automakers should produce more fuel-efficient vehicles and that the government should increase standards and enforce them. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/14/consumer-reports-poll-shows-support-for-stronger-fuel-economy-standards/ Consumer Reports: Large majority favor stronger fuel economy standards. In advance of eagerly awaited details regarding proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, Consumer Reports has released results of a new survey, and – no surprise here – 93 percent of respondents "support increased fuel efficiency." Further revelations include 77 percent in favor of car manufacturers producing more fuel-efficient vehicles, and 80 percent agreeing with fuel economy standards requiring fleet averages to top 55 miles per gallon by 2025. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/14/consumer-reports-large-majority-favor-stronger-fuel-econ/ SunLine Transit unveils 7th generation hydrogen-fueled bus. Canada-based Ballard Power Systems has, together with consortium partners BAE Systems and ElDorado National (California) Inc., successfully deployed a “Buy America”-compliant, fuel cell bus for SunLine Transit Agency in Palm Springs, CA. This marks the 7th generation of hydrogen buses deployed by SunLine, which has pursued an aggressive strategy of implementing clean technologies into its fleet. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/sunline-20111115.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:11:47 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 16, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 16, 2011. 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 Air quality district internal emails expose manipulations. (Editor’s note: This is the second in a multi-part series about questionable activities of the San Luis Obispo County Air Quality Control District. Part one was Air quality district’s bloated salaries. See Alleged flaws in the study at the bottom of this story) It sounded like a good idea. Fine the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area for allowing particulate pollution caused by recreational vehicles. Posted. http://calcoastnews.com/2011/11/air-quality-district-internal-emails-expose-manipulations/ CLIMATE CHANGE Analysis: China climate role could be to corner U.S. China, the world's biggest carbon emitter, could nudge the United States into more action on climate change, rescuing the latest round of global talks and improving its international reputation. Expectations remain extremely low that a new global deal can emerge from a summit later this month in Durban, South Africa. But it could lay the foundations for a future deal and desperate negotiators are looking to China to help isolate the United States in its stubborn climate change denial, even if it is only for reasons of enlightened self-interest. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/16/us-un-climate-china-idUSTRE7AF1JU20111116 Experts debunk polls claiming fewer Americans believe in climate change. Politicians, pundits, and the public have all been told by the media and others that public belief in global warming has dropped sharply. Except that it hasn't, as polling by Stanford, Ipsos, and Reuters make clear. Yes, other polls, notably by Gallup and Pew, do seem to seem to show a sharp drop. But in exclusive interviews with Climate Progress, two leading experts on climate, public opinion, and media coverage -- Jon Krosnick and Max Boykoff -- explain what's really going on. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-11-16-experts-debunk-polls-claiming-fewer-americans-believe-in-climate With Federal Climate Policy Stuck in Neutral, California Moves Ahead. While there has been little progress on national climate policy this year, California has quietly continued to make strides in implementing its comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction program. Last month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to finalize the regulations instituting California’s new greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program. This program is one key element of California’s comprehensive program to implement the Global Warming Solutions Act (or AB 32), which was signed into law in 2006 by Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Posted. http://insights.wri.org/open-climate-network/2011/11/federal-climate-policy-stuck-neutral-california-moves-ahead Obama: Global warming pact is 'tough slog'. President Obama said today he is still pushing for a worldwide agreement to battle global warming by reducing carbon emissions, but it is "a tough slog" in hard economic times. "Ultimately, what we want is a mechanism whereby all countries are making an effort," Obama told reporters today in Australia. "And it's going to be a tough slog, particularly at a time when a lot of economies are still struggling. But I think it's actually one that, over the long term, can be beneficial." Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/11/obama-global-warming-pact-is-tough-slog/1 DIESEL EMISSIONS With Plug-in Power for Ships Installed, Port of Long Beach Goes Greener. State and locally elected leaders joined shipping company executives and Port of Long Beach officials this past Monday to dedicate the Port’s newest shore power installation. Shore power allows ships at berth to shut down their diesel engines and plug into electricity to reduce air pollution. To use the words of Port of Long Beach Executive Director Richard Steinke, it "allows the port to grow -- but grow smarter[.]" The Pier C container shipping facility operated by the Matson Navigation Company and SSA Terminals Incorporation is the fourth Port of Long Beach terminal to be equipped with shore power. Posted. http://www.lbpost.com/news/staffreports/12775 FUELS California is first in U.S. for gas waste. Austin, Texas - Californians are among the top fuel-wasting drivers in the nation, burning up more than 38 million gallons in the most congested roadways last year, according to a report released Tuesday. The study by the Texas Transportation Institute examined 328 of the most congested stretches of highway in the nation and ranked roadways based on the amount of fuel wasted due to congestion. Seven of the top 10 fuel-wasting stretches were in Los Angeles, accounting for more than 38 million wasted gallons of gasoline and diesel in 2010, researchers found. Posted. http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_19343431?source=rss Iraqi Cabinet Approves Royal Dutch Shell’s Natural Gas Contract. Baghdad — Iraq’s cabinet approved a multibillion-dollar contract on Tuesday for Royal Dutch Shell, the Anglo-Dutch energy giant, to collect the vast amount of natural gas emitted, and currently burned off, as oil is pumped to the surface at three major oil fields in the south. The project, which will eventually greatly reduce Iraq’s greenhouse gas emissions, is intended to bring modern methods of managing oil fields to an industry frozen in time by sanctions and the war. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/world/middleeast/iraqi-cabinet-approves-royal-dutch-shells-natural-gas-contract.html VEHICLES Air Resources Board may boost low-emission cars. By 2025, 15 percent of the new cars and small trucks sold each year in California would have to be powered by batteries, fuel cells or some other technology that produces little or no air pollution under rules that state regulators will propose next month. The rules, from the California Air Resources Board, would force automakers to sell an increasing number of electric cars and plug-in hybrids in the state beginning in 2018. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/15/BUC91LVJ7C.DTL Green Car of the Year finalists: different approaches to 'green' It’s not just about fuel economy anymore. The five 2012 Green Car of the Year finalists showcase the different ways we can drive with a smaller carbon footprint. “There’s all-electric, a diesel, a natural gas and there’s a hybrid,” said John O’Dell, senior editor at Edmunds.com. “That shows the industry is finally getting to the point where there’s some consumer choice in green offerings. When you look at those vehicles, they run the gamut of fuel types, price range and vehicle types.” Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-auto-show-green-car-finalists-20111115,0,7552780,print.story Electric Cars, Solar Energy Headed to 'Green Graveyard'? Electric vehicles have been fascinating consumers and investors since the first whispers of their development. Early reports on the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt seemed to entice both potential buyers and analysts who imagined a speedy embrace of the new technology. Investors also flocked to shares of Tesla (TSLA), the maker of luxury electric sports cars, on enthusiasm for the general concept for e-vehicles. Posted. http://evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=26875 California Now Has 100 EV Charging Stations. California has reached a major milestone in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure with 100 EV charging stations. EV Connect, a leading provider of electric vehicle infrastructure solutions and Clipper Creek, producers of the world’s first Underwriters Laboratories listed vehicle charge stations, announced the 100th charging station deployment this week. It is located in the Waterfall Building garage in downtown Sacramento. The public access garage serves primarily government employees and the EV spaces are consistently full. Posted. http://domesticfuel.com/2011/11/16/california-now-has-100-ev-charging-stations/ More than 60% of UK companies willing to adopt EVs in their fleets by 2013. The results of the 5-month trial incorporating electric vehicles (EVs) in major UK fleets demonstrate augmented interest of companies in EVs and increased willingness of fleet managers to include clean vehicles into their fleets before 2013. The final project of the two-year Smart Move EV programme led by Cenex targeted twelve major fleets in the United Kingdom including Indesit, Stagecoach, Asda or national car club Commonwheels. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/69320111116.php California Continues To Reward Electric Vehicle Buyers. The California Air Resources Board has tripled the annual budget of its Clean Vehicle Rebate Project from $5 million to $15 million. The money will be used to reimburse new electric vehicle owners and leasers up to $2,500. San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts, a member of the Air Resources Board, presented the first of the rebate checks to Kim Adelman of Poway Tuesday morning. Posted. http://www.kpbs.org/news/2011/nov/15/california-continues-reward-electric-vehicle-buyer/ Ford: 68% of U.S. drivers have poor opinion of automaker's fuel economy. Ford Motor Co. said 68 percent of U.S. consumers don't believe the automaker's cars and trucks are fuel efficient. "There are 240 million people driving vehicles in America and only 32 percent have a good opinion of Ford on fuel economy," Jim Farley, Ford's global marketing chief, said today at the Barclays Capital 2011 Global Automotive Conference. "That means 68 percent don't." Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111114/COPY01/311149725/1186 San Francisco Gives Electric Car Love, Starts “EV Council”. It’s a known fact that certain areas of the U.S. are better known for their love of the electric car than others, but San Francisco wants to go one better with a bid to become the electric car capital of the entire U.S. In order to achieve this, elected official and local business leaders in the bay area have joined together to launch the EV Strategic Council, a workgroup designed to develop the infrastructure needed to facilitate and encourage mass-adoption of plug-in vehicles throughout the city. Posted. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1068639_san-francisco-gives-electric-car-love-starts-ev-council GREEN ENERGY Solyndra Was Asked to Delay Layoff News Till After Midterms, Memo Says. Washington - The Energy Department asked the Solyndra solar equipment company to delay an announcement about impending layoffs until after last year’s midterm elections, according to a memo by the Republican staff of the House subcommittee that will call the energy secretary to testify Thursday about a government loan to Solyndra. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/us/politics/solyndra-was-asked-to-delay-layoff-news-till-after-midterms-memo-says.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=print Emails: Energy Dept. tried to delay solar layoffs. The Obama administration wanted the failing solar energy company Solyndra to delay announcing employee layoffs last year until after the 2010 midterm elections, Republican investigators say. A memo prepared by GOP staff at the House Energy and Commerce Committee cites an October 2010 email from an unnamed Solyndra investment adviser to another unidentified investment adviser. The email, according to committee aides, said Energy Department officials were pushing "very hard" to delay making the layoffs public until Nov. 3, 2010— the day after the midterm elections. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/16/2616437/gop-says-energy-dept-tried-to.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19347387?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19347387?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com The push is on to discredit clean energy investment. There's always been a tension in U.S. culture between two competing narratives. On one hand, Americans like to think of themselves as pioneers, innovators, forward thinkers -- the country that invests blood, sweat, and treasure today to create a better future for the next generation. We tell ourselves stories about building the cross-country rail and highway systems, gearing up to defeat Hitler, going to the moon, inventing the internet. Posted. http://www.grist.org/politics/2011-11-16-the-push-is-on-to-discredit-clean-energy-investment White House knew Solyndra's condition before Obama's visit. Top Obama administration officials were worried about Solyndra's financial condition just two days before the president's 2010 visit to the Fremont Company, yet allowed President Barack Obama's trip to proceed, according to e-mails released today by House Republicans. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/white-house-knew-solyndras-condition-obamas-visit-13588 MISCELLANEOUS L.A. Auto Show to debut more than 40 vehicles. More than 40 vehicles will be unveiled at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show, many of them for the first time in the United States. Ford is leading the pack by introducing four new vehicles at the show, which opens to the press on Wednesday and Thursday. The Dearborn, Mich., automaker will release the next generation of its Escape SUV, Focus sedan, and a five-door Fiesta concept car. Among the eco-friendly and fuel-efficient vehicles that the public has grown to expect at the L.A. event is a surprising three-wheeled hot rod from Morgan Motor Co. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-auto-show-debuts-20111115,0,6418075,print.story High-speed rail agency wants big firms to bid on first stretch. The California High Speed Rail Authority on Tuesday said it wanted large companies doing world-class projects to bid on the first $2 billion rail leg through Fresno. Tens of thousands of jobs would be created on that leg, which, depending on the alignment, would run about 21 to 29 miles from Madera to just south of Fresno, the rail authority said. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/15/2616023/high-speed-rail-agency-wants-big.html TTI Study: California roads top fuel-waste list. Californians are among the top fuel-wasting drivers in the nation, burning up more than 38 million gallons on the most congested roadways last year, according to a report released Tuesday. The study by the Texas Transportation Institute examined 328 of the most congested stretches of highway in the nation and ranked roadways based on the amount of fuel wasted due to congestion. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19342879?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19342879?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com OPINIONS Reader Rebuttal (Mike Levin): Cap-and-trade. Your Oct. 26 editorial ["Pollution czars' plan to choke California business"] relentlessly criticizes the market mechanism known as cap-and-trade, thus discounting the past accomplishments of several Republican presidential administrations that enacted the policy with great success. The implementation of cap-and-trade is a positive development for the hundreds of Orange County clean-tech entrepreneurs who are growing companies and creating jobs. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/common/printer/view.php?db=ocregister&id=327064 Bruce Klafter and Pasquale Romano: Silicon Valley companies support stricter clean-air rules for cars. Over the next few weeks, our state will be in the spotlight as a leader in clean-car standards. The California Air Resources Board will unveil new greenhouse gas emissions rules to dovetail with new national fuel-efficiency and tailpipe standards for cars, SUVs, and light trucks. CARB will update the state's groundbreaking zero-emission vehicle program as well. As a result, California residents will get cleaner air and more fuel-efficient automobiles. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_19341741 BY SUBSCRIPTION Global warming is no government issue. Re "Tax carbon to slow climate change" (Monitor editorial, Sept. 14): It's astounding how irrational the Monitor's editorial advocating for a carbon tax truly is. How do you make a leap from "Okay, the Earth seems to be warming" to "Man caused this warming with carbon dioxide emissions and only we can stop this warming with a carbon tax?" This illogical leap leaves me stunned but hoping that most people will see through it now that the ulterior profit-seeking motives of climate scientists have been uncovered and revealed. Posted. http://www.concordmonitor.com/print/292615?CSAuthResp=1321469521%3Avncg8vhpq908jsm1no3sm4m3p4%3ACSUserId%7CCSGroupId%3Aapproved%3A0B3389EAB74A2A62F3609B24443DAB50&CSUserId=94&CSGroupId=1 STATE: Pricey power. California needs a more realistic guiding principle for renewable energy proposals than “money is no object.” The state’s push for green energy does not justify scrapping consumer safeguards. State regulators should ensure that alternative energy plans will not saddle Californians with exorbitant costs. The state’s Public Utilities Commission, however, took a different approach last week. The panel approved a deal for Pacific Gas & Electric to buy solar power at a cost high above market value for 25 years, though the exact numbers remain confidential. The electricity would come from a 250-megawatt Mojave Solar plant proposed for the San Bernardino County High Desert. Posted. http://www.pe.com/opinion/editorials-headlines/20111115-state-pricey-power.ece BY SUBSCRIPTION BLOGS CO2 on the Up and Up. To my eye, this animated graph, produced by the federal Earth Systems Research Laboratory, is one of the best attempts to put the recent human-driven surge in carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere into long-term context: This version, posted on my YouTube channel, trims the initial rise to get to the visual take-home point. Here’s the full animation from the earth systems lab, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/co2-on-the-up-and-up/?pagemode=print 2 Views of Aerosols and Climate Change. Aerosols are small particles or droplets suspended in a gas. While consumers tend to think of them as being dispensed from a pressurized container, some are natural and some are produced by pollution generated by humans. Two recent studies suggest that the latter variety plays an important role in the environment, actually changing weather and climate. A study by a team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Maryland indicates that increases in air pollution from construction, power plants and other sources creates more aerosols,…Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/good-cop-bad-cop-2-views-of-aerosol-and-climate-change/?pagemode=print Smith Electric to Build Trucks in the Bronx. New York would never be mistaken for the Motor City, but on Tuesday, Smith Electric Vehicles announced that it intended to assemble electric trucks in the South Bronx, adding 100 jobs to the region. A package of more than $6 million in state and city incentives sweetened the deal. Smith, based in Kansas City, Mo., manufactures battery-powered box trucks suitable for urban deliveries and has already found customers in New York, including the Duane Reade pharmacy chain and Down East Seafood. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/smith-electric-to-build-trucks-in-the-bronx/ In Los Angeles, Driving the Dark Horse in the Green Car of the Year Sweepstakes. Los Angeles — The 2012 Green Car of the Year Award will be presented Thursday at the Los Angeles auto show. The diverse field of finalists includes two all-electric vehicles, a gasoline-electric hybrid, a diesel-powered model and another that runs on compressed natural gas, or CNG. This week, I have the opportunity to test-drive the CNG entry, the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas sedan; the other finalists are the Ford Focus Electric, Toyota Prius V, Mitsubishi i and the Volkswagen Passat TDI. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/in-los-angeles-driving-the-dark-horse-in-the-green-car-of-the-year-sweepstakes/?pagemode=print California's Clean Cars Program: Driving Innovation at the LA Auto Show. With the LA Auto Show starting in three days, car afficianatos and Joe-public alike will have the opportunity to drool over the latest concept cars and next-generation crossovers (we used to call them station wagons, remember)? One of the biggest media highlights will be the array of cleaner and more efficient cars being shown, including the latest plug-in electric-drive vehicles. My colleagues, Roland Hwang and Max Baumhefner, will join me at the auto show to talk about the cleaner vehicles. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/smui/californias_clean_cars_program.html The health costs of climate change. How much could climate change cost us in health care? According to a new study, more than $14 billion. The study is the first in the U.S. to look at estimated health costs from events that are projected to worsen and become more frequent with climate change – ozone pollution, heat waves, hurricanes, infectious disease outbreaks, river flooding and wildfires. The paper was published in Health Affairs and conducted by Natural Resources Defense Council scientists. Posted. http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/2011/11/15/3814/health-costs-climate-change/ NC Chevy Volt fire likely not caused by plug-in car. When news of a fire in a North Carolina garage housing a Chevy Volt broke last week, green car enthusiasts – and, no doubt, General Motors – sucked in a collective breath. Had the lithium-ion battery pack in the range-extending hybrid suffered from some sort of defect? Or was perhaps the LiMn2O4 chemistry of the LG-supplied cells inherently dangerous? Well, it now appears safe to exhale. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/16/nc-chevy-volt-fire-likely-not-caused-by-plug-in-car/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:36:05 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 17, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 17, 2011. 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 Re-election Strategy Is Tied to a Shift on Smog. Washington - The summons from the president came without warning the Thursday before Labor Day. As she was driven the four blocks to the White House, Lisa P. Jackson, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, suspected that the news would not be good. What she did not see coming was a rare public rebuke the president was about to deliver by rejecting her proposal to tighten the national standard for smog. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/science/earth/policy-and-politics-collide-as-obama-enters-campaign-mode.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print AIR POLLUTION: Tougher standards would save lives, groups say. Imposing tougher national health standards for diesel soot and other microscopic particles would prevent as many 1,360 early deaths in the Riverside-San Bernardino area and as many as 4,230 in urban Southern California, according to a report released Wednesday by the American Lung Association and other organizations. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20111116-air-pollution-tougher-standards-would-save-lives-groups-say.ece Air pollution control board approves Oceano dunes rule. The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District voted 7-4 with one abstention to approve a new regulation that requires state parks to reduce particulate matter blowing from the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area or face fines of $1,000 per day. The APCD contends evidence from a scientific study it produced show that off-road vehicles at the dunes are causing an increase in particulate matter downwind on the Nipomo Mesa. Posted. http://calcoastnews.com/2011/11/air-pollution-control-board-approves-oceano-dunes-rule/ http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/slo-apcd-passes-dust-regulation/article_2e98aef4-10ed-11e1-ba09-001cc4c002e0.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2011/11/16/1838391/county-board-air-quality-nipomo.html Smog Pollutant May Be Tied to Stroke Risk. People who live in areas with high levels of traffic-related air pollution might have a slightly increased risk of dying from stroke, Danish researchers suggest in a new study. They found people living in urban zones with high estimated concentrations of nitrogen dioxide were 22 percent more likely to suffer a fatal stroke than people in less-polluted neighborhoods. Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/11/17/smog-pollutant-may-be-tied-to-stroke-risk/ Beijing’s EPA: The Air Quality is Just Fine. As Beijing’s air continues to grow darker and more polluted, the region’s Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau regularly reports a clean outlook based on its official interpretation of the data. While China does acknowledge that it doesn’t measure “fine” particulates below 2.5 micrometers in diameter (the size that is generally believed to pose some of the greatest health risks to human lungs and organs), the country’s official measurements seem to be in direct conflict with the U.S. Embassy’s data …Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/11/beijings-epa-air-quality-fine/ Study: Apartments Pose High Secondhand Smoke Hazards. Research shows that smoke can spread through cracks in fixtures, pipes, shared ventilation systems and windows. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that multi-unit housing can expose hazardous secondhand smoke to non-smokers living adjacent to those who do smoke. Since 2006, secondhand smoke has been classified by the California Air Resources Board as a "toxic air contaminant" that can lead to death, serious illnesses, and a overall health hazards. Posted. http://www.atvn.org/news/2011/11/secondhand-smoke-threat-those-living-multi-unit-homes CLIMATE CHANGE Regional Cap-and-Trade Scheme Creates Economic Growth, Study Says. A regional cap-and-trade program launched in the northeastern U.S. three years ago has saved customers nearly $1.1 billion on electricity bills, helped create 16,000 jobs, and has retained more than $765 million in local economies by reducing the demand for fossil fuels, according to a new analysis. While the future of the so-called Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) remains in jeopardy - with New Jersey planning to drop out and other states also considering leaving…Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/17/idUS383543217520111117 Scientists: NY must prepare for climate change now. Albany, N.Y. — A team of scientists says New Yorkers should start preparing for radical climate changes that will bring much hotter summers, snowier winters, devastating floods, and a broad range of other impacts to the environment, communities and human health. The 600-page report called ClimAID (CLIME'-aid), authored by more than 50 scientists from Cornell, Columbia University and the City University of New York, is being released Wednesday at a conference in Albany. http://online.wsj.com/article/APfb6b6cd4feea4038b8b7b38e01473197.html BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/nyregion/climate-change-to-affect-new-york-state-in-many-ways-study-says.html?pagewanted=print Global Temps `Virtually Certain' to Rise: UN. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change whirrs into action this week with a significant assessment of extreme events and disasters. The final report is due on Nov. 18. A draft summary for policymakers obtained by Bloomberg shows the caution and rigor with which scientists approach attributing observed trends to man-made climate change. The panel says it's “virtually certain” that warm daily temperature extremes will increase in this century. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-16/global-temps-virtually-certain-to-rise-un.html Arizona withdraws from Western Climate Initiative. Phoenix -- Arizona is formally withdrawing from the Western Climate Initiative, a regional collaboration to establish a cap-and-trade program to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Arizona became a WCI member under Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano. She resigned in 2009 and was replaced by Republican Jan Brewer. Brewer kept Arizona in the WCI, but ordered that the state not implement the cap-and-trade program. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality now says the state is going further by withdrawing formally from WCI. Environmental Quality Director Henry Darwin says Arizona is joining a new multistate collaborative effort to explore customized use of other approaches such as use of biomass fuels. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/16/4060209/arizona-withdraws-from-western.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/16/state/n145449S26.DTL http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19350328 http://azdailysun.com/news/local/state-and-regional/brewer-withdraws-arizona-from-climate-initiative/article_6dbee72b-e2fb-5194-873b-a6f3031ee5f4.html http://www.environmental-finance.com/news/view/2124 Climate change: Sea rise could kill vital marshes. The critical tidal marshes of San Francisco Bay - habitat for tens of thousands of birds and other animals - will virtually disappear within a century if the sea rises as high as some scientists predict it will as a result of global warming. The sea would inundate the coastline and eliminate 93 percent of the bay's tidal wetlands if carbon emissions continue unchecked and the ocean rises 5.4 feet, as predicted by scientists under a worst-case scenario, according to a new study by PRBO Conservation Science. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/16/MNMF1LVNPO.DTL&type=science Global warming speaker gets cool reception at energy summit. A professor who served on a panel that won a Nobel Peace Prize for its work on climate change got a polite but skeptical reception at the fifth annual Kern County Energy Summit Wednesday. The summit put on by the Kern Economic Development Corp. featured a range of speakers from the energy sector, including oil and gas, wind, solar, utilities, investment banking and government. The keynote speaker was Mark Jaccard, who teaches in the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/economy/x1479488961/Global-warming-speaker-gets-cool-reception-at-energy-summit Agriculture: Valley farmers need to think about climate change. This week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will release a new report that will give us a global view of how prepared we are to withstand extreme weather events. The report has been long in the making, but couldn't come at a more appropriate time. Globally, 2011 has brought us record-breaking floods, droughts, wildfires, hurricanes and temperature extremes — and the United States has received a heavy dose of every one of these devastating events. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/16/1950273/valley-farmers-need-to-think-about.html BY SUBCRIPTION Cap-and-trade program fuels economic growth in Northeast. A new report finds that America's first mandatory, market-based carbon cap-and-trade system added $1.6 billion in value to the economies of participating states, set the stage for $1.1 billion in ratepayer savings, and created 16,000 jobs in its first three years of implementation. Says Susan Tierney, managing principal at the Analysis Group, which produced the report: We tracked the dollars spent, and RGGI [the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative] generates greater economic growth in every one of the 10 states that participate in RGGI than would occur without a carbon price. The states' auction of the CO2 allowances was important for generating those public benefits. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-policy/2011-11-16-cap-and-trade-program-fuels-economic-growth-in-northeast FUELS U.S. seeks to double average gas mileage by 2025. The Obama administration's proposed rules would increase average gas mileage for each automaker's passenger vehicle fleet to 54.5 mpg from the 2011 model-year average of 27.8 mpg. The Obama administration has proposed landmark fuel economy standards that would almost double the average gas mileage for each automaker's passenger vehicle fleet to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The rules proposed Wednesday mark the latest step in a lengthy campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and oil consumption. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fuel-economy-20111117,0,5670531.story Environmental concerns over Canada's oil exporting. New York -- Canada needs to do more to address environmental concerns over Alberta's heavy oil to win approval of pipeline projects to export the crude to the United States and Asia, according to the province's premier. The country "must be more proactive on those issues," Alberta Premier Alison Redford said in. The State Department said on Nov. 10 that it would delay a decision on TransCanada Corp.'s proposed Keystone XL pipeline until early 2013 to consider alternate routes. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/16/MNLN1M00MV.DTL Navy launches its largest biofuel test for ship. The U.S. Navy launched its largest alternative fuel test to date on Wednesday, pumping 20,000 gallons of algae-based fuel into a destroyer ship that will embark on a 20-hour trip along the California coast. The success of the Paul H. Foster ship's overnight trip Wednesday from San Diego to Port Hueneme is vital to the Navy's plan to unveil next year a small carrier strike group of small ships, destroyers, cruisers, aircraft, submarines and a carrier run on alternative fuels, including nuclear power. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/16/1950175/navy-tests-biofuel-to-power-ship.html BY SUBSCRIPTION HyperSolar to Use Solar to Make Natural Gas. HyperSolar has filed a patent application for its technology to produce natural gas using solar power. According to the company, the natural gas is a carbon neutral methane gas that can be used as a replacement for fossil-fuel based natural gas. “The sun is our greatest source of energy and a method to use this energy to make clean, renewable fuel is a very significant discovery,” said Tim Young, CEO of HyperSolar. Posted. http://domesticfuel.com/2011/11/16/hypersolar-to-use-solar-to-make-natural-gas/ Clinton opens energy bureau as geopolitics shift to gas issues. U.S. electric utilities are gradually adding more gas-burning turbines to their domestic fleets. But major multinational oil producers such as Exxon Mobil Corp., ConocoPhillips and Chevron are also getting deeper into the gas game, and on a global scale. The State Department announced yesterday that it has created a Bureau of Energy Resources. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/11/17/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES All-electric Sedan coming soon from Coda. New model will retail for $39,900 and is currently available for preorder online. Coda has announced the start of production of its all-electric Sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Customers can now preorder the Sedan online, Coda said November 16, with a base price of $39,900 for the 2012 model year vehicle. As expected, the Sedan will offer a slightly better battery system than rivals such as the Nissan Leaf, with a 150-mile (240 km) range and a charge time which Coda says is capable of a full charge in six hours, twice as fast as its competitors. Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/all-electric-sedan-coming-coda-article-1.979162 California outlines plans to put more zero-emission cars on the road. California has released details of its proposals to set new emission standards for cars and light trucks, while boosting the numbers of zero-emission cars on the road. The California Air Resources Board’s package of measures cover model years 2015-2025 and aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 47% on current levels, cut smog-forming emissions 75% and ensure that one in seven new cars (over 15%) sold in 2025 will be zero-emission or plug-in hybrid vehicles. Posted. http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/policy/i/4648/ http://www.power-eng.com/news/2011/11/1542996773/california-announces-groundbreaking-advanced-clean-car-rules-proposed-regulations-will-deliver-clean.html http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/significant-progress-california-zero-emissions-vehicle-zev-0572.html U.S. 54.5 MPG Fuel-Economy Standard May Cost $157 Billion. A proposed U.S. rule requiring automakers to double average fuel economy of vehicles to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 may cost $157 billion, two agencies said in a draft. The standard would add an average of $2,000 to the price of each new passenger vehicle sold by 2025, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Environmental Protection Agency said in a proposed rule posted today on NHTSA's website. Benefits of $419 billion to $515 billion in fuel savings would offset the costs, the highway agency wrote. Posted. http://news.businessweek.com/article.asp?documentKey=1376-LURM321A1I4H01-3QQNJ6PA6D1ER9UNI3QNJUOL38 Electric vehicles industry in China: promising but lack of a clear road map. China's electric car industry is rapidly growing. Both domestic and international carmakers have already anticipated the great business opportunities in the world's largest passenger car market. Although the Chinese government strongly encourages development of new-energy vehicles through subsidies, until now there is still no clear roadmap to guide China's EV industry. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/69420111117.php Honda Civic GX Natural Gas Wins “2012 Green Car of the Year” Award. The Civic beat out the Ford Focus Electric, the Mitsubishi i, the Toyota Prius v and the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI. The car is rated at 27-mpg city, 38-mpg highway and a 31-mph average. Honda claims the cost to operate the car is roughly 30 percent less than a conventional gasoline engine. While fueling stations for such cars are rate, they’re likely to become much more popular – especially in Southern California. The reason is that the Civic GX is allowed to operate in the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes – something the Prius is no longer able to boast. Posted. http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/11/honda-civic-gx-natural-gas-wins-2012-green-car-of-the-year-award.html TRANSPORTATION: EPA makes room for pickup truck transition in new fuel economy rules. Pickup trucks may get special consideration in new fuel economy standards, as the White House attempts to slash oil use without removing a favorite vehicle from American roads. A proposed rule issued yesterday by the Department of Transportation and U.S. EPA would cover vehicles sold from 2017 to 2025. It would require trucks to improve their fuel economy at a slower rate than smaller cars have to. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/11/17/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY S. Korea to Invest $31 Billion by 2020 in Green-Energy Technology. South Korea, the world’s ninth- largest greenhouse gas emitter, plans to spend 35.5 trillion won ($31 billion) by 2020 to develop technology for renewable and nuclear energy and carbon emissions reduction. The investment is part of the nation’s road map to grab a 10 percent share of the world’s clean-energy market and have one of the world’s top five energy industries by 2020, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said in an e-mailed statement. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-17/s-korea-to-invest-35-5-trillion-won-in-green-energy-technology.html SMUD boosting wind power with new turbines at plant near Rio Vista. SMUD is more than doubling its wind power plant in the Montezuma Hills near Rio Vista. A total of 55 new wind turbines are being constructed with a large crane. SMUD expects it will take 464 truckloads to deliver the components, including tower pieces and turbine blades, to the site. The turbines will provide 128 megawatts of electricity when they go online early next year for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. The current generating capacity is 102 megawatts of power. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/17/4062030/smud-doubling-wind-power-at-plant.html Sustainable energy. With the recent events surrounding the Keystone XL pipeline and the collapse of Solyndra, the energy debate is as heated as ever in this country. Conservatives tend to oppose subsidies on clean energy and green technologies, supporting their arguments with failed examples like Solyndra. In these arguments, they claim these industries are a dead end and too much public money already has been spent on them. Meanwhile, they continue to push for more spending on big oil and increased domestic drilling, saying it's our only chance of weaning ourselves off foreign oil. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/16/sustainable-energy/ MISCELLANEOUS Ford unveils redesigned Escape SUV at L.A. Auto Show. The Escape, the fifth-best-selling vehicle in the U.S., has been transformed from a five-passenger SUV into a sloping crossover with just a hint of minivan. The Ford Escape, an aging vehicle that looks much like the model that first debuted in 2000, has quietly become one of the biggest success stories at Ford Motor Co. The automaker has sold more than 200,000 of the small sport utility vehicles this year, making it the fifth-best-selling vehicle in America and the top SUV. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-auto-show-escape-20111117,0,3249255.story Study is detailed look at Valley health hazards. Stockton - Almost one-third of the San Joaquin Valley's 4 million residents lives at high risk for shortened life spans and health problems due to environmental and social hazards. Now they have a tool they can use to measure and illustrate those problems for planning purposes or to improve their communities. University of California, Davis, researchers this week released a report that examines the 300-mile-long Valley's environmental hazards, social vulnerabilities and key health indicators to create the Cumulative Environmental Vulnerability Assessment, or CEVA. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111117/A_NEWS/111170330 OPINIONS California in flux: Politically, culturally, ethnically, the Golden State undergoes a sea change. The weather seems the same, the same climate that lured millions of people to California after World War II. Hollywood is still here. San Francisco still has its cable cars, Golden Gate Bridge and fabulous restaurants. Sacramento still has its trees, Fresno its Bulldogs, San Diego its zoo and Death Valley its spring wildflowers. But California is undergoing profound changes. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=10593cy47rptmd5&1=1&xid=1056vpmvlu9prud&done=.1058mngv1mskpmk&_credir=1321551568&_c=10593cy47rptmd5# BLOGS Without a price on carbon, oil will find a way. Last week, environmentalists and Nebraska activists won a huge victory when the White House delayed the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have transported oil from the tar sands in Alberta down to Cushing, Okla., and on through to Texas refineries on the Gulf Coast. Yet as it turns out, blocking Keystone alone won’t stop the flow of oil from Alberta and elsewhere. Yesterday, the world got yet another reminder of how hard it is to prevent oil from coming to market (or tamping down on emissions) without taxing or capping carbon. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/without-a-price-on-carbon-oil-will-find-a-way/2011/11/17/gIQAXBDRUN_blog.html LA’s Solar Power, Green Jobs Potential Largely Untapped. World Bank financing has help put solar power systems on more than 300,000 homes and small businesses in Bangladesh. Working with its local partners, the World Bank’s International Development Association IDA’s Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Project (RERED), is aiming to boost that to more than 1 million with an additional $172 million credit facility. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/11/las-solar-power-green-jobs-potential-largely-untapped/ Agriculture Industry and Solar Developers Battle In California’s San Joaquin Valley. During the last part of the 19th century cattle ranchers and farmers battled for supremacy in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Farmers won the battle, and farming has been entrenched in the Valley’s fertile soil ever since. Today another battle is being waged, and this time it is between farmers and those who want to develop solar power. The San Joaquin Valley is considered by many to be the agricultural center of the world. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/11/agriculture-industry-solar-developers-battle-californias-san-joaquin-valley/ Eindhoven University of Technology to make biofuels from its own wood waste; cyclic oxygenate CyclOx and ethanol. Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) are developing a small-scale demonstration reactor that will process 40 tons of wood waste per year from the university into replacements for diesel fuel and gasoline. TU/e aims with this project to demonstrate the viability of small-scale, environment-friendly fuel production from its own waste material at competitive prices. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/cyclox-20111117.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:16:39 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 18, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 18, 2011. 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 FACT CHECK: GOP senator gasps for facts on asthma. It was a startling claim: Air pollution has no connection to asthma, Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul said on the Senate floor. But Paul, and a chart he used to make his case against the health benefits of a new federal air pollution rule, relied on some creative sourcing and pseudoscience. Paul's chart was a graph showing air pollution declining in California as the number of people diagnosed with asthma rose. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-government/fact-check-despite-claims-air-pollution-has-been-shown-to-aggravate-and-cause-asthma/2011/11/18/gIQArgFBXN_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/18/2619081/fact-check-gop-senator-gasps-for.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19363746?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19363746?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/fact-check-gop-senator-gasps-for-facts-on-asthma/article_c10ba46f-9709-5864-9132-1711f9beadf6.html#ixzz1e4o26z9v http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/18/1952443/fact-check-gop-senator-gasps-for.html CLIMATE CHANGE Science panel: Get ready for extreme weather. Top international climate scientists and disaster experts meeting in Africa had a sharp message Friday for the world's political leaders: Get ready for more dangerous and "unprecedented extreme weather" caused by global warming. Making preparations, they say, will save lives and money. These experts fear that without preparedness, crazy weather extremes may overwhelm some locations, making some places unlivable. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/18/science-panel-get-ready-for-extreme-weather/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19364134?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/18/national/w024142S99.DTL&type=printable http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/18/1952492/science-panel-get-ready-for-extreme.html#ixzz1e4oYhyaQ Regional tensions limit Bhutan climate summit aims. Four Himalayan nations, faced with erratic weather and the threat of melting glaciers and catastrophic floods, are hashing out a plan for preserving the vast mountain range and helping millions living in the foothills cope with climate change. But as India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan set to work on a new 10-year management policy, three other major Himalayan nations will be conspicuously absent. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/18/2619360/regional-tensions-limit-bhutan.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19365155?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com VEHICLES House votes to kill funding for high-speed rail. Washington -- The House passed a spending bill on Thursday that kills high-speed rail funding for the current fiscal year. The Senate is expected to follow suit, which means California should not expect the billions of dollars in federal aid on which its futuristic plan for bullet trains depends. "By zeroing out high-speed intercity passenger rail funding, we are being given the unique opportunity to refocus and reform the high-speed rail program on the rail lines that will produce the most benefit for the least amount of cost," said Rep. Bill Schuster, R-Pa. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/18/MNUH1M0QPN.DTL&type=printable Are auto makers doing enough to improve fuel efficiency? The Los Angeles Auto Show opens to the public today through Thanksgiving weekend. KPCC asked people in our Public Insight network what they wanted to know about cars. Here are some of the answers. Dozens of people wrote in about fuel efficiency. What are car companies doing to improve it? Why aren’t they doing more? Chair of the California Air Resources Board Mary Nichols regulates the automakers. She says they are improving combustion engine efficiency, years after they suggested they could do little more. http://www.scpr.org/news/2011/11/18/29936/are-auto-makers-doing-enough-improve-fuel-efficien/ CODA Begins Production of Electric Cars in California. CODA Holdings, the U.S. electric vehicle and advanced battery developer, Wednesday started production of its first model, a zero emission electric mid-size sedan. "We are excited to announce that we have started production of our all-electric CODA sedan," said CODA chief executive Phil Murtaugh. Posted. http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2011/2011-11-17-092.html LA Auto Show 2011: EV offer is growing fast. The Los Angeles Auto Show opens 18-27 November 2011 with more than 50 World and North American premieres. This year's show is marked by a global trend towards more fuel-efficient vehicles, vehicle hybridisation and vehicles powered with alternative fuels including PHEVs and EVs. After the astonishing presentation of the BMW i3 and i8 at the IAA Frankfurt two months ago, BMW is again attracting a lot of interest with these vehicles, and despite the “Concept” tag attached to the i3, they have already programmed the production launch with their American dealers for 2013. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/69520111118.php What challenges do international electric car manufacturers face in China? Many international carmakers believe that China has the potential to be the world's largest new-energy vehicle market and are thus exploring the potential to introduce their electric cars in this market. Despite China’s efforts to support vehicle electrification, foreign automotive companies are still facing many challenges. China is the world's largest passenger car market with a 34% annual growth between 2001 and 2010. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/69620111118.php GREEN ENERGY Energy secretary defends Solyndra loan. Washington -- Under oath Thursday, Energy Secretary Steven Chu denied that the White House influenced his decision to guarantee a $528 million federal loan to Fremont solar firm Solyndra and refused to apologize for making the loan, although he said that in hindsight he would not have made it. "Certainly knowing what I know now, we'd say no," Chu said in his first extensive defense of the loan since the company filed for bankruptcy on Sept. 6. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/18/MN881M0IU6.DTL&type=printable Chu: Solyndra loan based on merits, not politics. An unapologetic Energy Secretary Steven Chu defended a half-billion-dollar federal loan to a solar-panel manufacturer that went belly up, even as he told a House committee Thursday he was unaware of dozens of key details that led to the debacle over Solyndra Inc. Under hours of hostile questioning from Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Chu declined several opportunities to say he was sorry, but acknowledged that in hindsight the deal was "extremely unfortunate" and "regrettable." Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/chu-solyndra-loan-based-on-merits-not-politics/article_65cf584e-16b5-56b8-8665-b115b763cc33.html Republicans grill Energy Secretary Chu about Solyndra loan. In a politically charged hearing Thursday, Republicans in the House of Representatives accused Energy Secretary Steven Chu of breaking the law in how he handled the restructuring of a loan for the California solar-energy company Solyndra. Chu said he did nothing illegal but instead made a tough decision that gave him the best shot at getting taxpayer money back that had been loaned to the company. Chu said his department's top lawyer said his plan was legal. The hearing was filled with political attacks through five hours of questioning. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/17/1951816/republicans-grill-energy-secretary.html#ixzz1e4qv4KaF MISCELLANEOUS Group seeks release of discussions of Keystone XL. The State Department withheld information on internal discussions about TransCanada Corp.'s proposed Keystone XL pipeline across six states, according to an environmental group. The department "heavily redacted" or withheld internal e-mails on discussions over the $7 billion project that were requested under the Freedom of Information Act, according to Friends of the Earth in Washington. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/18/MN231M0JNC.DTL&type=printable OPINIONS Politics and Clean Air. President Obama’s decision in September to scuttle stricter national standards for smog may well go down as the worst environmental decision of his administration — unless, of course, even more damaging retreats lie ahead. The decision was a setback for public health, a victory for industry, which had lobbied strongly against the standards, and a public embarrassment for the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lisa Jackson, who had proposed them. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/opinion/presidential-politics-and-clean-air.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse California Beats Northeast With New Cap-and-Trade Strategy: View. One of the main complaints about the first cap-and-trade regime for greenhouse-gas emissions in the U.S. was well answered in a study released this week. Critics had argued that the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative -- which links New York, Connecticut and eight other Northeastern states -- would increase energy costs for consumers. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-18/california-beats-northeast-with-new-cap-and-trade-strategy-view.html BLOGS Climate Panel Charts Extreme Weather in a Warming World. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, convening in Kampala, Uganda, has produced a valuable summary of science on the influence of human-driven warming on extreme weather and strategies for limiting risks to societies in a changing climate. To my eye the summary accurately reflects the body of science aiming to find a signal of greenhouse-gas influence on climate extremes and disaster frequency and severity (the full report is still being finalized). Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/climate-panel-issues-report-on-extreme-weather-and-climate-change/?scp=1&sq=extreme%20weather&st=cse When should we blame climate change for natural disasters? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has a new report out today concluding that global warming will make heat waves, droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events much more common in the decades to come. (It’s less clear how climate change will affect hurricanes and tornadoes.) Already in 2010, the United States saw a record number of natural disasters costing $1 billion or more, and the IPCC is warning us not to be shocked if we see even more destructive weather as the Earth heats up. (Athit Perawongmetha/Getty) Yet many climate scientists have been trying to go a step further than the IPCC in recent years. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/when-can-we-blame-natural-disasters-on-global-warming/2011/11/18/gIQAfYxfYN_blog.html Congress cuts future funding for California's bullet train. The U.S. Senate approved a package of legislation Thursday night that eliminates future funding for high-speed rail projects, including the California bullet train. The vote, coming after a similar vote in the House of Representatives, leaves the future of the ambitious state project to create a new rail system from Southern California to the Bay Area uncertain. The state has less than 15% of the funds needed for the $98.5-billion project. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/11/us-senate-cuts-future-funding-for-californias-bullet-train-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lanowblog+%28L.A.+Now%29 California Stakes Out New Ground with its Latest Fuel Standard. The White House proposes a strict new national fuel standard, but California still leads the way. On Wednesday, just as the Obama Administration proposed strict new fuel efficiency standards for 2017-2025-model cars and light trucks, the California Air Resources Board leapfrogged Washington with its own package of regulations designed to further reduce emissions from passenger vehicles. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/11/16/california-stakes-out-new-ground-with-its-latest-fuel-standard/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 Did Texas improve air quality, lower emissions as much as Rick Perry claims? Perry claims Texas topped the charts in terms of air-quality improvements, and his remarks suggest that the state knows how to clean up just fine without oversight from the Environmental Protection Agency, thank you very much. We wondered where Perry found his data and how bad Texas was doing before he took office. We also wondered whether federal regulations really kill jobs — a subject the Post already covered this week. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/did-texas-improve-air-quality-lower-emissions-as-much-as-rick-perry-claims-fact-checker-biography/2011/11/18/gIQAjCVFYN_blog.html California’s Advanced Clean Cars program: transforming the light-duty fleet to zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell and electric vehicles with an eye on 2050. Prior to the full release of its proposed Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) program in December (earlier post), the California Air Resources Board (ARB) has posted a detailed summary of the program’s package of light-duty vehicle regulations that combines control of greenhouse gases (GHG) and tailpipe criteria pollutants (LEV) for model years (MY) 2015 through 2025 with technology mandates via the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program to spur the development of advanced zero-emission vehicles over the same time period. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/acc-20111118.html Plug-in batteries could offer 10 times more range, 10 times faster charging in near future. What is perceived as the main barrier to seeing an electric vehicle (EV) in every driveway? Simple: a range that's too short and charging times that are too long. Now, what if a battery technology was developed that would allow you could drive for 500 miles straight and then recharge the battery in 10 minutes? Exactly. There would be a lot wailing and gnashing of teeth by those who just sank billions into tar sand projects and pipelines. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/18/plug-in-batteries-could-offer-10-times-more-range-10-times-fast/ Report Shows Success of Mandatory Cap and Trade Program. A report released earlier this week by The Analysis Group, entitled “The Economic Impacts of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on Ten Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States,” tracked the dollars collected and spent by the program over RGGI’s first three years of existence. The report finds that the program, despite continuous criticism from conservatives as being burdensome and costly, added a net value of $1.6 billion to the ten member states, or roughly, $33 per person. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/11/report-shows-success-mandatory-cap-trade-program/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:05:55 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 21, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 21, 2011. 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 25 sickened by carbon monoxide at tractor pull. Fire officials had to close down a tractor pull event at the Pennsylvania Farm Show complex after carbon monoxide sickened more than two dozen people. The Patriot-News of Harrisburg reports the Mid-Atlantic Antique Tractor Super Pull was shut down Saturday after firefighters responding to a report of a sick man recorded carbon monoxide levels four times the permissible level. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19382437?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19382437 http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/359a5d1429924a48867fe0f8ae4ffe24/PA--Farm-Show-Carbon-Monoxide/ CLIMATE CHANGE UN: Concentrations of greenhouse gases hit record. Global warming gases have hit record levels in the world's atmosphere, with concentrations of carbon dioxide up 39 percent since the start of the industrial era in 1750, the U.N. weather agency said Monday. The new figures for 2010 from the World Meteorological Organization show that CO2 levels are now at 389 parts per million, up from about 280 parts per million a quarter-millenium ago. The levels are significant because the gases trap heat in the atmosphere. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jT7hsgJmLMhVXQk-trNgl6PZXRCw?docId=b117c5d49f4f46528445f6f600b69150 AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/21/2622262/un-concentrations-of-greenhouse.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19382389?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/21/un-concentrations-of-greenhouse-gases-hit-record/ http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19382389?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Himalayan nations agree on climate adaptation plan. Four Himalayan nations facing the threat of weather changes have agreed to collaborate on ways to adapt to climate change after a two-day summit in Bhutan. India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan were part of the Climate Summit for a Living Himalayas held in Bhutan's capital Thimphu on Saturday. They agreed to cooperate on energy, water, food and biodiversity issues. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ivjC_wKZjfGv7xILziTb7kw8w2xQ?docId=d7bcbaad80f04041be52e5f6ca3d2d0d AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/20/himalayan-nations-agree-on-climate-adaptation-plan/ http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/20/2621244/himalayan-nations-agree-on-climate.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/20/himalayan-nations-agree-on-climate-adaptation/ http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/20/1955060/himalayan-nations-agree-on-climate.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/18/international/i073303S64.DTL http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19377596?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19377596?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Congress kills request for National Climate Service. At first look, the proposal is as dull, bureaucratic and routine as an agency request to Congress can be. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wanted to reshuffle its offices to establish a National Climate Service akin to the agency’s National Weather Service. It asked for no new funding to do so. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/congress-nixes-national-climate-service/2011/11/18/gIQAxYvIgN_story.html Studies show climate change's impact on California. A spate of recent research offers new insight into how global warming is changing or could change California, from the mountains to the seashore, in both predictable and unusual ways. The studies show that common trees are fading from their current ranges, premium wine grape varieties are under siege, marine creatures are shifting locales, the hub of the state’s water system faces increasing risks and — surprisingly — birds in the state are getting bigger as the weather warms. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/nov/20/grapes-birds-trees-fish-respond-climate/ California Air Resources Board reveals future carbon-cutting strategy. The California Air Resources Board has today released a comprehensive summary of its proposed Advanced Clean Cars regulation package, setting tough new emissions standards for cars and light trucks from 2015 through 2025. The package continues California’s leadership role in developing innovative and ground breaking standards for vehicles. It is designed to clean the air, fight climate change, and deliver savings to consumers and drive job development in California. Posted. http://www.internationalfleetworld.co.uk/news/2011/Nov/California-Air-Resources-Board-reveals-future-carbon-cutting-strategy/0444004045/ DIESEL EMISSIONS California Tightens Class 7 Truck Emission Rules. The California Air Resources Board’s order of all Class 7 drayage trucks to meet the same emission standards that have been in effect for larger Class 8 trucks is intended to close loopholes in the state’s clean-truck regulations. Also, the practice of dray-offs —–using a compliant truck to pull a container from a port or rail yard and then transferring the container to a non-compliant truck outside of the facility — is now illegal in California. Posted. http://www.joc.com/portsterminals/california-tightens-class-7-truck-emission-standards FUELS The road to new fuel economy standards was not smooth. On an August morning in 2008, a handful of executives from the country's top car companies, several environmentalists and two of California's most powerful pollution regulators met in a windowless conference room in a hotel next to Los Angeles International Airport. For 30 years, the car companies had been locked in battle with California and environmentalists over increasing vehicle fuel efficiency and cutting air pollution. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fuel-economy-deal-20111119,0,1512018,full.story GREEN ENERGY AP Exclusive: Conn. rethinks costly fuel cells. After spending millions of dollars to run a state complex with fuel cells, partly to boast of their size and also to tout a homegrown industry, Connecticut officials concede privately that the cost is too high and they're looking to get out of a complicated, long-term contract. The state spends $1.4 million every year for the fuel cells at its 10-year-old juvenile center, an amount that Connecticut's energy commissioner, Daniel Esty, called excessive in an email Sept. 6 to the governor's budget chief. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gMFLVLeech_MjmzSzeLWSJmR1acw?docId=95934037298444c5b2ef5d2cbe07f45d AP Newsbreak: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/20/4068311/ap-exclusive-conn-rethinks-costly.html#storylink=misearch http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/20/2621444/ap-exclusive-conn-rethinks-costly.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/ap-exclusive-conn-rethinks-costly-fuel-cells/article_e7d1f1b0-3885-553d-95ad-aadc1cb5b038.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/20/national/a092623S27.DTL http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19377596 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19378520?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19378520?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com W. Pa. program offers cheaper wind energy. A Pittsburgh nonprofit says it's offering renewable wind energy at bargain prices. Citizen Power Inc. says the 100 percent wind energy plan provides residential customers who sign a two-year contract with the lowest electricity rates now available to customers in Allegheny and Beaver counties. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ( http://bit.ly/ubpaps) reports Sunday that the nonprofit is partnering with a Texas energy company to provide the service. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19378473?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Energy pioneer. Meet Dale Stocking - environmentalist, and guinea pig. Last spring, the city set an ambitious goal of making 8,500 homes more energy efficient by winter 2013. Stocking urged approval of that proposed ordinance. And after it passed, he decided it was only fair to start off by sealing his own drafty house. "I wanted to see, what are we requiring the citizens to do, and is it rational?" the 72-year-old Stocking said last week, sitting at his dining table of his two-story midtown English Tudor. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111121/A_NEWS/111210314&cid=sitesearch VEHICLES O.C. hybrid car company raises $58 million more. Anaheim luxury hybrid car maker Fisker Automotive Holdings Inc., has raised another $58 million in equity funding, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, bringing its total funding to $1.22 billion even before its first cars are sold. Fisker has now received $688 million in private funding in addition to a low-interest $529 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fisker-327739-company-solyndra.html Honda Civic Natural Gas named 2012 Green Car of the Year. GreenCar Journal announced the Honda Civic Natural Gas as the 2012 Green Car of the Year winner at a press conference Thursday morning during the Los Angeles Auto Show’s press days. The cleanest running internal combustion vehicle certified by the EPA, the all-new 2012 Civic Natural Gas is the fifth generation of this alternative fuel vehicle and the only assembly-line produced natural gas passenger model manufactured for sale in the United States. It runs on a clean fuel that is almost exclusively domestically sourced and typically priced about 30 percent less than gasoline. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/19/honda-civic-natural-gas-named-2012-green-car-year/ At least 15% of California vehicles to be zero-emission by 2025. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has developed the Advanced Clean Vehicle Cars programme, seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, smog and sooth causing pollutants for model years 2015 through 2025. The proposals foresee that one in seven new vehicles sold in 2025 will be a zero-emission or plug-in hybrid car. Reaffirming its leading position in promoting clean vehicles and developing tough emission standards, California has presented a package of regulations setting strong requirements on carmakers. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/69720111121.php BLOGS OECD Says Czechs Should Cut Carbon Emissions While Smog over Prague Thickens. The Czechs got more than one reminder Friday that burning copious amounts of fossil fuels is a poor path to achieving long-term economic growth. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Paris-based think tank, just released its latest semi-annual report on the Czech Republic and among the results was a reprimand on the country for its over-reliance on fossil-fuel driven economic activity. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2011/11/18/oecd-says-czechs-should-cut-carbon-emissions-while-smog-over-prague-thickens/?KEYWORDS=fuels New Delhi, Now More Polluted Than Beijing. India has recently pulled far ahead of China on one dubious development marker – air pollution in the country’s capital. The air quality in New Delhi on Monday afternoon was significantly worse than the air quality in Beijing, according to real-time air monitors run by the Indian and U.S. governments in both cities. Posted. http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/21/new-delhi-now-more-polluted-than-beijing/?scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Is Global Warming an Election Issue After All ? Conventional wisdom has it that the next election will be fought exclusively on the topic of jobs. But President Obama’s announcement last week that he would postpone a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline until after the 2012 election, which may effectively kill the project, makes it clear that other issues will weigh in—and that, oddly enough, one of them might even be climate changThe pipeline decision was a true upset. Everyone—and I mean everyone who "knew" how these things work—seemed certain that the president would approve it. The National Journal runs a weekly poll of “energy insiders”—that is, all the key players in Washington. Posted: http://www.celsias.com/article/global-warming-election-issue-after-all/ Harmonizing Low Carbon Fuel Standards. In a draft of the first Review Report for the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), the staff of the California Air Resources Board (ARB) notes that the harmonization of LCFS programs globally will be important “for ensuring that global GHG emission reductions actually result from these programs”. Harmonizing LCFS programs means bringing key elements of different LCFS regulatory frameworks into accord with one another, while recognizing that these elements will not necessarily be (or need to be) identical, staff notes in the report. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/lcfs-20111121.html California ARB considering amendments to Low Carbon Fuel Standard; handling high carbon-intensity crude oil (HCICO). The California Air Resources Board (ARB) will consider at its December 2011 meeting amendments to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) regulation. The LCFS intends to reduce, on a full-fuel lifecycle basis, the carbon intensity (CI) of transportation fuels (measured in gCO2e/MJ) used in California by an average of 10% by the year 2020. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/lcfs-20111120.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:23:41 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 22, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 22, 2011. 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 China urges progress on climate change fund. China's climate change envoy said Tuesday that global financial woes have put climate issues on the back burner for now, but they have not diminished the need for a multibillion-dollar fund to help developing countries cope with global warming. Delegates at a U.N.-sponsored climate change conference that starts Nov. 28 in Durban, South Africa, are to consider ways to raise $100 billion a year for the Green Climate Fund. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CHINA_CLIMATE_SUMMIT?SITE=JRC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/china-urges-progress-on-financing-for-100-billion-climate-change-fund-for-developing-nations/2011/11/22/gIQAtcVwjN_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/21/2623524/china-urges-progress-on-climate.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/21/1957594/china-urges-progress-on-climate.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/22/china-urges-progress-on-climate-change-fund/ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/21/international/i211154S25.DTL http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19389263?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19387711?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com The art of talking climate science. Let's face it: Few of us speak in perfect, clear, stirring, and memorable soundbites. But scientists are particularly apt to load their communications with so many caveats and so much detail that non-scientists have a hard time determining whether they've said anything definitive at all. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-11-22-the-art-of-talking-climate-science FUELS Oil Abundance in Canada Provokes Anxiety Over Fossil Fuel Lust. The helicopter swooping over once- pristine spruce forests provides a close-up view of why the province of Alberta, Canada, is among the planet's most coveted -- and contested -- petroleum hot spots. North of Fort McMurray, a boomtown serving tens of thousands of migrant workers, Syncrude Canada Ltd.'s oil-sands mine stretches 74 square miles. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/11/22/bloomberg_articlesLV12V50UQVI9.DTL GREEN ENERGY School solar projects offer students hands-on opportunities to learn about green technology. Besides offsetting energy costs at schools, solar panels are providing hands-on learning for students. At informational kiosks on the Las Positas Community College campus in Livermore, students can find out how solar power works and track how much energy it generates, said Jeffrey Kingston, vice chancellor of facilities. The kiosks were part of the solar project built by Chevron Energy Solutions. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_19386092?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com VEHICLES Electric cars to take Taiwan by storm: Minister Shih. There will be a boom in the popularity of electric vehicles in Taiwan in five or six years, Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang (施顏祥) said on Tuesday while presiding over a ceremony to mark the launch of a government project aimed at encouraging people to buy electric vehicles. Shih said he arrived at the venue, the National Taiwan Science Education Center in Taipei, in an electric vehicle. Posted. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2011/11/17/2003518472 2012 Volt Moves Into California Carpool Lanes. A low-emissions package that qualifies the 2012 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid hatchback for single-occupant travel in California's High Occupancy Vehicle traffic lanes will be standard on all models sold in the Golden State early next year, the automaker said, The special tuning will have no affect on the model's price, performance, fuel economy or electricity-only driving range, Rob Peterson, manager of the Volt and electric vehicle technologies at General Motors, told AutoObserver. California is a key state for Volt sales, and giving the Volt carpool lane access is expected to help swell sales there. Posted. http://www.autoobserver.com/2011/11/2012-volt-moves-into-california-carpool-lanes.html MISCELLANEOUS Fowler doctor named to Valley, Calif. air boards. Dr. Alex Sherriffs, a Fowler family practitioner and clean-air advocate, has been named to the governing board for both the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and the California Air Resources Board. Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday announced the appointments for Sherriffs, a 60-year-old Democrat. He replaces Dr. John Telles, who resigned in June. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/21/2623552/fowler-doctor-named-to-valley.html#storylink=misearch OPINION Climate change doubts behind attack on Air Resources Board. Climate change skepticism by one congressman among California’s 53 ordinarily doesn’t matter much. But coming from Darrell Issa, the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it’s now leading to one of the most significant attacks ever on California’s lead smog-fighting agency, the state Air Resources Board. Posted. http://www.sddt.com/Commentary/article.cfm?Commentary_ID=109&SourceCode=20111121tza&_t=Climate+change+doubts+behind+attack+on+Air+Resources+Board BLOGS On Our Radar: Made With the Wind. Companies including Motorola Mobility, Lego, Deutsche Bank and Bloomberg L.P. signed up to use a new trademark, WindMade , to show that at least 25 percent of their electricity was generated by wind power. The brand is sponsored by Vestas, a wind turbine manufacturer. The company hopes to develop a widely recognized industry trademark akin to the Fair Trade and Organic labels. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/21/on-our-radar-made-with-the-wind/ 10 Questions about California's Cap and Trade Program. Last month, the California Air Resources Board unanimously approved California’s first-of-its-kind cap and trade program to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution across the economy. As the world’s eighth-largest emitter of GHGs, California’s leadership in taking action to curtail its carbon footprint promises to have impacts beyond our borders. The program is a critical component of the state’s larger plan to reduce GHG pollution and transition to a clean energy economy under the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32). Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kgrenfell/10_questions_about_californias.html Californians Would Save $34 Million This Thanksgiving If We All Drove Clean Rides. If you are the proud owner of a fuel efficient vehicle, you definitely have something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Considered one of the busiest travel days of the year, Thanksgiving lures people from their homes with the promises of family, friends, football and overeating. Environment California released “Gobbling Less Gas for Thanksgiving: How Clean Car Standards Will Cut Oil Use and Save Americans Money” today, a report that says Californians would save roughly $34 million at the gas pump this Thanksgiving alone plus significantly slash oil use if travelers took to the streets with fuel efficient vehicles. Posted. http://laist.com/2011/11/21/gobbling_less_gas_for_thanksgiving.php UN report projects that increasing use of HFCs likely to have a significant climate impact by 2050; equivalent to current total annual emissions from transport. A new report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) projects that by 2050, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) could be responsible for emissions equivalent to 3.5 to 8.8 Gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide (Gt CO2eq)—comparable to total current annual emissions from transport, estimated at around 6-7 Gt annually. Used in products such as air conditioners, refrigerators, firefighting equipment and insulation foams, HFCs are becoming popular as replacements for those phased-out or being phased-out to protect the ozone layer. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/unephfcs-20111121.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:41:28 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 23, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 23, 2011. 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 New valley air alert system begins today. The first Air Alert started today, advising San Joaquin Valley residents to cut down on driving and other engine use through the weekend. The alerts are a new campaign by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to curtail smog when it might exceed limits set by the federal government. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/22/1826227/new-valley-air-alert-system-begins.html California voters could be asked to scrap environmental laws. The California Environmental Quality Act, the California Coastal Act, the California Endangered Species Act, the California Global Warming Solutions Act, and the California Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act would be repealed and the California Environmental Protection Agency and Air Resources Board would be abolished under a proposed amendment to the California Constitution. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=19846 CLIMATE CHANGE Doubts about climate change drive attack on state air board. Climate change skepticism by one congressman among California's 53 ordinarily wouldn't matter much. But coming from Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it's now leading to one of the most significant attacks ever on California's top smog-fighting agency -- the state Air Resources Board. Issa, representing a conservative north San Diego County district, does not dispute that the globe has warmed. It's the pace of warming he questions, doubting that action is urgent. He also questions how much warming is man-made and whether the actions of one country alone can make much difference. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19397374?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19397374?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19397374 Climate Change: South Africa has much to lose. Imagine the savannas of South Africa's flagship Kruger Park so choked with brush, viewing what game is left is nearly impossible. The Cape of Good Hope without penguins. The Karoo desert's seasonal symphony of wildflowers silenced. Climate change could mean unthinkable loss for South Africa, which hosts talks on global warming that will bring government negotiators, scientists and lobbyists from around the world to the coastal city of Durban next week. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5giwzYbZ55q6cnlCj2haKvjjJNq9Q?docId=2c56f255237f4019b0757f07d15d65bd AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/climate-change-weaving-tapestry-of-change-in-south-africa-researchers-say/2011/11/23/gIQABNIVoN_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/23/2625284/climate-change-south-africa-has.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19398411?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19398411?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/23/international/i072651S37.DTL AMBAG helps local cities make sense of climate action plans. Climate change policy doesn’t move at the speed of an SUV commuting from the suburbs, or even a bulldozer at a development site. It creeps along at the pace of a buffet line at Bayonet and Black Horse golf clubhouse in Seaside.
 That’s where, on Nov. 16, the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments’ Energy Watch program hosted a luncheon on what state climate legislation means for local governments. Posted. http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/2011/nov/23/thinking-caps/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Air Board Finally Addresses Dray-off Problem at Ports. The California Trucking Association (CTA) released the following statement on the California Air Resources Board (ARB) filing of revised rules to end the dubious practice known as ‘dray-off’ at California ports. “California port trucking companies have invested approximately $2 billion in new trucks and retrofits to meet ARB mandates for trucks entering California’s ports and rail yards,” said Richard Coyle of Devine Intermodal and Chair of CTA’s Environmental Policy Committee and Northern Intermodal Conference. “California port trucking companies will have a level playing field to keep commerce flowing and the air cleaner.” Posted. http://www.maritime-executive.com/pressrelease/air-board-finally-addresses-dray-off-problem-at-ports FUELS Livestock farmers say ethanol eats too much corn. Livestock farmers are demanding a change in the nation's ethanol policy, claiming current rules could lead to spikes in meat prices and even shortages at supermarkets if corn growers have a bad year. The amount of corn consumed by the ethanol industry combined with continued demand from overseas has cattle and hog farmers worried that if corn production drops due to drought or another natural disaster, the cost of feed could skyrocket, leaving them little choice but to reduce the size of their herds. A smaller supply could, in turn, mean higher meat prices and less selection at the grocery store. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/23/livestock-farmers-say-ethanol-eats-too-much-corn/ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/23/national/a001528S15.DTL GREEN ENERGY Report Lays Out Costs of U.K. Clean Energy Plan. Policies to increase efficiency and give incentives to clean energy technologies will begin saving U.K. households money by 2013, but will add significantly to the energy bills of businesses, the Department of Energy and Climate Change said in a report Wednesday. The report, which comes as both household incomes and corporate earnings are being squeezed by high price inflation and a weak economy, acknowledged that supporting clean technologies and cutting carbon emissions will have a cost to energy consumers. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204452104577056150797645974.html?KEYWORDS=climate+change Firm behind Gulf's clean-energy city cuts staff. The government company building a high-profile green-energy city in the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi says it has cut 9 percent of its staff as it looks to trim costs. Masdar said in a statement emailed on Wednesday that the job cuts were part of an annual business planning process designed to "enhance the efficiency and effectiveness" of the company. It didn't say when the cuts took place or which parts of the company were affected. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/23/firm-behind-gulfs-clean-energy-city-cuts-staff/ Potential buyers show little interest in Solyndra. A California solar panel manufacturer that received a half-billion-dollar loan from the federal government before declaring bankruptcy says it's been unable to attract much interest from potential buyers to take over its operations. Instead, Solyndra LLC is looking at a piecemeal sale of its assets, with separate auctions for its machinery and equipment, real estate and intellectual property. Solyndra officials told a U.S. bankruptcy trustee Tuesday that no qualified bidders have come forward to buy the company and take over its manufacturing operations. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/ap/business/potential-buyers-show-little-interest-in-solyndra/article_0b59ff30-c1aa-531c-a5be-2d0343c04b63.html OPINION For Detroit, size matters. Launching its biggest environmental accomplishment, the Obama administration has proposed rules that would determine how far 2025 cars go on a gallon of gas and how much global warming pollution they emit. Surprisingly, the auto companies support the strong rules. Even more surprisingly, though, they can dictate how successful the program will be. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-gerstenzang-emissions-20111123,0,7234340.story Jane Warner and Wendy Greuel: Clean cars -- it's a California thing. It is a good month for Californians who prefer to breathe freely -- especially the 90 percent of us who live where the air is unhealthy. For example, the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, including Riverside and Long Beach, has the worst air in the nation in terms of ozone pollution, better known as smog. The California Air Resources Board once again has stepped forward to lead the nation with an ambitious plan to clean up air pollution caused by passenger cars, SUVs and light trucks. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_19393253 BLOGS MIT study finds including non-CO2 emissions from synthetic aviation fuel in lifecycle analysis of climate impact can lead to decrease in relative environmental merit; need for a holistic analysis framework. A new study by researchers at MIT has found that factoring the non-CO2 combustion emissions and effects into the lifecycle of a Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (SPK) aviation fuel can lead to a decrease in the relative environmental merit of the SPK fuel compared to conventional jet fuel. As a result, they suggest in a paper published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, climate change mitigation policies for aviation that rely exclusively on relative “well-to-wake” lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a proxy for aviation climate impact may overestimate the benefit of alternative fuel use on the global climate system. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/stratton-2011123.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:17:22 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 28, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 28, 2011. 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 EU agency: air pollution costs exceed $134 billion. Air pollution isn't just harmful—it's expensive, resulting in health care and environmental costs of more than euro100 billion ($130 billion) in 2009, the European Union's environment agency said Thursday. The energy sector had the highest pollution costs, followed by manufacturing and production processes, according to the report by the European Environment Agency. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i0asuwnsl3GVO0Akyyc4NzEe8P6g?docId=dfe766c31b52462691890580949131e2 http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/eu-agency-says-air-pollution-cost-europe-102-billion-169-billion-in-2009/2011/11/24/gIQAiTVhrN_story.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19406047?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19406047 EPA sued over unenforced ozone standards. President Obama's refusal to let his environmental chief strengthen the nation's smog standards has prompted an environmental group to sue the government to implement milder ozone standards that were adopted in 2008 but never enforced. "Even though we don't think (the 2008 standard is) strict enough, it's better than what's currently being done," James Tutchton, lawyer for WildEarth Guardians, said Friday. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/26/MN481M4AAG.DTL&type=printable Cruise ships may hurt S.F. air quality during Cup. Cruise ships won't race against the current during the America's Cup. But they'll sail into San Francisco at the same time as the event - and that worries environmentalists. As many as 80 ships dock along the Embarcadero each year, allowing passengers to hop out, sightsee and hop back on. Running the engines in the meantime traditionally means hours of burning through diesel fuel. To combat air pollution, a machine at Pier 27 has been feeding electricity from the city to those vessels since October 2010Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/27/BAV41M2701.DTL&tsp=1 Modesto area residents should check air quality before burning. Residential wood burning can pump dangerous levels of soot, ash, dust and other particulate matter into the valley's already poor air. To reduce the pollution, each day the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District issues one of two wood-burning forecasts: "Wood Burning Prohibited" on days the air and weather conditions are poor, and "Please Burn Cleanly" on days the risk is lower. On "Burning Prohibited" days, all wood burning is banned — including in fireplaces, outdoor chimneys and fire pits. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/27/v-print/1964932/modesto-area-residents-should.html BY SUBSCRIPTION CLIMATE CHANGE Divergent views signal tough climate talks ahead. Durban, South Africa (AP) -- With heat-trapping carbon at record levels in the atmosphere, U.N. climate negotiations opened Monday with pressure building to salvage the only treaty limiting greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S., Europe and the developing countries laid out diverging positions at the outset, signaling tough talks ahead even as South African President Jacob Zuma called for national interests to be laid aside "for a common good and benefit of all humanity." Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_CLIMATE_CONFERENCE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-11-28-12-35-04 http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/28/v-print/4084262/climate-negotiations-open-focus.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/28/climate-negotiations-open-focus-on-emissions/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19424348?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com UN Emissions Board Proposes to Address Coal Rule ‘Shortcomings’. The United Nations board overseeing the world’s biggest greenhouse gas-offsetting market promised to address “shortcomings” in rules that allow coal generators to claim emission credits for improving plant efficiency. The so-called methodology, which provides rules that govern the volume of credits such projects may earn, “contains a number of shortcomings, in particular related to baseline methodology procedure, the continued use of which may lead to the registration of projects that would overestimate greenhouse gas emission reductions,” …Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-28/un-emissions-board-proposes-to-address-coal-rule-shortcomings-.html At Meeting on Climate Change, Urgent Issues but Low Expectations. Washington — With intensifying climate disasters and global economic turmoil as the backdrop, delegates from 194 nations will gather in Durban, South Africa, starting Monday to try to advance, if only incrementally, the world’s response to dangerous climate change. To those who have followed the negotiations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change over their nearly 20-year history, the conflicts and controversies to be taken up in Durban are monotonously familiar: …Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/science/earth/nations-meet-to-address-problems-of-climate-change.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1322501796-MWSiTwEK ePfnBCvx53DHA&pagewanted=print Another Try for a Global Climate Effort. With intensifying climate disasters and global economic turmoil as the backdrop, delegates from 194 nations gather in Durban, South Africa, this week to try to advance, if only incrementally, the world’s response to dangerous climate change. To those who have followed the negotiations of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change over their nearly 20-year history, the conflicts and controversies to be taken up in Durban are monotonously familiar …Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/business/global/28iht-RBOG-CLIMATE28.html?scp=6&sq=climate%20change&st=cse A Change of Heart on Investing in the Climate. When State Street Global Advisors, the investment management arm of State Street Corp., offered its first “high-quality green bond strategy” last month, it gave institutional investors a chance to hold segregated accounts that invest in fixed income instruments raising financing for projects meant to battle climate change. The move followed that of Nikko Asset Management of Japan, which in March announced that it had raised $640 million for its Nikko AM World Bank Green Funds, the first fund dedicated to investing in green bonds issued by the World Bank. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/business/global/28iht-RBOG-BONDS28.html?scp=5&sq=climate%20change&st=cse U.N.: Wilder weather on the way. People around the planet should prepare for "unprecedented extreme weather," according to a report released Friday by top international scientists and disaster experts. Earth's recent wild weather is likely just a sneak peek, the report warns, as rising global temperatures cook the oceans and atmosphere into a frenzy. "We need to be worried," one of the study's lead authors tells the Associated Press. "And our response needs to anticipate disasters and reduce risk before they happen rather than wait until after they happen and clean up afterward. ... Risk has already increased dramatically." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/28/4084189/un-wilder-weather-on-the-way.html Questions, answers on climate negotiations. Some questions and answers about the climate talks being held in South Africa's eastern city of Durban that opened Monday and close on Dec. 9. --- Q: Who is meeting in Durban? A: Negotiators from the European Union and 191 countries making climate change policy under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Thousands of activists and experts are there to observe, advise and protest. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/28/4084282/questions-answers-on-climate-negotiations.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/questions-answers-as-climate-negotiations-get-under-way-in-south-africa/2011/11/28/gIQAiCQs4N_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/28/1965282/questions-answers-on-climate-negotiations.html#ixzz1f1PL1yuO BY SUBSCRIPTION Pope calls for responsible, credible climate deal. Vatican City -- Pope Benedict XVI called Sunday for delegates attending this week's U.N. climate change conference in South Africa to craft a responsible and credible deal to cut greenhouse gases that takes into account the needs of the poor. Some 25,000 government officials, lobbyists and scientists are expected to attend the two-week conference that opens Monday in Durban. The immediate focus is the pending expiration of the Kyoto Protocol, the 1997 agreement requiring 37 industrialized countries to slash carbon emissions to 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/27/v-print/4082397/pope-calls-for-responsible-credible.html U.S. Says Goal of $30 Billion in Climate Aid Within Reach. Rich countries are set deliver $30 billion in short-term climate change-financing and remain committed to find $100 billion a year by 2020, a U.S. State Department official said. The U.S.’s “fast-start” funds for fiscal 2011 totaled $3.1 billion, up from $2 billion a year earlier, Jonathan Pershing, deputy special envoy for climate change, told reporters today at United Nations-led climate negotiations in Durban, South Africa. The U.S., the largest historical greenhouse-gas emitter, has promised to pay its “fair share” of $30 billion from 2010 to 2012. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-28/u-s-says-goal-of-30-billion-in-climate-aid-within-reach.html FUELS Methane emissions not an issue for rice industry. Conversations with the governor's economic development advisers about a proposed bio-fuel plant in Colusa alarmed some city officials about what they thought could be potentially devastating air regulations coming toward the rice industry. But Paul Buttner, environmental affairs manager for the California Rice Commission, said methane emission targets that are part of the Global Warming Solutions Act (Assembly Bill 32), are not an issue for the rice industry. Posted. http://www.colusa-sun-herald.com/news/rice-7622-industry-buttner.html California Poised to Modify Fuel Standard to Account for High-Carbon Feedstocks. The California Air Resources Board on Dec. 16 will consider a series of amendments to the state's landmark low-carbon fuel standard, including a provision to better account for the use of crude oil derived from energy-intensive sources like Canada's oil sands. The revisions, proposed by CARB in October, aim to refine and strengthen the regulation, the agency said. Posted. http://www.bna.com/california-poised-modify-n12884904527/ VEHICLES GM's Volt Woes Cast Shadow on E-Cars. Detroit—For the past several years, the federal government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars promoting the development of electric cars. Now regulators are investigating whether the big battery packs used by one of them pose a safety risk in the event of an accident. Last week, U.S. auto-safety officials opened an investigation into General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet Volt after two crash tests of the electric car caused its battery to spark or catch fire. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203935604577064663206681538.html BY SUBSCRIPTION http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/11/gm-offering-loaner-cars-to-worried-chevrolet-volt-owners/1 http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/government-investigates-battery-fires-in-volt-chevys-electric-car-gm-says-no-undue-risk/2011/11/26/gIQAThFTyN_story.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-28/gm-says-it-will-work-with-nhtsa-on-possible-changes-to-volt.html Toyota unveils high-tech concept car ahead of show. Tokyo -- Toyota's president unveiled a futuristic concept car resembling a giant smartphone to demonstrate how Japan's top automaker is trying to take the lead in technology at the upcoming Tokyo auto show. Toyota Motor Corp. will also be showing an electric vehicle, set for launch next year, and a tiny version of the hit Prius gas-electric hybrid at the Tokyo Motor Show, which opens to the public this weekend. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/28/v-print/4083679/toyota-unveils-high-tech-concept.html GREEN ENERGY Crunch Time Is Coming for U.K.'s Green Commitment. Britain has some big decisions to make on energy, and environmentalists say the answers that politicians come up with in the next few months will determine whether the country follows through on its promises of strong action against global warming. A series of important questions about investment in renewable energy, efficiency and nuclear generation are up for discussion as the government and energy companies plan how to replace a generation of power plants that are nearing retirement. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/business/global/28iht-RBOG-BRITAIN28.html?scp=3&sq=green%20energy&st=cse For vets returning to US, green energy jobs await. Ben Noland served in the U.S. Marine Corps for eight years, then spent 18 months looking for a job. "I've probably put my resume in to 300 places in the past year," the 33-year-old Kenton resident said. "The farthest I've ever got was a phone interview." Noland finally landed a job installing solar panels at Tipping Point Renewable Energy, a Columbus-based solar power company that is hiring only military veterans for its installation crews at a time when unemployment among former service members is outpacing that of civilians. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hlf84LydL04QP0qjwY2hF0hqxHiQ?docId=37df820eea904698800d4d4f9b017ff9 http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/26/2628169/for-vets-returning-to-us-green.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/for-vets-returning-to-us-green-energy-jobs-await/article_b149b435-072f-53da-b0ce-6105f8ce1a29.html China set to surpass U.S. in solar installation. With European solar markets in decline, the industry is looking for the next hot solar region. Even with political troubles in the U.S., companies still see America as a good long-term bet. (And let's remember, Europe's slowdown doesn't mean the region is going to stop being a major player.) But analysts now see the Asia Pacific solar market as the Next Big Thing, driven largely by growing domestic demand in China. For the first time this year, China may surpass the U.S. market, according to analysis from NDP Solarbuzz. Posted. http://www.grist.org/solar-power/2011-11-23-chinas-2011-solar-installs-may-surpass-americas-first-time Study: Californians must make big shift to electric power to meet long-term energy goals. California must be fully electrified 40 years from now with residents driving only electric cars and plugging them into a grid powered by carbon-free power plants if the state is to meet its most far-reaching climate goals, according to a new study. Not only will electricity be carbon-free, California will need a whole lot more of it to make up for the loss of gasoline, natural gas and coal. Posted. http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/11/25/2518894/study-californians-must-make-big.html MISCELLANEOUS Thanksgiving dinner's carbon footprint. As if you needed another reason to feel guilty about chowing down on Thanksgiving each year, consider this: researchers at the University of Manchester in England figure that a turkey-n-trimmings feast for eight produces approximately 44 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. About 60 percent of that planet-warming gas comes from the life cycle of the turkey, alone. And that doesn't include drinks. Leave it to the Brits to rain on our traditions. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/28/v-print/4084040/thanksgiving-dinners-carbon-footprint.html Companies give GOP, regulators, different messages. Large and small companies have told Republican-led congressional committees what the party wants to hear: dire predictions of plant closings and layoffs if the Obama administration succeeds with plans to further curb air and water pollution. But their message to financial regulators and investors conveys less gloom and certainty. The administration itself has clouded the picture by withdrawing or postponing some of the environmental initiatives that industry labeled as being among the most onerous. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111125/A_NEWS/111129942&cid=sitesearch Environmental programs fall victim to budget cuts. When lightning ignited a wildfire near Idaho's Sun Valley in 2007, environmental regulators used monitoring gear to gauge the health effects for those breathing in the Sawtooth Mountains' smoky, mile-high air. That equipment sits idle today after the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality was hit by $4 million in spending cuts, a quarter of its budget, since the recession began. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/environmental-programs-fall-victim-to-budget-cuts/article_5ab1466f-5c19-5e20-a277-058b5e1aa3b3.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/26/1963253/environmental-programs-fall-victim.html BY SUBSCRIPTION OPINIONS The Non-Green Jobs Boom. Forget 'clean energy.' Oil and gas are boosting U.S. employment. So President Obama was right all along. Domestic energy production really is a path to prosperity and new job creation. His mistake was predicting that those new jobs would be "green," when the real employment boom is taking place in oil and gas. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported recently that the U.S. jobless rate remains a dreadful 9%. But look more closely at the data and you can see which industries are bucking the jobless trend. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204190704577024510087261078.html BY SUBSCRIPTION Viewpoints: Give consumers the choice of clean car future. California, like the rest of the nation, is addicted to oil. Just like other addictions, heavy oil use comes with a heavy price – for our wallets, our health and our climate. The good news is that California and the federal government are taking bold steps to tackle these problems. They've signed automakers up for a plan to gradually improve fuel efficiency and reduce global warming emissions for cars and light trucks built between 2017 and 2025. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/25/v-print/4078657/give-consumers-the-choice-of-clean.html California must keep driving toward goal of 54.5 mpg. Since the 1960s California has led the nation on emission standards for passenger cars. The big driver has always been necessity. Despite tremendous progress, California continues to have the nation's worst air quality. Other states — and the federal government — have tended to follow California's lead. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/27/1964496/keep-driving-toward-goal-of-545.html#ixzz1f1PzrGMx BY SUBSCRIPTION SAN BERNARDINO: Research cop-out? Communication lapses should not trump protecting children’s health. San Bernardino schools officials and Loma Linda University researchers should cooperate on a study of the hazards posed by a busy rail yard near a school. The school district needs to be a part of research that can provide better knowledge about the threat to students’ health on campus. Posted. http://www.pe.com/opinion/editorials-headlines/20111126-san-bernardino-research-cop-out.ece Another Climate Change report: hopelessness or ridicule? Another report about the changes coming to our region because of Climate Change says that we may get our unfair share of Invasive Species. I haven’t actually read this particular report yet (but I will) though it states what most other reports say about how Climate Change will affect our region. Besides more extreme weather, major disruptions to our economy and public health there are a host of Likely Changes coming. It can be daunting. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/environmental-news-in-rochester/another-climate-change-report-hopelessness-or-ridicule BLOGS On Our Radar: Global Climate Talks in Durban. Nearly 200 nations open a global conference on climate change, with industrialized countries arguing that big developing economies like China, India and Brazil must submit to emissions targets regardless of whether wealthier countries set global warming in motion. [Reuters] The United Nations says that one-quarter of the world’s land is badly degraded and that the trend must be reversed if a soaring global population is to be fed. [Huffington Post] Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/on-our-radar-global-climate-talks-in-durban/?ref=science Most dire global warming forecasts unlikely, study finds. Significant, risky, global warming still projected. New research takes some of the most dire global warming projections off the table. A study published last week in the journal Science concludes that the more extreme climate change scenarios, which involve temperature increases of up to 10°F are implausible. Instead, the study finds, we are likely in the midst of a more manageable, but still potentially dangerous, shift in the planet’s climate. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/most-dire-global-warming-forecasts-unlikely-study-finds/2011/11/27/gIQAz2er4N_blog.html CO2 sensitivity possibly less than most extreme projections. A new study in the journal Science suggests that the global climate may be less sensitive to carbon dioxide fluctuations than predicted by the most extreme projections, and maybe slightly less than the best estimates of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Andreas Schmittner, a climate scientist at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore., and lead author on the new study, notes that, while man-made global warming is happening and …Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/11/co2-sensitivity-possibly-less-than-most-extreme-projections.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29 Oakland aims to add more businesses to its “green certified” list. What do the Chabot Space and Science Center, PGAdesign, Red Oak Realty, The Tip Top Bike Shop, Mr. Sparkle Window Washers, and Baja Taqueria have in common? They are all “green” businesses in Oakland. Oakland is currently home to 138 green certified businesses—restaurants, stores and offices that meet county standards of energy efficiency, water conservation, recycling, and waste reduction, among other things. Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/inoakland/2011/11/28/oakland-aims-to-add-more-businesses-to-its-%e2%80%9cgreen-certified%e2%80%9d-list/ CA, Capitol Republicans Lock Horns over Tailpipe Regs. For California Air Resources Board (ARB) chair Mary Nichols, pre-Thanksgiving prep meant responding to list of requests from Orange County Republican congressman Darrell Issa and his House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. As part of its continuing probe into how the newest Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards were set, the letter asked for information about how California came up with its vehicle emissions standards and what role state officials played in developing the newly announced federal fuel economy standard. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/11/27/draft-congressional-committee-challenges-ca-right-to-regulate-vehicle-emissions/ Study finds no alternative to widespread switching of direct fuel uses to electricity to meet 2050 California GHG targets; putting detail in climate wedges. Technically feasible levels of energy efficiency and decarbonized energy supply alone will not be sufficient to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, according to a detailed modeling of the California economy performed by a team from Energy and Environmental Economics, the Monterey Institute of International Studies, University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/williams-20111127.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:39:09 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 29, 2011 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 29, 2011. 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 EPA Said to Give Power Companies Options to Delay Pollution Rule. The Environmental Protection Agency would let power plants apply for more time to comply with new pollution standards under a rule sent to the White House for review, according to people familiar with the process. The EPA stopped short of granting an across-the-board delay in implementing the rules, as sought by companies such as American Electric Power Co. (AEP) and Southern Co. (SO), …Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-29/epa-proposal-said-to-give-power-companies-option-to-delay-pollution-rules.html CLIMATE CHANGE Japan Aims to Start Bilateral Carbon Offset Program in 2013. Japan aims to start a program to work with companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries in 2013, according to a new set of action plans to be introduced at the climate talks in Durban today. The government has been preparing the bilateral offset credit mechanism program to cut emissions by establishing energy management systems and forest protection projects with Japanese companies such as Toshiba Corp. (6502) and Marubeni Corp. (8002) in developing countries. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-29/japan-aims-to-start-bilateral-carbon-offset-program-in-2013.html China: Kyoto Dispute Puts UN Talks in Peril. China said the debate on whether to extend the Kyoto Protocol’s limits on greenhouse gases risks destroying the international response to global warming, raising the chance this year’s talks in South Africa will fail. Su Wei, the lead negotiator from Beijing, said it’s essential for industrial nations to sign up to another round of emissions reductions under the pact, whose limits expire next year. Japan, Canada and Russia already have rejected extending the treaty. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-29/kyoto-treaty-dispute-puts-un-s-global-warming-talks-in-peril-china-says.html Financing battle emerges at climate change talks. International climate negotiators were at odds Tuesday on how to raise billions of dollars to help poor countries cope with global warming. A major shipping group is willing to help, endorsing a proposal for a carbon tax on vessels carrying the world's trade. Details of the tussle over the funding emerged as the U.N.'s weather agency reported that 2011 was tied as the 10th hottest year since records began in 1850. Arctic sea ice, a barometer for the entire planet, had shrunk to a record low volume, said the World Meteorological Organization. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hUSEGKJg9ZgOzwrbhnE_QptC5eyQ?docId=cdc3bd8ce82a4615ad32197137ce8f49 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/11/29/international/i091455S64.DTL http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19430690?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19430690?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/story/2011-11-29/global-temperatures-rising-climate-change-conference-durban/51464574/1 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/28/climate-conference-durban_n_1116043.html LG Electronics USA Announces Industry-leading Greenhouse Gas Reduction Commitment. LG Electronics USA today announced it will voluntarily reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50 percent by the end of 2020, compared with a 2007 baseline. Like most companies, LG's energy use represents the vast majority of its GHG emissions. LG Electronics USA, the principal North American subsidiary of global leader LG Electronics, has operations in a dozen states with facilities using about 19.4 million kilowatt hours annually. Posted. http://pr-usa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=980734&Itemid=30 DIESEL EMISSIONS Tulare board likely to OK reverting nine garbage trucks back to diesel. It's back to diesel-powered engines for nine of Tulare's 33 garbage trucks. Tulare Board of Public Utilities commissioners are likely to approve Thursday a $132,000 contract to revert to diesel the nine trucks that run on liquefied natural gas and install soot filters, following a mandate from the California Air Resources Board. Porterville's E.M. Tharp submitted the lowest bid for the contract, winning it over three Fresno companies. Posted. http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20111129/NEWS01/111290306 FUELS Renewable Power Trumps Fossils for First Time as UN Talks Stall. Renewable energy is surpassing fossil fuels for the first time in new power-plant investments, shaking off setbacks from the financial crisis and an impasse at the United Nations global warming talks. Electricity from the wind, sun, waves and biomass drew $187 billion last year compared with $157 billion for natural gas, oil and coal, according to calculations by Bloomberg New Energy Finance using the latest data.Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-25/fossil-fuels-beaten-by-renewables-for-first-time-as-climate-talks-founder.html VEHICLES Toyota taking orders in Japan for Prius Plug-in. Toyota began taking orders Tuesday for the plug-in version of its hit Prius hybrid, announcing efficient mileage and a relatively affordable starting price of 3.2 million yen ($41,000), which comes down with green vehicle subsidies. Toyota is targeting Prius Plug-in sales of 35,000 to 40,000 a year in Japan, and 60,000 globally. The car is set for delivery in Japan in January. With subsidies the cost comes down to 2.75 million yen ($35,200). It starts at $32,000 in the U.S. and 37,000 euros in Europe, according to Toyota. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19430637?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com EU project to train EV & charging stations personnel starts. The ELEVTRA project, funded by the European Life Long Learning programme, has kicked off to develop e-learning and hands-on practice courses for electronics technicians involved in maintaining and repairing electric vehicles and charging stations. cars21.com will play an active role in building a cluster of OEMs, engineers and training institutes to validate the quality of developed modules. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/70320111129.php GREEN ENERGY Chinese solar power companies say US trade complaint will hurt American jobs, consumers. Leaders of China’s solar power industry rejected a U.S. trade complaint that they receive unfair government support and said Tuesday possible sanctions would hurt American consumers and development of clean energy. Solar and other renewable energy technology has emerged as an irritant in U.S.-Chinese trade. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/chinese-solar-power-companies-say-us-trade-complaint-will-hurt-american-jobs-consumers/2011/11/29/gIQA5ZcZ7N_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/29/chinese-solar-companies-reject-us-trade/ OPINIONS Energy Subsidies Stymie Wind, Solar Innovation: Nathan Myhrvold. This month, the U.S. Department of Commerce launched a formal investigation into complaints, lodged by the U.S. solar-cell manufacturers, that the government of China is funneling loan guarantees, grants and subsidies to its solar-cell companies. Apparently, the Commerce Department is shocked, shocked to learn that a government would subsidize the solar industry. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-28/energy-subsidies-stymie-wind-solar-innovation-nathan-myhrvold.html http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/capitol/without_subsidies_solar_and_wind_G2jkVjIuK7yFA5qe3o26cO Democrats need to get real about U.S. energy policy. The former generation of Democratic legislators would have embraced the energy opportunities before the U.S. now. Whoever is president in 2013 will have a rare chance to transform the energy picture. Let me say upfront that I have always been a Democrat. However, I also vote my conscience and have supported independent candidates. Today, energy policy is one area where I think my party is wrong. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-ebinger-energy-20111128,0,5467217.story Thomas Elias: Climate change doubts behind attack on smog board. Climate change skepticism by one congressman among California's 53 ordinarily doesn't matter much. But coming from Darrell Issa, the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it's now leading to one of the most significant attacks ever on California's lead smog-fighting agency, the state Air Resources Board (ARB). Issa, representing a conservative north San Diego County district, does not dispute that the globe has warmed. Posted. http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20111129/OPINION04/111290302/Thomas-Elias-Climate-change-doubts-behind-attack-smog-board http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/elias/elias-climate-change-doubts-behind-attack-on-smog-board/article_30e5156f-d024-5e3e-8a85-22b01f029873.html http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_19397374 BLOGS Straight Talk on Climate Progress in California and Beyond. With the latest round of contentious international climate treaty negotiations getting under way in Durban, South Africa, it’s worth revisiting what would be required to meet ambitious targets set for greenhouse gases in California, a state that already has pledged meaningful action. There’s a new peer-reviewed study of California’s plans, published in the current issue of Science that largely echoes points made in a study by the California Council on Science and Technology …Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/real-world-paths-to-climate-progress-in-california-and-beyond/?src=twrhp Qatar, Greenhouse Gas Titan, Will Host Next U.N. Climate Summit. The Persian Gulf nation of Qatar has been selected as the site of next year’s United Nations climate change meeting, edging out South Korea. The announcement came as this year’s meeting opened in Durban, South Africa, with delegates from 194 nations facing growing concerns about rising global temperatures and more frequent climate-related catastrophes. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/qatar-greenhouse-gas-titan-will-host-next-u-n-climate-summit/ Will the Lights Stay On in Texas and New England? Texas and New England may soon run short of the generating capacity they need to reliably meet peak loads, largely because old plants will be retired rather than retrofitted to meet new pollution rules, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation reported on Monday. The reliability corporation, assigned by the federal government to enforce rules on the power grid, issued a 10-year forecast that conveys a greater level of uncertainty than previous predictions. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/will-the-lights-stay-on-in-texas-and-new-england/ 2011: A year of extreme weather, and the 10th-hottest on record. Reporting From Johannesburg, South Africa -- The last 15 years have been the hottest on record and included all 10 of the warmest years, the U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization announced Tuesday as 20,000 delegates from more than 190 countries met in South Africa to try to hash out a way forward to halt climate change. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/11/2011-a-year-of-extreme-weather-and-the-10th-hottest-on-record.html How California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard Can Help Move America Beyond Oil. This year, California began quietly implementing the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) that will result in production of clean, safe and renewable forms of energy to fuel our cars and trucks. The LCFS is one of the state's biggest measures to reduce our oil dependency, spur much-needed investment, and creating clean fuel jobs that will aid California's economic recovery. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/smui/california_begins_moving_beyon.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:13:21 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 30, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 30, 2011. 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 EPA Rules Won’t Cause Major Power-Grid Woes, Agency’s McCarthy Says. Pending air-pollution rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency won’t create major risks for the nation’s electric grid, an agency official said. “In the 40-year history of the Clean Air Act, EPA rules have never caused the lights to go out,” Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, said today at a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission conference in Washington. FERC, which regulates the interstate transport of electricity, is examining the effect of planned EPA air- pollution rules on the reliability of the grid. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-30/epa-rules-won-t-cause-major-power-grid-woes-agency-s-mccarthy-says.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-30/epa-rules-won-t-cause-major-power-grid-woes-mccarthy-says.html STUDY: Ozone pollution linked to lower productivity. Academic researchers have found that ozone pollution, the lung-irritating component of smog, results in significant reductions in work productivity. When ozone levels drop by 10 parts per billion, workers at a Central Valley farm were 4.2 percent more productive, according to the study published by National Bureau of Economic Research. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20111129-study-ozone-pollution-linked-to-lower-productivity.ece Groups challenge 2nd Arctic drilling air permit. Alaska Native and conservation groups are again taking aim at a federal permit needed by a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell to drill for petroleum in Arctic Ocean waters off Alaska's northern shore. Nine groups on Monday challenged an air permit granted to Shell Offshore Inc. by the Environmental Protection Agency for the drilling ship Kulluk, which Shell hopes to use next year in the Beaufort Sea. The groups last month appealed an air permit for the Discoverer and its support vessels, which Shell hopes to use next year in the Chukchi Sea. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gSwXtzCEtBTQ0iLaCRxw_R76TxiQ?docId=c792fd413d634537bc78a87486572c7d AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/alaska-native-conservation-groups-appeal-2nd-air-permit-to-shell-for-arctic-offshore-drilling/2011/11/29/gIQAPCSz9N_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/29/2631761/groups-challenge-2nd-arctic-drilling.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19434281?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19434281?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/29/groups-challenge-second-arctic-drilling-air/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/groups-challenge-nd-arctic-drilling-air-permit/article_0ead3682-b8db-5f27-ba96-b3a4e5dfb94d.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/29/1967268/groups-challenge-2nd-arctic-drilling.html Johnson Controls: Shanghai plant not leaking lead. U.S. battery maker Johnson Controls is at odds with Shanghai's environment regulator over the credibility of tests that the company says show it was not responsible for severe lead poisoning cases in children discovered earlier this year. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based company said Wednesday that an investigation by the China Electric Equipment Industry Association found its battery factory in Shanghai's eastern suburbs was not the cause of elevated blood-lead levels among children in a nearby community. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/29/johnson-controls-shanghai-plant-not-leaking-lead/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/johnson-controls-shanghai-plant-not-leaking-lead/article_d1258cb0-ff50-5825-8fc2-4af773247f5f.html Once more, from the top: Shutting down dirty coal plants won’t cause blackouts. Could Americans soon be forced to suffer through rolling blackouts and power shortages because of a heartless, hapless, tyrannical EPA, as conservatives and dirty utilities are suggesting? The short answer is, no. The long answer is, no. But the long one requires a bit of explanation. A Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) conference on electrical-system reliability, along with the release of a couple new reports, has revived a simmering dispute over the effects of upcoming EPA regulations. Posted. http://www.grist.org/coal/2011-11-29-shutting-down-dirty-coal-plants-wont-cause-blackouts CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change battle framed in moral terms by environmental coalition. A broad coalition of civic leaders, elected officials and labor, environmental and social activists launched a new campaign Wednesday aimed at persuading U.S. politicians that they should curb greenhouse gas emissions for moral and ethical reasons. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/climate-change-battle-framed-in-moral-terms-by-environmental-coalition/2011/11/30/gIQA4NhADO_blog.html Countries at odds over raising, managing billions of dollars to fight climate change. Durban, South Africa — International climate negotiators were at odds Tuesday on how to raise billions of dollars to help poor countries cope with global warming. A major shipping group is willing to help, endorsing a proposal for a carbon tax on vessels carrying the world’s trade. Details of the tussle over the funding emerged as the U.N.’s weather agency reported that 2011 was tied as the 10th hottest year since records began in 1850. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/un-weather-office-affirms-earths-longterm-warming-trend-arctic-ice-shrinks-to-record-lows/2011/11/29/gIQAdlyi7N_story.html Permafrost Thaw May Emit More Than Deforestation, Study Says. Emissions from thawing permafrost may contribute more to global warming than deforestation this century, according to a commentary in the journal Nature. Arctic warming of 7.5 degrees Celsius (13.5 degrees Fahrenheit) this century may unlock the equivalent of 380 billion tons of carbon dioxide as soils thaw, allowing carbon to escape as CO2 and methane, University of Florida and University of Alaska biologists wrote today in Nature. Two degrees of warming would release a third of that, they said. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-30/permafrost-thaw-may-emit-more-than-deforestation-study-says.html http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45494959# UN scientist: fighting climate change saves costs. The U.N.'s top climate scientist cautioned climate negotiators Wednesday that global warming is leading to human dangers and soaring financial costs, but containing carbon emissions will have a host of benefits. Rajendra Pachauri, head of the Nobel-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, summarized a litany of potential disasters at a U.N. climate conference in the South African city of Durban. Although he gave no explicit deadlines, the implication was that time is running out for greenhouse gas emissions to level off and begin to decline. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/nov/30/un-scientist-fighting-climate-change-saves-costs/ http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19438829?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19438829?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/un-scientist-fighting-climate-change-saves-costs/article_7a8e51b6-8767-5aab-bd19-be83c9e8674f.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/29/1966823/financing-battle-emerges-at-climate.html Report offers 'carbon neutral' road map for California. If Californians are going to reach their goal of massive greenhouse gas reductions in the next 40 years, they’ve got their work cut out for them. But the goal is not impossible, according to a team of researchers that has provided a blueprint to get there. In a paper published last week in the online version of the journal Science, the authors show it is possible for California to achieve its state-mandated goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/report-offers-carbon-neutral-road-map-california-13786 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/30/california-greenhouse-gas_n_1120912.html VEHICLES Civic Natural Gas available to more consumers. Thirteen years after launching its natural gas-powered Civic as a low-emission, low-fuel-price vehicle for public utilities and other business fleets, Honda is expanding availability to more consumers than ever. For the first time, car shoppers in 30-plus states should find natural gas-powered Civics sitting on lots at select Honda dealerships. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/11/30/2632629/civic-natural-gas-available-to.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19439711?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19439711?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com House Republican wants answers from auto CEOs on fuel rules. The chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee wants the chief executives of 15 major automakers to answer detailed questions about the government's 2017-2025 proposed fuel economy regulations. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., sent 11-page letters late Monday to top executives at General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., Chrysler Group LLC, Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co., Honda Motor Co., Hyundai Motor Co. and eight other automakers. Posted. http://www.detnews.com/article/20111129/AUTO01/111290423/1361/House-Republican-wants-answers-from-auto-CEOs-on-fuel-rules Green cars in spotlight at waning Japan auto show. Green cars rolled into the spotlight at the Tokyo auto show as Japan's automakers look to fuel efficient technology to reinvigorate growth after tough times. The showcase for Japan's pillar auto industry was holding its preview for media on Wednesday ahead of opening to the public on Saturday. Plug-in hybrids and electric cars are centerstage at the Tokyo Motor Show - reflecting both how green cars are growing in popularity and the low profile of foreign automakers at the event. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/11/29/1967612/green-cars-in-spotlight-at-waning.html#ixzz1fDBQdrzX GM's Volt battery fires threaten to knock 'moon shot' off target. When General Motors Co. announced plans in June 2008 to build the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, executives called it a "moon shot" intended to rocket past Toyota Motor Corp. in technology leadership. Now the car is a flash-point for concern. The automaker's image car is the subject of a U.S. probe following fires that occurred in its lithium-ion batteries at least a week after three crash tests. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111129/OEM05/311299835/1186 GREEN ENERGY BofA to fund SolarCity's military housing project. A billion-dollar project by SolarCity to stick solar panels on military housing across the country will proceed solely with private financing, after the federal government backed out in the wake of Solyndra's bankruptcy. SolarCity, based in San Mateo, will report today that it has reached an agreement with Bank of America Merrill Lynch to fund the effort, which is expected to cost more than $1 billion and take five years. SolarCity calls it the largest residential solar project in history, potentially providing electricity to 120,000 military housing units. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/30/BUAG1M5MBP.DTL&type=printable With help from chambers of commerce, local businesses go green. Chambers of commerce have long been known for furthering the interests of local businesses. Now, more consumers want an economy that is steering toward sustainability, too, and that’s made Merced’s own chamber a champion of green business practices. The Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce launched a Green Team this past summer. Posted. http://www.healthycal.org/archives/6281 MISCELLANEOUS Bullet train funding plan faulted. The Legislative Analyst's Office says the financing plan does not fulfill key requirements of the ballot measure voters approved to authorize the project. The funding plan for the California bullet train does not comply with key provisions of a ballot measure that voters approved to authorize the project and $9 billion in state bonds to help finance it, according to a report released Tuesday. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rail-report-20111130,0,977227.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Flocal+%28L.A.+Times+-+California+%7C+Local+News%29 http://www.mercurynews.com/california-high-speed-rail/ci_19436537 Global warming hates the Ohio State Buckeyes. This Saturday's Crankshaft cartoon took on global warming, noting that climate change is threatening Ohio's iconic buckeye trees, the namesake of the Ohio State Buckeyes. "Once it starts to affect football, they'll get moving on climate change," one character says… As greenhouse pollution from oil and coal continues to build, the Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) is on its way out of the Buckeye State. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-11-29-global-warming-hates-the-ohio-state-buckeyes OPINIONS EDITORIAL: A climate of fraud. The latest release of 5,000 emails from the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit (CRU) reconfirms what the 2009’s “Climategate” files established: Global warming is more fiction than science. The basic problem with climate research is that it is at best soft science, and this leaked correspondence demonstrate just how unsettled it is. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/29/a-climate-of-fraud/ LOIS HENRY: Air Board study in error? They don't seem to care. You'd think I would cease to be amazed at the "damn the facts, full speed ahead" MO exhibited by California's air pollution cabal. And yet, here I sit, astounded once again. Not only did an obscure but important committee in the bowels of the California Air Resources Board recently ignore dozens of pages of serious criticisms of a new pollution study, but at least one committee member seems to have zero understanding of how such studies are used to create regulations that affect all of us out here in real people land. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/columnist/henry/x1347873497/LOIS-HENRY-Air-Board-study-in-error-They-dont-seem-to-care RUCKER: Scary climate talks in Durban. It’s that time of year again. Another holiday season and another United Nations climate conference is getting under way in some remote corner of the world. The good news for those of us skeptical of global warming fear-mongering is that the chance of U.N. delegates now gathered in Durban, South Africa, agreeing to a revamped global warming treaty is slim. The bad news is that much remains at stake. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/29/scary-climate-talks-in-durban// BLOGS Global warming forgotten in 2012 race. One interesting phenomenon of the 2012 race has been the disappearance of global warming as a campaign issue. Not surprising among the Republicans, but not even President Obama is talking about it. When President Obama was running during more flush economic times, he promised to raise everyone’s power bill in order to save the planet. In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle editorial board on January 17, 2008, President Obama stated that, “Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-insiders/post/global-warming-forgotten-in-2012-race/2011/11/30/gIQA29CBDO_blog.html The Chevrolet Volt Fire in Perspective. It was probably only a matter of time before we saw this story: An electric vehicle’s battery pack catches fire, drawing into question the safety of electric vehicles in general. Ever since lithium-ion batteries were found to sometimes catch fire in laptops or cell phones, sooner or later we’d most probably see the same thing happening to a car battery – after all, EVs essentially use the same battery chemistry. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/11/chevrolet-volt-fire-lets-put-perspective/ Darrell Issa asks 15 automakers if higher CAFE level might hurt sales, safety. Darrell Issa is on a mission. The House Republican from California is stepping up his quest to figure out if the new CAFE standards are part of President Obama's "Green-Energy Agenda is Killing Jobs" (Okay, technically, that's Issa's report about Solyndra, but it shows where he's coming from) or potentially affecting safety. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/11/29/darrell-issa-asks-15-automakers-if-higher-cafe-level-might-hurt/ Honda outlines technology for fuel efficiency push; engines, transmissions, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains. In Tokyo, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. outlined its plans for next-generation automotive technology—which it is labeling “Earth Dreams Technology”—comprising a series of measures to improve the efficiency of gasoline and diesel engines, transmissions, hybrid and plug-in hybrid systems and electric powertrains. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/honda-20111130.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2011 12:25:25 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Nesclips for December 1, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for December 1, 2011. 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 Fracturing-Pollution Rule to Burden U.S. Gas Producers, API Says. Air-pollution limits proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency for U.S. oil and gas production, including hydraulic fracturing, will be costly and waste time, the American Petroleum Institute said. The EPA’s plan to cut emissions of smog-forming volatile organic compounds by about a quarter, with an almost 95 percent reduction from new and updated gas wells using fracturing, or fracking, will require too many tests and reports, said Howard Feldman, API director of regulatory and scientific affairs. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-01/fracturing-pollution-rule-to-burden-u-s-gas-producers-api-says.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-01/fracturing-pollution-rule-to-burden-u-s-gas-producers-api-says.html Your Town: Air district allows burning. Monterey Bay - Backyard burning allowed. Backyard burning season opens today and continues through April 30 in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, according to the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District. Fires to dispose of dry vegetation cleared before a construction project are also permitted, but burning garbage or treated wood is prohibited at all times. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_19446762 FUELS Pacific Ethanol purchases additional interest in production plant. Sacramento ethanol maker/marketer Pacific Ethanol Inc. has purchased an additional 7 percent ownership interest in New PE Holdco LLC, the owner of PEI's four production facilities with a combined annual capacity of 200 million gallons. PEI said it paid $4.5 million in cash for the additional interest, bringing its total ownership to 27 percent. "Ethanol continues to grow as a cost effective and low-carbon component of transportation fuel, and we intend to seek additional ownership opportunities…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/01/4093248/pacific-ethanol-purchases-additional.html VEHICLES BMW to Supply Diesel Engines to Toyota in Europe. Tokyo—Toyota Motor Corp. and BMW AG said Thursday they have forged a partnership in which the two will conduct joint battery research for next-generation green cars and BMW will supply diesel engines to Toyota. "We think that this collaboration will allow for development of next-generation batteries to be done faster and to a higher level," Takeshi Uchiyamada said at a press conference in Tokyo. In addition to the research on lithium-ion batteries, the two car makers will discuss other possible environmental-technology projects. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203833104577071554239661524.html?_nocache=1322766527126&user=welcome BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-01/bmw-to-supply-toyota-with-diesel-engines-in-partnership-deal.html State analyst slams high-speed rail plans. The High-Speed Rail Authority's recently revised plans still fall short, according to a new report from the state's independent legislative analyst, and could leave the state with nothing more than a useless 130-mile stretch of tracks in the Central Valley. The report, released to the Assembly Transportation Committee Tuesday, says the overhauled draft business plan, and a financial plan to start construction late next year, fail to satisfy the requirements of Proposition 1A, …Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/01/BAKN1M69CU.DTL&type=printable BLOGS Congressman Presses California on Fuel-Economy Standards. Suspecting that California regulators may be exerting unlawful influence over the agencies that determine federal fuel-economy standards, Representative Darrell Issa has begun an inquiry into the practices of the California Air Resources Board, or CARB, the agency charged with setting pollution standards for the state. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/congressman-presses-california-on-fuel-economy-standards/ Inquiry into California's Role in CAFE Standards Launched. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has launched an inquiry to determine if the California Air Resources Board (CARB) exerted influence "outside the scope of law" over the setting of the next round of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. The state board is tasked with regulating greenhouse-gas emissions, while the authority to set national CAFE standards is delegated by Congress exclusively to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Posted. http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=486e54b3-3ed6-42f4-aebb-f370f5b3e198 How local weather influences our climate beliefs. Weather isn’t the same thing as climate. Just because it’s sunny or chilly on a given day doesn’t tell us all that much about long-term temperature trends. Even so, plenty of research suggests that local weather does heavily influence how people think about climate change. Back in 2009, survey data from Patrick Egan and Megan Mullin found that Americans were more likely to agree that there was “solid evidence” of climate change on hotter-than-average days. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/how-local-weather-influences-our-climate-beliefs/2011/12/01/gIQAY6C3GO_blog.html Four city members appointed to Valley air board. Four new members have been appointed this week to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's governing board. All represent cities in the Valley. They include: Councilmember Oliver L. Baines III of Fresno, Vice Mayor Melvin "Skip" Barwick of Tulare, Councilmember Sally J. Bomprezzi of Madera and Councilmember Harold Hanson of Bakersfield. Posted. http://fresnobeehive.com/news/2011/11/four_new_members_have_been.html#storylink=misearch California shows its oddity over low sulfur regulations. There never has been a public agency that made a regulation that makes complete sense. From December 1 the California air Resources Board is enforcing low sulfur fuel requirements, the most important of which come into effect on June 1, 2012. What does come into effect immediately is the 24-nm mile zone in which the low sulfur rules apply. And here is the big change. Posted. http://www.maritimeprofessional.com/Blogs/Martin-Rushmere/November-2011/California-shows-its-oddity-over-low-sulfur-regula.aspx Growth isn't so green at the Port of Long Beach's Pier S project. The Port of Long Beach is still the cause of frightening levels of toxic air pollution in harbor area neighborhoods, despite the progress the port has made in reducing its air pollution levels. They are now proposing to build a new cargo terminal at the port, on a piece of land called “Pier S.” While they are proposing to include a host of technologies to reduce the air pollution from this project, the reality is that we just do not yet have enough technology to reduce the air pollution down to safe levels. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/mwyenn/growth_isnt_so_green_at_the_po.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 11:40:00 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 2, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for December 2, 2011. 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 EPA eases boiler rule; health benefits unchanged. Facing criticism from industry and lawmakers, the Obama administration is easing rules aimed at reducing toxic air pollution from industrial boilers and incinerators. But administration officials maintain the health benefits of the regulation won't change. In a proposal released Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency said it would place emissions limits on the largest and most polluting boilers. Smaller ones could meet the rule through routine tune-ups. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gKf2cc2AP1n-eOB07GFh7_zwbp9g?docId=f03c65589e334266898231b10de5d501 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/new-proposal-eases-some-requirements-on-boilers-but-preserves-health-benefits/2011/12/02/gIQALmJ3KO_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/02/national/w083908S70.DTL http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/02/2635358/epa-eases-boiler-rule-health-benefits.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/02/4095400/epa-eases-boiler-rule-health-benefits.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/epa-eases-boiler-rule-health-benefits-unchanged/article_51bd4643-bca3-59d0-b649-e454d2fee1c6.html#ixzz1fPAC24sp http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/02/1971310/epa-eases-boiler-rule-health-benefits.html BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19456516?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com CLIMATE CHANGE China signals coming shift in measuring CO2 limits. An influential Chinese analyst says his country may adjust how it measures carbon emission targets as early as 2020, bringing it more in line with Western governments and signaling a possible opening in international climate negotiations. Xu Huaqing, a senior researcher for China's Energy Research Institute, was quoted Friday in the semiofficial China Daily as saying Beijing could set absolute caps on its carbon emissions — comments later confirmed privately by one of China's top climate negotiators on the sidelines of the international climate talks in South Africa. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_CLIMATE_CHINA?SITE=TXBEA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/02/international/i101109S99.DTL http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/02/4095552/china-signals-coming-shift-in.html#storylink=misearch http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19456880?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB TRU Compliance Extension Application Forms now Available. Owner of reefer equipment unable to comply with the Dec. 31 2011 deadline due to delays in delivery, installation, or financing, reefer owners may apply for a compliance extension. Back on Oct. 21, 2011, the California Air Resources Board approved an amendment to the Transport Refrigeration Unit (TRU or reefer) regulation that allows compliance dates to be extended for a limited time. For model year 2004 engines, owners must make a good-faith effort to comply by the end of 2011. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=75442 Frito-Lay Electric Delivery Trucks Hit the "Green" Streets of Orlando. PepsiCo's Frito-Lay North America announces ten new electric trucks will be rolling out in Orlando. These electric delivery trucks will ultimately be part of the largest planned fleet of commercial all-electric trucks in North America. Electric trucks reduce fuel consumption, noise pollution and CO2 emissions, compared to traditional delivery trucks. In total, Frito-Lay will deploy 176 electric trucks this year in the U.S. and Canada, making Frito-Lay the largest commercial fleet of all-electric trucks in North America. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/02/4095037/frito-lay-electric-delivery-trucks.html#storylink=misearch FUELS Learning Too Late of Perils in Gas Well Leases. After Scott Ely and his father talked with salesmen from an energy company about signing the lease allowing gas drilling on their land in northeastern Pennsylvania, he said he felt certain it required the company to leave the property as good as new. So Mr. Ely said he was surprised several years later when the drilling company, Cabot Oil and Gas, informed them that rather than draining and hauling away the toxic drilling sludge stored in large waste ponds on the property, it would leave the waste, cover it with dirt and seed the area with grass. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/us/drilling-down-fighting-over-oil-and-gas-well-leases.html?pagewanted=1&ref=science 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas. Thirteen years after launching its natural gas-powered Civic as a low-emission, low-fuel-price vehicle for public utilities and other business fleets, Honda is expanding availability to more consumers than ever. For the first time, car shoppers in 30-plus states, including California, should find natural gas-powered Civics sitting on lots at select Honda dealerships. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19449364?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19449364?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com GREEN ENERGY Geoengineering could save Earth—or destroy it. Brighten clouds with sea water? Spray aerosols high in the stratosphere? Paint roofs white and plant light-colored crops? How about positioning "sun shades" over the Earth? At a time of deep concern over global warming, a group of scientists, philosophers and legal scholars examined whether human intervention could artificially cool the Earth—and what would happen if it did. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/01/international/i214745S94.DTL http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19453934?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/01/1970769/geoengineering-could-save-earth.html#ixzz1fPBmNoZV BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19456673?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com Obama, Clinton together again, pitching efficiency. President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton are presenting a unified front in pushing more energy-efficient government and private buildings. The unusual joint appearance of Obama and the popular former president is drawing outsize attention to a $4 billion administration initiative aimed at achieving fuel savings and job creation at no increased cost to taxpayers. Obama says the program will help create jobs, save money and cut down on pollution. He calls it a "trifecta." The cost to renovate buildings is to be off-set by energy savings. Clinton calls it "the nearest thing we've got to a free lunch in a tough economy." Obama and Clinton announced the plan Friday at a downtown office building that is undergoing renovations under the new commitment. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/obama-clinton-together-again-pitching-efficiency/article_75045247-51cd-5c92-983e-969107642766.html#ixzz1fPAZU789 Yet more evidence that shutting down coal plants will not threaten reliability. Remember way back, uh, two days ago when I wrote a post arguing that new EPA rules will not threaten electric system reliability? Well, just in the last day or so, more evidence has emerged to support that position. I enjoy being right, so I'm doing a follow-up post. Hopefully this will not be a daily thing. First, as Inside EPA reports, the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), a trade group for investor-owned utilities, has done its own internal study on coal-plant shutdowns. Posted. http://www.grist.org/coal/2011-12-01-evidence-shutting-down-coal-plants-will-not-threaten-reliability VEHICLES Toyota, BMW to work on greener car battery. Auto giants Toyota and BMW said Thursday they have agreed to collaborate on research for cleaner, next-generation car batteries, underlining the growing push in the industry for green technology. The agreement brings together Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's No. 1 carmaker and a leader in gas-electric hybrids, and BMW AG of Germany, a European maker that has a strong luxury brand image in both Japan and Europe. "We are now joining forces to further develop environmentally-friendly technologies and to expand our innovation leadership in each of our segments," Norbert Reithofer, chairman of BMW, said in a statement. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19446623?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19446623?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Portable chargers to the rescue for EVs. With the increased number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads, the complementary services become ever more important. Just like a car with an internal combustion engine can run out of gas, an EV can run out of electricity. In response to this need companies are starting a number of pilot projects to assist EVs with mobile charging points. As electric cars become more and more popular, there is an increasingly large number of firms providing charging equipment for EVs, ranging from wall-mounted residential charging points through to large, commercial rapid charging stations for parking places, shopping centres and gas stations. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/70620111202.php Electric Vehicles Critical to the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas. A research report, conducted by the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Energy and Environmental Economics, concluded that the widespread substitution of direct fuel is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The research indicates that the transformation poses significant concurrent opportunities and challenges for economic growth and climate policy, unrealized technology development, infrastructure transformation and capital investment. Posted. http://lithiuminvestingnews.com/4775/electric-vehicles-lithium-batteries-greenhouse-gas/ MISCELLANEOUS Cupertino: Solar panel project nearly complete at De Anza College. The sun is setting on the installation of De Anza College's solar panel project. Preparation is nearly complete and designers hope to turn on the electricity-saving devices in mid-December. Campus visitors and motorists can easily spot the large panels doubling as shade structures in the campus parking lots. The panels will have a capacity of 1.1 megawatt hours and an expected first-year output of approximately 2.3 million kilowatts per hour, according to the college's website. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19453056?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.mercurynews.com/sunnyvale/ci_19453056?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com BLOGS New Pollution Rules for Boilers and Incinerators. The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday released its much-delayed and oft-revised air quality regulations for industrial boilers and incinerators. The proposal is a modest refashioning of boiler rules introduced earlier this year, which were themselves a major revision of a 2010 plan by the agency that drew heavy political and industry opposition. The E.P.A. has been recalibrating its approach to pollution regulation in recent months after President Obama made it clear that he was going to give close scrutiny to rules that impose heavy compliance costs on businesses and local governments. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/new-pollution-rules-for-boilers-and-incinerators/ On Our Radar: China Hints at Emissions Timetable. For the first time, a Chinese official suggests that Beijing is “likely” to agree to a target for limiting its greenhouse gas emissions after 2020. But that depends on the outcome of international climate change negotiations in Durban, South Africa, he says. [China Daily] Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/on-our-radar-china-hints-at-emissions-timetable/ Durban Climate Talks: What’s At Stake? When UN climate chief Christiana Figueres kicked off the Durban Climate Summit this week, she told those assembled that a commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions was “the defining issue of this conference.” She went on to quote former president Nelson Mandela, who said, speaking of the great struggle he led his people through, “It always seems impossible until it is done.” Ten points for the positive attitude, but the challenges are daunting. For starters, the US, according to a letter sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton from sixteen organizations including Greenpeace, NRDC, Oxfam, UCS and the WWF, appears to be an “obstacle to progress.” Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/12/durban-climate-talks-whats-stake/ GM now willing to buy back Volts from worried owners. According to the Associated Press, GM CEO Dan Akerson has said General Motors will buy back any Chevrolet Volt from owners who are concerned about the vehicle's fire risk. Akerson said that his company isn't making the move because the plug-in hybrids are unsafe, but because GM is committed to keeping its customers happy. The CEO also said that GM is prepared to recall the 6,000 Volt models currently on the road if the federal government deems such an action necessary. As you may recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that the Volt could catch fire several days after a severe side-impact crash and rollover. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/02/gm-now-willing-to-buy-back-volts-from-worried-owners/ A hole in the ground: Storing carbon dioxide thousands of feet below Illinois. One blazing hot afternoon in August of 2010, I stood on a mountain top in Alabama, staring at a styrofoam beer cooler upended over the top of a metal pole. Alongside me were a couple dozen sweaty engineers and geologists. That beer cooler was one of the few visible signs of the research project happening far below our feet. Over the course of two months, scientists from the University of Alabama had injected 278 tons of carbon dioxide into the Earth. The goal was to keep it there forever, locked in geologic formations. Posted. http://boingboing.net/2011/12/02/a-hole-in-the-ground.html Steyr introduces first production natural gas tractor with FPT engine; diesels with SCR and idle speed management. Steyr has introduced the first production tractor powered by natural gas. The new Steyr Profi 4135 Natural Power is equipped with a turbocharged mono-fuel CNG engine, made by Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT), another Fiat group company. (Steyr is part of CNH Global N.V., a majority-owned subsidiary of Fiat Industrial S.p.A., and was originally formed by the merger of Case Corp. and New Holland in 1999.) Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/steyr-20111202.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2011 14:12:08 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 5, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for December 5, 2011. 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 Clean-Coal Rules Are a Boon for Some. Stricter federal emissions rules, intended to make exhaust from the nation's smokestacks cleaner, are putting pressure on utilities but are expected to be a boon to providers of pollution-reduction technology for coal-fired power plants. Companies that make systems for filtering out pollutants such as mercury, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide say they are seeing a surge in demand for their equipment ahead of several new standards proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency earlier this year and expected to start being phased in as early as January 2012. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204443404577053133460933576.html?mod=googlenews_wsj BY SUBSCRIPTION Smog Closes Beijing Airport. Beijing — Capital International Airport in Beijing was forced to cancel hundreds of flights on Monday because of heavy smog and weather conditions. The cancellations were the latest sign that pollution in China’s largest cities, among the worst in the world, is leading to significant economic losses. Monday’s air quality index from the United States Embassy’s air monitoring equipment in central Beijing measured more than 300, which is categorized as “hazardous.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/world/asia/smog-closes-beijing-airport.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print CLIMATE CHANGE Back-room negotiations begin on climate intentions. Back-room negotiations began in earnest Monday on a deal to rescue the only treaty governing greenhouse gas reductions and to launch talks on a broader agreement to include the world's largest polluters: China and other emerging economies, the United States and Europe. Key players laid out their opening positions in public at U.N. climate talks in South Africa, and were beginning a round of private meetings to probe each other's meanings and intentions — which remained murky. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_CLIMATE_CONFERENCE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-12-05-12-33-50 Gorillas, tigers at risk due to climate change. Several animal species including gorillas in Rwanda and tigers in Bangladesh could risk extinction if the impact of climate change and extreme weather on their habitats is not addressed, a U.N. report showed on Sunday. Launched on the sidelines of global climate negotiations in Durban, the report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation shows how higher temperatures, the rise in sea levels, deforestation and excessive land use have damaged the habitats of certain species, especially in Africa. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/04/us-climate-wildlife-idUSTRE7B30CU20111204?feedType=RSS Carbon Emissions Rose Record in 2010: Study. The volume of greenhouse gases pumped into the world’s atmosphere increased by an unprecedented amount last year, scientists said in research published as countries meet to discuss how to limit climate change. Emissions rose the equivalent of 510 million metric tons of carbon to 9.14 billion tons in 2010, the most in records dating to 1959, according to data compiled by the Global Carbon Project, which includes scientists from Europe, the U.S. and India. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-05/global-carbon-emissions-rose-record-amount-in-2010-study-shows.html http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/science/earth/record-jump-in-emissions-in-2010-study-finds.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print Global Warming Fight Threatened by Debt Crisis. Global warming concerns are being pushed down the political agenda by the European debt crisis and U.S. economic slump, reducing the chance for an accord limiting climate change this week. “The threat of worsening economic conditions is the ghostly figure at the window for everybody,” Edward Cameron of Washington-based World Resources Institute said in an interview as delegates gathered for United Nations climate talks in Durban, South Africa. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-05/global-warming-fight-threatened-by-debt-crisis-as-kyoto-aim-starts-to-fade.html Hedegaard Says EU Needs More Detail From China on Climate Pact. European Union Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said she needs more information about China’s plan to limit greenhouse gas emissions after meeting officials from Beijing today at UN climate talks. China this week said it’s willing to make a post-2020 legally binding commitment to reducing fossil fuel emissions under certain conditions, including the extension of pollution limits for developed countries under the Kyoto Protocol. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-05/hedegaard-says-eu-needs-more-detail-from-china-on-climate-pact.html Ex-top climate official very concerned by global ‘lack of progress’. DURBAN, South Africa — Yvo de Boer said he left his job as the U.N.’s top climate official in frustration 18 months ago, believing the process of negotiating a meaningful climate agreement is failing. His opinion hasn’t changed. “I still have the same view of the process that led me to leave the process,” he told the Associated Press on Sunday. “I’m still deeply concerned about where it’s going, or rather where it’s not going, about the lack of progress.” Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/4/ex-top-climate-official-very-concerned-by-global-l/ Negotiations begin at climate change conference. Durban, South Africa – Back-room negotiations began in earnest Monday on a deal to rescue the only treaty governing greenhouse gas reductions and to launch talks on a broader agreement to include the world's largest polluters: China and other emerging economies, the United States and Europe. Key players laid out their opening positions in public at U.N. climate talks in South Africa, and were beginning a round of private meetings to probe each other's meanings and intentions — which remained murky. Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/story/2011-12-05/climate-change-conference-durban-negotiations/51653746/1 Balboa Island trying to outsmart a rising sea. City engineers say it could cost about $60 million to replace the island's aging seawalls, a project that could save streets and homes from a projected 1-foot water-level rise by 2050. As people stroll Balboa Island's picturesque waterfront, some wonder how much one of those cozy cottages costs. City officials think about another price tag: how much it will take to defend those homes against rising sea levels. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-seawalls-20111205,0,5901805.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fscience%2Fenvironment+%28L.A.+Times+-+Environment%29 Record jump in carbon emissions last year, study finds. Global emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil-fuel burning jumped by the largest amount on record last year, upending the notion that the brief decline during the recession might persist through the recovery. Emissions rose 5.9 percent in 2010, according to an analysis released Sunday by the Global Carbon Project, an international collaboration of scientists tracking the numbers. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_19470116 Supervisors to discuss cutting greenhouse gas emissions. A plan aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent by 2020 will be considered Tuesday by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. If adopted, the county will have met all the terms of its legal settlement with the state Attorney General's Office in August 2007, county spokesman David Wert said. Then-Attorney General Jerry Brown sued the county in April 2007, alleging its general plan did not include a greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_19469423 California Cap-and-Trade Plan Sets National Example. Americans are becoming ever more aware about the problems associated with human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. And positive changes have been made over recent years with this shift in public awareness. It’s now possible to drive an efficient, all-electric vehicle, such as the Nissan Leaf. Energy-inefficient light bulbs are being phased out by more efficient models. And solar powered consumer electronics are no longer a rarity. Posted. http://planetsave.com/2011/12/05/california-cap-and-trade-plan-sets-national-example/ FUELS U.S. Navy Makes Record Purchase of Biofuel for Ships, Jets. The U.S. Navy will spend $12 million to buy 450,000 gallons of alternative fuel for aircraft, ships and unmanned vehicles, the biggest government purchase of advanced biofuels, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said. The fuel will come from Dynamic Fuels LLC, a joint partnership of Tyson Foods Inc. and Syntroleum Corp., and Solazyme Inc., Mabus said today on a conference call. The cost will be about $26 a gallon, he said. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-05/navy-to-buy-12-million-of-advanced-biofuels-in-record-purchase.html Taking the Fuel Out of Biofuels. Unable to compete with petroleum products, biofuel companies have found replacement products to sell. As advanced biofuel companies work toward creating an economically viable alternative to petroleum, some have found an alternative place to sell their product in the meantime: the specialty-chemicals market. These companies produce oil from algae, wood scraps and other nonfood sources, bypassing the food-versus-fuel debate that has engulfed makers of corn-based ethanol. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204358004577027803109680684.html BY SUBSCRIPTION VEHICLES Electric car maker Aptera closes its doors. Electric car maker Aptera Motors is closing after failing to woo enough investors to bring a new sedan to market. Aptera CEO Paul Wilbur said the Carlsbad-based company closed its doors Friday and laid off all 30 of its employees. The company, which formed in 2006, was hoping to get a $150 million loan from the Department of Energy but needed to raise matching funds, Wilbur said. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/cars/ci_19460332 GREEN ENERGY E-readers or print books - which is greener? Dilemma: When it comes to reading, what's kinder to the environment - an e-reader or books? Of course I'll: Stick with traditional books. Yes, they use paper and ink, but at least I don't need to plug them in. Trade-off: There are carbon emissions in the production of books too, not to mention the loss of carbon-gobbling trees felled for paper. Then I'll: Use the e-reader; as much as I read, it's bound to be a better choice over the long run. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/04/HOCR1M0J6B.DTL&type=green MISCELLANEOUS Alameda County considers mandatory recycling and composting plan. Plan on Dec. 8, Waste Management Authority board meeting agenda. Although a proposed plastic bag ban has captured more attention, another zero-waste proposal has several cities up in arms: The Alameda County Waste Management Authority wants to make recycling mandatory and violators subject to penalties. That could mean fines of up to $1,000 for putting things like newspapers, aluminum cans and food scraps in the garbage instead of recycle and compost bins. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_19470037?source=rss Major gas storage project could generate jobs. A huge energy infrastructure project is taking shape in southwest Bakersfield with promises of creating local jobs and stabilizing natural gas prices in parts of the western United States. The $200 million-plus Tricor Ten Section Hub, envisioned decades ago but considered uneconomical until industry deregulation, would turn what used to be a highly productive oil and gas reservoir into an underground natural gas warehouse hooked up to an interstate pipeline. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/economy/x1584310402/Major-gas-storage-project-could-generate-jobs OPINIONS Viewpoints: Here comes our stuff... but how it gets to the dock and beyond should concern Californians. As we Californians all know, the shelves at our department stores are restocked nightly with merchandise handmade by unseen elves. Our factories are similarly supplied with raw materials and components conjured up by leprechauns, the gasoline sold at the corner filling station is divined by wizards from underground springs, and fresh produce is grown on grocery store roofs by a Green Giant who, if not jolly, at least seems quite pleased with himself. Admittedly, the statements in the first paragraph are mostly untrue. Aunt Philomena long ago admonished me to never dispute the existence of leprechauns. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/04/v-print/4096359/here-comes-our-stuff-but-how-it.html This Is a Big Deal. IN many ways, President Obama has been a disappointment on energy and the environment. He has been completely missing in action on the climate debate. His decision to block his own Environmental Protection Agency from setting new rules to cut smog levels was disappointing. And, while I believe in using the balance sheet of the U.S. government to spur clean-tech research and start-ups, Solyndra was a case of embarrassing excess …Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/opinion/sunday/friedman-this-is-a-big-deal.html?pagewanted=print http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_19464471 Mark Landsbaum: Global warming alarmists try again. Global warming devotees gather for U.N. conference to demand money from developed nations, even as more and more countries defect from “the cause.” It's a good thing the world's economy is going into the toilet. Otherwise, global warming extremists would have done some real damage. It's ironic that as evidence mounted exposing the shaky science and duplicitous scheming behind global warming alarmism, it wasn't these truths that undermined the movement to tax and regulate your carbon footprint. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/global-329709-warming-climate.html Refinery improvement good, but could be better. When a storage tank at the refinery on Rosedale Highway exploded Wednesday, I looked at the towering column of smoke to the west and thought, "Here we go again." The refinery's previous owners, Flying J Inc., operating as Big West of California, didn't engender much public trust with their hush-hush attitude toward operations, including their fairly frequent -- and scary -- mishaps. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/columnist/henry/x345547344/LOIS-HENRY-Refinerys-improvement-is-good-but-could-be-better BLOGS Unusual winter weather may be connected to rapid Arctic climate change, report warns. It’s often said that the Arctic is the proverbial “canary in the coal mine” of global warming, an overused expression that applies in this instance, since the profound changes occurring there as a result of the warming climate are a warning sign for the rest of the world. What is not said enough, however, is that the rapid Arctic climate change, with its associated loss of sea ice and other impacts, may already be influencing weather and climate patterns in the Northern Hemisphere. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/unusual-winter-weather-may-be-connected-to-rapid-arctic-climate-change-report-warns/2011/12/04/gIQAUdQYUO_blog.html On Our Radar: Smog Grounds Flights in Beijing. Thick smog prompts officials to cancel hundreds of flights and shut down some major highways in Beijing. The American Embassy describes current air quality there as “hazardous,” and the official Xinhua news agency says the pollution is likely to reach “dangerous” levels. [Agence France-Presse]At least 30 threatened bird species in Africa and Asia are completely dependent on small-scale human agriculture for survival, according to a study by University of East Anglia researchers. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/on-our-radar-smog-grounds-flights-in-beijing/ Those Romantic Wood Stoves. We’re one cord into an expected six-cord winter and starting the colder part of our year in the Maine woods off the grid with three kids and two cats from the New Jersey suburbs. It’s the first time I have heated with wood, and I miss the simplicity of a thermostat connected to a furnace. There are some good things about heating with wood. I like that wood is a renewable resource and that all of the wood we burn came from the forest around the cabin. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/those-romantic-wood-stoves/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 11:52:44 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 6, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for December 6, 2011. 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 Wood burning discouraged in next few days. San Francisco -- It may very well be a perfect night for a crackling fire, but the Bay Area Air Quality Management District would like you to resist the temptation. District officials are urging Bay Area residents to refrain from burning wood in fireplaces or woodstoves through Tuesday and possibly longer to prevent unhealthy conditions. Eric Stevenson, the director of technical services for the air district, said fire building is discouraged but not prohibited. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/06/BAKV1M8MPH.DTL&type=printable http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_19475922 http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_19475922?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19475922?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/05/bay-area-calls-on-residents-not-to-burn-wood/ http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/05/1975470/bay-area-calls-on-residents-not.html S.J. loses voice on clean-air board. San Joaquin County's pull on a regional air-quality board will be cut in half come January, as Stockton Mayor Ann Johnston leaves the dais at the end of her three-year term on that board. County Supervisor Leroy Ornellas will be the only local representative left on the 15-member board. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111206/A_NEWS/112060319&cid=sitesearch EPA slams Pa.'s new Marcellus air pollution rules. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is criticizing new rules the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is using to determine how to regulate air pollution from Marcellus shale gas wells and development sites near one another. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ( http://bit.ly/rCyqa2) reports Tuesday that the DEP isn't using federal guidelines to determine how close such sites need to be in order to be considered a single, major source of air pollution. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19479744?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19479744?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com CLIMATE CHANGE UN Says Climate Pact ‘Beyond Reach’ United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said a global warming treaty may be “beyond our reach” this week as India and China rejected pressure for developing nations to adopt mandatory pollution targets. “We must be realistic about the opportunity of a breakthrough in Durban,” Ban said at UN climate talks in the South African port city today. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-06/un-says-climate-pact-beyond-our-reach-as-india-rejects-cuts.html Calif. Takes Big Step Toward Greenhouse Gas Limits. First of a two-part series on California's climate policies. California is about to try a radical experiment. A little over a year from now, the state will limit the greenhouse gas emissions from factories and power plants, and, eventually, emissions from vehicles. The U.S. Congress tried to pass a similar plan for the whole country but dropped the idea last year. Paying a price for emissions has many Californians worried about what they'll have to pay for electricity and fuel and everything that takes energy to make. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/12/06/142942778/calif-takes-big-step-toward-greenhouse-gas-limits UN chief doubts comprehensive climate deal likely. An all-encompassing climate deal "may be beyond our reach for now," the U.N. chief said Tuesday as China and India delivered a setback to European plans to negotiate a new treaty that would bind all parties to their pledges on greenhouse gas emissions. The European "road map" toward a new accord that would take effect after 2020 is a centerpiece of negotiations among 194 countries at a U.N. climate conference in the South African coastal city of Durban. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19479220?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/06/2639402/un-chief-doubts-comprehensive.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/06/un-chief-to-open-ministers-level-at-climate/ http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/06/1976116/un-chief-doubts-comprehensive.html County considers plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is set to vote Tuesday on a long-term plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 15 percent by 2020 — the first such sweeping policy in the county. The plan aims to comply with a 2007 settlement agreement with the Attorney General’s office, after the state sued the county for not meeting California Environmental Quality Act requirements in its general plan update. Posted. http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/bernardino-31704-plan-considers.html Natural wonder of roosting swallows disappoints _ is it climate change? Wetlands — critical for the health of South Africa’s coasts and river systems — already have been degraded or seriously altered by human activity, and experts fear global warming threatens them further. As talks to shore up the international response to global warming entered their second and crucial week in the South African coastal city of Durban, environmentalists led a tour of a wetlands area nearby. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_CLIMATE_WETLANDS?SITE=PAREA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/natural-wonder-of-roosting-swallows-disappoints-_-is-it-climate-change/2011/12/06/gIQAuV5lYO_story.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/wetlands-focus-on-climate-talks-sideline/article_34c9e030-7402-5002-9409-cd93fb797db1.html FUELS CARB responds to testy congressional inquiry over fuel mileage. Under fire from the leader of a major congressional committee, the California Air Resources Board has fired back with shots of its own. CARB Chairman Mary Nichols has responded to a congressional inquiry into this past year’s agreement between EPA, CARB and U.S. automakers, and questions of whether CARB overstepped its regulatory bounds in helping EPA and automakers craft national policy for new mpg standards earlier this year. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Nov11/112811/120211-02.shtml VEHICLES Toyota Hybrids Go From Strength to Strength as World No. 1: Cars. Toyota Motor Corp.'s new plug-in Prius threatens to cast a shadow over competitors' hybrids. A successful debut of the Prius PHV, which Toyota will begin selling in 2012, may help Toyota secure its place as the industry leader in gas-and-electric vehicles and undermine General Motors Co.'s prospects with its Chevrolet Volt. Though the Volt, introduced a year ago, was the first plug-in hybrid on the market, its sales are trailing the company's target. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/12/06/bloomberg_articlesLVRE156S9728.DTL Paris to launch electric car sharing program. Paris, in its latest bid to be an innovator of the City of Tomorrow, is launching an electric car-sharing program to cut air and noise pollution on the city's medieval cobblestone streets and beyond. Autolib', a project built on the success of the city's bike-rental scheme, makes its debut Monday and officials want the self-service e-cars to be as much a part of Paris life as the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame Cathedral. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19473034 http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/04/2637181/paris-to-launch-electric-car-sharing.html#storylink=misearch GREEN ENERGY Arnold Schwarzenegger urges candidates to champion green energy. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday urged Republicans running for president to do more to encourage investment in renewable energy, and pledged to be a "cheerleader" for the issue. The former California governor was honored in Washington on Monday night as the "renewable energy leader of the decade" by the American Council on Renewable Energy. Speaking at the group's 10th anniversary dinner, he said the United States had lost its way when it came to investing in developing new sources of energy. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-schwarzenegger-energy-20111205,0,587679.story Santa Cruz releases environmental action plan. Santa Cruz wants to increase the number of solar-powered homes, double bicycle ridership and slash energy use in city buildings under a plan to reduce greenhouse gases by 2020. The city on Monday released the final draft of a Climate Action Plan. It could be approved by March. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/06/1975971/santa-cruz-releases-environmental.html#ixzz1fmUOB9DM A visual representation of renewable energy growth in the U.S. The folks over at Black & Veatch sent me a couple of interesting graphics today. Here is a U.S. map showing installations of non-hydro renewable energy in 1970…A few things jump out. One, there weren't very many! Two, they weren't very big. And three, they were all biomass. In other words, in 1970, renewable energy in the U.S. was effectively nonexistent. Now, here's a U.S. map of non-hydro renewable energy installations built or planned today…Posted. http://www.grist.org/renewable-energy/2011-12-06-a-visual-representation-of-renewable-energy-growth-in-the-u.s MISCELLANEOUS Field Poll: Californians want a chance to vote 'no' on high-speed rail. For all the questions about its management and cost, this much is clear about high-speed rail: Californians who authorized the project three years ago want a do-over, according to a new Field Poll, and by a wide margin they want to vote "no." Opposition to the multibillion-dollar project crosses party lines and includes more than a third of voters who previously favored the state's plan to build a high-speed rail system. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/06/v-print/4102325/field-poll-californians-want-a.html OPINIONS Dan Walters: California's high-speed train losing public support. Has California's bullet train project – or pipe dream – finally run off the track? Voters think so. When the California High-Speed Rail Authority released a much-revised "business plan" for the project that doubled its cost, it won praise in many quarters, including this one, for moving from abject fantasy into at least semi-reality. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/06/v-print/4102223/dan-walters-californias-high-speed.html Eugene Robinson: Dealing with pollution will be key test for Chinese government. Hong Kong – China has to find a way to continue its rapid growth without choking to death. Literally. When I landed in Beijing last week, the sky was a brownish miasma through which distant landmarks were only faintly visible. The moment I stepped outside the city's vast international airport, I noticed an acrid hint of burning coal in the all-too-palpable air. The next day, when I went to see the Great Wall, China's most famous cultural treasure was wreathed in a gauzy shroud of pollution. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/06/v-print/4102145/dealing-with-pollution-will-be.html China faces a series of daunting internal challenges. China has to find a way to continue its rapid growth without choking to death. Literally. When I landed in Beijing last week, the sky was a brownish miasma through which distant landmarks were only faintly visible. The moment I stepped outside the city’s vast international airport, I noticed an acrid hint of burning coal in the all-too-palpable air. The next day, when I went to see the Great Wall, China’s most famous cultural treasure was wreathed in a gauzy shroud of pollution. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/china-faces-a-series-of-daunting-internal-challenges/2011/12/05/gIQAYx6qXO_story.html An unfair fight for renewable energies. More energy from the sun hits Earth in one hour than all the energy consumed on our planet in an entire year. In those terms, it is absurd that our federal government spends tens of billions of dollars annually subsidizing the oil industry, which pulls diminishing resources from underground, while the industry focused above ground on wind, solar and other renewable energies is derided in Washington. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/an-unfair-fight-for-renewable-energies/2011/12/02/gIQA9lWrTO_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/06/1975432/green-energy-deserves-fair-shot.html Editorial: U.S. should take lead on climate change. The U.N. Climate Summit opened over the weekend in Durban, South Africa, amid still more evidence of dangerous changes in extreme weather patterns. The drought in Texas and across the southern United States, along with record flooding in parts of Africa and Asia, are signs of an ominous trend supported by recent reports based on scientific data: -Thirteen of the world's hottest years on record have all occurred in the last 15 years. Posted. http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20111206/OPINION01/112060314/Editorial-U-S-should-take-lead-climate-change Arnold Schwarzenegger: Green energy deserves fair shot at federal aid. More energy from the sun hits Earth in one hour than all the energy consumed on our planet in an entire year. In those terms, it is absurd that our federal government spends tens of billions of dollars annually subsidizing the oil industry, which pulls diminishing resources from underground, while the industry focused above ground on wind, solar and other renewable energies is derided in Washington. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/12/06/2146516/arnold-schwarzenegger-green-energy.html BLOGS More on the ‘Sensitive’ Climate Question. Here are some fresh thoughts on the enduring and important questions surrounding “climate sensitivity” – how much warming will result from a substantial buildup of greenhouse gases. After my post on a much-discussed paper trying to clarify the extent of greenhouse-driven heating to expect in coming decades, I sought input from the lead author, Andreas Schmittner of Oregon State University. (As I mentioned, another author, Nathan Urban of Princeton University, provided one valuable view in a long interview posted on the Planet 3.0 blog.) Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/more-on-the-sensitive-climate-question/ In U.S., Hydrogen Cars May Line Up With Few Places to Fill Up. Last week at the Tokyo auto show, Toyota unveiled its FCV-R concept. According to a Toyota spokesman, John Hanson, the vehicle was designed to give the public an impression of the hydrogen-powered fuel-cell sedan it expected to make available in 2015. With a projected range of more than 400 miles, a production version of the FCV-R would surely dodge the range-anxiety stigma that afflicts battery electric vehicles. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/in-u-s-hydrogen-cars-may-line-up-with-few-places-to-fill-up/ Severe Beijing smog -- or fog? -- leads to long airport delays. REPORTING FROM BEIJING -- Whether it was fog or smog, thousands of travelers have been delayed since Sunday evening by the almost opaque air around Beijing Capital Airport. The delays at one of the busiest airports in the world raise questions about whether air pollution in China has gotten bad enough to derail the country’s economic growth. Hundreds of flights were canceled and even the highway to the airport had to be closed. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/12/severe-beijing-smog-or-fog-leads-to-long-airport-delays-.html Biofuels win two, lose one. For the biofuels industry, the past week has been a case of two steps forward and one step back. The U.S. Navy announced Monday that it would buy 450,000 gallons of advanced biofuels from two companies, including Solazyme in South San Francisco. It’s the government’s largest biofuel purchase to date, and will allow the navy to test how well bio-based versions of jet fuel and marine distillate fuel perform in a variety of ships and air craft. Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/energy/2011/12/ High-speed rail blames 'uncertain economy' for voter opposition. In response to a new poll finding widespread opposition to the state's high-speed rail project, the California High-Speed Rail Authority issued a statement late Monday blaming the "uncertain economy" for voters' mood. "To back pedal on this project means we reject billions in stimulus funds, lose 100,000 new jobs and, ultimately, pay tens of billions more for congested highways in the long run," the statement said. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/12/high-speed-rail-blames-uncertain-economy-for-voter-opposition.html#ixzz1fmIvIUhQ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 7 Dec 2011 12:12:50 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 7, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for December 7, 2011. 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 Outrage Grows Over Air Pollution and China’s Response. The statement posted online along with a photograph of central Beijing muffled in a miasma of brown haze did not mince words: “The end of the world is imminent.” The ceaseless churning of factories and automobile engines in and around Beijing has led to this: hundreds of flights canceled since Sunday because of smog, stores sold out of face masks, and many Chinese complaining on the Internet that officials are failing to level with them about air quality or make any improvements to the environment. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/07/world/asia/beijing-journal-anger-grows-over-air-pollution-in-china.html?_r=1 http://webfarm.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-07/china-s-flight-canceling-smog-lifts-as-cold-front-clears-beijing-pollution.html http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-china-air-pollution-20111207,0,7870107.story?track=rss Bay Area issues winter's first spare-the-air alert. San Francisco -- The Bay Area Air Quality officials are issuing the season's first Winter Spare-the-Air Alert for Wednesday. The alert bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors for 24 hours. Jean Roggenkamp, deputy air pollution control officer of the Air District, says the cold, still weather will cause wood smoke pollution to build up to unhealthy levels on Wednesday. Exposure to wood smoke has been linked to increased frequency and severity of respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and lung disease. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/06/4105232/bay-area-issues-winters-first.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/07/BAMT1M95OB.DTL&type=green CLIMATE CHANGE Raising $100 billion for climate fund in dispute. Even in hard times, fighting climate change is not a luxury but a necessity, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday, as climate negotiators bickered about how to raise hundreds of billions of dollars to adapt to a warming world. Creating a body to govern a $100 billion a year fund is a central issue at the 194-nation U.N. climate conference nearing its end in South Africa, but it was unclear whether the final document will mention how the money will be mobilized for the Green Climate Fund. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jrK4YLpaUu7f00UIh_uEB1P9yimw?docId=1aa5c4c018114aeca0753fb3500f86c7 EPA Emissions From Natural-Gas Production Probed by Issa’s Panel. U.S. House Republicans led by Representative Darrell Issa of California are investigating the Environmental Protection Agency’s methane-emission estimates for natural-gas production. The EPA measure of greenhouse gases released in the production of gas from wells has been criticized by experts as misleading, according to an e-mailed statement today from Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-06/epa-emissions-from-natural-gas-production-probed-by-issa-s-panel.html UN’s Maritime Agency to Weigh Setting Price on Ship Emissions. The International Maritime Organization, the United Nations’ shipping agency, will next year consider how to set a price on greenhouse-gas emissions from ships that contribute to climate change. The London-based IMO’s environmental panel will give “priority consideration” on whether to set a global levy or establish an emissions-trading program, IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos said today in an interview in Durban, South Africa. The UN agency has been unable to agree on measures to curb emissions from ships for more than a decade. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-07/un-s-maritime-agency-to-weigh-setting-price-on-ship-emissions.html U.S. Climate Stance ‘Blowing Negotiations Apart,’ Envoy Says. The U.S. view that no new global climate deal is possible before 2020 is derailing negotiations aimed at slashing the world’s oil and coal emissions, according to an envoy at the talks. “The present U.S. position of no new agreement until post- 2020 is really blowing negotiations apart,” Papua New Guinea’s chief climate delegate, Kevin Conrad, said in an interview in Durban, South Africa, where United Nations-led climate talks are divided over when to seek a new treaty to curb global warming. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-07/u-s-climate-stance-blowing-negotiations-apart-envoy-says.html Suntech Awarded the 2011 Gigaton Prize for Exemplary Carbon Emissions Reduction. Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world's largest producer of solar panels, received the 2011 Gigaton Prize for its pioneering role in reducing carbon emissions around the world, and leading efforts in the fight against climate change. The Gigaton Prize is awarded annually to a company that has demonstrably reduced emissions by the largest absolute amount on an annual basis. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/07/4105755/suntech-awarded-the-2011-gigaton.html Carbon Credits Turning 'Junk' as Ban Shuts Door: Energy Markets. Investors are rushing to sell some emission credits before they become almost worthless in 2013, pushing prices to a record low. With Europe set to stop recognizing credits for projects that destroy industrial gases known as hydrofluorocarbon-23 and nitrous oxide in little more than a year, holders are "racing to beat" the ban, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/12/07/bloomberg_articlesLVTSNS0YHQ0X.DTL Board approves greenhouse gas-reduction plan. The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday reluctantly approved a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the county by 15 percent by 2020. The plan, which satisfies the terms of a 2007 legal settlement between the county and former state Attorney General Jerry Brown, inserts new guidelines into the county development code. It charts a new course for private development and industry and establishes new mandates for the county, including regularly scheduled inventories of greenhouse gas emissions to ensure goals are being met. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_19483463 Can 'Carbon Ranching' Offset Emissions In Calif.? Climate experts are exploring the concept of growing dense fields of weeds to help soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Just over a year from now, California will begin enforcing a set of laws that limit emissions of greenhouse gases from factories, power plants and, eventually, from vehicles. So if you run a power plant in California, you might reduce your footprint by buying new, cleaner equipment. But that can be expensive. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/12/07/142947234/can-carbon-ranching-offset-emissions-in-calif FUELS California backs EU plan for "dirty fuel" label. EU plans to slap a "dirty" label on fuels derived from Canada's huge oil sands reserves have received a boost from California, whose pioneering labeling scheme seeks to put consumers in the driving seat. Canada sees huge export potential for its reserves of oil sand, which are among the world's largest, and has bitterly opposed EU plans it regards as a threat to future markets. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/06/climate-oilsands-idUSL5E7N651C20111206 http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/California+backs+plan+label+oilsands+products+dirty+fuel/5824529/story.html Ethanol Declines as Blending Falls and Export Demand Wanes. Ethanol futures fell in Chicago amid lower demand for blending with gasoline and on speculation Europe’s debt crisis will curtail exports. Futures sank as European leaders wrestle with the region’s debt crisis. The U.S. exports the biofuel to countries such as the United Kingdom, Finland and the Netherlands. Separately, an Energy Department report last week showed production of conventional gasoline blended with ethanol, a proxy for use of the fuel beyond government requirements, dropped the most in six months. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-06/ethanol-declines-as-blending-falls-and-export-demand-wanes.html Canada’s tar sands lobbying gets murky. A row has broken out over a Canadian lobbying mission to the British Foreign Office that opposes the EU’s proposed Fuel Quality Directive. The dispute involves apparently inaccurate information about California’s fuel quality regulations and threats of legal action. In an internal UK Foreign Office e-mail reporting the meeting and seen by EurActiv, Canada’s trade commissioner in the UK, Sushma Gera, reportedly told British officials that “lawyers were looking at a potential WTO case” against the EU. She said Canada had support from Spain, Estonia and Poland in its opposition to the EU’s proposed default fuel values for the oil sands – also known as ‘tar sands’ – and that the Dutch would propose an alternative option. Posted. http://www.euractiv.com/climate-environment/canada-tar-sands-lobbying-gets-murky-news-509489 Obama administration continues fuel-efficiency push. The Obama Administration has taken the latest step in its 'National Program' of setting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fuel consumption standards for all classes of vehicles and engines, proposing more stringent rules for model year (MY) 2017 and later light vehicles. The proposed rule, which would require vehicle manufacturers to cut light-vehicle carbon emissions to a level equivalent to a fuel economy standard of 54.5mpg by MY 2025, …Posted. http://www.automotiveworld.com/news/oems-and-markets/90878-obama-administration-continues-fuel-efficiency-push VEHICLES State pushes tougher auto emission standards. Critics say the market won't support so many alternative-fuel vehicles. California’s air-quality regulators Wednesday plan to roll out another in a string of landmark initiatives to control tailpipe emissions, this one pushing automakers even harder to accelerate production of vehicles that use little or no gas. If successful, the Air Resources Board anticipates a gradual influx of futuristic cars in showrooms, hydrogen refueling pumps at many urban gas stations and more pure electric vehicles in driveways. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/06/state-pushes-tougher-auto-emission-standards/ Are new California electric car regs tough enough? California today announces what's expected to be the strongest push ever for electric cars and other advanced-technology vehicles to be sold in the state, yet an environmental group says it's not enough. The Union of Concerned Scientists says California ought to boost its electric-car mandate 30%, to require automakers to sell 1.8 million so-called zero-emission vehicles by 2025. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/12/california-zero-emission-electric-cars-not-enough/1 Californians would reject bullet train in revote, polls finds. Fifty-nine percent of registered voters would oppose the high-speed rail project because its cost has soared to more than $98 billion and the completion date has been moved from 2020 to 2033. With the cost of the state's high-speed rail project rising dramatically, a new public opinion poll shows that a clear majority of California's registered voters would reject the proposal if given a second chance to vote on it today. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-train-poll-20111207,0,3366380.story Investment in state's green car industry increases. California's small but growing electric car industry has become an investment magnet, attracting more venture capital than its competitors in any other state or country. Now, will jobs follow? In the first half of this year, California companies developing plug-in vehicles, advanced hybrids, charging stations and related equipment brought in $467 million in venture capital, according to a new report from the Next 10 public policy group. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/07/BU1S1M94OL.DTL&type=green DeLorean and Epic Electric partner to build an electric DeLorean. DeLorean and Epic Electric partner to build an electric DeLoreanTesla’s new competition: An electric DeLoreanBig Lots hopes new CEO can get customers excited about shopping for closeout goods Follow this company .Inc. and Epic Electric Vehicles have partnered up as the composites manufacturer for the new DeLorean Electric Vehicle, which is slated for production in 2012. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2011/12/06/delorean-and-epic-electric-partner.html GREEN ENERGY Berkshire buys $2 billion solar project. Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings utility agreed to buy the $2 billion Topaz project in California, branching into solar power after the industry was battered by stock markets around the world. The Topaz Solar Farm will be one of the world's largest photovoltaic power plants and is being developed by the seller, First Solar Inc. of Tempe, Ariz. Terms weren't disclosed. The project's 550- megawatt capacity is equal to about half a new nuclear reactor. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-buffett-solar-20111207,0,6872056.story OPINIONS F. Noel Perry: Electric cars have a promising future in California. While the car of the future spurs different visions for different people, in one way, the future of cars is now, and it's here in California. Our state is leading the nation in electric vehicle (EV) investment and innovation. California captured 69 percent of global EV investment in 2011 and ranks first in the nation in EV patents. The number of jobs in the EV sector, while small, keeps growing despite the economic downturn. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_19482730 http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/12/07/study-calif-leads-electric-vehicle-grow.html Thomas D. Elias: Rep. Darrell Issa takes aim at air board chief Mary Nichols. Climate-change change skepticism by one congressman among California's 53 ordinarily doesn't matter much. But coming from Darrell Issa, the chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it's now leading to one of the most significant attacks ever on California's lead smog-fighting agency, the state Air Resources Board (ARB). Issa, representing a conservative north San Diego County district, does not dispute that the globe has warmed. Posted. http://www.presstelegram.com/opinions/ci_19484276 Clean Air A 'Luxury' In Beijing's Pollution Zone. On the way to school, my kids and I play a guessing game: How polluted is the air today? We use an app linked to the air pollution monitor at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and we try to guess the day's exact level on the Air Quality Index, and whether the air is dangerous. These days, chances are that it could well be. For more than half of the past 60 days, the air pollution has hit levels hazardous to human health. Experts estimate long-term exposure to such pollution could reduce life expectancy by as much as five years. But I don't tell the kids that. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/12/07/143214875/clean-air-a-luxury-in-beijings-pollution-zone Federalism and the Electrification of the Auto Fleet. Many commentators assume that if the federal government ever adopts a national policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, states and localities will largely take a backseat to federal regulators. But one highly necessary means to reducing carbon emissions — the electrification of the automobile fleet — will require active and involved participation by all levels of government, something that is often overlooked in policy conversations. Posted. http://legalplanet.wordpress.com/2011/12/05/federalism-and-the-electrification-of-the-auto-fleet/ BLOGS On Climate Change, a Gloat and a Warning. Durban, South Africa — If anyone at the United Nations climate change conference here wondered why the United States is unwilling or unable to take decisive action on the warming of the planet, they could tune in to the Web site of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday morning. The committee’s Democratic chairman, Senator Barbara Boxer of California, and its top Republican, Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma, laid out in the starkest terms the gulf dividing the two parties on climate change. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/07/on-climate-change-a-gloat-and-a-warning/?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse California’s “Radical Experiment” in Carbon Trading. A national perspective on the cap & trade program that starts next month. For three years we’ve been watching the process leading up to implementation of California’s plan to push greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020. As the green flag is about to drop, you’ll start to see more national media attention focused on it. To wit, this morning’s debut of a two-part series by NPR’s Christopher Joyce on what will be the nation’s first industry-wide cap on carbon emissions. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/12/06/californias-radical-experiment-in-carbon-trading/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2011 11:35:41 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 8, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for December 8, 2011 . 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 China's pollution data shrouded in official fog. Armed with a device that looks like an old transistor radio, some Beijing residents are recording pollution levels and posting them online. It's an act that borders on subversion. The government keeps secret all data on the fine particles that shroud China's capital in a health-threatening smog most days. But as they grow more prosperous, Chinese are demanding the right to know what the government does not tell them: just how polluted their city is. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CHINA_UNCOVERING_POLLUTION?SITE=AZPHG&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/health-fears-distrust-of-govt-spur-chinese-citizens-to-lift-official-fog-on-pollution-data/2011/12/08/gIQASXxReO_story.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19494921?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19494921?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/07/2641702/chinas-pollution-data-shrouded.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/08/chinas-pollution-data-shrouded-in-official-fog/#ixzz1fxfqLoEq http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/china-s-pollution-data-shrouded-in-official-fog/article_ee103f03-f23f-5458-a1c2-cfeced82cd09.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/07/1978798/chinas-pollution-data-shrouded.html Spare the Air alert issued for Thursday. A Winter Spare the Air alert has been issued for Thursday, meaning burning of wood logs and other wood products is prohibited. It's the second consecutive Spare the Air day and the second so far this winter season on which air quality and weather forecasts have prompted the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to prohibit wood fires. Still, cold air allows wood smoke to collect and concentrate. Fine soot particulates can pass deep into a person's lungs, causing serious respiratory health problems, officials said. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111208/ARTICLES/111209582 CLIMATE CHANGE S.F. judge OKs cap and trade for emissions law. A San Francisco judge has given the go-ahead to California's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming, ruling that state regulators adequately considered alternatives to a market-based cap-and-trade system. Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith had ruled in March that the Air Resources Board had not looked hard enough at other options, like numerical limits on emissions or a tax on carbon-based fuels. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/08/BA481M9NPV.DTL http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2011/12/08/11 BY SUBCRIPTION ONLY Climate talks in final push; National interests, economic worries hinder attempt at agreement. Delegates attending a 194-nation climate conference agree the world needs to send less carbon into the atmosphere, but national interests and economic worries have so far hindered attempts to reach an agreement that would oblige governments to curb the emissions that are warming the planet. The talks, due to wrap up Friday or early Saturday, are likely to finalize a massive fund to help poor countries cope with climate change. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/climate-talks-in-final-push-delegates-grapple-with-effort-to-revise-the-rich-poor-divide/2011/12/08/gIQATFUeeO_story.html A global cooling to the U.S. position on climate change. Environmentalists and other nations say U.S. policy changes raise questions about whether it is committed to substantially cutting emissions and aiding developing nations in their efforts to do so. When an energized U.S. delegation arrived in Copenhagen for world climate talks two years ago, environmentalists were encouraged by its willingness to tackle global warming. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-climate-change-20111204,0,7204452.story Jorge Montt Glacier in Patagonia shrinking fast. Santiago, Chile -- Researchers in Chile released a series of time-lapse photos Wednesday showing the dramatic retreat of a glacier in Patagonia. The Jorge Montt Glacier is shrinking faster than any other in Chile, with its snout retreating more than a half mile between February 2010 and January 2011, glaciologist Andres Rivera said. Rivera said that global warming is a factor and that the glacier also is melting especially quickly because it partly rests in the waters of a growing fjord. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/08/MNNQ1M9PDN.DTL&type=printable Review of rich-poor divide underpins climate talks. The head of the group of developing countries says the outcome of U.N. climate negotiations boils down to whether the two-tiered system of rich and poor countries should continue, or whether all nations should be treated more equally. The two-week climate conference is in the final push before Friday's scheduled closing. Industrial countries want to revise the 20-year-old division that has created two levels of responsibility: …Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/08/review-of-rich-poor-divide-underpins-climate/#ixzz1fxgB0xL3 http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/review-of-rich-poor-divide-underpins-climate-talks/image_06624b21-1474-5cf9-a416-2af000ea76da.html Climate Changes Faster Than Species Can Adapt, Rattlesnake Study Finds. The ranges of species will have to change dramatically as a result of climate change between now and 2100 because the climate will change more than 100 times faster than the rate at which species can adapt, according to a newly published study by Indiana University researchers. Posted. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111205102637.htm DIESEL EMISSIONS Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. Wins Additional $1.7 Million in Orders Under New Jersey and California Diesel Retrofit Programs. Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDTI) ("Clean Diesel"), a cleantech emissions reduction company, announced today that its Heavy Duty Diesel Systems division has won new orders valued in excess of $1.7 million for its verified (approved) emission reduction products. The new orders were received under the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ("NJDEP") Mandatory Diesel Retrofit Program and Air Resources Board's Lower Emission School Bus Program in Northern California. Shipments of these new orders have commenced and are expected to be completed in early 2012. Posted. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clean-diesel-technologies-inc-wins-additional-17-million-in-orders-under-new-jersey-and-california-diesel-retrofit-programs-135241538.html FUELS ‘Alternative fuels are necessary to meet the policy objectives’ – CARS 21 Interim Report. The re-launched CARS 21 High-level Group has published its Interim Report on 2 December 2011, with first recommendations and key messages to better prepare tomorrow’s mobility solutions. Environment, technology, jobs, competitiveness are discussed but the Group agrees that alternative fuels are necessary, not only because of upcoming oil scarcity, but also to meet policy objectives. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/71120111208.php VEHICLES Air board's new rules aim to boost electric cars in California. The state unveiled a new set of clean car regulations Wednesday that aim to sharply increase the number of electric cars on California's roads, boost fuel efficiency and reduce air pollution. The proposed rules largely parallel President Barack Obama's goal of doubling the nation's auto fuel economy standards for new cars from the current 27.3 mph to 54.5 mph by the year 2025. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/08/4107854/air-boards-new-rules-aim-to-boost.html http://www.detnews.com/article/20111207/AUTO01/112070443/1361/California-proposes-rules-to-boost-electric-vehicles-by-2025 Exxon Mobil predicts surge in hybrid vehicles. Exxon expects to see more and more hybrids on the world's roads, with gas-sipping models like the Toyota Prius making up half of all vehicles by 2040. The largest publicly traded oil and gas company says in its annual energy outlook that the use of hybrids _ vehicles that rely on both gas and electricity for power _ and other efficiency gains will keep energy demand in check for the U.S. and other major industrialized countries for years. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/exxon-mobil-predicts-surge-in-hybrid-vehicles/article_69b4650c-7b3b-5207-80a9-9698cd73c0b8.html#ixzz1fxifs0Ko http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/08/1979039/exxon-mobil-predicts-surge-in.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19496285?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com China’s EV industry urged to transform its business model. In China’s EV industry, solid business models needs to be established to address the existing technology and manufacturing gaps. The industry requires more involvement of related stakeholders to perfect the EV value chains and a more balanced strategy to stimulate demand and supply, says a new report supported by the World Bank. A new report called “The China New Energy Vehicles Program: Challenges and Opportunities” financed by the World Bank analyses the development of the electric vehicle industry in China. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/71020111208.php BMW designers lean on plastics for zero-emission cars. Plastics are playing a larger role in making cars lighter and commercializing electric vehicles, but for one prominent automotive designer, more still needs to be done. In an interview at the recent Business of Design Week in Hong Kong, Adrian van Hooydonk, senior vice president of BMW Group Design, said he was excited by the creative possibilities opening up with the new lightweight materials, including traditional plastics, carbon fiber reinforced plastics and aluminum. Posted. http://www.plasticsnews.com/headlines2.html?id=23896&channel=349 GREEN ENERGY Solar Plant Sold to Berkshire Unit. First Solar Inc. is selling one of its large California solar farms to MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., ending the solar-panel maker's search for a buyer. The sale places MidAmerican Energy, a unit of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc., in the solar-power business for the first time. MidAmerican operates fleets of wind farms and conventional power plants. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203413304577084171694555562.html?KEYWORDS=climate+change&_nocache=1323364980077&user=welcome BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-buffett-solar-20111208,0,6937593.story http://www.siliconvalley.com/green-energy/ci_19493822 OPINIONS Noxious pollution creating the great pall of China. China has to find a way to continue its rapid growth without choking to death. Literally. When I landed in Beijing last week, the sky was a brownish miasma through which distant landmarks were only faintly visible. The moment I stepped outside the city's vast international airport, I noticed an acrid hint of burning coal in the all-too-palpable air. The next day, when I went to see the Great Wall, China's most famous cultural treasure was wreathed in a gauzy shroud of pollution. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111208/A_OPINION0608/112080312&cid=sitesearch BLOGS California Air Board Moves to Increase Presence of Zero-Emissions Vehicles. California has the worst air quality in the country, according to the state’s air resources board, and 40 percent of the contributing pollution comes from passenger cars and light-duty trucks. In its effort to improve the state’s air, the board, commonly known as CARB, proposed a package of new rules on Wednesday intended to cut vehicle emissions while aggressively increasing the number of advanced clean cars on the state’s roads, as well as fueling stations to serve them. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/california-air-board-moves-to-increase-presence-of-zero-emissions-vehicles/ California leads venture funding for electric vehicle technology. California is fast becoming a global center for electric-vehicle innovation and jobs. Businesses in the state collected $467 million in electric vehicle venture capital investment during the first half of this year, or 69% of the global total, according to a study by Next 10, a nonprofit founded by Silicon Valley venture capitalist F. Noel Perry. California also is now tied with Michigan, the traditional center of the U.S. auto industry, in the number of patents filed for electric vehicle technology. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/12/electric-vehicles-venture-funding-jobs.html http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/arbacc-20111208.html Is the Chevy Volt headed for a recall? The latest article we've found about the Chevrolet Volt/NHTSA crash test fire incident mentions a word we've not heard uttered before: recall. GM is obviously trying to figure out what caused the post-crash fire. That's not all that's happening. According to a memo posted to safercar.gov, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating weld points near the crashed Volt's battery to try and understand if a damaged pack can somehow affect these welded areas. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/08/chevy-volt-recall-possible/ Oil Industry Lobbyists Play Dirty Against Clean Fuel Standards. Oil industry lobbyists have been working to convince European governments to drop environmental standards that would result in proper accounting and cleaning up of dirtier fuel sources, such as Canadian tar sands. In 2009, California implemented similar provisions now being considered in the European Union with the adoption of the state's clean fuel standard, known as the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, phasing in cleaner fuels while phasing out dirtier ones. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/smui/oil_industry_lobbyists_and_can.html How We All Benefit From California's Advanced Clean Cars Program. Today, California released its formal regulatory proposal that demonstrates state leadership in driving clean car technologies into the state and across the nation. The package of standards, as described earlier in a blog here, will have large benefits in terms of saving consumers money, cutting dangerous air pollutants, and also reducing our dependence on oil. How do you and I benefit from the program? Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/smui/how_we_all_benefit_from_califo.html Is Anything Going to Happen at Durban? The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The major feature of the Kyoto Protocol is that it sets binding targets for 37 industrialized countries and the European community for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Now delegates from more than 190 nations are in the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in coastal city of Durban , South Africa, (from November 28 -December 9, 2011) Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/anything-going-happen-durban/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2011 11:44:00 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 9, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for December 9, 2011. 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 2 residents appeal NW Pa. tires-to-energy plant. Two people who live near the site of a proposed tires-to-energy plant in northwestern Pennsylvania have appealed the state's approval of an air-quality plan. Leah Humes, a teacher, and Robert Concilus, a doctor, believe the Crawford Renewable Energy plant will produce more air pollution than the company or the state Department of Environmental Protection claim, the Erie Times-News ( http://bit.ly/vokGg3) reported Friday. "Developers didn't show where some of these numbers came from," Humes said. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19504878?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19504878?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com House blocks nonexistent rule on farm dust. The House has passed a bill to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from cracking down on farm dust, even though the agency says it has no plans to regulate that pollution. The idea that farm dust could be regulated has proved a popular topic on the campaign trail, riding a wave of anti-regulation sentiment. Republicans and some Democrats have told farm-state audiences that the EPA is considering a crackdown on farms, even though the agency issued a public statement in October calling that a "myth." Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/08/house-votes-to-block-nonexistent-farm-dust-rule/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/house-blocks-nonexistent-rule-on-farm-dust/article_cf55f35a-1182-5b92-b11b-9c6378c5b033.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/08/1979458/house-votes-to-block-nonexistent.html Another spare-the-air alert called for Friday. Friday will be the third consecutive day this week to have a Winter Spare the Air alert, and the pattern could continue to Saturday, air-quality officials said. Wednesday's was the first Winter Spare the Air alert of the season. Crisp weather since midweek has kept a cold air mass packed underneath a warmer air mass, trapping pollution closer to the ground, said Bay Area Air Quality Management District spokeswoman Kristine Roselius. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/09/BACC1MA6V2.DTL On the right track. Central California Traction Co. unveiled a new, bright red locomotive Thursday in Stockton, saying it should sharply reduce the short-line railroad's fuel bill and help ease air pollution in the Central Valley. During a recent five-week test run, the new engine provided a 51 percent savings in fuel consumption as well as a roughly 85 percent reduction in emissions of nitrous oxides and a 90 percent reduction in particulate matter compared to older locomotives, said Dave Buccolo, CCT's general manger. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111209/A_BIZ/112090312&cid=sitesearch CLIMATE CHANGE Talks on Climate-Change Fund Make Progress. Climate negotiators Thursday reported some progress to establish a fund to help mitigate the impact of climate change, even as they contended with the possibility that talks here could end Friday without a global agreement to reduce emissions after 2020. "We...are going to be rapidly setting up the green fund," said Todd Stern, the chief U.S. envoy here. "It has made a lot of progress; I think it's an area that is among the most advanced," of those under discussion in Durban, he said. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203501304577086502352895284.html?KEYWORDS=greKEYWORDS%3Dgreen+energy UN climate talks on edge heading into final hours. The United States, China and India could scuttle attempts to save the only treaty governing global warming, Europe's top negotiator said Friday hours before a 194-nation U.N. climate conference was to close. After two weeks of negotiations, talks went through the night Thursday with delegates struggling to keep Durban from becoming the graveyard of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on global warming. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/08/international/i092603S09.DTL California Becoming World's Second Largest Carbon Market. While world leaders jostle to make or hinder progress on international climate policy in Durban, South Africa, California’s cap-and-trade program — part of the state’s groundbreaking Global Warming Solutions Act — won an important victory this week on the path to implementation in 2013. On Tuesday a San Francisco superior court approved the state’s recently submitted environmental impact analysis, confirming that California has adequately studied alternatives for how to meet its climate goals. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericagies/2011/12/08/california-becoming-worlds-second-largest-carbon-market/ ICF International Announces California AB32 Cap-and-Trade Outlook. CF International /quotes/zigman/101084/quotes/nls/icfi ICFI -0.39% , a leading provider of consulting services and technology solutions to government and commercial clients, has released its California Cap and Trade Market Outlook, a special report of ICF's Integrated Energy Outlook series. The study presents ICF's views on emission allowance prices and the potential sources for emission reductions under California's recently approved greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction program, as well as highlighting the program's impacts on the California power market. Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/icf-international-announces-california-ab32-cap-and-trade-outlook-2011-12-08 FUELS CONGRESS: Issa expanding probe of fuel economy standards. Inland Rep. Darrell Issa is intensifying his probe into the California Air Resources Board and the role it played in negotiations that led to tough new federal fuel economy standards. Dissatisfied with information provided so far by the state agency, Issa, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, is readying a second round of questions for the board’s chairman, Mary Nichols. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/ben-goad-headlines/20111208-congress-issa-expanding-probe-of-fuel-economy-standards.ece California Calling Oil Sands Dirty Fuel. Canada has found a predictable ally among oil industry executives in its battle to defend oil (tar) sands from a draft EU law. But California, “green” from tip to toe, is giving that defense short shrift via a labeling scheme that allows consumers to buy their fuel based on its lifetime, or “wells-to-wheels” carbon footprint. Posted. http://www.energyboom.com/policy/california-calling-dirty-fuel-its-real-name-oil-sands GREEN ENERGY Solar zones would focus development west of Blythe. The Obama administration is winning support from some major environmental groups to create solar energy zones on public land in the West, with the goal of focusing the developments in areas deemed less valuable to wildlife, views and other resources. But several desert residents told federal officials at a public meeting Thursday night in Palm Desert that solar development in eastern Riverside County would permanently damage vast and sacred landscapes. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20111209-riverside-county-solar-zones-would-focus-development-west-of-blythe.ece VEHICLES EVs are the cheaper solution in the long run – EV Virtual Summit 2011. On 8 December 2011, the EV Virtual Summit 2011 organised by the Smart Grid Observer brought together 12 expert speakers from the EV sector. Topics covered were i.a. the total cost of ownership and safety standards for EVs and batteries. Today, there are around 20,000 electric vehicles on the U.S. market, comprising both full electric vehicles (EV) like the Nissan Leaf and plugin electric vehicles (PHEV) like the Chevy Volt. Judging from investments and announcements by OEMs and battery manufacturers, Arun Banskota, President of eVgo, estimates the number of EVs on U.S. roads by 2020 at 1.6 million. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/71220111209.php California confirms plans to regulate cars emissions and boost electric vehicles. California’s air quality regulator, the Air Resources Board (ARB), has confirmed its plans to introduce new limits to greenhouse gas emissions from cars and put 1.4 million electric, plug-in and hydrogen cars on the road. The plans, which were first unveiled in draft last month, will be considered by ARB for adoption at a meeting on January 26. Posted. http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/4712/ MISCELLANEOUS Energy reduction contest will reward NYC schools. A new contest will award a total of $30,000 to New York City schools that reduce their energy use the most. The Wall Street Journal (http://on.wsj.com/sXjb0x ) says it's part of a project called the Green Design Lab. It brings teachers from a nonprofit environmental group called Solar One into the schools for up to six months. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/AP060a1530aed6496ebc65ae54daa4cf61.html?KEYWORDS=greKEYWORDS%3Dgreen+energy OPINION Ignoring a global warning. Nero probably didn't really fiddle while Rome burned; for one thing, fiddles as we know them today didn't exist yet, and for another, historians at the time dismissed the story as a rumor. Moreover, it's hard to believe that even a tyrant as petty and murderous as Nero would be foolish enough to watch the burning of his city-state and do nothing about it. But we Americans are. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-climate-20111209,0,3826430.story BLOGS California working with global governors group to include REDD+ in trade scheme. California, which recently signed legislation to allow its businesses to offset their emissions, is working with the Governors Climate Task Force (GCF) to create the necessary requirements and institutions to include REDD+ carbon credits in the state’s compliance market. Carbon credits in California’s emission trading scheme – which will come into effect in 2013 – will have to meet the requirements for being “additional, enforceable, and verified,” said Mary Nichols, Chairman of the California Air Resources Board, on the sidelines of the UN climate talks in Durban this week. Posted. http://blog.cifor.org/6224/california-working-with-global-governors-group-to-include-redd-in-trade-scheme/ California ARB releases three studies showing fine particle pollution a threat to cardiovascular health. Three new studies released by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) show that exposure to airborne fine-particulate matter significantly elevates the risk for premature deaths from heart disease in older adults and elevates incidence of strokes among post-menopausal women. Heart disease is the number one killer in California and is responsible for approximately 35% of annual deaths. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/pm-20111209.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:00:02 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 12, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for December 12, 2011. 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 2011 Proving to Be a Bad Year for Air Quality in Texas. Nestled near subdivisions north of Fort Worth stands equipment that measures air pollutants. On 26 days this year, readings at the site showed higher concentrations of lung-damaging ozone than allowed by federal air-quality standards. All told, Dallas-Fort Worth violated ozone standards on more days this year — 32 so far — than anywhere else in Texas, including the greater Houston area. “Every place in Texas suffered worse air quality this year…Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/us/2011-proving-to-be-a-bad-year-for-air-quality.html Fallout far-reaching as dust kicks up in West. Denver – Oh say, can you see across the Grand Canyon? Not as well as you used to on some days. The question of how clean the air is in the American West has never been an easy one to answer. And now scientists say it is getting harder, with implications that ripple out in surprising ways, from the kitchen faucets of Los Angeles to public health clinics in canyon-land Utah to the economics of tourism. It is at least partly about dust, something that has been entwined with Western life for a long time, and now appears to be getting worse. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/11/v-print/4114709/fallout-far-reaching-as-dust-kicks.html http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/us/air-quality-difficult-to-gauge-in-dustier-american-west.html?pagewanted=print Bay Area power producer pays to offset valley air pollution. The owner of a Bay Area power plant fulfilled a commitment to help offset emissions in the regional air basin last week by providing the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District a check for $644,503 for pollution-reduction projects in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. Mariposa Energy LLC, owner-operator of the Mariposa Power Plant in Alameda County, reached the agreement with the air district in 2009. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/11/v-print/1983869/power-producer-pays-to-offset.html Dirty Valley air triggers burning ban. FRESNO -- The air this week was filled with soot and tiny specks, triggering a wood- burning ban Friday for all eight Valley counties from Stockton to Bakersfield. It was the first Valleywide burning ban this fall. The bad-air episode was expected to continue through the weekend, said the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. It is the result of stagnant weather that allows fine particles to build up over many days. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/12/12/2153769/dirty-valley-air-triggers-burning.html CLIMATE CHANGE South Africa says climate deal took delicate touch. Pushing too hard at international climate change talks might have killed the only treaty regulating carbon emissions, host South Africa said Monday after concluding tense negotiations on how the world should respond to global warming. Given the international financial crisis and competing national political interests, trying to force countries to do more than they are willing and able to do "would have resulted in a 'no deal' in Durban, not only killing the Kyoto Protocol therefore, but possibly even the U.N. Convention on climate change itself," Edna Molewa, South Africa's environment minister, told reporters. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j36nOxBCzVmtLJv4QQAO11MrLHHg?docId=cfc338b4cb8947eabf19d9f845be68ae AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/south-africa-says-pushing-hard-at-climate-talks-it-hosted-could-have-been-disastrous/2011/12/12/gIQAZJyWpO_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/12/2646543/south-africa-says-climate-deal.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/12/1984250/south-africa-says-climate-deal.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19529516?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19529516?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Climate conference approves landmark deal. A U.N. climate conference reached a hard-fought agreement Sunday on a far-reaching program meant to set a new course for the global fight against climate change. The 194-party conference agreed to start negotiations on a new accord that would ensure that countries will be legally bound to carry out any pledges they make. It would take effect by 2020 at the latest. The deal doesn't explicitly compel any nation to take on emissions targets, although most emerging economies have volunteered to curb the growth of their emissions. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_CLIMATE_CONFERENCE?SITE=MOSTP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19522831?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19522831?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Oversupply Keeps EU Carbon Prices Low In Spite Of Global Climate Deal. A global deal to fight climate change provided only temporary relief to European carbon prices Monday, underlining that specific action will still be needed to boost prices and restore the system's effectiveness in prompting solid reductions to greenhouse gas emissions. Almost 200 countries reached a deal in the early hours of Sunday after talks in Durban, South Africa, spilled in a second extra day. According to the agreement, most industrial nations that are currently internationally bound to reduce emissions…Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20111212-709551.html?_nocache=1323715051456&user=welcome BY SUBSCRIPTION In Glare of Climate Talks, Taking On Too Great a Task. DURBAN, South Africa — For 17 years, officials from nearly 200 countries have gathered under the auspices of the United Nations to try to deal with one of the most vexing questions of our era — how to slow the heating of the planet. Every year they leave a trail of disillusion and discontent, particularly among the poorest nations and those most vulnerable to rising seas and spreading deserts. Every year they fail to significantly advance their own stated goal of keeping the average global temperature from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius, or about 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/science/earth/climate-change-expands-far-beyond-an-environmental-issue.html?_r=1 Obama Winning Climate Debate Opens China to Legal Accord. The U.S., long accused of blocking progress in international climate talks, is winning a two-decade old debate about how to curtail global warming. The decision yesterday by China and India to move toward an agreement with the "legal force" to limit their fossil fuel emissions marked the first step toward treating developing nations the same as industrial ones when it comes to reducing pollution. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/12/12/bloomberg_articlesLW3CJ81A74E9.DTL&type=printable Understanding the Failure of the UN's Climate Talks. It is getting to be a pretty familiar routine by now. Thousands of people from around the world gather to negotiate and influence global climate policy. Rhetoric flies for a week or two, negotiators bargain long into the night, and a modest, unenforceable agreement is finally brought up for a vote. At this point, it is pretty obvious that the United Nations climate negotiation process may serve as a useful agenda-setting mechanism, but it is no way to make global public policy. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-cohen/understanding-the-failure_b_1142999.html?ref=green Climate Strategists: To Cut Emissions, Focus On Forests. Some climate strategists are looking beyond the United Nations and the idea of remaking the energy economy — and toward the world's tropical forests. The basic idea is to provide rich countries that emit lots of climate-warming gases another way to reduce their carbon footprint besides replacing or retrofitting factories and power plants. Instead, they could just pay poorer countries to keep their forests, or even expand them. Forests suck carbon out of the atmosphere. It's like paying someone to put carbon in a storehouse. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2011/12/10/143454111/climate-activists-to-cut-emissions-focus-on-forests DIESEL EMISSIONS Sweeper Regulatory Update: How to Comply with California's Recently Amended On-Road Regs. California Air Resources Board offers information link to those affected by its rulings. Deadlines are coming up fast. Sacramento, CA – Elizabeth White, the California Air Resources Board's Manager for Truck and Bus Regulation, provided an informative seminar at Pavement LIVE. Her topic was an update on the regulations faced by the power sweeping industry in California. The California's Air Resources Board (CARB) has begun implementation of the On-Road Truck and Bus Regulation, which impacts the owners, operators, businesses, and municipalities in the street sweeping industry. Posted. http://www.worldsweeper.com/Industry/CalARBregs12.11.html FUELS Landowners left out of the loop on 'fracking' risks. Natural gas companies that use hydraulic fracturing disclose the risks, such as leaks, spills and explosions, to shareholders, but property owners aren't privy, according to a report by the Environmental Working Group. Reporting from Washington— Natural gas companies that regularly use hydraulic fracturing to drill disclose the risks to shareholders, but not to landowners, according to a report released Monday. Posted. First Valley-wide burn prohibition in effect. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has issued a burning prohibition throughout the San Joaquin Valley, the first time this year the ban has stretched across the entire valley. Poor air quality is predicted in all eight counties, possibly through the weekend, according to the district. The prohibition went into effect at midnight on Thursday should continue through midnight Friday -- though it could be extended throughout the weekend. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-na-fracking-land-20111212,0,7015897.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fscience%2Fenvironment+%28L.A.+Times+-+Environment%29 VEHICLES New 54.5-mpg fuel economy standard moving toward reality. In mid-November, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency came one step closer to a utopian vision of future transportation. Both federal agencies released joint formal proposals to adopt regulations setting Corporate Average Fuel Economy averages of 54.5 miles per gallon in combined city/highway fuel economy by 2025. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/09/MT3V1MA868.DTL Electric cars trump flex-fuel cars on places to fill up. Public charging stations for electric cars outnumber outlets for alternative motor fuels by almost 2-to-1, even though there are hundreds of times more flex- fuel vehicles than plug-in cars on U.S. roads, Bloomberg News reports. Bloomberg goes on to say: Drivers of the approximately 16,500 highway-worthy electric vehicles in the U.S. can choose from 4,448 public charging stations should they want to plug in someplace other than home or work, according to U.S. Energy Department data. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/12/recharging-easier-to-find-for-electric-cars-than-e85-for-flex-fuel-cars/1 Norwich rolls out 'green' city vehicles. When crews are called on to clear streets of snow this winter, the newest truck in Norwich's fleet will provide more than just safe passage for travelers. The $150,000 vehicle, which rolled off the city's lot in May, complies with new federal emission guidelines that call for drastic reductions in the output of nitrogen oxide and particulate matter from diesel-powered engines. It's one of the most visible examples of a broad effort in departments across the city to turn away from traditional practices and toward more energy-efficient ones that not only save money but reduce Norwich's carbon footprint. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19521373?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19521373?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Denmark launches independent centre to test EV interoperability. An independent test centre for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, which is the first technology platform of its kind in the world, has been officially launched on 8 December 2011 in Denmark. The test centre will serve as a platform where power companies and EV operator businesses can test roaming functionality and mitigate any interoperability issues. The Nordic Electric Vehicle Interoperability Centre (NEVIC) is designed to serve as an independent platform by providing “neutral ground” for the companies, where they can test full interoperability. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/71320111212.php California Wants One in Seven New Cars to Plug In By 2025. The California Air Resources Board has released a new plan seeking to make nearly 100 percent of new autos sold in the state zero-emission (ZEV) or plug-in hybrid (AT-PEZ) vehicles by 2040. In the meantime, California may seek to set regulations mandating that one-seventh of all new light duty vehicles sold there carry at least plug-in hybrid electric drive capabilities. Posted. http://www.hybridcars.com/news/california-wants-one-seven-new-cars-plug-2025-33646.html MISCELLANEOUS Oak Park schools recognized for environmental awareness. Efforts by Oak Park schools to promote environmental awareness and recycling have been recognized by a California initiative dedicated to supporting sustainability. Oak Park Unified School District has been given a Green Schools California Leadership Award by Green Technology, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering strategy and leadership for sustainable communities in the state. "We are really excited," said district Superintendent Tony Knight. "It's a lot of recognition and it gives us motivation to continue to lead other school districts in this area of environmental education and sustainability." Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/10/oak-park-schools-recognized-for-environmental/ California to deploy CO2 monitoring stations. Next time you check the weather on your desktop icon or mobile phone app, will you be able to get an update on the carbon dioxide and methane concentrations in the air, as well? That's not clear yet, but Earth Networks, which operates WeatherBug, a real-time weather app for mobile devices and desktops, has just announced a collaboration to create greenhouse gas monitoring stations throughout California. Posted. http://www.tgdaily.com/sustainability-features/60156-california-to-deploy-co2-monitoring-stations OPINIONS Global Warming and Adaptability. Any carbon deal to replace Kyoto would have a negligible impact on climate in coming decades. The Durban pit-stop in the endless array of climate summits has just ended, and predictably it reaffirmed the United Nations' strong belief that the most important response to global warming is to secure a strong deal to cut carbon emissions. What is almost universally ignored, however, is that if we want to help real people overcome real problems we need to focus first on adaptation. The Durban agreement is being hailed as a diplomatic victory. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203413304577086361984880468.html?mod=googlenews_wsj BY SUBSCRIPTION Back to an electric future for cars. A Caltech scientist turned the key in 1948, and innovation is getting into gear. Now we're on the road from smog to ZEVs. One day in 1948, Caltech chemistry professor Arie Haagen-Smit took a break from trying to decipher the mystery of the flavor of the pineapple. He stepped outside his lab for a breath of fresh air but instead found himself enveloped in what he called "that stinking cloud" of smog. At the time, there was a bitter debate as to what caused smog. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-oe-yergin-smog-20111211,0,5096795.story?track=rss Bill Lockyer: Air board must not back down on clean fuel standards. The Gas Guzzling Age is receding into the past. California can be proud of the prominent role it has played in making that happen. Our state has long been a leader in pushing for cars and trucks to burn less gasoline and produce less pollution. For the past two years, we've also become a world leader in encouraging the development of clean fuels. In 2009, California established the world's first Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_19500204?source=rss http://www.insidebayarea.com/opinion/ci_19500204?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_19500204?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Ignoring a global warning. The following editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Friday, Dec. 9: Nero probably didn't really fiddle while Rome burned; for one thing, fiddles as we know them today didn't exist yet, and for another, historians at the time dismissed the story as a rumor. Moreover, it's hard to believe that even a tyrant as petty and murderous as Nero would be foolish enough to watch the burning of his city-state and do nothing about it. But we Americans are. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/12/4116578/ignoring-a-global-warning.html Coal in the crosshairs: Will mercury rule have teeth? As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency nears its Dec. 16 date with coal-fired power plants - that's when the agency plans to finalize its mercury and air toxics rule - the lobbyists must surely be working overtime. Environmental and public health groups say the rule, which would require significant reductions of emissions, is long overdue and should be implemented ASAP. And the industry says the rule is onerous and that it needs more time. Mercury, which is emitted when coal is burned, is a neurotoxin that hampers the development of young children and fetuses. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/12/4116732/coal-in-the-crosshairs-will-mercury.html View: Free Markets, Carbon Tax Best to Fight Climate Change. The Durban climate-change talks ended in what negotiators agreed to call a success. Governments, including China and India for the first time, said they would devise a new global system for curbing emissions of greenhouse gases and make it operational by 2020. This promise, however, has uncertain legal force, the form of any new regime is unclear, and the meeting failed to set any new binding targets. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-12/free-markets-carbon-tax-best-way-to-fight-climate-change-view.html Getting Gas Drilling Right. After several crowded and often raucous hearings, Gov. Andrew Cuomo agreed to give the public until Jan. 11 to comment on 2,000 pages of environmental analysis and proposed regulations designed to govern natural gas drilling in deep shale formations in New York State. The extension makes sense. The drilling decision is a momentous one, for the environment and the economy, and it is vitally important to get it right. The issue is not the fuel. There is little doubt in our minds that natural gas, which is cheap, plentiful and cleaner than coal, could help greatly with the country’s energy and climate problems. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/opinion/getting-gas-drilling-right.html?_r=1 Oakland Tribune editorial: Meeting California's emission-reduction target is daunting challenge. California has the nation's most ambitious plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. Step one is to cut emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Then comes the really hard part -- cutting the emissions by an additional 80 percent by 2050. Can it be done? A California Council on Science and Technology report, which was produced by scientists from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, says yes and outlines how to do it. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19512539?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19512159?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com The frog and the polar bear: The real reasons Americans aren’t buying climate change. As international leaders trek home from Durban, South Africa, after a week of plotting the world's response to global warming, the debate rages here at home -- over whether Americans even care. The New York Times ran a story in October headlined, "Where did global warming go?" that cited polls suggesting that Americans had lost interest in climate change, or just didn't believe in it. Climate activists have blamed the declines in some surveys on flawed questions. But polls by Gallup and PEW have shown similar recent declines. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-12-11-the-frog-and-the-polar-bear-the-real-reasons-americans-arent-buy Editorial: Who said green was easy? Solyndra, Volt shouldn't discourage public investment in alternative energy. The "Drill, baby, drill" brigade -- that vocal coalition of oil producers, free-market zealots and global warming deniers that is perpetually on the lookout for ways to discredit public investment in alternative energy -- hit the jackpot last month when two of the nation's most visible green initiatives hit highly publicized potholes. Posted. http://www.freep.com/article/20111211/OPINION01/112110431/Editorial-Who-said-green-was-easy-?odyssey=mod|mostcom BLOGS Start-Up BioLite Aims To Help Developing World With Safer, Cleaner Stove. Many clean-technology companies are trying to solve the world’s biggest environmental problems with equally big solutions and are building enormous wind farms, gigantic ethanol plants, massive electric car factories and the like to tackle them. But one Brooklyn company, BioLite, is developing a watermelon-sized stove that can almost eliminate the pollution from cooking fires in the developing world. Reducing global warming isn’t the only goal. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2011/12/12/start-up-biolite-aims-to-help-developing-world-with-safer-cleaner-stove/ BY SUBSCRIPTION Young Voices Reverberate at Indeterminate Climate Talks. That was a core line in a remarkable speech delivered on behalf of youth in the final stretch of two weeks of contentious, largely indeterminate climate treaty talks in Durban, South Africa. The talks went into overtime Saturday night (Durban time), with the leadership desperate to salvage at least a “Durban outcome,” akin to the “road map” produced in Bali in 2007. The best way to track the finale and afterthoughts is by following the #COP17 or #UNFCCC tags on Twitter. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/young-voices-at-deadlocked-durban-climate-talks/ New climate study reveals “true global warming signal”; warming continues unabated. Take a look at any chart of global average temperature trends during the past several decades (below, for example), and chances are that you’ll notice a lot of short-term ups and downs, with an overall trend towards warmer than average conditions. Those zigs and zags from one year to the next are largely due to natural phenomena such as El Nino and La Nina, which help tip the odds in favor of warmer or cooler years. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/new-climate-study-reveals-true-global-warming-signal/2011/12/11/gIQAP5RspO_blog.html Despite policy changes, smog still afflicts Mexico City. Reporting From Mexico City -- When you're above it, it might look like brown smoke. From far away at ground level, it can shine like a sheet of white ice. And when you're under it, which is most of the time, you can't really see it at all. It is the famous air pollution of Mexico City, causing countless cases of scratchy throats, stinging eyes and mucus that looks like it came from outer-space. It is, in a word, nasty. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/12/smog-mexico-city-december-pollution.html Climate deal delays new concerted effort on greenhouse gases [updated]. Reporting From Washington -- Negotiators at a climate change meeting in South Africa struck an 11th-hour deal to avoid the collapse of international negotiations over global warming, averting the worst fears of environmental advocates but doing little to immediately advance the cause of limiting greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement in effect would postpone new concerted global action on climate change for at least eight years. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/12/climate-deal-greenhouse-gases.html First Valley-wide burn prohibition in effect. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has issued a burning prohibition throughout the San Joaquin Valley, the first time this year the ban has stretched across the entire valley. Poor air quality is predicted in all eight counties, possibly through the weekend, according to the district. The prohibition went into effect at midnight on Thursday should continue through midnight Friday -- though it could be extended throughout the weekend. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/blogs/breaking_news/x1465341968/First-Valley-wide-burn-prohibition-in-effect Choking on change (3). We are gambling. We are casually and nonchalantly sliding the lives of our children onto the table. We are betting it all on ignorance, denial and the immediate gratification of the greedy, corpulent community of petulant polluters who have placed their need for profit ahead of everything else. Our window, we are told, closes in about 2015. Our atmosphere, we are told, has a limit. Once it is packed with enough carbon dioxide and methane, it forces us into a whole new climate, one that future generations may not survive. Posted. http://blogs.redding.com/dcraig/archives/2011/12/choking-on-chan-2.html Climate Counts Scorecard Shows Improvement, but Not Enough. Climate Counts is a not-for-profit organization aimed at increasing public awareness of, and bringing consumers and companies together in the fight against, global warming. Every year they put out a scorecard rating companies on their efforts in combating climate change. This month they published their fifth annual scorecard. Specifically, the scorecard assesses a given company’s efforts in…Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/12/climate-counts-scorecard-shows-improvements-enough/ SAP Calculates the Carbon Footprint of a Yogurt Cup. The German software company SAP is a leader in using computer analytics to help a company reduce its environmental footprint while also saving a few bucks. This week, SAP unveiled software that can establish how much CO2 and water it takes to make an individual product. SAP’s first partner on the technology is Groupe Danone, the French multinational foodmaker known in the U.S. as Dannon. By the end of the year, Danone expects to be using SAP’s technology to evaluate 35,000 products, according to Peter Graf, SAP’s chief sustainability officer. Posted. http://blog.cleantechies.com/2011/12/12/sap-calculates-the-carbon-footprint-of-a-yogurt-cup/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:58:15 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 13, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for December 13, 2011 . 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 UN Climate Deal Should Boost Confidence in CO2 Cuts, IETA Says. The climate package approved by more than 190 countries last week should boost investor confidence in the governments’ determination to cut greenhouse gases, the International Emissions Trading Association said. Negotiators at the United Nations climate summit in Durban, South Africa, agreed on Dec. 11 that nations will adopt by 2015 a pollution-curbing deal with a legal force to be enacted by 2020. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-13/un-climate-deal-should-boost-confidence-in-co2-cuts-ieta-says.html Canada Announces Exit From Kyoto Climate Treaty. Canada said on Monday that it would withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol, the 1997 treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under that accord, major industrialized nations agreed to meet targets for reducing emissions, but mandates were not imposed on developing countries like Brazil, China, India and South Africa. The United States never ratified the treaty. Canada did commit to the treaty, but the agreement has been fraying. Participants at a United Nations conference in Durban, South Africa, renewed it on Sunday but could not agree on a new accord to replace it. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/science/earth/canada-leaving-kyoto-protocol-on-climate-change.html?scp=3&sq=climate%20change&st=cse http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2011-12-12/canada-climate-change/51842930/1 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/12/canada-pulls-out-of-kyoto/#ixzz1gRDBOCgI http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/canada-pulls-out-of-kyoto-protocol/article_1f7ee8ab-cf67-56e7-b138-5cef2fbf9cac.htm http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/12/1984714/canada-pulls-out-of-kyoto.html Some benefits seen for US in climate talk results. The U.S. government and some major business groups say the climate talks that just wrapped up in Durban, South Africa, were a success for the United States, though some environmentalists voiced disappointment. The talks ended Sunday without pledges to speed pollution reductions as fast as economists and scientists say will be necessary to improve the odds of avoiding dangerous climate changes. Instead, negotiators agreed to work toward a global emissions-reduction agreement that would involve all nations beginning in 2020. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/12/1984762/some-benefits-seen-for-us-in-climate.html FUELS China Natural Gas Demand to Surge as Cleaner Fuel Prized: Energy Markets. China’s ranking as the biggest energy consumer and the least reliant on natural gas for power generation among the world’s leading economies is raising the prospect of an import boom as it seeks to cut pollution. Demand in China may more than triple this decade, with consumption for electricity generation increasing more than fourfold, according to the International Energy Agency. Posted. http://webfarm.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-13/china-natural-gas-demand-to-surge-as-cleaner-fuel-prized-energy-markets.html VEHICLES New law requires smog check of cars exported to Mexico. Recently implemented smog-check requirements by Mexico’s federal government have caused some area smog-check businesses to be swamped during the past couple of weeks. “As a business owner, it’s a good problem to have, but a problem you’re not used to,” JR Smog N Tune Owner Armando Real said. “I never thought I’d have to turn down work, especially in this economy.” The Mexican federal law that took effect Nov. 22 requires all vehicles being imported to Mexico to have a smog check in the United States. Posted. http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-new-law-requires-smog-check-of-cars-exported-to-mexico-20111213,0,2472717.story Six Fleets to Test Wireless Charging System for EVs. Evatran, a developer of wireless charging systems for electric vehicles, announced it has signed contracts with six high-profile commercial participants to outfit their Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf models with pre-production Plugless Power wireless charging systems. The product trial, dubbed the Apollo Launch Program, will launch a charging system for electric vehicles that removes the traditional hassles of plug-in cars. Posted. http://www.greenfleetmagazine.com/news/50833/six-fleets-to-test-wireless-charging-system-for-evs?ref=Enews-GreenFleet-20111207&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Enewsletter GREEN ENERGY Market forces, not EPA standards, killing new coal plants. As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prepares the first-ever national standards for carbon pollution from new fossil-fuel power plants, the coal industry is embarking, predictably, on its latest disinformation campaign to try to block these desperately needed public health and climate safeguards. New coal plants are dirty, risky, and expensive. No wonder the smart money won't touch them. Posted. http://www.grist.org/coal/2011-12-12-what-new-coal-plants OPINIONS ROBINSON: A mild victory in Durban. I’m inclined to believe that the apparent result of the climate change summit in Durban, South Africa, might turn out to be a very big deal. Someday. Maybe. That's my view, but it’s hardly universal. After the meeting ended Sunday, initial reaction basically ranged from “Historic Breakthrough: The Planet Is Saved” to “Tragic Failure: The Planet Is Doomed.” Such radically different assessments came from officials and activists who have the same general view of climate change — that it’s real and something must be done about it — and who fully understand the agreement that the delegates in Durban reached. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111213/WIRE/111219901 Warning: more air board regulation ahead. Forgive me for saying I told you so, but I did. I've been plaguing you with stories about a California-specific air pollution study by Michael Jerrett of U.C. Berkeley on the supposedly deadly effects of PM2.5 since May 2010. Some of you are probably sick of hearing about this obscure, egghead study. But this is where regulations that affect your daily lives are conceived. So pay attention! Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/columnist/henry/x500357278/LOIS-HENRY-Warning-more-air-board-regulation-ahead Global Warming conference ends in success, uh, failure, uh, kicking the can down the road. Take your pick. The first reason to be suspect about the “success” of the just-concluded U.N.-sponsored pep rally for global warming alarmists is that they have proclaimed it to be a success. Not that they aren’t trustworthy… Oh, OK, well, maybe they aren’t so trustworthy. After all, they are the ones who said temperatures should rise very high, which they haven’t for about 15 years, when CO2 emissions go way up, which they have for the same period of time. Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2011/12/12/global-warming-conference-ends-in-success-uh-failure-uh-kicking-the-can-down-the-road-take-your-pick/65779/ The top five takeaways from the Durban climate talks. After running 36 hours into overtime, the climate talks in Durban, South Africa, finally wrapped up this weekend. As usual, all the dramatic stuff happened in the last 12 hours, after everyone had been beaten into submission by sheer exhaustion. I do not envy my brothers and sisters in the media who attend these things. So what came out of it? Does it matter at all? Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-12-12-the-top-five-takeaways-from-the-durban-climate-talks This Is An Odd Renewable Fuel. This puzzles me intensely, this renewable fuel being produced by a firm called Carbon Recycling International. I don’t get why their process is this complex. You take CO2 emissions from some industrial process, OK, that’s good. You then take electricity from some renewable source (geothermal, solar, wind, whatever) and use that to electrolyse water. OK, that’s fine too, you then use the CO2 and the H2 you’ve now got to produce methanol. This methanol can now be added to standard diesel and gasoline, just as ethanol is, and used in standard vehicles. At which point the CO2 is emitted again. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2011/12/13/this-is-an-odd-renewable-fuel/ BLOGS A Post-Pollution Path to Global Climate and Energy Progress. Some hard realities are being acknowledged as diplomats, scientists, scholars and others ponder next steps following the indeterminate Durban climate negotiations — the latest failed attempt to limit climate risk using pollution-style restrictions on carbon dioxide under a global treaty. The real-time demand for energy and economic vigor continues to trump long-term climate concerns, as has been clear in the climate talks for years.* So a focus on finding ways to boost energy access in places that lack it, while working to cut energy waste and the costs of non-polluting energy choices, is spreading. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/a-post-pollution-path-to-global-climate-and-energy-progress/?scp=5&sq=green%20energy&st=cse DOE to award more than $7M to four projects to advance hydrogen storage. The US Department of Energy is awarding more than $7 million to fund four 3-year projects in California, Washington and Oregon to advance hydrogen storage technologies to be used in fuel-cell-electric vehicles. The selected organizations will provide close to $2 million in cost share. The projects focus on lowering the cost of compressed hydrogen storage systems and on developing advanced materials for hydrogen storage. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/doeh2-20111212.html 5 Lessons from Warren Buffett’s $2 Billion Solar Farm Purchase. Last week the solar industry finally generated good news. Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican Energy Holdings agreed to buy First Solar’s Topaz solar farm, a 550-megawatt photovoltaic solar farm currently being built in Southern California (construction began last month and is set to finish by early 2015). The financial details of the purchase of the plant were not publicly disclosed, but estimates are that Buffett is paying First Solar $2 billion for the solar farm. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/12/five-lessons-warren-buffetts-2-billion-solar-farm-purchase/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:19:05 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 14, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board Newsclips for December 14, 2011. 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 Spare the Air alert as stagnant weather returns. Air quality officials have issued a Spare the Air alert for today, the fifth in less than two weeks. A return of last week's cold, stagnant weather pattern is to blame for conditions in which air pollution is trapped near the surface, said Kristine Roselius, spokeswoman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. A weak weather system expected to brush the Bay Area on Thursday is likely to make this Spare the Air a one-day alert. Last week, the air quality district issued alerts four days in a row. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/14/BA9U1MC1FN.DTL&type=printable With eye on Lehigh Cement, air management district proposes new regulations on cement manufacturing. The New Year could bring some new regulations for the Lehigh Southwest Cement facility near Cupertino. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is working on a set of rules for the Portland cement facility that would align with new federal regulations for newer facilities. The proposed rules could bring new emission reduction levels for nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and toxic air contaminates emitted from the Lehigh facility. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/cupertino/ci_19539216 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19539216?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com NM reaches settlement over air quality violations. A subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc. has reached an $800,000 settlement with the New Mexico Environment Department over air quality violations at a natural gas-fired power plant in southeastern New Mexico. The settlement, the largest reached by the department this year, will result in Southwestern Public Service Co. investing $500,000 in a solar photovoltaic array at Eastern New Mexico University's Roswell campus. The money will also fund an adjunct professor position in the university's renewable energy degree and certification program. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19544313?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19544313?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com CLIMATE CHANGE Shock as retreat of Arctic sea ice releases deadly greenhouse gas. Russian research team astonished after finding 'fountains' of methane bubbling to surface. Dramatic and unprecedented plumes of methane – a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide – have been seen bubbling to the surface of the Arctic Ocean by scientists undertaking an extensive survey of the region. The scale and volume of the methane release has astonished the head of the Russian research team who has been surveying the seabed of the East Siberian Arctic Shelf off northern Russia for nearly 20 years. Posted. http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/shock-as-retreat-of-arctic-sea-ice-releases-deadly-greenhouse-gas-6276134.html http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/12/14 DIESEL EMISSIONS Union Pacific spent $1.26 million on 3Q lobbying. Omaha, Neb.—Union Pacific Corp. spent $1.26 million during the third quarter to influence proposed railroad regulations and pollution restrictions. That's more than the $1.22 million the Omaha-based railroad spent during last year's third quarter, but less than the $1.49 million it spent during this year's second quarter. Union Pacific said in a report filed Oct. 17 that it continued to oppose new railroad antitrust restrictions and efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions because coal-burning utilities are big railroad customers. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19546076 FUELS Colo. will require energy companies to publicly disclose concentrations of fracking chemicals. Environmentalists and regulators in Colorado will have more information than any state about what chemicals energy companies are pumping into the earth as they try to extract gas from rock formations deep underground. Starting in April, energy companies will have to disclose the concentrations of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, which some environmentalists and residents fear is contaminating groundwater and tainting the air. Posted. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/colo-will-require-energy-companies-to-publicly-disclose-concentrations-of-fracking-chemicals/2011/12/13/gIQAzSZ7rO_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/13/colo-regulators-to-vote-on-fracking-rules/#ixzz1gWlugfXH Texas adopts rules on fracking chemical disclosure. Texas regulators have adopted rules requiring oil and gas drillers to disclose on a website the chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing operations. The Texas Railroad Commission adopted rules Tuesday to enforce a law passed by the Legislature earlier this year. Texas has been a pioneer in efforts nationwide to force drillers to be more open about chemical-laced water pumped into the ground to crack dense rock formations to withdraw oil and gas. The process is known as fracking and some environmental groups fear the chemicals could taint water and pollute the air. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/13/1985799/texas-adopts-rules-on-fracking.html#ixzz1gWshXWjH http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/13/2647882/texas-adopts-rules-on-fracking.html#storylink=misearch CA’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard Up for Review. The California Air Resources Board is considering amendments to the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The oil industry has voiced concerns about the global-warming rule, but environmentalists are urging the board to strengthen it. Simon Mui, a scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, says the board should support a strong fuel standard which will compel the oil industry to minimize investments in crude oils such as tar sands, and phase in clean fuel investments. Posted. http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/23811-1 Businesses, Utilities Support California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Ad says standard "strengthens the economy and supports thousands of California jobs". Sacramento, CA Today, a diverse group of business leaders from across the state, representing tens of thousands of California workers -- including the state's largest electricity and natural gas providers and two of the world's leading carmakers -- released a new advertisement supporting California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Posted. http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2011/12/14/018378-new-ad-businesses-utilities-support-california-s-low-carbon-fuel.html http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/14/4122302/new-ad-businesses-utilities-support.html VEHICLES TRANSPORTATION: Calif. regulator plans for near elimination of gasoline-powered vehicles. The way California sees it, the gasoline-powered vehicle could go the way of the dinosaur by midcentury. The Golden State last week, as part of a revised plan to limit vehicle emissions, described a future where most gasoline engines would be eliminated in California by 2050. Automakers need to shift what they are selling, the state's Air Resources Board (ARB) said in its proposal for California to meet its goal of slashing greenhouse gas pollution. "We have to start now," ARB said. "There is no time to lose." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/12/14/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS The spookiest horror film about energy waste you’ve ever seen. David Parker's "Light" depicts light pollution and wasted energy as a sort of Blob, not necessarily malign but relentless and implacable. In the film, energy-burning lights start dripping goo that covers the ground and finally drives people out of their homes -- but it's all very quiet and eerie, like a Chris Van Allsburg drawing. Showing light as akin to an oil spill draws attention to the wastefulness of using artificial lighting when it's not needed -- wasting energy does basically cover the planet with a gross oily substance, just not necessarily locally and not right away. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-12-14-the-spookiest-horror-film-about-light-pollution-youve-ever-seen OPINIONS What stinks in D.C. Why can't lawmakers see what we all see: corporate contributions corrupt? It was one of those uncomfortable moments when you suddenly realize you're in the wrong place, that you're a rube from the sticks in a sophisticated city whose customs you don't quite understand. Politico was sponsoring a "Washington Year in Review" symposium last week, and they'd invited me to be part of the energy panel. So even though I'd spent barely three weeks in Washington this year (and the most memorable nights were spent in its central cellblock for protesting outside the White House to block the Keystone XL pipeline), I found myself traveling down from Vermont to share a stage with Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.). Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-mckibben-congress-20111214,0,3498758.story Debating electric cars; Michael Kinsley on the class war; and Newt Gingrich on the Palestinians. few loose wires Re "Back to an electric future," Opinion, Dec. 11 Enough with articles about the electric car's rosy future. The electric car just transfers tailpipe emissions to the chimneys of the major electricity plants that must generate the power to charge them. These plants are predominantly coal or natural gas-fired and are potential environmental disasters that emit carbon dioxide. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-1214-wednesday-20111214,0,6972204,print.story Editorial: House clogs up Congress with polluter 'riders' Congress is pressing up against a deadline to pass a $900 billion omnibus spending bill, dubbed the "megabus" – or the government shuts down when current funding runs out on Friday. Congress also is pressing up on a deadline to extend the one-year payroll tax cut – or it expires on Dec. 31. The House Republican majority passed a version on this yesterday that is unacceptable to the president and the Senate Democratic majority. We're at this juncture, in large measure, because House Republicans, once again, are trying to attach "poison pill" policy riders to these must-pass spending bills. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/14/v-print/4120932/house-clogs-up-congress-with-polluter.html Emission Reduction: A daunting challenge for state. California has the nation's most ambitious plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. Step one is to cut emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Then comes the really hard part -- cutting the emissions by an additional 80 percent by 2050. Can it be done? A California Council on Science and Technology report, which was produced by scientists from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, says yes and outlines how to do it. Posted. http://www.timesheraldonline.com/guestopinions/ci_19535685 Breathe easy: 5 reasons to back the EPA's latest push to clean up our air. COMMENTARY More poison, anyone? Unless you have a taste for airborne toxins, you'll be glad to know that the Environmental Protection Agency is set this week to take a major step in restricting the amount of arsenic, mercury, lead and other dangerous pollutants emitted by energy companies. The agency on Friday is scheduled to issue the final version of its "Utility MACT" (maximum achievable control technology) rule. Proposed in March as an extension of the landmark Clean Air Act of 1970, the regulation represents the first national standard for air pollutants from power plants. Posted. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-57342983/breathe-easy-5-reasons-to-back-the-epas-latest-push-to-clean-up-our-air/ It's a Living Hell: Climate Change and Middle School. Reading updates about the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, felt discouraging to me, with the United States seemingly out-of-touch with the reality of global warming. But I experienced a nagging sense of familiarity as US legislators at home and negotiators abroad ignored scientific truths, communicated through hyperbole, and used obstructionist delay tactics. Then I heard my almost 13-year-old daughter Maya yell from her bedroom, "I told you 17 times to turn out the light!!!!!" Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mallory-mcduff-phd/climate-change_b_1142433.html?ref=parents BLOGS Why small delays on climate change can be costly. When it comes to tackling climate change, a few years’ delay can make a huge difference. The International Energy Agency, for instance, has argued that global emissions need to peak by around 2017 if the world wants to keep global warming below 2°C. By contrast, the recently concluded U.N. talks at Durban set a goal of reaching a new climate agreement by 2020. That doesn’t sound like a huge difference — what’s a mere three years between friends? — but it actually makes the task much, much harder. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/why-does-it-matter-when-we-cut-co2-emissions/2011/12/14/gIQAumxwtO_blog.html Arnold Schwarzenegger to speak at Jerry Brown's climate event. Updating a previous announcement to include a "new participant," Gov. Jerry Brown's office confirmed this morning that former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will be among the speakers at a climate change conference hosted by Brown in San Francisco on Thursday. The conference, "The Governor's Conference on Extreme Climate Risks and California's Future," also includes Nobel Prize winner Rajendra Pachauri and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/12/arnold-schwarzenegger-to-speak-at-jerry-browns-climate-event.html Why CAFE changes could lead to larger cars, not smaller ones. A study by the University of Michigan shows that auto manufacturers could meet tougher fuel economy standards simply by increasing the size of the vehicles they sell. A "footprint-based" formula for calculating mileage targets was adopted when Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards were revised in 2007. Researchers now think this could lead to bigger vehicles on the road rather than increases in fuel economy for our nation's fleet.. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/13/why-cafe-changes-could-lead-to-larger-cars-not-smaller-ones/ Ford says Focus Electric will get 100 mpge, C-Max models also ready to compete. How much difference a seat makes. Ford just announced that the Focus Electric will be, "the first all-electric vehicle to achieve a 100 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) fuel efficiency rating." But wait, you're saying, what about the Mitsubishi i, which gets 112 MPGe? Ah, this is when you finish reading Ford's sentence, which ends, "with seating for five." The i is rated as a 2+2-seat vehicle while the Focus is a "normal" five-seater. 100 MPGe is just one selling point for Ford's upcoming EV. Posted. http://www.green.autoblog.com/2011/12/14/ford-focus-electric-100-mpge-c-max-models/ Oil Companies' Investments in Dirty Fuels Outpacing Clean Fuels by Fifty Times. NRDC has long supported efforts by companies to invest in cleaner technologies. We have started tracking oil industry investments in renewable fuels such as advanced biofuels, down to the company level. In a new analysis, NRDC compares those investments to traditional investments in conventional oil production and even dirtier unconventional sources such as tar sands. For years, the oil industry has promoted itself as getting cleaner and investing in alternatives to oil. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/smui/oil_companies_investments_in_d.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:53:36 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 15, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board Newsclips for December 15, 2011. 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 American Electric Seeks Easing of EPA Toxics Plan for Particles. Power producers fighting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s $11 billion rule to curb mercury and toxic emissions are gaining ground in a drive to revise part of the standard. American Electric Power Co. (AEP) and Southern Co. (SO) asked the EPA to ease its planned limits on small-particle emissions from coal-fired plants. Otherwise the rule would require expensive changes to plants that already have pollution-controls, the companies said in a closed-door meeting with the EPA this year. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-15/american-electric-seeks-easing-of-epa-toxics-plan-for-particles.html Residents want to meet W. Pa. coke plant officials. A residents' group wants to meet with operators of a coke plant near Pittsburgh that has been cited for scores of air pollution violations this year. Shenango Inc. on Neville Island has been cited more than 150 times, and has already been fined $114,000 by the Allegheny County Health Department for the first 114 of those violations through July. The health department contends soot from the plant's coke battery is polluting the air. DTE Energy, the Detroit company that owns Shenango, is appealing those fines. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19553168?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19553168?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District investigates its top management. It’s a good thing for air quality on the Monterey Peninsula that there’s not enough sun or water to easily grow grass; running a lawnmower for an hour emits as much air pollution as a new car driving 300 miles. But a proposed $15,000 trade-out program at the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, which would allow tri-county residents to swap diesel hogs for electric lawnmowers, is unlikely to ever rev up. Posted. http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/2011/dec/15/air/ State takes soil samples from Western Environmental, blamed for Mecca odor. Hazardous waste workers examine business. MECCA — After months of negotiation, state hazardous waste regulators have reached a deal to take soil samples from the business blamed for last year's overwhelming odor outbreaks in Mecca. On Wednesday, employees of Western Environmental Inc., overseen by the state's Department of Toxic Substances Control, started collected soil samples at the contaminated-soil recycling facility. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20111215/NEWS07/112150311/Mecca-odor-soil-samples-taken-Western-Environmental?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage CLIMATE CHANGE Governor kicks off climate change conference with attack on deniers. Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown kicked off his climate conference Thursday with a blistering attack on libertarians, the Republican party and others who deny that climate change is happening, despite overwhelming scientific consensus that sea levels are rising and the earth is warming. Brown convened about 250 state energy policy leaders to a one-day conference held at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19554582 Governor vows to prepare Calif. for climate change. San Francisco—The United Nations' top climate change official is in San Francisco to join California Gov. Jerry Brown at a conference addressing the costs associated with preparing for the effects of a warming world. Brown organized Thursday's conference at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. The event includes Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and billionaire Sir Richard Branson. Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also is expected to attend this afternoon. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/15/4125280/governor-vows-to-prepare-calif.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/15/state/n105027S28.DTL http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19554652 http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/calif-governor-joined-by-international-climate-change-officials-for-global-warming-conference/2011/12/15/gIQArhANwO_story.html EU Looks to Carbon Reductions. Brussels—Efforts to cut greenhouse-gas emissions in the European Union will pay off over the next four decades as they will reduce the fossil fuel bill, but such a scenario hinges on where oil prices are headed, the European Commission said Thursday. The commission released a strategy paper on how the 27 EU countries could achieve their goal of cutting carbon-dioxide emissions by at least 80% in 2050 compared with 1990 levels, analyzing different scenarios. It said that if the union continues with current policies, it could reduce the costs of investing in infrastructure. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203893404577100220208173542.html?_nocache=1323976199813&user=welcome BY SUBSCRIPTION Loophole Inserted in Climate Accord Augurs U.S.-China Clash. The deal struck by United Nations envoys this week to fight climate change gives the biggest polluters three options for a wider agreement by 2015, setting the stage for renewed discord between rich and poor countries. Negotiators from more than 190 nations agreed Dec. 11 to draft a “protocol, legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force” to take effect by 2020. While the European Union says that calls for a treaty to limit fossil-fuel emissions in all countries, two of the world’s three biggest air polluters, China and India, signaled they expect to be assigned looser limits in the final accord. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-14/loophole-in-climate-accord-augurs-clash.html Notes from the Science Desk: Dramatic ecological changes ahead, courtesy of man-made greenhouse gases. Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech are painting a dramatic portrait of how Earth's ecosystems are likely to respond to human-induced climate change over the next few centuries. By 2100, nearly half of the the plant communities covering Earth's land mass will be modified - with nearly 40 percent morphing into another type altogether (e.g., forest to tundra). The study used computer modeling to project likely reactions to rising levels of human- produced greenhouse gases over the next 300 years. Posted. http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_19551660 Closing arguments made in NM emissions case. SANTA FE, N.M. — A hearing over whether New Mexico should uphold regulations for curbing greenhouse gas emissions has wrapped up after a week and a half of testimony and public comment. At stake is a plan by the group New Energy Economy that was adopted last year by state regulators. It calls for large polluters such as coal-fired power plants and refineries to reduce carbon emissions by 3 percent per year from 2010 levels starting in 2013. Utilities and other industry groups petitioned the Environmental Improvement Board to overturn the plan along with the state's regional cap-and-trade program. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45683521 Big Oil and Canada thwarted U.S. carbon standards. Emails show how a Washington lobbyist enlisted Canadian officials to beat back U.S. carbon standards. When President Barack Obama decided in early November to delay a decision on TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline until after the next election, America’s environmental movement celebrated one of its biggest victories in recent memory. And no doubt the news came as a blow to Alberta’s tar sands industry, and to Canada’s oft-stated dream of becoming the next global energy superpower. Posted. http://www.salon.com/2011/12/15/big_oil_and_canada_thwarted_u_s_carbon_standards/print/ DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB truck and bus regulation online reporting now available. The online reporting system for the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Truck and Bus regulation is now available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/reportinginfo.htm. CARB notes that fleets which must report have until Jan. 31, 2012 to complete their reporting. Posted. http://www.equipmentworld.com/carb-truck-and-bus-regulation-online-reporting-now-available/ VEHICLES China Imposes New Tariffs on U.S. Vehicles. The Chinese government increased trade tensions with the Obama administration Wednesday evening by unexpectedly imposing antidumping and antisubsidy tariffs on imports of sport utility vehicles and midsize and large cars from the United States. The new tariffs, totaling up to nearly 22 percent of the import prices, will probably have a mainly symbolic function, rather than reducing the already skimpy sales of such vehicles in China. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/15/business/global/china-imposes-new-tariffs-on-some-vehicles-from-the-us.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=vehicles&st=cse State hopes to break car owners' habit of changing oil too often. California launches a campaign against the widespread notion that oil changes are needed every 3,000 miles. Officials say the practice wastes millions of gallons of oil a year. Many automobile owners are spending more than they need on motor oil, believing that it should be changed every 3,000 miles even though almost no manufacturer requires such an aggressive oil-change schedule. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-autos-oil-change-20111215,0,4554184.story Bullet train's travel-time mandate adds to ballooning of costs. The ballot measure for the project required that the L.A.-to-San Francisco trip take no more than two hours, 40 minutes. Achieving that would mean building more viaducts and tunnels, which are costly. California's proposed bullet train will need to soar over small towns on towering viaducts, split rich farm fields diagonally and burrow for miles under mountains for a simple reason: It has no time to spare. In the fine print of a 2008 voter-approved measure funding the project was a little-noticed requirement that trains be able to rocket from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to San Francisco in no more than two hours and 40 minutes. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bullet-speed-20111215,0,1729184.story GREEN ENERGY Solar industry reports record third-quarter growth. The 449 megawatts of power installed in the U.S. in the third quarter are more than all the installations in 2009, according to a new report on the solar energy industry. Solar power is a booming business in the U.S., with more domestic solar installations completed in the third quarter of this year than during all of 2009, according to a report released Wednesday by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Assn. "The U.S. solar industry is on a roll, with unprecedented growth in 2011," said Rhone Resch, chief executive of the solar group. "Solar is now an economic force in dozens of states, creating jobs across America." Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-solar-growth-20111215,0,5390004.story Summary Box: Germany looks to green scientists. GOING GREEN: Germany has given 20 young scholars from across the globe the chance to carry out research on climate change and sustainability as part of Berlin's push to get 80 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2050. They won the chance to carry out research projects in Germany as part of a $2.6 billion government research fund earmarked for research and development of renewable technology. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/15/financial/f093512S86.DTL&type=business http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/germany-investing-billions-of-dollars-in-green-research-reaching-out-to-young-scientists/2011/12/15/gIQAnXPjvO_story.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19553841?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19553841?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Central Valley company named one of state’s ‘greenest’. Sixteen California companies or organizations, including one from the Central Valley, are getting the 2011 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award from Gov. Jerry Brown for their contributions to California’s environment and economy. “To thrive in the twenty-first century, we need to preserve the environment on which the economy itself depends,” says Mr. Brown. “This year’s winners exemplify the imagination that will drive California’s recovery.” Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=19987 OPINIONS Viewpoints: Low Carbon Fuel Standard aids economy, saves consumers cash. If there is any silver lining to the modern era of soaring gasoline prices, it's the way they have renewed Californians' desire for more choices at the pump. As a result, Californians are pursuing cars powered by lower cost, cleaner fuels, such as electricity and natural gas. Diversity in our transportation fuels market is beneficial to our economy, our environment and our national security. On Friday, members of California's Air Resources Board could act to help give Californians more choices with lower-cost alternative fuels. This is an opportunity CARB should seize. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/15/4123572/low-carbon-fuel-standard-aids.html California must stay course on cleaner fuels. California, which has led the way on many clean-air regulations, took a bold step in demanding that oil companies reduce the carbon intensity of the fuels they sell by 10 percent by the end of this decade. Wisely, this state also declared that the greenhouse-gas impact of producing and distributing those fuels should go into the equation. Perhaps not surprisingly, as those regulations approach the end of their first year, the oil industry is lobbying to undercut them. The California Air Resources Board is expected to consider a series of amendments to the landmark Low Carbon Fuel Standard at its meeting in Los Angeles on Friday. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/14/EDB21MCGCH.DTL Improving air district programs. Having grown up in the valley, we weren't exposed to air district programs until we commenced our first semester at Fresno State this fall. We would like to suggest the following improvements to the air district programs so that more people are informed: Flag program — Flags are used at schools to inform teachers and students about the daily air quality. We suggest communicating air quality information over the PA system and displaying the current flag color in classrooms and gymnasiums. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/14/1987680/improving-air-district-programs.html So, what will air district target next? Mowers? I know I'm a dinosaur, I admit it. I still cut my own firewood and burn in my fireplace as often as the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District allows. You see, I try to minimize my monthly dues to "Pacific Graft and Extortion." Imagine my amazement when I opened the newspaper on Tuesday to find that, after a winter storm warning with a trace of rain, a no-burn status was in effect. So for kicks, I called the air district to inquire what criteria is used to call a no-burn day, because looking out my window, the air was clear. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x1836507109/So-what-will-air-district-target-next-Mowers Climate talks as good as it gets with divergent agendas. I'm inclined to believe that the apparent result of the climate change summit in Durban, South Africa, might turn out to be a very big deal. Someday. Maybe. That's my view, but it's hardly universal. After the meeting ended Sunday, initial reaction basically ranged from "Historic Breakthrough: The Planet is Saved" to "Tragic Failure: The Planet is Doomed." Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111215/A_OPINION0608/112150314&cid=sitesearch Air pollution knows no international boundaries. Improving air quality in the Imperial and Mexicali valleys has long been something the average person on both sides of the border could agree upon. Yet because of the complexity and enormity of the issue, the average person is often left feeling that there is not much he or she can do to effect positive change. So it is cause for elation when the federal government delivers a piece of legislation that, while not far-reaching or as controversial as emission standards, is an unmistakable step in the right direction toward cleaner skies. Posted. http://www.ivpressonline.com/opinion/ivp-air-pollution-knows-no-international-boundaries-20111215,0,856378.story It's Time To Clear The Air: EPA's Clean Air Rules Save Lives. In meetings with members of Congress in Washington, D.C. today, we will urge our nation's legislators to do the right thing and tackle the problem of dirty air by supporting the soon-to-be-finalized Air Toxics Rule and ensuring it goes into effect without delay. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the next few days is expected to issue this lifesaving rule, which would mandate nationwide reductions of dangerous emissions of mercury, lead, arsenic, and acid gases from coal-fired power plants. Most importantly, the rule would clean the air we breathe and save lives. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jerome-bettis/clean-air-act_b_1149822.html Does politics trump science in the Obama W.H.? President Barack Obama turned it into a campaign-trail talking point: He would end the Bush administration’s “war on science.” But four years later, as the White House shifts into reelection mode, Obama is facing the same attacks he leveled against his Republican predecessor: He is putting politics ahead of science. The complaints about Obama’s record come after a pair of controversial administration actions in recent months — and some of the president’s most ardent supporters are bracing for more disappointment. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70468.html Guest commentary: It's time for Obama to protect U.S. from mercury pollution. It's time for President Barack Obama to get us across the finish line on mercury pollution. The problem has been clear from the get-go: Burning coal makes us sick. The pollution from burning coal causes a host of serious health problems -- especially for children and senior citizens -- including asthma, respiratory illness, cancer, neurological problems and heart disease. Disposing of toxic coal ash is also dangerous: Studies show that living near a toxic coal ash site is worse for your health than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. But mercury is one of the worst of the pollutants coming out of coal smokestacks. Posted. http://www.freep.com/article/C4/20111215/OPINION05/112150420/Guest-commentary-It-s-time-for-Obama-to-protect-U-S-from-mercury-pollution?odyssey=nav|head BLOGS How will climate change affect rainfall? This Q&A is part of the Guardian's ultimate climate change FAQ. Changes in rainfall and other forms of precipitation will be one of the most critical factors determining the overall impact of climate change. Rainfall is much more difficult to predict than temperature but there are some statements that scientists can make with confidence about the future. A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, and globally water vapor increases by 7% for every degree centigrade of warming. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/dec/15/climate-change-rainfall CARB’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard – A Self-Imposed Fuel Embargo on California. Perhaps no Californians are more sensitive to the issue of energy security than our veterans. As one of the most essential commodities in the world, it is critically important that we have ample domestic energy supplies to free us from dependence on foreign imports from parts of the world that may be less than friendly to us. That is why the American GI Forum of California takes notice when the government pursues policies that will hamper in-state production and increase the need for imported fuels. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2011/12/carbs-low-carbon-fuel-standard-a-self-imposed-fuel-embargo-on-california/ California Air Board Plans to Eliminate Gasoline Vehicle Sales — Deja Vu All Over Again. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) proposes to amend its Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) program to help the state meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Under the proposal, ZEVs — plug-in hybrids, battery-electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles — would account for 15.4% of all new cars sold in California by 2025 and nearly 100% by 2040. By 2050, 87% of all vehicles on the road will be ZEVs, CARB estimates. Posted. http://www.globalwarming.org/2011/12/14/california-air-board-plans-to-eliminate-gasoline-vehicle-sales-deja-vu-all-over-again/ Mazda planning EV for U.S. market by 2018. We don't have a clue what 2018 has in store for us, but automakers' product plans extend well into the future, giving us a glimpse of what may or may not come. Automotive News reports that Mazda is planning to offer an electric vehicle in the United States by 2018, in part to satisfy California's zero-emissions vehicle requirements. Mazda engineer Mitsuru Fujinaka reportedly told AN that the regulations make a U.S.-bound EV a near certainty, adding, "otherwise, we can't sell in California." Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/15/mazda-planning-ev-for-u-s-market-by-2018/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:11:38 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 16, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board Newsclips for December 16, 2011. 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 Delhi's air as dirty as ever despite some reforms. A decade ago, plans for a metro and clean-fuel buses were hailed as New Delhi's answer to pollution. But air in the Indian capital is as dirty as ever—partly because breakneck development has brought skyrocketing use of cars. Citywide pollution sensors routinely register levels of small airborne particles at two or sometimes three times its own sanctioned level for residential areas, putting New Delhi up with Beijing, Cairo and Mexico City at the top of indexes listing the world's most-polluted capitals. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_INDIA_BROWN_AIR?SITE=MAFAL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/delhis-air-as-dirty-as-ever-despite-some-reforms/?scp=6&sq=fuels&st=cse http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/16/2651314/delhis-air-as-dirty-as-ever-despite.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19561078?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19561078?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/16/delhis-air-as-dirty-as-ever-despite-some-reforms/#ixzz1giq7n700 http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/16/1989650/delhis-air-as-dirty-as-ever-despite.html Death-by-Air in Beijing Shows China’s Heart Risk From Worsening Pollution. As smog grounded hundreds of flights from Beijing last week, emergency doctors at Peking University People’s Hospital faced a rush of patients. Lungs weren’t the problem, says Ding Rongjing, the hospital’s deputy head of cardiology. Five people were admitted for heart attacks from Dec. 4 to 6, compared with one or two a week typically. One 60-year-old male patient died. The illnesses are an unwanted consequence of the economic growth that helped spur a 32 percent jump in China’s car sales last year. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-15/death-by-air-in-beijing-shows-china-s-heart-risk-from-worsening-pollution.html Cement plant near Mojave to pay EPA fine. The CalPortland facility will pay a $1.4 million fine and $1.3 million on equipment needed to reduce emissions of pollutants. The penalties were part of a settlement of an EPA and Department of Justice probe. A CalPortland cement plant near the high desert community of Mojave has agreed to pay a fine of $1.4 million and spend $1.3 million on equipment needed to reduce emissions of pollutants that cause asthma and generate smog, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cement-fine-20111216,0,335637.story http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/15/cement-producer-pays-142-million-in-fines/#ixzz1giqdjDjK U.S. to impose sharp limits on mercury emissions. Washington -- The Environmental Protection Agency is expected Friday to approve a tough new rule to limit emissions of mercury, arsenic and other toxins from the country's power plants, according to people with knowledge of the new standard. Though mercury is a known neurotoxin profoundly harmful to children and pregnant women, the air-toxins rule has been more than 20 years in the making, repeatedly stymied because of objections from coal-burning utilities about the cost of installing pollution-control equipment. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/15/4126242/us-to-impose-sharp-limits-on-mercury.html Kettleman City residents protest to air board. A dozen Kettleman City residents protested at the Valley air board meeting Thursday, saying officials didn't give the town a real chance to talk about a permit renewal for the largest toxic-waste landfill west of the Mississippi. The farmworker town of 1,500 has been battling for years against the nearby Waste Management landfill, which residents suspect is connected to birth defects, illnesses and deaths in their community. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/15/2651222/kettleman-residents-protest-to.html Air pollution control projects get funding. A dozen projects aimed at finding high tech ways to reduce air pollution will share in $2,947,694 from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. The Valley Air District’s Governing Board also authorized an additional $3 million for an additional round of funding to bring more technology-advancement entrepreneurs in the Valley. The projects range from an all-electric agricultural sprayer to a natural gas conversion kit for locomotive engines, an emission-reducing raisin tray burning system to a cleaner composting system. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=20001 Valley Air District grants $3M to 11 projects to improve air quality. The Valley Air District’s Governing Board granted $2,947,694 to 11 projects targeted at reducing the Valley’s air quality emissions through new technology. The board also authorized an additional $3 million for an additional round of funding to bring more technology-advancement entrepreneurs in the Valley. The latest competitive request for proposals to the Technology Advancement Program resulted in submissions ranging from an all-electric agricultural sprayer to a natural gas conversion kit for locomotive engines, an emission-reducing raisin tray burning system to a cleaner composting system. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/12/15/2158422/valley-air-district-grants-3m.html Where There's Smoke, There's Sickness: Wood Smoke now a major Northwest air polluter. The warning label on the wrapping of neatly split firewood is one we're more accustomed to seeing on cigarettes or heavy-duty chemicals: "known... to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm." But in fact, heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, asthma attacks and premature death – in addition to cancer – all are linked to wood smoke pollution. It's a finding that poses a vexing dilemma for poor and rural communities around the Northwest where wood is a cheap or even free source of heat. Posted. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=143842355 Finally: New air toxics rules for power plants. Cross-posted from the World Resources Institute. The post was written by Nicholas Bianco, senior associate for WRI's climate and energy program. As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prepares to release new mercury and air toxics standards, some people may be wondering about the history and timeline for these standards. One senator recently claimed that EPA is "charging ahead" with them. Posted. http://www.grist.org/clean-air/2011-12-15-finally-new-air-toxics-rules-for-power-plants CLIMATE CHANGE Gov. vows to prepare Calif. for climate change. The United Nations' top climate official joined California Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday to call for renewed efforts in the state to more quickly adapt to the risks that extreme weather and a rising sea pose to agriculture and the coastline. Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, joined Brown, scientists, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and billionaire Sir Richard Branson at a conference at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jJnqbOh1OjxgzD-zThlWL7UCQOSg?docId=d0f54bdcb59c4da5ad8ea8c1cf172831 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/calif-governor-joined-by-international-climate-change-officials-for-global-warming-conference/2011/12/15/gIQArhANwO_story.html Jery Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger urge green energy policies. San Francisco – Gov. Jerry Brown railed Thursday against politicians who doubt climate change, calling them "political lemmings" and the chief obstacle in the fight against global warming. "The main thing we have to deal with in climate change is the skepticism, the denial and the cult-like behavior of the political lemmings that would take us over the cliff," the Democratic governor said at a high-profile conference on climate change at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/16/4126458/jery-brown-arnold-schwarzenegger.html Quebec to start cap-trade climate plan with California. Montreal — With global climate-change talks in limbo, Quebec is the first province to push ahead with its own cap-and-trade program. The province says it's emulating California as it becomes the first Canadian province to start enforcing cap-and-trade regulations for carbon emissions. Starting on Jan. 1, there will be a one-year transition period to help large emitters adjust to the new system, which will officially kick in at the start of 2013. Posted. http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Politics/20111215/quebec-starts-cap-and-trade-with-california-111215/ Quebec cap-and-trade follows Kyoto reversal. With announcement, Arcand slams Tories' 'regrettable' move. Environment Minister Pierre Arcand announced the official adoption of Quebec's cap-and-trade system to fight climate change Thursday - three days after what Arcand called the federal government's "utterly regrettable" announcement that Canada will withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol. Posted. http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Quebec+trade+follows+Kyoto+reversal/5869801/story.html Carbon trading coming to Quebec. Montreal — Quebec's most energy-intensive companies will soon be forced to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade system. Environment Minister Pierre Arcand announced that 75 companies which annually produce more than 25,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases will have the new regime imposed on them as of Jan. 1, 2013. "We just want to reduce greenhouse gases in the most flexible and efficient way," said Arcand. Posted. http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111215/mtl_greenhouse_111215/20111215/?hub=MontrealHome Calif budget to include CO2 auction revenue-Point Carbon. California Governor Jerry Brown said on Thursday his 2012-2013 state budget will assume $300 million to $600 million in revenue from the sale of CO2 permits. Speaking on the sidelines of a conference in San Francisco on the risks of climate change, Brown told Point Carbon that the state spending plan he will unveil next month will for the first time include the new revenue stream for California's cash-strapped government. Posted. http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/calif-budget-to-include-co2-auction-revenue-point-carbon Climate Change May Modify Half Earth's Plants. Pasadena - By 2100, global climate change will modify plant communities covering almost half of Earth's land surface. "For more than 25 years, scientists have warned of the dangers of human-induced climate change," said Jon Bergengren, a scientist who led the study while a postdoctoral scholar at the California Institute of Technology in the U.S. http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/12/16-6 CARB OKs modified Cleaire DPF three months after fire. A major fire displaced hundreds of people south central Washington in September, eventually prompting the California Air Resources Board to prohibit the sale of LongMile and Allmetal diesel particulate filters. The DPFs manufactured by Cleaire have been modified and are now back on the market. In an executive order posted last week, CARB said the agency had verified design modifications to the Cleaire’s company’s LongMile DPF system and has lifted the suspension on sales of LongMile filters for on-road truck use. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Dec11/121211/121511-06.shtml CARB OKs Rypos TRU DPF. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has verified the Rypos DPF/ULETRU CARB Level 3+ Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) for use on Carrier and ThermoKing transportation refrigeration units (TRU) using 2003 and newer model year engines. TRUs are refrigeration systems powered by diesel internal combustion engines designed to control the environment of temperature-sensitive products that are transported in trucks, trailers, shipping containers, andrailcars. Posted. http://www.dieselprogress.com/emissionstechnologyforum/index_news_detail.asp?pick=461&fm=N FUELS California clean fuel standard needs flexibility. When the California Air Resources Board considers regulatory amendments to the state's new Low Carbon Fuel Standard today, it must take into account new information that paints a very troubling picture of this complex climate-change policy. A new analysis commissioned by the Western States Petroleum Association indicates the rosy projections upon which the standard was built are neither realistic nor accurate. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/16/EDB21MCMUD.DTL Support for locally produced biofuels crucial. In Northern California, local, sustainably sourced food has progressed from the purview of a few entrepreneurial chefs to the dinner table. In a state where innovation is a way of life, it's easy to imagine locally sourced products expanding to another basic necessity: our fuel supply. The technology to substitute sustainable biofuels for petroleum is already being developed and commercialized by California companies like Amyris, Solazyme, and Fulcrum Bioenergy. But new industries require long-term support to develop technology and build low-cost production capacity. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/16/EDB21MCNHM.DTL California corrects Canadian lobbying. The battle over how to classify oil extracted from tar sands and oil shale under the EU's fuel quality directive has taken an interesting turn, with California's Air Resources Board writing to the EU climate commissioner telling her not to believe some of the lobbying undertaken by Canada and the oil industry. With member states having to decide whether to support the Commission's proposal to set higher emissions values for oil extracted from tar sands and oil shale …Posted. http://www.transportenvironment.org/News/2011/12/California-corrects-Canadian-lobbying/ VEHICLES DuPont, Honeywell Said to Face EU Car-Refrigerant Probe. DuPont Co., the largest U.S. chemicals company by market value, and Honeywell International Inc. face a European Union antitrust probe over a refrigerant for car air-conditioning systems, according to four people familiar with the plan. The European Commission will soon open a formal investigation to examine whether DuPont and Honeywell may have concealed their ownership of patents for the refrigerant before the car industry agreed to use the technology as a standard, said the people who couldn’t be identified because the issue isn’t yet public. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-16/dupont-honeywell-said-to-face-eu-car-refrigerant-probe.html U.S. stands by California bullet train project despite critics. 'We are not going to flinch' on support, an official says at a House committee meeting. The opposition alleges political corruption in the granting of federal funds for the Central Valley segment. The Obama administration vowed Thursday at a House committee meeting in Washington that it would not back down from its support of California's bullet train project despite attacks from critics who alleged it is tainted by political corruption. "We are not going to flinch on that support," said Joseph Szabo, chief of the Federal Railroad Administration. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bullet-hearing-20111216,0,2765172.story Energy Roadmap 2050 fails to determine 2030 milestones. Electric vehicles will play an important role in the decarbonisation of road transport in the EU, says the Energy Roadmap 2050 presented by the European Commission on 15 December 2011. However, it fails to set any concrete recommendations, policy actions or intermediate targets. The Energy Roadmap 2050 identifies several decarbonisation scenarios to achieve the long-term objective of 80-95% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050…Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/71820111216.php GREEN ENERGY Schwarzenegger: Debate over bankrupt solar maker Solyndra loan ‘narrow minded’ San Francisco — In a rare public appearance since leaving office, former Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called the debate over bankrupt solar panel maker Solyndra narrow-minded in a world moving ever-faster toward renewable energy. Schwarzenegger said Thursday he took time out from a movie shoot to address Gov. Jerry Brown’s climate conference at the California Academy of Sciences. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/schwarzenegger-debate-over-bankrupt-solar-maker-solyndra-loan-narrow-minded/2011/12/15/gIQAJlGrwO_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/15/1989099/schwarzenegger-solyndra-debate.html MISCELLANEOUS The Race to Greener Bottles Could Be Long. Over their decades of competition, the battle between Coca-Cola and PepsiCo has taken on many colors — brown (cola), orange (juice), blue (sport drinks) and clear (water). Now, they are fighting over green: The beverage rivals are racing to become the first to produce a plastic soda bottle made entirely from plants. But despite dueling announcements claiming technological breakthroughs, consumers should not expect to see many all-plant bottles on store shelves any time soon. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/business/energy-environment/coca-cola-and-pepsico-race-for-greener-bottles.html OPINIONS A Call for Climate Solutions. To the Editor: In his Dec. 4 column, “The Decadent Left,” Ross Douthat paints the Keystone XL pipeline protests as furthering the agendas of narrow interests. In fact, they are the opposite. They are about protecting resources Americans hold in common and value deeply: our air, water and climate. Climate change is not an elite concern; it is a force upending American lives with crippling drought, increased urban air pollution and devastating floods. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/opinion/a-call-for-climate-solutions.html?_r=1&ref=opinion State’s clean fuel leadership helps national security. My family has a long history of service to this country. My father served in the Army nearly 20 years, many of which were spent in hostile areas including Iraq during the first Gulf War. Following in my father’s footsteps and in his honor, I too chose to enlist. For more than eight years, I served in the United States Navy. As an aviation logistics specialist, I deployed multiple times, providing combat support for the U.S. and NATO forces on land and sea in the Mediterranean and Middle East. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/16/states-clean-fuel-leadership-helps-national/ Charles Feder and Hank Ryan: Carbon fuel rule helps jump-start oil alternatives. For small businesses navigating difficult economic times, keeping costs manageable is key. But that's hard to do when your company's expenses are bound to a volatile commodity whose price you can't control. That's why gas prices matter so much to small business owners. And that's why so many of us are cheering on the California Air Resource Board's efforts to update our state's groundbreaking Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Posted. http://www.presstelegram.com/opinions/ci_19557027 Why Small Delays in Dealing With Climate Change Can be Very Cheap. Ezra Klein tells us why small delays in climate change can be very expensive. His point and it’s not an obviously bad one, is that the longer we delay dealing with emissions then the more quickly we will have to deal with them when we do. And dealing with reducing emissions quickly is likely to be more expensive than dealing with them slowly. Well, yes, that’s one side of it, that’s true. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2011/12/16/why-small-delays-in-dealing-with-climate-change-can-be-very-cheap/ Durban: An Important Step Forward in Combating Global Climate Change. The 17th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change concluded in the early morning hours of Sunday December 11, after more than two weeks of intense negotiations in Durban, South Africa. I've returned to Washington and I can report that we made some very significant progress. Though I'm steeped in the climate negotiations, I know how hard it can be to make sense of the various accords and agreements and how they can help us meet the climate challenge. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/todd-d-stern/durban-climate-talks_b_1153721.html?ref=green America Must Not Back Down on Sustainable Energy. If you read just the headlines these days, you might think renewable energy in America is going the way of Solyndra. Don't take our word for it: a recent headline from Fox News declared "ENTIRE Solar Industry on Brink of Collapse." We cannot allow long-time opponents of renewable energy to focus the discussion only on Solyndra (whose higher priced panels could not compete as solar costs came down) when we should be thinking about competing with China to win the next energy revolution. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/america-must-not-back-dow_b_1153827.html BLOGS Jerry Brown criticizes 'political lemmings' of climate change. San Francisco - Gov. Jerry Brown railed this morning against politicians who doubt climate change, calling "political lemmings" the chief obstacle in combating global warming."The main thing we have to deal with in climate change is the skepticism, the denial and the cult-like behavior of the political lemmings that would take us over the cliff," Brown said at a high-profile conference on climate change at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/12/jerry-brown-criticizes-political-lemmings-of-climate-change-california-san-francisco.html#MTRecentEntries Arnold Schwarzenegger 'proud' of Jerry Brown on environment. San Francisco -- Hours after Gov. Jerry Brown issued a spirited attack on politicians who doubt the significance of climate change, Brown's predecessor -- former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger -- praised Brown but urged a spirit of inclusiveness. "To me, it made no difference if a Democrat had a great idea or a Republican had a great idea, or if someone from the outside had a great idea,…Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/12/arnold-schwarzenegger-proud-of-jerry-brown-on-environment.html#MTRecentEntries AM Alert: Jerry Brown talks solar power in San Diego. Fresh off his conference in San Francisco on climate change, Gov. Jerry Brown heads to Southern California to talk clean power and jobs. Brown, who referred to global warming naysayers Thursday as "political lemmings," will have a few words to say this morning at the dedication of a new solar manufacturing plant in San Diego. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/12/am-alert-jerry-brown-talks-solar-power-in-san-diego-california.html Online shopping: Better for the environment? With just nine days to go before Christmas, we've all got our lists. We've been checking them twice. And now comes the naughty or nice part, at least environmentally: Deciding whether to buy that Nerf gun in person or online. More shoppers are doing the latter. About 4.2% of purchases are now done with a computer or hand-held device, compared with 3.3% in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2011/12/online-shopping-vs-traditional-shopping.html BioBoost project targets conversion of biomass into intermediate energy carriers for subsequent conversion into fuels, chemicals, power and heat. Six research institutions and seven industrial partners from Europe will participate in the new BioBoost project, aimed at converting residual biomass into energy carriers for the production of high-quality and engine-compatible fuels and chemicals as well as for the generation of electricity and heat. The project, coordinated by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), will start in early 2012. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/bioboost-20111216.html GM’s eAssist seeks to provide a cost-effective solution for improving fuel efficiency and driving dynamics. General Motors is exploring the use of its light electrification system eAssist as a cost-effective means to improve both vehicle efficiency as well as driving dynamics. Initially introduced in the Buick line, eAssist has now made the jump to the Chevrolet line with its application in the new Malibu Eco (earlier post)—which will be the only version of the new Malibu initially available. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/eassist-20111215.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:52:12 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 19, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board Newsclips for December 19, 2011. 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 AP IMPACT: EPA rules threaten older power plants. More than 32 mostly coal-fired power plants in a dozen states will be forced to shut down and an additional 36 might have to close because of new federal air pollution regulations, according to an Associated Press survey. Together, those plants—some of the oldest and dirtiest in the country—produce enough electricity for more than 22 million households, the AP survey found. But their demise probably won't cause homes to go dark. The fallout will be most acute for the towns where power plant smokestacks long have cast a shadow. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_COAL_PLANT_RETIREMENTS?SITE=KFWB&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-government/ap-impact-survey-shows-more-than-32-power-plants-to-be-retired-because-of-new-pollution-rules/2011/12/16/gIQAmOQlyO_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/18/2654141/ap-impact-epa-rules-threaten-older.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19577398?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19577398?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/18/ap-impact-epa-rules-threaten-older-power-plants/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/ap-impact-epa-rules-threaten-older-power-plants/article_2e42f0cf-bbea-5757-a834-16391e6698de.html Cement plant near Mojave to pay EPA fine. The CalPortland facility will pay a $1.4 million fine and $1.3 million on equipment needed to reduce emissions of pollutants. The penalties were part of a settlement of an EPA and Department of Justice probe. A CalPortland cement plant near the high desert community of Mojave has agreed to pay a fine of $1.4 million and spend $1.3 million on equipment needed to reduce emissions of pollutants that cause asthma and generate smog, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cement-fine-20111216,0,335637.story Bay Area's seventh Winter Spare the Air Alert issued for Monday. Keep those fireplaces dark Monday because the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued another Winter Spare the Air Alert. It is the second spare the air day in a row, and the seventh since the first spare the air day of the season Dec. 7. During a Winter Spare the Air Alert, it is illegal for Bay Area residents and businesses to use fireplaces, woodstoves and inserts, pellet stoves and any other wood-burning devices. Burning wood, manufactured logs and other sold fuel indoors and out has also been banned for 24 hours. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19574800?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19574800?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Projects to improve San Joaquin Valley air get $3 million. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's governing board has awarded $2,947,694 to 11 projects targeted at reducing the valley's air quality emissions through new technology. The board also authorized an additional $3 million to bring more technology-advancement entrepreneurs in the valley. The latest request for proposals to the Technology Advancement Program resulted in submissions ranging from an all-electric agricultural sprayer to a natural gas conversion kit for locomotive engines, an emission-reducing raisin tray burning system to a cleaner composting system. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/18/1992961/projects-to-improve-air-get-3m.html#storylink=cpy CLIMATE CHANGE The Battle Over Aviation Emissions. Brussels — One of the most contested global environmental initiatives ever undertaken is scheduled to get under way on New Year’s Day, when the European Union plans to begin regulating greenhouse gas emissions from airlines. Much is at stake for Europe, which has sought to burnish its identity as a significant international actor partly by leading the world on climate protection. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/business/energy-environment/the-battle-over-aviation-emissions.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print As Permafrost Thaws, Scientists Study the Risks. A bubble rose through a hole in the surface of a frozen lake. It popped, followed by another, and another, as if a pot were somehow boiling in the icy depths. Every bursting bubble sent up a puff of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas generated beneath the lake from the decay of plant debris. These plants last saw the light of day 30,000 years ago and have been locked in a deep freeze — until now. “That’s a hot spot,” declared Katey M. Walter Anthony, a leading scientist in studying the escape of methane. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/science/earth/warming-arctic-permafrost-fuels-climate-change-worries.html?scp=1&sq=fuels&st=cse La Nina keeps Sierra snowless. After a big snowfall year in 2010, snowboarders and skiers are still waiting for big storms this year. National Weather Service forecasters say don't give up on the snow season yet. Snow could come anytime, but probably not this week. Forecaster Brooke Bingaman, with the National Weather Service's Sacramento office, explained that a La Nina weather pattern is influencing the north state's weather. A La Nina event pushes the polar jet stream far north of the west coast while the Pacific jet stream, although it can vary, usually is aimed for the Pacific Northwest. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/19/4132121/weeks-weather-is-expected-to-remain.html REGION: State should brace for greater disasters, rising costs from climate change, experts say. California should prepare for massive storms, frequent and severe wildfires, and dwindling snowmelt, scientists at a climate conference at Scripps Institution of Oceanography said last week. The conference showcased new research on the practical consequences of a warming planet. Although similar events have often presented climate research, the conference last week highlighted the implications of warming on wildfires, water supply, energy policy and biological diversity. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/region-state-should-brace-for-greater-disasters-rising-costs-from/article_6a90a2ad-2e3f-56de-b925-981da9ed2eb2.html FUELS California Approves Rules Restricting Use of High-Carbon Crude. California passed rules discouraging the state’s refiners, including Chevron Corp. (CVX) and Tesoro Corp. (TSO), from processing types of crude that release more carbon when produced and delivered, such as output from Canada’s oil sands. The regulation, approved as a change to the state’s low- carbon fuel standard, assigns “carbon-intensity” values to about 250 types of crude oil, favoring those that take less energy to produce and transport. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-16/california-approves-rules-restricting-use-of-high-carbon-crude.html GREEN ENERGY Breakthrough could double solar energy output. A new discovery from a chemist at the University of Texas at Austin may allow photovoltaic solar cells to double their efficiency, thus providing loads more electrical power from regular sunlight. Not only that, but it’s way cheap. Chemistry professor Xiaoyang Zhu and his team discovered that an organic plastic semiconductor could double the number of electrons harvested out of one photon of sunlight. Yep, plastic. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-breakthrough-double-solar-energy-output-20111216,0,3897047.story?track=rss The U.S. electricity mix in 20 years: A prediction. What will the U.S. power mix look like in 10 to 20 years? It's impossible to predict for certain, of course, because there's no way to know what regulators will do. Given the heavily regulated nature of the electric sector, even in so-called "deregulated" markets, surprises tend to come from regulatory reform, not innovation. (The U.S. electric grid has shown itself capable of rapid, large-scale transformation in response to regulations.) Posted. http://www.grist.org/article/2011-12-16-us-electricity-20-years-prediction Harnessing the sun’s energy for water and space heating. The pace of solar energy development is accelerating as the installation of rooftop solar water heaters takes off. Unlike solar photovoltaic panels that convert solar radiation into electricity, these "solar thermal collectors" use the sun's energy to heat water, space, or both. Posted. http://www.grist.org/solar-power/2011-12-14-harnessing-the-suns-energy-for-water-and-space-heating MISCELLANEOUS How to find greener tech products. So you're a holiday shopper -- or just an electronics lover -- who cares about treading lightly on the planet. How do you know if that shiny new gadget was made with hazardous materials, or whether the manufacturing process created tons of carbon emissions? Several organizations are offering tips and detailed guides on how to buy green electronics this year. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_19566271?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_19566271?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com OPINIONS Beyond Durban. Startling new evidence that global carbon dioxide emissions are rising faster than ever did little to increase the urgency of the climate talks in Durban, South Africa, which concluded earlier this week. Once again, the world’s negotiators kicked the can down the road. Even as delegates from nearly 200 countries were meeting, the Global Carbon Project, an international collaboration of scientists, reported that emissions from carbon dioxide from fossil fuels, the main greenhouse gas, had jumped 5.9 percent in 2010, the sharpest one-year rise on record. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/opinion/beyond-the-durban-climate-talks.html?scp=7&sq=fuels&st=cse Back to the electric future for cars. One day in 1948, Caltech chemistry professor Arie Haagen-Smit took a break from trying to decipher the mystery of the flavor of the pineapple. He stepped outside his lab for a breath of fresh air but instead found himself enveloped in what he called “that stinking cloud” of smog. At the time, there was a bitter debate as to what caused smog. So Haagen-Smit decided to put aside his pineapples (he had already worked out the taste chemistry of onions, garlic and wine and had identified the active agent in marijuana) to try to solve the source of smog. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111218/OPINION/111219594/1314/lifestyle04?Title=Back-to-the-electric-future-for-cars Brian Calle: North Dakota's energy lessons for California. California's economic slide is one of choice and consequence, not of necessity. The state still possesses the resources for prosperity, even today, but policies advanced by ideologues and political zealots in the state capital have tarnished the Golden State. North Dakota, by contrast, illustrates, as it rapidly becomes the economic envy of the nation, how a different approach to public policy bolsters economic activity and job creation. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/state-331918-energy-california.html CARR: Where there's smoke ... there just might be a fine. Hop in, buckle up. Quite a few readers have asked me if it's true that Temecula, Murietta, and other northern backcountry communities in or abutting Riverside County are to be restricted on certain days from lighting their fireplaces or wood-burning stoves. The short answer: Yes. The longer answer: Probably. There's been something of a mini-blitz of public service announcements, billboards, and TV/radio/newspaper coverage aimed at educating residents that they will now be required to take a more active role in reducing fine-particulate pollution on days deemed to be of unhealthy air quality. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/columnists/carr/carr-where-there-s-smoke-there-just-might-be-a/article_c778664c-f11c-5da6-a933-6b14ff533599.html#ixzz1h0AJHn7V Global climate forecast still calls for haze. Are big international climate conferences useless? Cheerleaders say the agreement from the climate talks in Durban, South Africa, is a great achievement: It foresees a system that binds all big polluters — not just developed countries — to reduce their emissions. Some environmentalists counter that the system is still unforgivably weak — emissions cuts could easily be too small and won’t kick in for another decade, and that’s if the agreement holds. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111219/WIRE/111219599 Why the WCI still matters. There has been renewed interest in the fate of the Western Climate Initiative following a November press release from Arizona stating that it was formally withdrawing from the WCI. Other Western Climate Initiative states, including Oregon and Washington, made no similar formal announcement, but the result is the same. Only California remains a partner in the WCI, along with the participating Canadian Provinces — British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Posted. http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/columns/2011/12/why-the-wci-still-matters.html Rethink renewable energy mandates. It’s been a rough two years for global warming alarmists. Cap and trade failed in 2009, despite the fact that Democrats controlled the House, Senate and White House. The recent United Nations summit produced an agreement that means little — with countries like Canada dropping off an extension of the Kyoto Protocol. Meanwhile, high unemployment and economic woes are drawing public attention from environmental issues. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70610.html Mild hybrids deliver. General Motors' decision to introduce its mild hybrid system, eAssist, in a big way proves that automakers can use a variety of technologies in the quest to achieve a corporate average fuel economy of 54.5 mpg by the 2025 model year. Not every advance has to be a moonshot like the Chevy Volt. What's key is that a mild hybrid system costs about a quarter of what a conventional full hybrid system costs but can deliver about half the added fuel savings. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20111219/OEM06/111219884#ixzz1h0KP96Xg California Dreams and Low Carbon Fuels. Last month the Obama Administration announced it would delay a decision on whether to permit the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline – a 1,700 mile long proposed pipeline that will connect the Alberta oil sands and Bakken crude oil reserves to Gulf Coast refineries – until after the 2012 election. The decision was no doubt influenced by the boisterous protests led by environmental groups like the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Tar Sands Action among others. Posted. http://townhall.com/columnists/michaelwhatley/2011/12/19/california_dreams_and_low_carbon_fuels BLOGS For Green Groups, a Shift in Tactics. In The Times’s Sunday Review section, I wrote about the generational leadership change that big environmental groups are undergoing and how it is affecting their strategies. Several leaders and observers I interviewed noted that in an Occupy Wall Street era, some people have little patience for the notion of courting corporations and policy makers to seek their cooperation. They want to apply direct pressure. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/for-green-groups-a-shift-in-tactics/ California Moves Forward with Strong Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Just moments ago, the California Air Resources Board voted unanimously to move forward with a Low Carbon Fuel Standard in California. The ARB decision is a victory for California and its residents, but the benefits of the LCFS will be felt across the nation and around the world. By re-asserting California’s commitment to the world’s first Low Carbon Fuel Standard and turning back the oil industry’s attempts to weaken it, the Board sent a clear signal that this state is charging forward with the transition from dirty fuels to clean fuels – and is on track to meet commitments to reduce carbon emissions. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/smui/california_moves_forward_with.html California Air Resources Board amends the Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The California Air Resources Board voted Friday to amend the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) to streamline procedures and clarify language. (Earlier post.) The LCFS intends to reduce, on a full-fuel lifecycle basis, the carbon intensity (CI) of transportation fuels (measured in gCO2e/MJ) used in California by an average of 10% by the year 2020. (Earlier post.) One key amendment will improve how the regulation accounts for the carbon intensity of crude oils. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/arb-20111217.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:08:18 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 20, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board Newsclips for December 20, 2011. 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 Pollution fighters sue Kennecott over mining dust. Salt Lake City—Clean air groups are making good on a promise to sue Kennecott Utah Copper over air pollution. The groups say Kennecott is kicking up too much dust at its Bingham copper mine and should curtail operations. They say Kennecott is violating the federal Clean Air Act even though Utah's pollution regulators have allowed the company to significantly ramp up mining production. The federal lawsuit was filed Monday by Utah Moms for Clean Air, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment and WildEarth Guardians. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/20/financial/f080610S66.DTL http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19585140 http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/20/1994689/pollution-fighters-sue-kennecott.html Air pollution triggers wood burning ban in Reno. Reno, Nev.—Air pollution in the Reno area has gotten bad enough to trigger a temporary ban on wood burning. The Washoe County Health District issued a Stage 1 Air Pollution Alert and declared a Red Burn Code on Monday. That means all burning of wood and solid fuels must stop at once from north of Reno, to south of Washoe Valley. Health officials say the elevated levels of fine particulate air pollution are due in part to light winds and a strong temperature inversion that is trapping pollutants close to the ground. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19584358 http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/20/1994452/air-pollution-triggers-wood-burning.html Power plant closures to cost US towns jobs, taxes. For more than 90 years, the coal-fired power plant in Glen Lyn, Va., has been churning out electricity and contributing to local prosperity. Of late, it has generated nearly a quarter of the revenue for the $1 million budget of the town. Yet when the plant ultimately shuts down to comply with new federal air pollution regulations by the end of 2014, says Town Manager Howard Spencer, so too might the community of 200. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/20/1994406/power-plant-closures-to-cost-us.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/20/power-plant-closures-to-cost-us-towns-jobs-taxes/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/power-plant-closures-to-cost-us-towns-jobs-taxes/article_2a4ec613-630d-5128-b3e9-0e5edc66035b.html CLIMATE CHANGE EU Carbon Surges as Parliament Backs Proposal to Withhold Permits. European Union carbon prices jumped after the EU Parliament environment committee backed a draft rule requiring the bloc’s executive to propose a temporary cut in permit supply in the next phase of its carbon market. Carbon allowances rose as much as 32 percent on speculation that an amendment to an energy efficiency law voted today raised the likelihood of the EU curbing oversupply and supporting prices in its emissions trading system. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-20/eu-parliament-committee-backs-proposal-to-withhold-co2-permits.html European Parliament eyes boosting carbon prices. A European Parliament committee voted Tuesday to lower the number of carbon emission allowances from 2013 onward in an effort to save Europe's cap-and-trade system. The Parliament's environment committee narrowly voted to reduce the number of allowances sold in auctions as well as those given out for free, said Peter Liese, a committee member from the center-right European People's Party. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/20/financial/f044501S20.DTL Durban: Progress for the Planet. The international climate talks that recently wrapped up in Durban, South Africa, could prove to be an historic turning point in the international community's efforts to overcome global warming. While the urgency for overcoming global warming has never been greater, it was actually helpful that expectations for this meeting were quite low. Durban achieved significant progress in helping the world to address both the causes and consequences of global warming. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-jim-ball/durban-progress-for-the-planet_b_1150722.html?ref=world Local companies face cap-and-trade deadline. About 600 facilities producing food, goods and electricity in the state will begin planning for California’s cap-and-trade regulation when the rule becomes effective on Jan. 1. In the San Joaquin Valley, about 30 large facilities, including 14 manufacturers and food processors, will be included in the program that mandates businesses look for new ways to cut carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions or else invest in allowances or offsets by 2013, when the program's enforcement measures kick in. Posted. http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/manufacturing/12569-local-companies-face-cap-and-trade-deadline Scientists mark 1/3 of a century of satellite climate data. One-third of a century of satellite measurements of the Earth's temperature show a warming of about 0.82 degrees F, according to John Christy, a professor of atmospheric science and director of the Earth System Science Center at the University of Alabama-Huntsville (UAH). Christy says this is at the lower end of computer model projections of how much the atmosphere should have warmed in the past 33 years due to the effects of extra greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/12/satellite-temperature-data-global-warming-climate-change/1 FUELS CARB approves low carbon fuel standard; businesses worry. Diesel in California will likely cost more money in the future because of requirements from a California regulation approved and amended Friday. The California Air Resources Board voted to approve amendments to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard Friday. The fuel standard is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels 10 percent by the year 2020. The fuel standard is designed to work with the state’s cap-and-trade-program, which limits emissions created by fuel companies, utilities and other businesses. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Dec11/121911/121911-01.shtml VEHICLES Toyota Ends Go-It-Alone Strategy With BMW, Tesla Alliances: Cars. Toyota Motor Corp. has a tradition of self-reliance. Chief Executive Officer Akio Toyoda is beginning to change that. Toyoda agreed this month to equip some Toyota cars with Bayerische Motoren Werke AG diesel engines, building on an earlier deal to use Tesla Motors Inc. battery packs in future electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-20/toyota-ends-go-it-alone-strategy-with-bmw-tesla-alliances-cars.html House GOP chair wants California fuel docs. Washington— The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee wants the California Air Resources Board to turn over more documents about a deal reached this summer to double fuel efficiency standards by 2025. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., the committee chairman, wants board Chairwoman Mary Nichols to turn over more documents about how a deal was reached this summer between the White House, California and most major automakers to double requirements to 54.5 mpg by the 2025 model year — a plan that Obama administration says will cost the auto industry $157 billion. Posted. http://www.detnews.com/article/20111219/AUTO01/112190411/1361/House-GOP-chair-wants-California-fuel-docs GREEN ENERGY Google, private-equity firm to buy stake in Sacramento area solar farms that will supply SMUD. Google and private equity firm KKR & Co. are taking majority ownership in four solar farms developed by Recurrent Energy. The solar farms are being built near Elk Grove and Galt. On its official blog, Google said it's investing $94 million in the project. The Internet giant now has poured $915 million into clean-tech investments. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/20/4135217/google-private-equity-firm-to.html http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-google-solar-20111220,0,3634301.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/20/financial/f050212S92.DTL http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19585282 http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_19585283 http://www.nctimes.com/business/google-kkr-invest-in-california-solar-project/article_075cd0c7-ed1c-55dc-b4b7-a107813d141d.html#ixzz1h624YCZh http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/20/1994514/google-kkr-invest-in-california.html Brown promotes solar energy while lighting menorah. Sacramento, Calif. -- Gov. Jerry Brown is summoning the Hanukkah spirit in calling for more alternative energy. The Democratic governor participated Monday in the annual lighting of the Capitol menorah. The Jewish Festival of Lights commemorates the miracle of the menorah burning for eight days when there was enough oil to burn for just one. Brown said it was appropriate for California to tackle "the whole idea that we're running out of oil." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/19/4133463/brown-promotes-solar-energy-while.html OPINIONS Dan Walters: California bullet train feud echoes old conflict. It's doubtful whether members of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, who voted this month to pursue an alternative route through Kings County for a north-south bullet train, have ever heard of the Mussel Slough Tragedy, even though it was a seminal event in the state's history. If they had, they might not have done what they did. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/20/4134108/dan-walters-california-bullet.html#storylink=omni_popular On patrol with the smoke police. As the first rays of sunshine pierced the dense Bakersfield air, Mike Oldershaw searched for smoke. "You want a sample of air across your face," he said, adjusting his truck's air vent. "You usually don't see it first, you smell it." This morning, though, his eyes led him to the culprit: a stucco home in northwest Bakersfield with a wisp of gas piping out its tile roof. Oldershaw, an air quality compliance manager with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, had spotted what could be the day's first no-burn violator. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1461872356/On-patrol-with-the-smoke-police EDITORIAL: Navy blue goes green. Government digs deeper into debt so pricey biofuel can power warcraft. The $1 trillion budget bill before Congress includes a provision that would resurrect the Keystone XL pipeline, but don’t expect its passage to open a flood of black gold and wash away Uncle Sam’s infatuation with all things green. Even as the scientific validation of global-warming theory crumbles, adherents in Washington have dragooned the U.S. military into leading the charge toward renewable energy. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/19/navy-blue-goes-green/ BLOGS The satellite temperature record: questioning shaky claims after 33 years. An interesting press release marking the 33rd anniversary of the satellite temperature record makes questionable claims about global warming. The release, from the University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH), reports that the warming trend in the lower atmosphere is lower than at the surface, and states that the satellite data points to flaws in climate models used to project how the planet’s climate system may respond to increasing amounts of greenhouse gases in the air. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/the-satellite-temperature-record-questioning-shaky-claims-after-33-years/2011/12/20/gIQAd8KE7O_blog.html Arctic Methane: Is Catastrophe Imminent? In my article over the weekend about the climate risks from buried Arctic carbon, I omitted any discussion of one issue that sometimes appears in the news: methane deposits under relatively shallow seawater near the coasts of Siberia, Canada and Alaska. It was a purposeful omission because my piece focused on carbon buried on land, which presents a climate risk if it eventually emerges as methane or carbon dioxide. However, given the alarming headlines about methane in the ocean, as seen here and here for example, I did some additional reporting. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/arctic-methane-is-catastrophe-imminent/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:19:20 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 21, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board Newsclips for December 21, 2011. 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 Activists celebrate closing of polluting plant near L.A. school. Settlement of a civil lawsuit against Palace Plating ends an eight-year battle over the metal-finishing plant that residents say contaminated their South Los Angeles neighborhood. With nearly two dozen parents and others standing behind her, community activist Martha Sanchez announced Monday the end of an eight-year battle to close a metal finishing plant that residents say has contaminated their South Los Angeles neighborhood, making their children and teachers sick. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-school-toxins-20111220,0,1429359,print.story Stagnant air forces San Francisco pollution alert. San Francisco—Stagnant air has forced San Francisco air quality officials to issue a pollution alert. Residents are asked to limit driving. Burning wood is illegal during Spare the Air days. The San Francisco Chronicle ( http://bit.ly/uI0UTz) says it's the eighth Spare the Air day since Dec. 7. Bay Area Air Quality Management District spokesman Ralph Borrmann says skies appear to be clear, but cold air near the ground is trapping pollutants and creating a health hazard. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19591897 http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/21/1995895/stagnant-air-forces-san-francisco.html http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111221/WIRE/111229927 http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19591897?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19591897?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/21/2656698/stagnant-air-forces-san-francisco.html#storylink=misearch UC Merced Connect: Biofuel’s air pollution can offset benefits. The burning of sugar cane fields before harvest for ethanol production can create air pollution that detracts from the biofuel's overall sustainability, according to research published recently by a team of researchers led by UC Merced scientists. UC Merced graduate student Chi-Chung Tsao was the lead author on the paper and was aided in the study by UC Merced professors Elliott Campbell and Yihsu Chen. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/21/v-print/4137181/uc-merced-connect-biofuels-air.html CLIMATE CHANGE EU court upholds carbon trade plan for aviation. AMSTERDAM (AP) -- U.S. air carriers failed Wednesday to block an EU law charging airlines flying to Europe for their carbon pollution, yielding to a sweeping measure intended to curb climate-changing emissions from international aviation. The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg dismissed arguments that imposing the European Union's cap-and-trade program on flights to and from European airports infringes on national sovereignty or violates international aviation treaties. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_CLIMATE_AVIATION?SITE=RIPRJ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Other stories: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/europes-high-court-upholds-cap-and-trade-carbon-plan-for-airlines-rejects-us-appeal/2011/12/21/gIQAup7J9O_story.html http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-eu-high-court-airline-pollution-charges-20111220,0,3454352.story?track=rss http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/21/international/i023226S70.DTL&type=printable http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/21/1995784/european-court-approves-carbon.html#storylink=cpy http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19592779?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19592779?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19592779?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/21/2656584/european-court-approves-carbon.html#storylink=misearch Summary Box: EU court upholds carbon trade plan. CARBON CHARGE: U.S. airlines failed to block an EU law charging airlines flying to Europe for their carbon pollution, The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg dismissed arguments that imposing the European Union's cap-and-trade program on flights to and from European airports infringes on national sovereignty or violates international aviation treaties. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_CLIMATE_AVIATION_SUMMARY_BOX?SITE=RIPRJ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT VEHICLES Tesla Sets Prices, Specifications of 2012 Model S Battery Sedans. Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA), the U.S. electric- car maker that plans to build a rechargeable sedan in California, said a top-of-the-line version of the Model S will cost as much as $92,400 when it goes on sale in 2012. Tesla released detailed prices, features and options for the Model S sedan today on its website. The car will be built in Fremont, California, with deliveries beginning in mid-2012. Extended-range versions will have enough lithium-ion battery capacity to travel as far as 300 miles per charge, Tesla said. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-21/tesla-sets-prices-specifications-of-2012-model-s-battery-sedans.html http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/12/tesla-unveils-details-prices-of-model-s-electric-sedan/1 Toyota NS4 plug-in concept to debut in Detroit, Prius C to join it. Toyota will come to the Detroit auto show with an advanced plug-in-hybrid concept called the NS4. It will be the world premiere of the car, but no other details were immediately available. Meanwhile, the Prius C will make its U.S. debut. It's positioned as an entry-level model in the Prius family, joining the third-generation liftback, the Prius V mid-sized vehicle and a plug-in model. Pricing for the Prius C hasn't been announced yet, but the car will begin arriving in dealerships in spring 2012. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111220/OEM04/111229986/1186 GREEN ENERGY Administration boosts drive for green energy. Pushing for projects on both coasts. The Obama administration is boosting its drive to support renewable energy projects on both coasts, officials said Tuesday, including projects on public lands in the West and pushing for offshore wind energy sites in the Atlantic Ocean. Interior Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar said his department has approved a 300-megawatt solar farm in Arizona and a 200-megawatt wind farm in Southern California. The wind farm includes 186 megawatts that would be produced on federal lands. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/20/administration-boosts-drive-for-green-energy/ Investors not shying away from solar power. Solyndra notwithstanding, some investors are still willing to bet big money on solar power. Google, for example, reported Tuesday that it will invest $94 million to help build four solar power plants near Sacramento. And Stion, a San Jose startup that makes thin-film solar cells, said Tuesday that it has raised another $130 million in private investments, much of it from Korean private equity funds. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/21/BUJR1MEV0Q.DTL&type=printable OPINIONS Dan Walters: Cost of reaching for the sun will soar. As Gov. Jerry Brown participated in a Capitol menorah-lighting ceremony this week to mark the onset of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah, he uttered a secular prayer for a miracle that would make California a model of carbon-free energy. Today's miracle, he said, "is not to find more oil, but to utilize the sun," adding, "when we continue to use our intelligence, we're going to take that sun through the miracle of modern science and technology, and we're going to light up California, our cars, our homes, our air conditioners." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/21/4136636/dan-walters-cost-of-reaching-for.html The Magic Word is…Adipic. Looking at Verdezyne and its bull markets. Holy Capex, Batman! The race to commercial-scale adipic acid is on. Does it matter? You bet your green nylons it does, Robin. Here’s why. Myself, the only five syllable word I have learned to use reliably is “Philadelphia”, but there’s this seven-syllable doozy going around you might as well know something about: renewablechemicals. It is generally used in bio-based investment meetings as the universal answer to any annoyingly difficult question that cannot otherwise be answered with “Brazil”. Posted. . http://biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2011/12/21/the-magic-word-is%e2%80%a6adipic-looking-at-verdezyne-and-its-bull-markets/ BLOGS On Our Radar: China Demands Emission Cuts. Amid protests over pollution, China says it has ordered local governments to reduce emissions of major pollutants by as much as 10 percent by 2015. Skeptics point out that the government’s monitoring of pollutants is lax and in some cases highly inaccurate. [The Telegraph]Google says it will invest $94 million in four solar farms in the Sacramento area in concert with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company. [The Los Angeles Times] Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/on-our-radar-china-orders-emission-cuts/ House Member Says Air Board Tried To “Mislead Congress” ARB’s response to inquiry wasn’t what Orange County Republican had in mind. Orange County Republican Darrell Issa says he remains “deeply troubled” by what he calls a “lack of candor” & “internal inconsistencies” in the California Air Resource Board’s (ARB) response to his November 9th letter probing negotiations toward a new national fuel economy standard. (You can read my original post on Rep. Issa’s and Nichols first round of correspondence here.). Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/12/20/house-member-says-air-board-tried-to-mislead-congress/ Tesla announces pricing, options and battery specs for 2012 Model S. Tesla is still a year away from delivering its first Model S, but the up-start automaker has released official pricing details on its all-electric sedan, along with options and battery specs. Pricing for the Model S is broken down depending on battery capacity and the resulting range, with the 160-mile version commanding $57,400, the 230-mile variant priced at $67,400 and the 300-mile Model S coming in at $77,400. There's also the $87,400 Perfomance model which has the same 85-kWh battery as the 300-mile version. Posted. http://www.green.autoblog.com/2011/12/20/tesla-announces-pricing-options-and-battery-specs-for-2012-mode/ Rep. Issa asks CARB for more documents about 54.5 mpg CAFE standards. A month ago, Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent letters to 15 automotive CEOs asking them for information about the possible safety effects of implementing the proposed new fuel economy standards. Now, he's following up with a new request to California Air Resources Board chairwoman Mary Nichols for documents about how CARB, the Obama administration and the automakers came to the agreement to hit 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. He's been down this road before, and claims that the 4,000 documents CARB sent him before were not enough, especially since some had already been made public. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/21/rep-issa-asks-carb-for-more-documents-about-54-5-mpg-cafe-stand/ Will the EPA’s mercury rule cause a wave of blackouts? No. Later this afternoon, EPA administrator Lisa Jackson is expected to roll out the agency’s new regulations on mercury and toxic pollution from coal-fired power plants. That raises some questions: Just how many plants will end up getting shuttered as a result of all of the EPA’s new air-pollution rules? And how much of a pain will this be?It’s a hotly debated topic these days, with industry groups (and plenty of Republicans) predicting possible blackouts and economic havoc, while environmentalists have mostly been rolling their eyes. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/will-the-epas-mercury-rule-cause-a-wave-of-blackouts-no/2011/12/20/gIQALEu88O_blog.html EEA data show most automakers must reduce emissions to meet European 2015 CO2 regulations. While most car manufacturers have already met their individual 2012 CO2 targets for Europe, several carmakers need to make their fleets even more carbon-efficient to meet the 2012 target, according to updated data published by the European Environment Agency (EEA). The data also show that almost all manufacturers must reduce emissions to meet 2015 targets under European legislation for new passenger cars, based on average CO2 emissions for each manufacturer. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/eea-20111221.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:27:22 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 22, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board Newsclips for December 22, 2011. 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 Air district asks public not to burn wood on Thursday and Friday. A Spare the Air alert hasn't yet been called, but Bay Area residents are still being asked to forgo burning wood in their fireplaces or stoves Thursday and Friday. With one of the driest Decembers on record, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is strongly discouraging burning to help preserve air quality. Wood smoke is the largest source of wintertime air pollution in the Bay Area, according to the district. And the dry weather is trapping wood smoke pollution over most of Northern and Central California and Reno, Nevada, according to the air district. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19596225 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19596225?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19596225?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Wood Burning Ban In Effect. Ban Could Affect Holiday Weekend. Sacramento, Calif. - Air quality in the San Joaquin Valley this week could affect a holiday tradition of lighting fireplaces. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District declared Wednesday and Thursday a “no burn” day. If air quality does not improve, the wood burning ban could be in effect once again Saturday or Sunday -- Christmas Day. District officials typically make the determination on a daily basis. Posted. http://www.kcra.com/news/30053484/detail.html Clearing the Smokescreen: Toxic Air Pollution Standards. Confusion is a popular tool in Washington. The opposition campaign to the Environmental Protection Agency's new health standards for toxic air pollution from coal-fired power plants is a clear example. Lately, there seems to be a new claim every day about why some polluters can't or won't install modern pollution controls on their smokestacks. Far too often, what's missing from the discussion is the real and significant consequence of their resistance -- …Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-dean-connor/toxic-air-pollution-standards_b_1163815.html EPA unveils 'historic' air pollution rules. Can power industry cope? The EPA says its new rules to drastically reduce toxic air pollution will improve national health at a minimal cost. But the power industry says the rules could hurt the economy. Environmentalists and health advocates received an early Christmas present Wednesday when the US Environmental Protection Agency announced new federal clean-air regulations that promise to vastly reduce emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants from the nation's power plants. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/1221/EPA-unveils-historic-air-pollution-rules.-Can-power-industry-cope CLIMATE CHANGE Climate choice. Sacramento talks a good game on climate plan, but will it follow through? The city’s Climate Action Plan certainly has the potential to do good. The ambitious looking proposal—expected to be adopted by the Sacramento City Council next month—could cut Sacramento’s greenhouse-gas emissions by 15 percent by the end of this decade, with much deeper reductions in carbon pollution thereafter. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/climate-choice/content?oid=4657844 DIESEL EMISSIONS Clean air deadline for state’s trucks and buses approaches. Owners of heavier diesel trucks and buses are being reminded by the California Air Resources Board that new emission-reducing regulations go into effect Jan. 1, 2012 and many businesses may need to report compliance on-line. The regulation, adopted in 2008 and later amended in 2010, applies to all privately owned and federal government diesel trucks and buses that transport in California. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=20043 FUELS As shale fracking booms, environmental protection lags. America's race for cheap natural gas and energy independence has been outpacing the flow of state rules aimed at assuring people that gas production won't harm their health. Today 24 states have wells that use hydraulic fracturing: pumping water, sand and chemicals into deep layers of rock at high pressure to release oil and gas. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/22/2657923/as-shale-fracking-booms-environmental.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/22/1997275/as-shale-fracking-booms-environmental.html Congress to CARB: Try answering mpg questions again. Citing “inconsistencies,” a “lack of candor” and a decision to not fully cooperate with Congress’ top investigative committee, a powerful congressman is demanding answers from the California Air Resources Board regarding recent fuel mileage standards for cars and heavy trucks. In a letter dated Dec. 19, U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-CA, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, fired the latest shot in a back and forth between Issa and CARB Chairman Mary Nichols. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/Special_Reports/2011/Dec/122011.shtml California air board adopts changes to low carbon fuel standard. While some supporters of the biofuels industry have criticized California’s low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) in the past for failing to account for the increased carbon value associated with the extraction of some crude oils used to produce petroleum-based transportation fuels when the carbon value of biofuels are considered on a full life-cycle basis, a recent move by the state’s Air Resources Board (CARB) seems to take steps towards rectifying that inequality. Posted. http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/8243/california-air-board-adopts-changes-to-low-carbon-fuel-standard VEHICLES California Calls for 1.4 Million Electric Vehicles by 2025. Earlier this month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) proposed a new package of tough clean vehicle standards, which the agency calls the Advanced Clean Cars program. The program, aimed at vehicles manufactured from 2015 to 2025, is a mash-up of existing standards that currently are separately tracked. The target to keep your eye on is CARB’s goal for electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.plugincars.com/carb-calls-annual-sales-14-million-electric-vehicles-california-2018-111010.html GREEN ENERGY Administration boosts drive for green energy. The Obama administration is boosting its drive to support renewable energy projects on both coasts, officials said Tuesday, including projects on public lands in the West and pushing for offshore wind energy sites in the Atlantic Ocean. Interior Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar said his department has approved a 300-megawatt solar farm in Arizona and a 200-megawatt wind farm in Southern California. The wind farm includes 186 megawatts that would be produced on federal lands. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/20/administration-boosts-drive-for-green-energy/ Solar licensing dispute emerges in California. In the final hours of this year’s legislative session, lawmakers approved a move to help several solar projects bypass local elected officials and get licensed instead by the state. It was exactly the kind of high-stakes deal that comes together frequently in the hubbub of the Capitol, where negotiations that have moved along for months reach a crescendo just hours before lawmakers adjourn. Posted. http://capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=1088c6mwzdbx85g&1=1&xid=108666dy8g2lcg2&done=.1086tw2agpa64ej&_credir=1324577071&_c=1088c6mwzdbx85g OPINIONS ERIC MOORE: Enforcement of the air quality rules at Oceano Dunes based on sound science. Lois Henry's Dec. 18 column, "A test of science in a dune playground," is chock-full of faulty logic and misinformation, which results in several erroneous conclusions. Henry asserts that a government agency is now attempting to regulate the wind when, in fact, it is only attempting to regulate a stationary source of air pollution. There is no new regulation here, only the Federal Clean Air Act and the California Clean Air Act, both of which have existed for decades. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/forum/x4969186/Enforcement-of-the-air-quality-rules-at-Oceano-Dunes-based-on-sound-science Some dam food for thought. Etna, Calif. — Aren’t we lucky to be in this great state of California? “Uuuh ... maybe not!” you say! There are some confusing things going on that are truly baffling. First is the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act, also known as AB 32. The thrust of this act is to roll greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels by the end of this decade. Along with stricter tailpipe emissions standards, is the ambitious goal of obtaining a third of the state’s electric supply by renewable sources by 2020. Posted. http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/opinions/letters_to_the_editor/x1569717715/Some-dam-food-for-thought Issa Challenges Legality of California Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards. I keep coming back to this topic because fuel economy zealots are trashing our constitutional system of separated powers and democratic accountability. Only Congress can make them stop. Leading the counter-offensive is House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who has been watch-dogging the Obama administration’s fuel economy agenda since 2009. Posted. http://www.globalwarming.org/2011/12/21/issa-challenges-legality-of-california-greenhouse-gas-emission-standards/ BLOGS New Air Traffic Control System to Cut Millions of Tons of CO2. A few weeks back we ran a piece about how UPS was using advanced logistics to reduce energy consumption and emissions while cutting costs at the same time. This is done by calculating optimum routes and traveling the minimum distances. If this works well with 10-ton delivery trucks that are rolling around on wheels, imagine how much better it can work with 50-ton jet aircraft that are being lifted miles into the air. It is just common sense. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/12/new-air-traffic-control-system-cut-millions-tons-co2/ New Kia Ray is Korea's first production EV. Kia has unveiled the automaker's very first production electric vehicle. The Kia Ray EV will offer buyers a range of around 86 miles depending on driving conditions and will include a fast-charge option that should top off the cells in around 25 minutes. Otherwise, expect the 16.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack to take around six hours to charge on a 220-volt circuit. A 50-kW electric motor provides power to the front wheels, which is good enough to get the EV to 62 miles per hour in 15.9 seconds. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/22/new-kia-ray-is-koreas-first-production-ev/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:36:39 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 23, 2011. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board Newsclips for December 23, 2011. 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 China: Stricter Air Pollution Monitoring Standards to Start Next Year, With Results Made Public in 2016. China will introduce stricter air pollution standards next year to monitor tiny particles of pollution in Beijing and other cities, but it may not start releasing the results to the public until 2016, state news media reported Thursday. Chinese cities do not measure data on the smaller particles, 2.5 microns in diameter or less, from smokestacks and exhaust pipes that shroud many cities in acrid smog, and many Chinese have complained that official statistics vastly understate the problem. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/23/world/asia/china-stricter-air-pollution-monitoring-standards-to-start-next-year.html?_r=1 New EPA anti-pollution standards draw industry fire. Industry leaders condemned the rules for being costly and overly aggressive. US health campaigners Wednesday hailed the announcement of new anti-pollution standards for American manufacturers, but industry leaders condemned the rules for being costly and overly aggressive. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the first national standards to control power plant emissions of mercury and toxic air pollution would prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths and 4,700 heart attacks annually. Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/epa-anti-pollution-standards-draw-industry-fire-article-1.995883 New EPA rule reins in power plants. Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled new standards Wednesday sharply limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants from the nation's coal- and oil-burning power plants. Unless blocked by Congress or the courts, the new rule will mark the first time the federal government has enforced limits on mercury, arsenic, acid gases and other poisonous and carcinogenic chemicals emitted by the burning of fossil fuels. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/22/4139179/new-epa-rule-reins-in-power-plants.html EPA power plant rule has greens pro-Obama. Environmentalists rallied so hard for the Obama administration on Wednesday, you’d think power plants were shooting cotton candy from their smokestacks. It hasn’t been an easy year for the greens, who are usually considered in the bank for a Democratic president. In the summer, President Barack Obama pulled back an EPA attempt to tighten smog standards, dismaying a wide array of environmental allies. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70790.html Board approves monitoring trailer purchase. The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS), sitting as the board of directors for the Lake County Air Quality Management District (LCAQMD), approved the purchase of a new air monitoring trailer to monitor emissions from the Geysers facilities. Doug Gearhart, air pollution control officer, said the department had been borrowing equipment belonging to the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to monitor emissions in certain areas of Cobb and officials were asking when the equipment would be returned. Posted. http://www.record-bee.com/ci_19603257 FUELS Oil could hit a new record in 2012. Crude oil may rise for a fourth year to a record average price in 2012 as demand in emerging markets increases and the U.S. avoids a recession. West Texas Intermediate oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange will reach an average of $100 a barrel in 2012, based on the median of 27 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg, topping the all-time high of $99.75 set in 2008. The U.S. benchmark is on course to average $95 a barrel this year. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-oil-2012-20111222,0,1547153.story Americans continue to buy less gasoline. U.S. fuel demand in November dropped, pulled lower by a decline in gasoline consumption, the American Petroleum Institute said. Total deliveries of petroleum products, a measure of demand, declined 1.1% to 18.8 million barrels a day last month from a year earlier, the industry-funded group said today in a report. Year-to-date consumption has averaged 19 million barrels a day, down 0.7% from the same period in 2010. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fuel-demand-20111222,0,471269.story CARB releases 2011 LCFS review report. The California Air Resources Board has completed the first required formal review of the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a regulatory program that requires stakeholders to reduce the carbon intensity (CI) of fuels sold within its borders each year until reaching a 10 percent reduction by 2020. Posted. http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/8441/carb-releases-2011-lcfs-review-report VEHICLES California high-speed rail vows to show real job figures. Backing off claims that the bullet train would create more than 1 million jobs, California's high-speed rail leaders acknowledged Thursday that their "short-handed" definition used to describe jobs has been "imprecise and potentially confusing." In a statement responding to an investigation by this newspaper, the California High-Speed Rail Authority clarified that the 1 million jobs figure does not refer to the number of workers. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19605262?source=rss At Prius Cup, slow and steady wins race. When racing a dowdy Toyota Prius around Fuji Speedway's demanding Formula One circuit, the cunning driver must employ some special strategies. Don't floor the accelerator. Don't slam on the brakes. Hit the gas when you're heading downhill. And coast for as long as possible when you're rolling up an incline. Clearly, this is no ordinary race. Indeed, the goal at the so-called Prius Cup is mpg, not mph. It's a race for hypermilers. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111222/OEM11/111229959/1186 US Department of Energy grants USD7 millions to reduce electric automobile charger prices. The US Department of Energy (DOE) awarded nearly $7 million (€5.36 million) to four projects aiming at slashing EV charger costs this December. Delta Products Corporation, Siemens Corporate Research, General Electric Global Research and Eaton Corporation are the four organisations to receive funds. Preference has been given to projects that provide efficient and reliable management to the grid. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/72220111223.php GREEN ENERGY Altex to hire 50 workers at its green-fleet plant in Dixon. Altec, a leading manufacturer of utility trucks, says it will hire more than 50 people at its new "green" fleet manufacturing plant in Dixon. The Birmingham, Ala.-based company said it plans to complete the 43,000- square-foot factory in April, roughly two months ahead of schedule. Additional jobs could be created as the demand for alternative-fuel utility vehicles grows, said company spokesman Mark Wegel. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/23/4141418/altex-to-hire-50-workers-at-its.html http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/23/1998339/altex-to-hire-50-workers-at-its.html MISCELLANEOUS French oil giant boosts stake in San Jose solar company. Paris-based Total SA, Europe's third-largest oil producer, agreed to pay $164 million to boost its stake in SunPower Corp. to 66% in a deal that included selling its Tenesol unit to the U.S. solar company. Total, which already owned 60% of the U.S.'s No. 2 solar-panel maker, will buy 18.6 million more shares of SunPower at $8.80 apiece, a 50% premium to Thursday's closing price, SunPower said today in a regulatory statement. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-sunpower-20111223,0,5327814.story How to kick-start new energy technologies. The world desperately needs innovation in energy technologies — but those innovations are unlikely to happen by themselves. A three-year study by a team of researchers based at MIT has now identified a suite of policy and investment strategies that could accelerate innovation in the United States, helping to meet our growing energy needs affordably and reliably, reducing carbon emissions and alleviating insecurity over energy supplies. Posted. http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/energy-innovation-book-1222.html OPINIONS Clearing the air on mercury. The Obama administration's rules show that the country will no longer tolerate the health toll caused by emissions of mercury and other highly toxic pollutants from coal plants. Eight percent of women of child-bearing age in this country have mercury levels in their blood that could cause lower IQ in their children. That fact alone justifies the tough but achievable regulations issued this week by the Obama administration to control mercury pollution from coal-fired plants. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-adv-mercury-20111223,0,5740939,print.story Why So Many Spare the Air Alerts? Eight no-burn edicts issued in past two weeks, during one of the driest Decembers on record. Air quality regulators have banned wood-burning fires on eight of the past fifteen days. Last year, there were only four such "Winter Spare the Air" alerts all season. One reason for the increase? “We don’t have any rain,” said Jennifer Jones, a public information officer for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which issues the alerts. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/environmental-health/story/why-so-many-spare-air-alerts/ BLOGS Darrell Issa: California uncooperative in gas-mileage probe. Rep. Darrell Issa, the California Republican who chairs the House oversight committee, is accusing his home state of failing to fully cooperate with his probe of California's role in the Obama administration’s setting of tougher federal fuel-economy rules for vehicles. Issa, in a letter to California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols, accused state officials of making statements that "frankly appear to be a deliberate attempt to mislead Congress and obstruct an official investigation." Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/12/house-chairman-turns-his-sights-on-californias-role-in-setting-mileage-rules.html Historic Mercury Regs from EPA a Boon for Health, the Environment and Jobs. A few small drops of mercury can contaminate a 20-acre lake and the fish that happen to reside there, thanks to coal-fired plant emissions. That’s a major reason why the EPA’s decision to regulate the emissions of mercury, lead and other toxic pollutants from coal- and oil-fired plants is a major victory for the health and environmental welfare of the nation. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/12/epas-mercury-regs-boon-health-environment-jobs/ Public Attitudes Toward Climate Change Across Countries. From the World Bank commissioned report in 2009: “Public attitudes toward climate change: findings from a multi-country poll”, comes this interesting look at country wide attitudes to climate change. So it's interesting to look at how these views affected country attitudes at Durban recently. It is pertinent to mention here that Asia has been worst hit by severe climate change. Pakistan is one of the countries that have been severely hit in the recent years by disastrous effects of climate change including flash floods and devastating earthquakes. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/public-attitudes-toward-climate-change-across-coun/ Nissan: batteries in the Leaf are tough, even after earthquake beating. Nissan representatives have long been proud of the durability of the air-cooled, 24-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that stores energy in the Leaf. Given the recent troubles that the liquid-cooled pack in the Chevy Volt has given GM, it's perhaps not surprising that Nissan wants to reassure – carefully – the public that it still believes the Leaf pack is safe. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/22/nissan-batteries-in-the-leaf-are-tough-even-after-earthquake-b/ ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2011 11:41:15 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 27, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board Newsclips for December 27, 2011. 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 Doctors, moms take on No. 1 polluter in Utah. When winter comes to Utah and atmospheric conditions trap a soup of pollutants close to the ground, doctors say it turns every resident in the Salt Lake basin into the equivalent of a cigarette smoker. For days or weeks at a time, an inversion layer in which high pressure systems can trap a roughly 1,300-foot-thick layer of cold air — and the pollutants that build up inside it — settles over the basin, leaving some people coughing and wheezing. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hglfe7gDKPiPWpG0TcAitzZkJWsw?docId=18390f42185643a7862f6c0e7081f13a AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/25/doctors-moms-take-on-no-1-polluter-in-utah/?page=all http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/25/national/a095650S85.DTL http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/25/2661032/doctors-moms-take-on-no-1-polluter.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/25/2000771/doctors-moms-take-on-no-1-polluter.html China: Stricter Air Pollution Monitoring Standards to Start Next Year, With Results Made Public in 2016. China will introduce stricter air pollution standards next year to monitor tiny particles of pollution in Beijing and other cities, but it may not start releasing the results to the public until 2016, state news media reported Thursday. Chinese cities do not measure data on the smaller particles, 2.5 microns in diameter or less, from smokestacks and exhaust pipes that shroud many cities in acrid smog, and many Chinese have complained that official statistics vastly understate the problem. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/23/world/asia/china-stricter-air-pollution-monitoring-standards-to-start-next-year.html?scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Lingering smoke from holiday a Bay Area health hazard. Holiday wood-burning, coupled with stagnant air, filled Bay Area skies with smoke so unhealthy that it rivaled conditions seen after 2008's major wildfires, according to air quality officials. Despite several consecutive "Spare the Air" alerts, by Monday morning, all nine Bay Area counties sat under a dense and lingering blanket of smoke, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District reported. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19622560?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_19622559 District doles out millions to help clean the air. Valley air district officials often say it will be impossible to reach federal air quality standards without new technology, a so-called "black box" of tools yet to be invented. They're trying to prod that creation along with about $3 million in grants for a dozen technology projects that could help reduce the valley's emissions. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x4969357/District-doles-out-millions-to-help-clean-the-air CLIMATE CHANGE Good news climate stories of 2011. This past year saw several bright spots emerge in humanity’s ongoing battle to prevent climate chaos. Is the tide starting to turn? Maybe we are in for a happy new year after all. California is the world’s eighth largest economy with a GDP surpassing Canada’s by over 40%. Last year it adopted a cap and trade program for its major climate polluting industries. Along the way it beat back years of attempts by Big Fossil to delay and destroy this effort. Posted. http://www.vancouverobserver.com/blogs/climatesnapshot/2011/12/27/good-news-climate-stories-2011 FUELS Natural gas fueling plans may spur vehicle growth. The United States has record supplies of natural gas and plenty of reasons to promote natural-gas powered cars, but so consumers, manufacturers and fuel suppliers haven't shown much interest. Now, a major natural gas developer's plans to vastly increase the number of truck stops that offer liquid natural gas could help boost its use in the vehicles that burn the most fuel, while promoting its availability to a wider market. Lots of natural gas is available, if U.S. drivers decide to use it. In just a few years, domestic natural gas supplies have increased by trillions of cubic feet through shale finds, boosting the supply to the point where plans are in place to export part of the overflow. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvQ1-j7e06yK2DvXvw-gGv9nMwlQ?docId=6cac8cf03eb741e989b4604a1a49373c AP Newsbreak: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/27/4147485/natural-gas-fueling-plans-may.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19625463?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19625463?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/natural-gas-fueling-plans-may-spur-vehicle-growth/article_f45b3423-946d-53a1-9c7f-307feac8fe1f.html#ixzz1hlGXMeq5 At gas pump, 2011 was the year of the big squeeze. It's been 30 years since gasoline took such a big bite out of the family budget. When the gifts from Grandma are unloaded and holiday travel is over, the typical American household will have spent $4,155 filling up this year, a record. That is 8.4 percent of what the median family takes in, the highest share since 1981. Gas averaged more than $3.50 a gallon this year, another unfortunate record. And next year isn't likely to bring relief. Posted. http://www.buffalonews.com/wire-feeds/24-hour-national-news/article678844.ece GREEN ENERGY A farm lives high – and clean – off the hog. Loyd Bryant used to pump manure from his 8,640 hogs into a fetid lagoon, where it raised an unholy stink and released methane and ammonia into the air. The tons of manure excreted daily couldn't be used as fertilizer because of high nitrogen content. The solution to Bryant's hog waste problem was right under his nose — in the manure itself. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-hogs-waste-20111225,0,5938580.story ENERGY: Long awaited solar construction jobs are snapped up. Soon after he reported to work in the desert of northeast San Bernardino County, where he is helping to build a 370-megawatt solar power plant, Lee Russell mailed a postcard to his son and daughter at his family’s home in Beaumont. “I told them I am part of something big,” he said with pronounced pride. About two years ago, Russell, a former trucker, was struggling to find work and scrimping to make ends meet when he read about solar projects proposed in Inland Southern California’s Mojave Desert that would be the foundation for a burgeoning new industry for construction workers. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20111224-energy-long-awaited-solar-construction-jobs-are-snapped-up.ece Supervisors to vote on solar farm. The approval of a conditional-use permit for a $600 million solar project near Mount Signal will be decided in a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. Less than two weeks ago the Planning Commission voted 5-4 to approve the Centinela Solar Energy project, but the ordinance says the commission needs a two-thirds majority to approve agenda items, otherwise actions are deemed denied. The final decision is now for the Board of Supervisors to make, according to the ordinance. Posted. http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-supervisors-to-vote-on-solar-farm-20111226,0,6012186.story IID briefs: Some on board bleak on future of solar. Talk over a solar project whose developers want to bypass the Imperial Irrigation District electrical system brought out concerns about the future of solar in some areas of the Imperial Valley on Friday. Directors Stella Mendoza and Jim Hanks expressed concern over one of the CSolar projects in south Imperial County that is set to send power to San Diego Gas & Electric. Mendoza specifically questioned the direction the IID was going if it were to work out a contract to allow the solar company to tie into the district’s substation and directly out to San Diego, bypassing much of the IID. Posted. http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-news-iid-briefs-some-on-board-bleak-on-future-of-solar-20111224,0,3458018.story VEHICLES In China, Power in Nascent Electric Car Industry. Three years ago, as part of its green-energy policy, the Chinese government set an ambitious goal: by the end of 2011, the nation would be able to produce at least 500,000 hybrid or all-electric cars and buses a year. With only about a week to go, it is clear China will fall far short of that target. Despite dozens of electric-vehicle demonstration projects around the country, analysts put China’s actual annual production capacity at only several thousand hybrid and all-electric cars and buses. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/27/business/global/chinas-push-for-electric-cars-flows-through-grid-operators.html Palo Alto plugs into a greener future. Electric vehicles look to factor heavily into Palo Alto's efforts to curb local greenhouse gas emissions. The city council last week green-lighted a slew of new guidelines for creating a public network of electric vehicle charging stations and promoting adoption of the emerging technology. "The city of Palo Alto recognizes (electric vehicles) as an important part of the solution for reaching its greenhouse gas emission reduction goal, and so has an interest in encouraging the use of (electric vehicles) throughout the community," Debra van Duynhoven, assistant to the city manager for sustainability, wrote in a report to council members. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19623337?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_19623337 California mandates 15% Zero Emission Vehicles by 2025. The California Air Resources Board has proposed major changes in regulating vehicle emissions in hopes of improving California’s air quality, which is the worst in the nation. The plan combines four sets of standards into the Advanced Clean Cars program. The changes would be sweeping and all-inclusive. By 2025, auto manufacturers doing business in California must have 15.4% Zero Emission Vehicles in their fleets, and there will be stringent new controls on all passenger car and light truck emissions. It will also increase the number of alt-fuel outlets in California, adding fueling stations for CNG, hydrogen, methanol, and ethanol. Posted. http://ivn.us/news/2011/12/19/california-mandates-15-zero-emission-vehicles-by-2025/ Car designers at Italy auto show asked to design low-emission, high-security popemobile. Pope Benedict XVI’s popemobile may be getting an ecological upgrade. Young car designers participating in an annual auto style competition are being asked to design a low-emission popemobile that meets the Vatican’s high security standards. The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano announced details of the competition Friday, saying the green popemobile will be one of the proposed projects of the 2012 edition of Autostyle International Design Competition. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/car-designers-at-italy-auto-show-asked-to-design-low-emission-high-security-popemobile/2011/12/23/gIQARiTrDP_story.html MISCELLANEOUS Former sailor develops green jobs program. Elizabeth Perez-Halperin vividly remembers Oct. 12, 2000, as “the day that changed my life forever.” That was when terrorists blew a hole in the U.S. destroyer Cole docked off Yemen, killing 17 sailors. One of those victims was her closest friend from Navy boot camp, Lakiba Nicole Palmer of San Diego. The attack, coupled with her growing belief that America’s demand for oil helps fund terrorists and their allies, has committed Perez-Halperin to new missions since she left the Navy in 2005. Posted. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/dec/25/attack-on-cole-leads-former-sailor-to-develop/ OPINION Springtime for Toxics. Here’s what I wanted for Christmas: something that would make us both healthier and richer. And since I was just making a wish, why not ask that Americans get smarter, too? Surprise: I got my wish, in the form of new Environmental Protection Agency standards on mercury and air toxics for power plants. These rules are long overdue: we were supposed to start regulating mercury more than 20 years ago. But the rules are finally here, and will deliver huge benefits at only modest cost. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/26/opinion/krugman-springtime-for-toxics.html?_r=1&scp=10&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Thomas Heller: New climate talks need to be based on new world order. At Durban, South Africa, 194 parties agreed to start negotiations on a new accord that will have legal force. To be successful, however, these negotiations will require a different framework -- one that takes into account new global politics played out in new places and new economic challenges. The world has changed significantly since climate talks began two decades ago in Rio. It is no longer shaped by two rival superpowers. New economies -- China, India, Brazil, Korea, Indonesia -- have grown in size and standing. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_19610999?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Clearing the air on mercury. The following editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Friday, Dec. 23: Eight percent of women of child-bearing age in this country have mercury levels in their blood that could cause lower IQ in their children. That fact alone justifies the tough but achievable regulations issued last week by the Obama administration to control mercury pollution from coal-fired plants. Industry complaints shouldn't convince anyone otherwise. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/27/2662040/clearing-the-air-on-mercury.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/27/2002088/clearing-the-air-on-mercury.html BLOGS Bad math makes claim that each Volt cost taxpayers $250,000 go viral. Oh, how easy it is to go viral on the Internet. All you have to do is be really, really bad at math. Or have an agenda. Here's how to play the game: Start with a car that is already in the news and for some reason has turned into a political hot button. Something like, say, the Chevy Volt. Then, make up a completely bogus number about how much each one costs taxpayers and put it out there. Get Drudge involved. Sit back, relax and see your nonsense spread like wildfire. Posted. http://www.green.autoblog.com/2011/12/26/bad-math-makes-claim-that-each-volt-cost-taxpayers-250-000-go-v/ 30-year-old corn ethanol subsidy nixed by Washington. Corn-based ethanol is a controversial fuel in its own right, and a long-standing government subsidy for blending the biofuel with gasoline has been an additional source of consternation over the last 30 years. The United States Congress wrapped up its work for 2011 without extending the incentive, a move that's drawn praise from environmental groups and taxpayer advocates. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/27/30-year-old-corn-ethanol-subsidy-nixed-by-washington/ California ARB soliciting research suggestions for FY 2012-2013 plan; sustainable communities, behavior, pollutant exposure, air pollution science, GHG targets. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is soliciting research suggestions for the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 Annual Research Plan in the form of brief conceptual descriptions that address specified research gaps and support the Board’s ongoing regulatory and policy priorities. The deadline to submit research concepts is 31 January 2012. Proposed research should address policy-relevant knowledge gaps important to ARB’s mission and must clearly delineate potential benefits to the State of California. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/arb-20111225.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:31:44 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 28, 2011 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov 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. GREEN ENERGY Why the Hype Surrounding Renewable Energy Is Just That. Okay, call me a spoilsport, but as much as we all might wish otherwise, there really is no free energy lunch. Not so long as much or more needs to be put in to get it than it yields, that removes more valuable land and other resources from more beneficial uses than it is worth, that isn’t reliably available in sufficient quantities when and where needed, that promises highly debatable environmental advantages, that costs consumers lots more than “nonrenewable” alternatives, and whose sustainability depends upon endless government mandates and subsidies. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2011/12/27/why-the-hype-surrounding-renewable-energy-is-just-that/ OPINION PRUDEN: A little humility at the ‘climate research’ crossroads. “Climate research,” the New York Times confidently assures us, “stands at a crossroads.” This means that a lot of research scientists are standing at the crossroads, holding out paper bags like trick-or-treaters on Halloween night, standing in line for taxpayer largesse to fill ‘em up. These specialists in shakedown “science,” who speak only in hyperbole, are calling the weather of 2011 the worst in history, or at least in memory, or maybe a decade, and say they could have found useful links between disasters and global-warming “science” by now if only they could shake down tightwad taxpayers for a few more millions. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/27/pruden-a-little-humility-at-the-climate-research-c/ The dirty politics of clean energy. Disturbing revelations continue to emerge about how more than half a billion dollars of taxpayer dollars were shoveled into the Solyndra solar-panel boondoggle. It is becoming increasingly clear that the only “green” involved in this scandal is money. There is no compelling reason to empower the government to use public funds to engage in risky investments. Posted http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/26/the-dirty-politics-of-clean-energy/ BLOGS In Drilling Safety Debate, Hydrofracking’s Not the Only Target. In the heated debate over fracking in New York, it is often forgotten that conventional natural gas drilling has been taking place in the state for decades. Chemung County, a place I write about in Wednesday’s Times, has been a leader in gas production in the state and is now poised to become a leader in exploration of the Marcellus Shale. Drilling awaits the approval of new state rules governing horizontal drilling combined with high-volume hydraulic fracturing, or fracking – a controversial process because it uses large amounts of water, more than one million gallons per well — and could pose new risks of groundwater contamination. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/in-drilling-safety-debate-hydrofrackings-not-the-only-target/ Air pollution control agency increases gas log rebate. The Air Quality Management District is increasing its rebate for gas log sets from $125 to as much as $200. The rebates are for homeowners who convert their existing wood-burning fireplaces to log sets fueled with natural gas, which radically reduce fine particulate emissions. The air pollution control agency for Orange County and the non-desert portions of L.A., San Bernardino and Riverside counties says that fireplaces and other wood-burning devices are used in 1.2 million homes in the South Coast Air Basin. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2011/12/gas-log-rebate.html Three federal electric vehicle incentives expiring at end of 2011. 2011 may have been the first full year that multiple mainstream plug-in vehicles were available in the U.S., but it will also be remembered – most likely – as the year when the U.S. federal government was offering the most money to plug-in vehicle buyers (based on the number and types of incentives offered, not in total funds spent). As of the end of 2011 – i.e., three short days from now – three incentives will go the way of an ethanol subsidy. A fourth – arguably the most important one – will remain on the books. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/28/in-budget-fight-three-federal-electric-vehicle-incentives-fall/ Sign of the times: Gas stations in Japan get into EV charging game. It's an idea with global reach: turn gas stations into electric vehicle charging points. Whether you're talking about the U.S. or the UK, putting plugs near pumps seems to make sense. And that's just what's going to happen in Japan, too. Not a surprise, really, especially since most DC fast chargers will be coming to Asia in the next few years. The latest announcement of the growing transition comes from a group of four companies in Japan – Cosmo Oil , Idemitsu Kosan, JX Nippon Oil and Showa Shell Sekiyu KK – that will install EV charging station at 27 of their various gas stations in the first three months of 2012. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/28/sign-of-the-times-gas-stations-in-japan-get-into-ev-charging-ga/ EPA finalizes 2012 Renewable Fuel Standards; cellulosic biofuels category comes in at 0.006%. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the 2012 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2). (Earlier post.) The final 2012 overall volumes and standards are Biomass-based diesel (1.0 billion gallons; 0.91%), Advanced biofuels (2.0 billion gallons; 1.21%), Cellulosic biofuels (8.65 million gallons; 0.006%), Total renewable fuels (15.2 billion gallons; 9.2%). In the proposed rulemaking released earlier this year for 2012, EPA had proposed a cellulosic biofuels volume ranging from 3.45–12.9 million gallons (0.002–0.010%). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/eparfs-20111227.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:56:42 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 29, 2011 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for December 29, 2011. 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 No change in S.J. burn ban on the horizon. A surge in air pollution across the San Joaquin Valley is making this a December to remember for air quality officials - or, perhaps, one they would rather forget. One federal pollution standard had been shattered across various Valley locations for 25 days in a row as of Wednesday afternoon. That's the longest streak since late 2002, according to state air quality data. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111229/A_NEWS/112290312&cid=sitesearch Cold, stagnant air causing Bay Area pollution alerts. Unless Mother Nature changes her pattern, the Bay Area — including most of Sonoma County — is headed for a record number of high-pollution days when home wood fires are banned. The ceaseless dry cold weather has led to atmospheric conditions that have trapped pollutants close to the ground, resulting thus far in 10 so-called Spare the Air bans. That's more than the past two winter seasons and about as many alerts as there were during the first season three years ago when the crackdown started. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111228/ARTICLES/111229561/1350?Title=Cold-stagnant-air-causing-Bay-Area-pollution-alerts Air pollutants rise in Lake, Mendocino counties, but no fireplace bans. Like the Bay Area, Mendocino County is suffering a spike in air pollution caused by chilly weather and an inversion layer that’s keeping fireplace smoke and other pollutants low to the ground. “We have been seeing the numbers go up,” said Mendocino County Air Pollution Control Officer Chris Brown. The number of tiny smoke-related pollution particles called PM2.5s found in the air in Ukiah and Willits in the past week is nearly double last year’s levels, he said. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20111228/ARTICLES/111229560 FUELS New Forms of Biofuel Fall Short. Hopes for a surge in production of alternative biofuels are falling flat, and the U.S. expects to continue to rely on corn- and sugarcane-based ethanol to meet a national mandate for renewable fuels in 2012. The Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday that a tiny fraction—less than one-tenth of 1%—of renewable fuels required to be used in the U.S. next year will come from cellulosic biofuel, based on projected production volumes, despite a congressional target that the fuel made from plant stalks and other inedible materials account for more than 3% of the total. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204296804577125082495631226.html?KEYWORDS=fuels SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY In Solar Power, India Begins Living Up to Its Own Ambitions. Solar power is a clean energy source. But in this arid part of northwest India it can also be a dusty one. Every five days or so, in a marriage of low and high tech, field hands with long-handled dust mops wipe down each of the 36,000 solar panels at a 63-acre installation operated by Azure Power. The site is one of the biggest examples of India’s ambitious plan to use solar energy to help modernize its notoriously underpowered national electricity grid, and reduce its dependence on coal-fired power plants. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/business/energy-environment/in-solar-power-india-begins-living-up-to-its-own-ambitions.html?scp=5&sq=green%20energy&st=cse India Asks State-Run Firms to Build Renewable Energy Projects. India has asked all state-run companies to set up renewable energy projects as part of efforts to combat climate change, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said Thursday. The companies can also buy renewable energy certificates "to offset their carbon footprints," the ministry said in a statement, adding that this can boost trading of such certificates in India. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204632204577128293128308070.html?KEYWORDS=climate+change SUBSCRIPTION ONLY All eyes on German renewable energy efforts. This tiny village of 37 gray homes and farm buildings clustered along the main road in a wind-swept corner of rural eastern Germany seems an unlikely place for a revolution. Yet environmentalists, experts and politicians from El Salvador to Japan to South Africa have flocked here in the past year to learn how Feldheim, a village of just 145 people, is already putting into practice Germany's vision of a future powered entirely by renewable energy. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_GERMANY_MAKING_RENEWABLES_WORK?SITE=MIBAX&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/world-eyes-german-efforts-to-become-leader-in-reneable-energy-resources/2011/12/29/gIQAzPjyNP_story.html http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/29/4150606/all-eyes-on-german-renewable-energy.html#storylink=misearch http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19637610?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19637610?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/all-eyes-on-german-renewable-energy-efforts/article_fff00cc5-d62a-5c64-87c5-b9caf4c46d68.html#ixzz1hwWDbxdo VEHICLES Forget the Prius. The Future Of Electric Is the School Bus. As long as Americans love to drive far and fast, electric cars may never be the perfect answer to the country's green transportation needs. But the routine runs of electric school buses are another thing altogether. Bus maker Trans Tech Bus this year said it would start making an electric school bus in a partnership with Smith Electric Vehicles. The eTrans bus is one of a new generation of zero-emission electric and hybrid-electric models that are slowly making their way to school districts around the county. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203716204577018471878074352.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Industry perspective on the uptake of EVs: 2011’s interviews at a glance. 45 interviews from OEMs, suppliers, service providers, utilities, and battery manufacturers have been published on cars21.com in 2011. Every interviewee has been asked to formulate a 3-point global action plan for the rapid introduction of EVs on the market. Find here the summary of their answers. All OEMs agree that cost is a current issue for EV uptake. OEMs would like to see more subsidies for EV manufacturers, more incentives (both financial and non-financial) for consumers and the roll-out of a charging infrastructure. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/72320111229.php I-5 highway to get 100 new electric car charging stations. Vancouver is putting in charging stations to promote the local use of electric cars - but you may soon be able to drive one to Disneyland. Tonia Buell with Washington State's transportation department says by spring there will be at least 100 electric car charging stations along the Interstate 5 (I-5), from the southern border of Oregon all the way to the Peace Arch. The goal is to eventually have those stations reach all the way down to the California-Mexico border. Posted. http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/314498--i-5-highway-to-get-100-new-electric-car-charging-stations Mitsubishi Motors to launch electric light truck, report says. Mitsubishi has begun development of an electric light truck it hopes to launch by April 2013, according to report in the Nikkei Japanese business daily. The electric truck will be targeted at farmers, contractors and others who use light trucks for their work, the paper said. Plans for an electric light truck designed for work duties highlight the variety of electrified vehicles Mitsubishi hopes to launch globally by 2016. A plug-in hybrid crossover, widely expected to be based on its Outlander crossover, is slated for sale in global markets by April 2013. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111228/OEM04/312289895/1186 OPINION Finally, polluters pay. Without any last-minute meddling by the White House, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week published a long-awaited final rule strictly limiting how much mercury, arsenic, hydrochloric acid and other deadly toxins coal-fired and oil-fired power plants can spew into the air. The rule will save America billions more dollars in health care costs than industry will pay to comply with it, to say nothing of the suffering it will spare children, adults and families by reducing the avoidable deaths, developmental disabilities and disease caused or worsened by exposure to the plants' poisons. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/29/2004298/finally-polluters-pay.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/29/2663927/finally-polluters-pay.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/29/4150701/finally-polluters-pay.html#storylink=misearch Carbon standard will be costly. Re "Low carbon fuel standard aids economy, saves consumers cash" (Viewpoints, Dec. 15): Under the proposed timelines, the standard is unrealistic and harmful to Californians and our economy at a time of high unemployment. Technological, market, and practical challenges makes the large-scale adoption outlined in the current standard timeline difficult, according to a recently released report by Fueling California. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/28/4148190/letters-to-the-editor-volunteers.html#storylink=misearch MISCELLANEOUS L.A./Long Beach ports struggle to meet Panama Canal challenge. A major expansion of the Panama Canal is raising alarms in Southern California, where business, labor and public officials are warning that the project threatens to dent the region's role in international trade...a video the group has on its website that makes the case for expediting infrastructure improvements. It ends with several politicians and others, even Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, chanting, "Beat the canal." Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/la-fi-panama-canal-20111229,0,7530643.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fnationworld%2Fwashingtondc+%28Los+Angeles+Times+-+Washington+DC%29 BLOGS Early-Adopter Pilots Drive Volts and Leafs. The first person to take delivery of a Chevrolet Volt was Jeff Kaffee, a retired airline pilot. Mr. Kaffee was only first in line. A number of other current or former pilots are owners of either the Volt or the Nissan Leaf. Dan Davids of Woodinville, Wash., is president of Plug In America and the owner of a Leaf and an older Toyota RAV4 electric car. He’s also a longtime pilot, a former flight instructor and airplane dealer who still owns multiple aircraft, from a glider to a twin-engine plane. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/28/early-adopter-pilots-drive-volts-and-leafs/ Google’s Green Czar Leaves for Facebook. In November 2011, Bill Weihl, left his post as the Green Czar at Google. Weihl oversaw much of Google’s $700M investments in clean energy and was a driving force behind Google’s Green Dream otherwise known as The Impact of Clean Energy Innovation. Now, it seems that Dr. Weihl, a former Computer Science professor at MIT, will be joining social networking giant Facebook, with its 800 million users. He told Fresh Dialogues that, “the focus will be on sustainability, clean energy, energy efficiency, etc.” Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/12/googles-green-czar-leaves-facebook/ Red Double-Decker Buses to Return to the Streets of London as as Fuel-Efficient Hybrids. London's red double-decker buses, called the Routemaster, have long been a prominent feature of the streets. What everyone loved about the old Routemaster was that you could jump on and off the back at will, without having to wait for doors to open. Sadly they were all taken off the streets by 2005 because of cost: the buses were getting old and required two conductors: one to drive and one to take tickets. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/public-transportation/red-double-decker-buses-return-to-streets-london-as-fuel-efficient-hybrids.html Pike Research survey finds strong fundamental US consumer interest in EVs; price remains a significant barrier. To assess consumer demand, preferences, and price sensitivity for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, Pike Research conducted a web-based survey of 1,051 US consumers in the fall of 2011 using a nationally representative and demographically balanced sample. The survey found that, based on Americans’ driving and commute patterns, PEVs should be a strong fit for a large number of consumers. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/pike-ev-20111229.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:16:45 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 30, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for December 30, 2011. 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 Chinese suspect Beijing's air more polluted than reported. Sitting on a park bench in downtown Beijing on Tuesday afternoon, Wang Kuang paused to consider the air in front of his face. The sky in Beijing is often a murky color, something between gray and brown. But the past few days have been particularly bad: hundreds of flights canceled, sections of highway temporarily closed and entire buildings seemingly vanished from the horizon. "I worry about whether this is pollution or fog," said Wang, a 31-year-old who works in sports ticketing and merchandising. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2011/12/06/1976448/chinese-suspect-beijings-air-more.html Air district says climate causing bad air quality. The valley's air quality is off to a rough start this winter and the air district said the weather is to blame. The valley counties have already had four times as many unhealthy days this season than in the entire 2010-2011 winter season, a San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District news release sent Thursday said. The number of wood burning prohibition days is also up throughout the district this year, according to the news release. A La Nina weather pattern, which causes drier, stagnant weather, is responsible for the conditions causing the poor air, the district said. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1797587495/Air-district-says-climate-causing-bad-air-quality FUELS Federal judge blocks California low-carbon fuels rule. California officials say they will ask a federal judge to stay his ruling that blocks the state from enforcing the first-in-the-nation mandate for cleaner, low-carbon fuels. In a decision issued Thursday, Fresno-based U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence O'Neill said the low-carbon fuel rules favor biofuels produced in the state. He said that violates the U.S. Constitution's commerce clause by discriminating against crude oil and biofuels producers located outside California. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i8DeH62YzeWneWmsmWzXmVcJs1MA?docId=de589b840e554815becacd81fa8a509c AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/federal-judge-blocks-california-low-carbon-fuels-rule-saying-it-favors-in-state-producers/2011/12/29/gIQAhyDIPP_story.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/nation-world/ci_19646488?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/nation-world/ci_19646488?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://localsearch.modbee.com/sp?eId=100&gcId=45196557&rNum=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmodbee.com%2F2011%2F12%2F29%2F2004914%2Ffederal-judge-blocks-calif-low.html&siteIdType=2 http://sacbee.com/2011/12/29/4151952/judge-halts-enforcement-of-low.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/30/BUBR1MIEOI.DTL http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/30/federal-judge-blocks-calif-low-carbon-fuels-rule/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/federal-judge-blocks-calif-low-carbon-fuels-rule/article_dde453c9-2359-550a-b073-8e6df99e7cfb.html California Low-Carbon Rules Halted. In a victory for refiners and ethanol producers, a federal judge halted enforcement of California's low-carbon fuel rules Thursday, saying they discriminated against crude oil and ethanol imported into the state. The decision puts on hold a major portion of California's effort to cut greenhouse-gas emissions, at a time when the most-populous state's stance has taken on extra importance nationwide because of a stalemate in Washington over greenhouse-gas legislation. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204720204577128972816077652.html?mod=googlenews_wsj What the Frack? The recent press about the potential of shale gas would have you believe that America is now sitting on a 100-year supply of natural gas. It's a "game-changer." A "golden age of gas" awaits, one in which the United States will be energy independent, even exporting gas to the rest of the world, upending our current energy-importing situation. The data, however, tell a very different story. Between the demonstrable gas reserves, and the potential resources blared in the headlines, lies an enormous gulf of uncertainty. Posted. http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/future_tense/2011/12/is_there_really_100_years_worth_of_natural_gas_beneath_the_united_states_.html GREEN ENERGY New regulations for light bulbs starts Jan. 1. Q What do I need to know about the new energy efficiency standards for light bulbs that take effect in January? Will certain bulbs be unavailable? And am I supposed to switch out my older inefficient bulbs with newer efficient ones? A Indeed, January marks the beginning of a planned phaseout of inefficient light bulbs in the United States that was signed into law five years ago by President George W. Bush. It was designed to reduce energy usage nationally from lighting by some 30 percent overall within three years. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19640626?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19640626?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com MISCELLANEOUS Times Square ball-drop switches to LEDs. Despite Republicans' efforts to equate efficient lighting with tyranny, the age of incandescent bulbs will be officially over as of Jan. 1. The best indication of this switch-over is not any one piece of legislation coming out of Washington, but a totally symbolic move: When the Times Square balls drops at midnight on New Year's Eve, its shining light will be emanating from 32,256 LED bulbs. Posted. http://www.grist.org/list/2011-12-30-times-square-ball-drop-switches-to-leds BLOGS Judge Blocks California’s Low-Carbon Fuel Rule. A federal judge on Thursday blocked enforcement of a California regulation favoring producers of gasoline, diesel fuel and biofuels whose methods generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The ruling by the judge, Lawrence J. O’Neill of United States District Court in Fresno, said the rule unconstitutionally discriminates against out-of-state producers and attempts to regulate activities that take place entirely outside state boundaries, from producers’ choice of farming methods to refiners’ use of coal-fired electricity. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/judge-enjoins-californias-low-carbon-fuel-standard/ On Our Radar: Scientists Appeal to G.O.P. Candidates. Less than two weeks before the New Hampshire primary, 50 scientists in that state call on Republican presidential candidates to accept the “overwhelming” scientific evidence on the human role in climate change and to support action to rein in greenhouse gas emissions. Their statement follows a similar appeal from scientists in Iowa. [E2Wire.] After angry residents block its first attempt to deliver an environmental impact statement to a prefectural government in Okinawa, Japan’s Defense Ministry makes the delivery under cover of darkness. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/on-our-radar-scientists-appeal-to-g-o-p-candidates/ For Entrepreneurial ‘Change Agents,’ a Green M.B.A. As we noted in a post in August about a new survey, an increasing number of colleges are beginning to offer courses or entire programs devoted to green business practices in response to growing demand. Such programs teach students how to manage a business’s social and environmental impact in addition to focusing on profits. The latest school to add its name to this list is Bard, the liberal arts college just north of New York City, which this month announced that it would begin offering an M.B.A. program centering on sustainability. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/30/for-entrepreneurial-change-agents-a-green-m-b-a/?scp=3&sq=climate%20change&st=cse So, you want to subsidize solar energy? Do you realize… The green lobby, which never found a taxpayer dollar it didn’t want to redistribute, insists that we should divert our hard-earned wealth for the greater good by subsidizing things like solar energy. Who profits? Even if you buy the reasoning, you might want to know more about how that works in practice. T.J. Rodgers in the Wall Street Journal has a nifty little primer on the details. Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2011/12/29/so-you-want-to-subsidize-solar-energy-do-you-realize/65978/ Federal Judge rules California Low Carbon Fuel Standard violates Commerce Clause of US Constitution. Federal District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill, Eastern District of California, ruled on Thursday that the State of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program is in violation of the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution and issued an injunction prohibiting its enforcement. (Earlier post.) The LCFS intends to reduce, on a full-fuel lifecycle basis, the carbon intensity (CI) of transportation fuels (measured in gCO2e/MJ) used in California by an average of 10% by the year 2020. (Earlier post.) Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/lcfs-20111230.html Ford targeting 30% reduction in water used per vehicle by 2015. Ford plans to cut the amount of water used to make each vehicle 30% globally by 2015, compared with the amount of water used per vehicle in 2009. If Ford meets the 30% goal, the amount of water used to make a vehicle will have dropped from 9.5 m3 (2,510 gallons US) in 2000 to approximately 3.5 m3 (925 gallons US) in 2015. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/12/ford-targeting-30-reduction-in-water-used-per-vehicle-by-2015.html ====================================================================== You are subscribed to the newsclips mailing list. To UNSUBSCRIBE: Please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv.php and enter your email address and click on the button "Display Email Lists." To unsubscribe, please click inside the appropriate box to uncheck it and go to the bottom of the screen to submit your request. You will receive an automatic email message confirming that you have successfully unsubscribed. Also, please read our listserve disclaimer at http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/disclaim.htm . The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website at www.arb.ca.gov. ======================================================================